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1, September J, 2008 by admin.
When hurricane Ike came ashore last Friday night and early Saturday morning here in Friendswood, Texas, it left town with part of my roof, and other minor damages to our property. I would have to say, besides the loss of power, A/C, cable TV and the internet, the worst seemed to be a section of our roof, that lost alot of shingles and felt; along with an Live Oak Tree I planted in the back corner of our backyard in memory of my Dad, who passed on back in October of 1995.
For days, I looked for assistance from anyone in putting a roof tarp up on the damaged section of the roof, and to somehow raise Dad’s Tree back up off the fence, that it came to rest on. Well today, after 6 days, I am very glad to say that help finally arrived in the form of Mr. Dale Jones, a good friend of of a good friend of mine, Jim Gerland, also of Friendswood.
Earlier today, I was updating Gerland about my predicament, and as well about his home here in Friendswood. He and his wife, Melody and family evacuated in front of Ike’s landfall, faster than the decision-makers on the evacuation situation could yell “GIT!”. In no time they had checked in at my favorite hotel in Austin. Ah, The Driskill Hotel, which was built in 1886 as the showplace of cattle baron Jesse Driskill, The Driskill still remains a landmark of Texas hospitality. As a member of The Historic Hotels of America and Associated Luxury Hotels International, The Driskill is among the world’s finest hotels, offering an elite level of luxury and service.
So anyway, while Jimbo and his fab wife, Mel were enjoying themselves in such luxury, with a wonderful roof over Jim’s head, here I sat, under a roof that threatened to turn into a shower-head with the next cloud-burst. Ok, I kinda drifted off the story-line…
Well I guess maybe he was pondering my desperate situation, (between bob-bons, & ice cream, yum, ice cold ice cream, hmm I can almost remember what that taste and felt like), and finally he said, ”Hey, give my old buddy Dale Jones a call…” ”I bet he can fix you right up on that roof problem”, so thats what I did, I gave Dale a call and he said something like, Sure thing, “I can fix you up this afternoon”. He then inquired about Jim and his family, and when they were expected back in town. I then found out that Dale had, “borrowed” his old buddy Jimbo’s super-dupper generator and needed to return it before the Gerland’s returned home.
Well, what do you know, but right when Dale said he and his crew would show up, there was a knock on the door and sure enough, there was that tall Texan, Dale Jones and his Calvary to save my day, well my roof at least. I tell ya what, in no time… in fact, faster than I could find my checkbook to write the payment, the Crew were through.
Oh… and that’s not all… as we were looking at the roof before the crew got started, I happened to mention that my Dad’s Tree had fallen down on a fence, just in a matter of fact way…
As soon as the crew climbed down from my roof, I started to finally write the check, but when I looked up to say thanks to Dale and his crew, they were no where to be seen out in front. Finally, I heard some voices in the back yard, and that was exactly where they had dissapeared to. I walked through my side fence into the back, and there they all were… they had all gathered around the tree, all working together to raise the Live Oak off the fence and back in the hole its root ball had pulled out of.
It was that fast, that quick, and they were all laughing the whole time! I was impressed by the men on the crew, their skill and their smiles as I just couldn’t stop thanking them enough.
I handed over the check for the roof, and started to write another for the tree work, and Dale said, “no thanks, that was on us… “ All I could do, was say thanks to everyone that had just helped me and my wife start healing from the minor wounds that Hurricane Ike had done to us.
Yes we were blessed with just minor damage, which in no way compares with so many here in SE Texas, yes indeed, we were blessed by our friends and neighbors that helped us in the aftermath. People like Rod, Joan, Charles, John, Amy and her husband, Ben, Pete and his wife Paula, Margie, Tom, and his wife Cindy and now Dale Jones and his roofing crew, yes truely blessed.
All my wife and I can say is, “Thanks so much for all of you that helped us”, and I do hope y’all know that we mean that, from the bottom of our hearts.
*Chuck, who works with Dale, just dropped off their estimate for a new roof, and it doesn’t look bad at all. Now I gotta run down to the Friendswood Hardware Store and get a few stakes and wire to secure Dad’s Tree a bit tighter and return the rope back to Dale.
As I finish up this Log, I feel a great load has lifted off my shoulders, thanks to my friends and neighbors, Thanks Y’all, and God Bless…
Stay Safe,
Cane
Posted in Hurricane Ike Recovery, The Fincher Inn, Galveston County Information, Recovery from Hurricane Ike, Greater Houston/Galveston Area Information, Home, City of Friendswood, TX | No Comments »
1, September J, 2008 by admin.
Friday evening, September 19, 2008
Update from the Friendswood Office of Emergency Management:
Electric power in Friendswood is at approximately 70 percent at this time. The City of Friendswood is in daily contact with the power providers. They expect to have the city close to 100 percent power within the next few days, with scattered severe exceptions.
Food supply is adequate in Friendswood. Grocery Stores and many businesses are now open.
Fuel supply is available with moderate wait times.
Water supply continues to be safe to drink, and there is no shortage of water pressure in Friendswood. A mandatory curfew is in effect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. in Friendswood until the City and utility companies can provide safe and effective services.
Sewer facilities are not operating at 100% at this time. While unlikely, there is a possibility of some sewer back-ups until power is restored to all of Friendswood’s lift stations.
FISD and CCISD schools are still closed until further notice.
All Friendswood roadways are open to traffic.
The FEMA POD site that was activated in Centennial Park in Friendswood is no longer in operation.
Friendswood has recently put a price-gouging ordinance into effect that prohibits vendors and others selling goods or services from unreasonably increasing their prices or rates. Residents who suspect that anyone in our community is price gouging should call the City of Friendswood at 281-996-3335 to report the gouging.
In addition, the City is requiring that Contractors who will be providing building and repair services in Friendswood register with the City and receive from the City a building contractor’s license. One of the purposes of this licensing is to ensure that contractors who will be working on properties in Friendswood are licensed and insured.
For FEMA assistance, residents can contact FEMA at:Phone: 1-800-621-FEMAWeb: www.fema.gov
There is FEMA assistance for temporary housing and long term financial relief for those with substantial damage or displacement.
As we begin transitioning into debris management mode, please make sure that household trash is bagged as usual and separated from any wooded storm debris. Any green waste that is placed in trash bags should be placed alongside the household trash instead of with larger wooded storm debris. Wooded storm debris does not have to be cut, bundled, or tied. Per FEMA regulations, all trash must be no further than 12 feet from the curb.
Posted in Hurricane Ike Recovery, City of Friendswood, TX | 1 Comment »
1, September J, 2008 by admin.
Update from the Friendswood Office of Emergency Management:
Friday, September 19, 2008, 1207 CDT
Electric power in Friendswood is at approximately 70 percent.
The City of Friendswood is in daily contact with the power providers. They expect to have the city close to 100 percent power within the next few days, with scattered severe exceptions.
Food supply is adequate in Friendswood. Grocery Stores and many businesses are now open.
Fuel supply is available with moderate wait times.
FISD and CCISD schools are still closed until further notice.
All Friendswood roadways are open for traffic.
For FEMA assistance, residents can contact FEMA at:Phone: 1-800-621-FEMAWeb: www.fema.gov
There is FEMA assistance for temporary housing and long term financial relief for those with substantial damage or displacement.
As we begin transitioning into debris management mode, please make sure that household trash is bagged as usual and separated from any wooded storm debris. Any green waste that is placed in trash bags should be placed alongside the household trash instead of with larger wooded storm debris. Wooded storm debris do not have to be cut, bundled, or tied. Per FEMA regulations, all trash must be no further than 12 feet from the curb.
Insurance information from the Texas Department of Insurance is attached.
File Attachment: http://www.groupbuilder.net/uploads/City_of_Friendswood/Insurance_assistance.pdf
Posted in Galveston County Information, Harris County Information, City of Friendswood, TX | No Comments »
1, September J, 2008 by admin.
Today, September 18, 2008, at 1514 CDT, I received this email from the City of Friendswood, where I live and work. I will continue to post such information whenever I feel it may be valuable to those that come to our site in search of needed information in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in the Greater Houston/Galveston Area of SE Texas. If you have something to add to this site concerning the recovery phase from this hurricane landfall, please free to email me at info@hurricaneconsulting.net, and I will add it if I agree it belongs here.
Hang in there my friends, power is returning and soon, we will hopefully be back on our feet and back into a more normal life. Keep the spirit of those that rebuilt after the nation’a worst disaster in history, the Great 1900 Storm… they did it, and so can we. Lend each other a hand… we can do this together.
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To our Friendswood residents:
As we continue our recovery from Hurricane Ike, we wish to first and foremost provide several venues where points of information are being distributed to our residents.
Information can be obtained from:
Friendswood’s Emergency Operations Center - 281-996-3335 City Web Site www.ci.friendswood.tx.us Radio Station 1650 AM
In addition, our residents can contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1-800-621-3362 or visit their website at www.fema.gov for recovery assistance. The Friendswood Public Library staff is available to help our residents with filling out FEMA applications at the Library, located at 416 S. Friendswood Drive. If a home is damaged to the extent that it is uninhabitable, FEMA will reimburse individuals for living expenses while they are away from their home.
The Friendswood Public Library is open and includes Internet services for our residents. Roads in Friendswood are passable, and our Police, Fire and EMS services continue to be in full force. A majority of homes in Friendswood also have telephone service. The U.S. Postal Service is delivering mail.
At this time, electricity in Friendswood is at 60 percent. Water supply continues to be safe to drink, and there is no shortage of water pressure in Friendswood. A mandatory curfew is in effect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. in Friendswood until the City and utility companies can provide safe and effective services.
Fuel and food remains in short supply in Friendswood. While some businesses are beginning to reopen, their supply is still low.
Police Chief Wieners and our police officers want our residents to know that our city is secure. We have had no reports of looting, minimal criminal activity, no fatalities and only a few injuries due to storm clean up efforts. Again, our curfew is in effect, so our residents should carry their ID, and if you don’t have specific business in our community, stay out.
Debris removal has already begun in Friendswood. Our residents are asked to separate their trees and green waste from construction material and household trash. There is no need to bundle, cut or wrap tree limbs. Please be careful cleaning up.
Friendswood has recently put a price gouging ordinance into effect that prohibits vendors and others selling goods or services from unreasonably increasing their prices or rates. Residents who suspect that anyone in our community is price gouging should call the City of Friendswood at 281-996-3335 to report the gouging.
In addition, the City is requiring that Contractors who will be providing building and repair services in Friendswood register with the City and receive from the City a building contractor’s license. One of the purposes of this licensing is to ensure that contractors who will be working on properties in Friendswood are licensed and insured.
Once again, our residents should notify the City of Friendswood at 281-996-3335 if they suspect any price gouging or scams occurring as we recover from Hurricane Ike.
Schools in Friendswood ISD and Clear Creek ISD are closed until further notice. The UTMB health clinic on FM 528 will be open starting on Thursday.
We have 2 relief sites in the area: The FEMA POD is located at Centennial Park, 2200 S. Friendswood Drive. They are stocked with water, ice and ready meals. There is also a volunteer site at Calvary Church on FM 528 and Blackhawk, which has lunch and dinner meals, ice and supplies. Residents may also sign up to help at that location.
Special message for teachers in FISD: you are NOT needed at your campuses, so please take care of your personal needs. You will be given 2 to 3 days notice before you are needed to return and get your classrooms ready. You can check the FISD and City websites for updates later this week.
On behalf of the citizens of Friendswood, we wish to thank our City Manager, City employees and volunteers for the outstanding work they have done so far. Every single one of them has been working diligently at great sacrifice to themselves and their families. Our team includes every department of city services, including Police, Fire, EMS, Public Works, Community Services, Community Development , Administrative Services, City Manager’s Office, City Secretary’s Office and able volunteers, all under the able direction of our Emergency Management Team headed by Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Coordinator Terry Byrd.
We would also like to thank Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough and his County emergency management team for being with us before, during and after the storm. We would also like thank Gene Hafele’s National Weather Service team, the State’s Chief of Emergency Management Jack Colley and the State Chain of Command.
Others that we wish to thank include:
State Representative Larry Taylor
TCEQ
Governor Rick Perry’s office
Congressman Nick Lampson
Senator Mike Jackson
Terry Randall and his helicopter
Hill Sand Company
Beck - FEMA compliance
Crowder Gulf - debris removal
David Wight Construction
Boyer Inc. Electricians
Texas-New Mexico Power
CenterPoint Energy
AT&T and other phone utility workers.
Committed Relief and the Samaritan’s Gift ministries working through Pastor Ron Hindt at the Calvary Church relief site.
Kroger on FM 528 for food supplies
HEB Corporate offices in San Antonio for ice and supplies Jack Weber and his employees at the Friendswood Store for being prepared, ready and able to help
Lastly, we wish to thank our citizens for paying attention, and for the great job they are doing in helping each other. If you are still out of town, please check with your neighbors about your property. Use your own judgment when making the decision to return. If you do come back, pick up some groceries and fill up your gas tank before you come back into town.
Throughout this recovery process, we are confident that our community spirit will continue to thrive. We are all truly fortunate to have such committed residents working toward recovery after Ike.
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If you have questions or comments, feel free to comment to City Hall… I feel they are doing the best job they can in bringing our City back.
Stay Safe & Take Care,
Cane
Posted in City of Friendswood, TX, Hurricane Ike | 1 Comment »
1, September J, 2008 by admin.
For those residing in Friendswood and for those wishing to return to their Friendswood homes, please be aware of the following:
-Food supply is short, with dry goods coming in slowly at area grocery stores.
-Fuel is very scarce. Residents who are returning should plan to top off their gas tanks before entering the area.
-CenterPoint Energy and Texas-New Mexico Power Company are using every available resource, including out of state resources, to restore complete power in Friendswood as soon as possible. At this time, more than half of Friendswood’s power has been restored.
-The water supply is safe. It is safe for Friendswood residents to drink tap water. There is no shortage of City water at this time.
-Sewer facilities are not operating at 100% at this time. There is a possibility of some sewer back-ups until power is restored to all of Friendswood’s lift stations.
-Friendswood ISD and Clear Creek ISD schools are closed until further notice.
-There is a curfew for the City of Friendswood from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. every day until the city and utility companies can provide safe and effective services. Proper identification will be required to travel within the city during the extended curfew.
-Friendswood parks will be closed through the end of this week.
-Household trash should be bagged as usual and separated from any wooded storm debris. Any green waste that is placed in trash bags should be placed alongside the household trash instead of with larger wooded storm debris. Wooded storm debris do not have to be cut, bundled or tied.
Residents who decide to return to Friendswood should be prepared to be completely self sufficient for at least one week. Food, fuel and electricity are all in short supply at this time.
Posted in City of Friendswood, TX, Hurricane Ike | No Comments »
1, September J, 2008 by admin.
A message from the Friendswood Office of Emergency Management:
Hurricane Ike is still projected to make landfall somewhere near the central Texas coastline on Friday.
Voluntary or mandatory evacuations are NOT being ordered in Friendswood at this time. Evacuations are NOT expected to be issued in the Friendswood city limits as a result of Hurricane Ike.
Friendswood residents are encouraged to prepare their homes in advance of Ike’s landfall. Specifically, any loose outdoor items that could become flying debris in a high wind event (i.e. lawn furniture, TV Antennas, etc.) should be stowed away in advance of the arrival of the storm.
It is likely that Friendswood will experience tropical force winds of up to 50-60 miles per hour and a possibility of 3 to 6 inches of rain. Residents of low lying areas are encouraged to monitor creek levels and seek higher ground if necessary. There is also the potential for loss of electrical power in Friendswood.
The City of Friendswood Office of Emergency Management will continue to monitor Hurricane Ike and provide updates as needed. For any additional information, please contact the City of Friendswood Office of Emergency Management at 281-996-3335 or by e-mail at eoc@ci.friendswood.tx.us.
Posted in City of Friendswood, TX, 2008 Hurricane Season, Hurricane Ike | No Comments »