Hurricane evacuation

[Lucy]

Hi old friends,

Just wanted those who know where we live to know that I had evacuated with my severely handicapped mother before Hurricane Ike hit this area, but our house was far enough to the southwest of the city that the power outage for several weeks would've posed the biggest problem for Mother's care had we stayed at home, or come back before power was restored.

My sister and brother-in-law and a few million others had major hurdles to cross getting back and forth to work for a long time, particularly with the street lights being non-functional, and all the mess piled high on curbs blocking one's vision around street corners, etc. After picking up the other at their jobs, they'd head over to our property to take care of things, then head out to Katy, west of town to stay with relatives for the night who had power, being on the clean left side of Ike. It was bumper to bumper getting coming and going as many others were doing the same thing. Everyone had to leave work early due to their being a 9 PM curfew, but they managed to get to Katy each evening by about 8:30 PM, eat, sleep, and head back to their jobs in town the next morning.

Actually, we were in Ft. Worth for three hurricanes at one time potentially being able to hit our area. First time, we returned after Eduardo, but it was sooo exhausting that when we got the all clear from Gustav after the second evacuation, I told my sister and brother-in-law that I was just going to have to sit tight in Ft. Worth until all that trail of other storms were all finished. Good thing we stayed or we'd have had to make that round trip a third time in order to miss Ike.

Reason it was so exhausting is because we have so much equipment to take with us that my brother-in-law has to load a big Hoyer LIft onto his truck once we get Mother up in her wheelchair with it. Same for when we return, not to mention all the other things that we have to use on her before we can pack it. Then, time is of the essence because it takes about 5 hours to get where we stay in Ft. Worth, and that without more than just a couple of gas fill ups, a cold drink and potty time.

Then, we have to get into the hotel room quickly with Mom and the lift in order to get her off her bottom and into bed. It's very difficult to turn her without a hospital bed, so we had one delivered to the room before my sis and brother-in-law came back to town right after Gustav missed us. That was labor day weekend, so we stayed that time for four weeks total in order to miss Ike, and then two weeks after while we waited for the first weekend after power was back on here and things were otherwise safe to bring Mom back. Sis and brother-in-law also returned to Ft. Worth to be with us during Ike, and returned the Monday afterward as that's when they'd be able to go back to work, so we were only without family for two week intervals that last trip.

It is so horrible what we are learning about Galveston and nearby communities.

Even in her paralyzed state, as recent as Mother's Day,we had been able to take Mother to a restaurant on the near west end of the island (not far past the seawall) for baked red snapper that was easy for her to swallow. Now there's really no where left to take her like that for a little get-away with food that's easy for her to eat like that. She always loved the beach, but it will be many years in restoring that area, so don't know that we'll be able to take her again, even though we have the rampvan as of a year ago.

I have some other things to report concerning the natural habitats, particularly for the birders of our group.

I wanted to report that we are doing well as I remember one of the members from our old support group, to my knowledge, never reported back on her situation there in New Orleans. We just had to hope that they made it out ok.

Best wishes to all,
Luce

[Dee]

Good to hear from you Lucy and I'm glad that everyone is safe from the hurricane.
Quite an ordeal that you and family have been thru!

Love
Dee~~~

[starfire]

Luce,

So glad to hear that things went as well as they did for you and your Mom. Thank you for posting.

Love, Shirley

[tex]

Hi Luce,

I've been wondering how your neighborhood fared during that storm. I'm glad that your home wasn't damaged, and no one in the family was hurt. For a cat 2 storm, Ike sure did a lot of damage, didn't it.

Thanks for the update.

Tex

[Tessa]

Hi

Thanks for the update. It has been really hard for your family. I am glad that you are safe and well.

Love,
Tessa

[hazel]

Hi Lucy,
Glad to hear you survived the hurricanes. Sounds like things aren't going so well for Mom. She sure has been through a lot. You, too! I hope Galveston will be able to recover. We just came back from Atlanta and they were very short of gasoline because their supply comes from your area. Also when Ike came through Cincinnati it did quite a job. No rain but lots of wind. Blew a hatch off of our roof. (Lucky no rain!) Well, glad you're home safe and sound. Give mom a hug!

[Babsey]

Lucy,

You sound exhausted, but I'm happy you are all safe after a very hectic ordeal.

Hope you get some rest!

[harvest_table]

Luce,

Thanks for checking in. I've been wondering about you and your Mothers care during this time and know it's been very difficult to say the least for all of you.

Glad to hear your back home and hope your Mom got through this okay and you all are able to settle back into a somewhat normal schedule soon.

Love,
Joanna

[G'ma Mary]

Lucy;

After way too long being away (and a long time being symptom free), I had a week of symptoms, which brought me back here. When I returned a couple of weeks ago, I missed finding you. I wondered how you fared with Ike.

Glad to see you back and very happy you are safe. However, such an ordeal you and mom went through! WOW!

Good to "see" you again!
G'ma Mary