I am in Houston

[Lurker Deluxe]

I live in Houston, Champions Forest area, 1960 and Veterans ... for those that know where that is.

I just came back home from watching the Astros game at the local watering hole a few blocks from my place. There were about 10-12 people there with me.

Last night me and several others went out to the area just north of here where it is known to flood. A good friend of mine, who is a hard core R was driving because he has a large Dodge 4X4. We spent about three hours pulling people out of high water just east of Veterans Memorial on Cypresswood ... we know it floods there and know people get caught in it because they do not know better. We pulled about a dozen people out of the space to a safe area. My friend let several of those people crash at his place overnight and I let a couple spend the night on my sofa. This morning we got them home.

While we were sitting around watching the game we were all talking about the storm and the terrible conditions some have found themselves in. No one was bashing the mayor, no one was blaming anyone, everyone was talking about helping the others around them who found themselves in harm's way.

Houston is the most diverse place I have ever lived in my life, and I have been around. The bullshit the media is driving about the blame game is just that, bullshit. The few hundred people who are pointing fingers are the outcasts, the majority of this city is out helping our community and being solid neighbors.

The news is full of people putting boats in the flood waters and getting those in harm's way out of harm's way. Local business is opening up their space for shelter for those in need and the community is doing all they can to get them there. Our local large grocery chain HEB has staged trucks outside of the city with emergency supplies and have made sure their stores are open so people can get what they need.

All the bullshit I am seeing on this site about how Houston was unprepared and not doing what needs to be done are opinions from those who do not live here and have no clue what they are talking about. As of now there has been one, ONE, death due to this massive weather event in Houston ... why are you not talking about that?

To hell with all those who look for reasons to bash when something like this happens. If you are here, get off your ass and help as best you can. If you are not here ... STFU.

My couch is clear right now. I live at 1960 and Veterans Memorial. If you know of someone who is in need in this area let me know and me and my friends will go and get them and give them food and shelter to the best of our ability. If you live in this area and are not in need of help Cypress Creek is breaching at Veterans and those caught in that area need help ... go help if you can.

We will be in the big black Dodge 4X4.

[stonecutter357]

1. K&R

[smirkymonkey]

2. Thank you for your report.

It's good to hear what is really going on for once, instead of all the political bullshit the MSM wants us to believe.

[MLAA]

3. Thank you for all you are doing.

[delisen]

4. Well said!

[defacto7]

5. K&R

Thanks for setting it straight. A personal view from inside is the only real news. Keep safe.

[secondwind]

6. K & R!!

[Texasgal]

7. Thank YOU!

BRAVO!

Please stay safe and THANK YOU for helping your community!

[Warpy]

8. Individuals were unprepared

because they didn't know how to read the landscape and didn't realize it was prone to floods because it looked like every suburb they've ever seen, or they know how to read the landscape but trusted that the house had been there so long that flooding wouldn't happen, or they just thought "it can't happen here." This is who we are and why every flood has people who need to be taken out of houses where the water is rising fast.

At least houses generally have places you can go up, like out windows and onto roofs. If they'd been stuck in their cars trying to get down those flooded highways with nowhere to go but a car roof, the death toll would have been very high. I've visited the Texas DOT site to see the main road cosures, and most of the routes going north and west are flooded out and closed. South is where the storm itself hit, so it's out of the question.

The mayor made the right call. The press needs to stop taking its marching orders from nitwit Republicans from outside the area.

[Dustlawyer]

32. +1!!! THIS

I am 90 miles East of you and my daughter, son-in-law, and grandkids live by Lake Houston. Having been through evacuations for Rita and Ike I know what a living nightmare they are. There is absolutely no way to evacuate the area in time without loss of life.

[calimary]

96. Indeed, I heard a report that many citizens of Rockport assumed that this storm would be

the same as every other storm in the past. That's because every other storm, even the bad ones, somehow always missed Rockport. Thus it was an easy assumption to make, that this time would be no different from all the many other times.

THIS time? Unfortunately, WRONG.

[Blue_true]

9. The problem.

The ABC national news showed nursing home people in wheelchairs in water up to their middle stomach. The news dwelled on that. One image like that is worth 1000 things done right unfortunately. Politicians need to be aware of things like nursing homes and get the ones in low areas evacuated early.

[SweetieD]

12. I don't think that was in Houston city limits? It was in Dickinson Texas. But I could be wrong.

[Texasgal]

14. Dickison is a suburb

of Houston, TX.

Lots of counties and cities outside of Houston have been horribly affected.

[Sluggeaux]

36. Sorry, but that is incorrect.

Dikinson is it's own city seperate from houston, between Galveston and League City. It's not even part of the same county as Houston (Harris County), it's part of Galveston County.

[Texasgal]

37. Many suburbs are not part of Harris County

Houston is HUGE.

[Sluggeaux]

64. I know, I live on South Fry in Nottingham Country subdivision.

I'd agree that it's considered part of the "greater Houston area", but it is not a suburb of Houston. The first and second responses to the OP in this chain are talking about the criticism that Mayor Turner is getting for not ordering mandatory evacuations. Part of the ammunition that the right is using is the horrendous photo of those poor people in the flooded reitrement home.

Dickinson has it's own mayor(Julie Meyers), and its own city councill. Had Mayor Turner ordered the evacuation, it wouldn't have affected the community of Dickinson at all.

Had Mayor Turner ordered evacuation, it wouldn't have affected me. My home is in Harris county, but just across the Houston border and falls in Katy (also has its own mayor), so an ordered evacuation would have had to come from the mayor of Katy.

The Mayor of Houston's authority only extends within the borders of the city of Houston itself. For the purpose of misplaced blame, Mayor Turnor has no accountability for what occurs in Dickinson.

This is the complete extent of Mayor Turnor's authority:

[Blue_true]

87. Great post. Very informative to people from outside the state.

What we need is agressive and unified pushback from the public officials in and around Houston that are being attacked. They could have and likely will improve their planning, but in this case they made the RIGHT CALL. 132 dead people in the Rita evacuation versus 2 so far in a much more violent storm should be all the proof needed.

[Lurker Deluxe]

17. we saw that

And those people have been rescued with no loss of life, that is a success story.

[TreasonousBastard]

10. Watching the news all day, that's what I saw. People with big trucks, boats, whatever it took...

to get their neighbors (and their pets!) to safety. It was one huge community with everyone working together.

No time for politics when you're suddenly living in the middle of a lake.

Curiously, while I saw quite a few Hispanics helping out, I saw no Black survivors or helpers. Some must have been flooded out, but why are they invisible?

[Blue_true]

18. ABC News showed two Black men rescue a woman from California that got flooded in deep water.

It also showed Blacks as part of rescue crews. I don't know what your purpose was, but it seems foul to me.

[Igel]

24. Perhaps just an observation.

You watch one channel, you see where their two news crews are. That's about it.

KPRC sent their crews downtown and out the Braeswood area. Not a hefty black presence there. They got to some points north of there and hit some Latino communities. They commented that they couldn't get up to Greenspoint or some other areas, but other stations based in other parts of town.

Could just be luck of the draw.

The station we're tuned to is defending itself constantly. "Why aren't you in this area?" "Why are you in my neighborhood, it's flooded!?" With an undercurrent of, "You're not here because you're _________ and we're ____________." Meh. Rescues in Greenspoint and NE Houston and in the 5th Ward and in the 3rd Ward and in Braeswood and in Pearland and in the Heights all look exactly the same. What I'd be grateful for is a reasonable map of what's flooded and what's not--the traffic info system looks at freeways and reports, but it would be really nice if the DPS provided something.


If the poster wasn't local they didn't see the wall-to-wall coverage. (And even then, I don't know that I noticed anything about the rescuers. They came in two colors--blue and boat. And the rescued came in one color--wet.)

[ATL Ebony]

53. Like your colors -- blue, boat and wet.

[TreasonousBastard]

43. My "purpose" was simply the observation that I saw no Blacks on the news I watched...

A simple acknowledgement that there were indeed Black people involved would answer any questions I had.

[ATL Ebony]

51. DITTO!!

As has been stated, Houston is huge and most likely cameras just can't cover every instance where people are helping.

[elehhhhna]

21. I'm here, I'm watching the shit 24 seven, you know what the fuck you're talking about

[heaven05]

29. I googled black people

helping in Houston flooding....you don't know what you are talking about...some of the black communities have been hit pretty hard....maybe just maybe they are helping each other since as things usually go they WILL be LAST when it comes to state and federal help....I reiterate, you don't know what you or that other one are talking about..that is scurrilous BS...

[Donkees]

47. ... preacher checking for people inside cars at 610 & 288

Link to tweet

[TreasonousBastard]

44. I suspect hat's a typo and you meant to say I don't know wtf I'm talking about...

when I make the simple statement that after hours of watching I haven't seen any Blacks on TV, that is exactly what I meant.

I haven't seen any.

I thought I made it clear that I was pretty sure there are some involved, but why haven't I seen them...

[elehhhhna]

74. Shove off I've been watching for 48+hours and haven't seen YOU.

Houston is the most diverse city in the US if not the world. Don't start any shit. We don't cotton to this crap.

[KatyMan]

80. Preach it! thank you! n/t

n/t

[heaven05]

25. wtf

are you implying......black people what....???? Say what's on your mind.

[TreasonousBastard]

45. Again, I am implying nothing, simply mentioning I haven't seen Black or black neighborhoods...

in all the news I've watched.

[Lokilooney]

58. Just poked around on CNN

[The_REAL_Ecumenist]

46. Did it ever occur to you that the black folks were NOT being filmed

helping others-PURPOSELY? It has happened before, (OVER & OVER & OVER AGAIN...) so that the meme that we don't help others can be forwarded. WE , (Black people), are just as good a neighbour as the next person....DAMN

[TreasonousBastard]

60. Actually, that was my first thought-- I didn't think it necessary to list all the possibilities...

but the thought certainly did cross my mind that news crews were concentrating on white, middle-class neighborhoods while I happened to be watching.

At any rate, my impression that people working together to help each other out is a good thing, seems to have gotten lost in some racial morass.

[The_REAL_Ecumenist]

66. Yes but unfortunately & too many believe that we don't care or help...

Black folks were FIRST on the scene after the collapse of the Nimitz after the Loma Prieta, trying to render assistance to the poor souls trapped between the 2 decks.. We were a LARGE part of citizen rescue LONG before that idiot, BUSH, sent ACTUAL help to the hundreds of people drowning in NOLA after Katrina, I could go on but I think y understand COMPLETELY...

[TreasonousBastard]

67. I do understand-- I never once doubted the humanity of the black community...

and further understand that too often they do not get the mention or credit they deserve.

[elehhhhna]

75. Stop. The news here is live and they're not editing out the black, Asian, Indian and Latinos.

[The_REAL_Ecumenist]

98. Did I say, 'EDITED OUT"? NOPE! I said NOT FILMED

What about it being LIVE precludes NOT FILMING POC being regular human beings like everyone else? Are you ACTUALLY telling me with a straight face that my point isn't based in HISTORY & REALITY? Bye Felicia...SMDH

[oneshooter]

55. I just spent the last 22 hours helping.

I have a M35 2 1/2ton truck. Sits high and is all wheel drive. Burns diesel and will go anywhere. The local volunteer FD supplied my fuel, I supplied the truck, driver, 2 12' jon boats with motors and 6 life jackets per boat. The FD supplied a "captain" for each boat and had a volunteer for a crew.

I also had a 3gallon coffee jug and cups available ( that didn't last long ). Don't know how many were brought in, but my truck will carry 18 Marines, and I had to refuel twice.

Tired now, and the rain has started again. Good night all.

[TreasonousBastard]

61. Sleep well-- it's a good thing you're doing, and from what I see, everyone's...

lending a hand.

You'll all get through this and the sun will shine again.

[oneshooter]

103. Another long day, another two tanks of fuel'

a tank of fuel is 145gallons. 3 tanks mounted on the frame. This time I brought my field coffee maker, using propane to heat the water, Works like a charm.

Actually got a count of people hauled, 134 this time. More tomorrow. Got 2 of my sons with me. Middle son was a Army Medic so he was a great help. Youngest is 6'4" and bull strong. Great help.

Damn I am tired.

[KT2000]

106. here's to you and your sons -

[Big_K]

108. Keep up the good work and showing the best of humanity

These days it seems like we're missing that a lot. But what I'm seeing in Houston gives me some hope.

You and your sons stay safe, and I'll buy you some coffee when this is all over.

[oneshooter]

110. The rain has stopped and the sky is blue.

All of us are dead tired, the truck is filthy, and we need a break. Was told that I would not be needed tomorrow as the rain had stopped, I told them to call me if needed.

This is what my truck looks like, only mine is dirty.

Good night. Got a truck and boat to clean tomorrow.

[malaise]

71. I saw a few but I did wonder about that n/t

[Texasgal]

11. Lurker:

Are you near here?

Friends posted on FB:

Meyerland friends...my 84 yr old grandmother and mom have evacuated to Kroger on West Belfort and Post Oak with about 50-60 others. They can't get anywhere yet and Kroger refuses to open to allow for people to PURCHASE food/supplies or use facilities while they wait for water to receed to plan next steps. My grandmother has managed to never flood until today when she left her home of 50 years in waist-deep water. Anyone??

[Lurker Deluxe]

15. I am not

I am in North Houston.

Here is a FB site where others are beginning to request help.

https://www.facebook.com/3POFFROAD/

Posting there could get you some help, they are also in North Houston though.

[Texasgal]

16. Thank you.

I'll pass that on.

[voteearlyvoteoften]

13. Kick

Lurker no more. One human family

[Mr.Bill]

19. I've been to Texas a number of times over the years.

Both business trips and visiting relatives who lived there at the time. Most recently in 2014. Mostly DFW, never been to Houston except the airport. As much as I despise the politics of many of the elected officials there, I have always found the people there to be among the nicest and friendliest in the country, and I've been to over 40 states.

Thanks for what you are doing to help those around you and I say that knowing there are people like you all over the area doing the same. It will take good people to get through this crisis and Texas is loaded with them.

[syringis]

20. K&R

And send you all my best thoughts and wishes.

Alas, it is the only thing I can do. Not very helpful.

[Phoenix61]

22. I've lived in the south my entire life

While our politics might suck when the shit hits the fan we are amazingly nice.

[Cryptoad]

23. Zasssirree ,,, Boss!

[samnsara]

26. wow...just wow! Thank you so much..................

[A HERETIC I AM]

27. Outfuckingstanding

Well said, well written and goodonya.

[Igel]

28. So near China Star and Willies.

And Hong Kong Market. And the Half Price Books where I spend far too much time. I assume they're safe.


Good work on the rescues.

Be safe.

[riversedge]

30. Thank you.

[Docreed2003]

31. K&R!!!

Keep up the awesome work and stay safe out there!!

[Paladin]

33. Well said.

And yes, as a matter of fact, I know exactly where 1960 and Veterans Memorial is. My compliments on your stand-up attitude.

[Sluggeaux]

34. Kingsland off of South Fry here.

And you are 100% correct. This brings this city together, and nobody that I know is out and about pointing fingers, much less at our mayor who made the RIGHT decision in not forcing an evacuation.

[KatyMan]

82. Hi Neighbor!

We're a bit southwest, right by Tompkins High School, we've had a ton of rain but good drainage.

I posted about the evacuation thing yesterday and how Turner and the city (and county) were absolutely right. I also posted this on FB yesterday, and it sure applies to OP Lurker:

"Houstonians and surrounding citizens should be so proud of how their neighbors have come out to help each other through all of this. We have an amazing community in these parts, diverse and caring. Houston is America writ local. #HoustionIsAmerica"

Stay safe Sluggeaux...starting to rain again...

[steve2470]

35. excellent post and thank you for helping as much as possible! nt

[Skittles]

38. I'm looking for where to donate

this is pretty cool: I checked the Texas Diaper Bank yesterday, and it had about $6000 raised for a $20000 (pre-hurricane fundraiser) - I checked just now and the total has shot up to $120000

https://texasdiaperbank.networkforgood.com/projects/33717-change-a-life

[Enoki33]

97. Thanks.

[Skittles]

100. oh wow, it is over half a million now!

[barbtries]

39. thank you.

i'm watching a live stream from the area and there is going to be a reservoir release at 2 am that will result in inundation of several neighborhoods. it was on KPRC and i did not get all the details but feel really alarmed that this is all the notice people will get and how many of the affected people may not even have electricity right now, or internet service? i don't know what to do with this information but maybe you can check the proper pages or KPRC's website and you'll know where it is and whether you may be in the area.

you have good people down there Lurker. i'm so sorry this is happening to Houston or that such a catastrophe would ever befall such a large population of people. all the best to you all.

i googled some:

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2017/08/27/army-corps-dams-houston-flooding/
the person being interviewed by phone was a representative of, i believe, the flood control district.

[paleotn]

40. Here, here....

Screw the arm chair rescue coordinators and their 20/10 hindsight. The Houston area has no time for that shit right now. Hat's off for doing what you can for those in need and stay safe yourself!!

[sandensea]

41. God bless you and yours.

I'm not religious; but I'm praying for the good people of Houston.

[The_REAL_Ecumenist]

48. That is SO sweet...Blessings on you and yours...

SandEnSea

[sandensea]

49. Likewise!

[DesertRat]

42. K&R

[nature-lover]

50. Map of Texas Road Closures

Last edited Sun Aug 27, 2017, 10:51 PM - Edit history (1)

Thank you from a fellow Texan. The world needs more like you! FYI:Texas DOT has a website that shows road closures due to flooding. It can even drill down to farm roads and neighborhoods. https://drivetexas.org

[Rhiannon12866]

69. Thanks for the helpful post!

We also have a Texas Forum here, you might want to add this there, as well. And welcome to DU!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1078

[nature-lover]

86. Thank you!

Thank you for the warm welcome! I am unable to add this to the forum because I do not have the required number of replies. If you would like to add this, please feel free. I think this is valuable information for the evacuation and relief effort.

[gopiscrap]

111. welcome to DU

[kiras gg]

52. Harvey/Houston

I live in Houston (Champions Forest area). We have a neighbor who could not make it home from Europe and several of us have gone to her house to move as much furniture and belongings as we could to the second floor in case Cypress Creek went into her house. That is what we do; help one another. That is what we as Americans, Texans, Houstonians do. We help one another.

[DesertRat]

57. That's really lovely! Welcome to DU

All the best to you and your neighbors in Houston

[NBachers]

62. Welcome do DU, Kiras gg, and good on you for looking out for your neighbor -

I know you've got plenty of your own work to do.

[Control-Z]

89. Welcome to DU, Kiras gg!

Thank you for helping your neighbor. That is what we do.

[gopiscrap]

112. welcome to DU Stay Safe

[Hortensis]

54. Love your post -- a view of reality. Either CNN or MSNBC

(didn't notice) did do a segment this evening on a group going to work on their neighborhood, hauling away branches, etcetera, so it'll be in better shape when their neighbors return. This always happens in various areas, and it's always wonderfully reassuring to hear about.

The biggest bias in MSM by far is toward fostering the fear, discontent, and hunger for sensational entertainment that draws viewers. And the biggest threat. We are a great nation in so many ways, but most who try to use the screen to be informed really don't know it.

Wish I could make up some sandwiches for you guys, and whomever.

[LiberalArkie]

56. Best Coverage

[LeftInTX]

107. Thanks for posting this...I've been sweating bullets over that Addicks, Barker Dam stuff

This makes me feel better. It seems like their rescues and evacuations are fairly well controlled. To those of us who don't live there it can seem like "the whole place is flooded". I live in San Antonio and whenever one of our dry creeks overflows...it gets picked up by the national media and it looks like the whole city is underwater.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

59. I have visited Houston once or twice in the distant past,

so I know it slightly. With far more emphasis on "slightly" than on "know".

I recall reading some years ago that Houston was already prone to flooding and it would be getting a lot worse in the future because it's flat, and the extensive growth means that ground that used to absorb water has been paved over. I'm sure that's a problem in other places, also. I would not be surprised if Houston doesn't really have much of a storm drainage system, and if I'm wrong about that, advance apologies for my ignorance.

I used to live in Tucson, AZ. That city also does not have a storm drainage system, although certain streets have been built so as to provide rainwater drainage. Two major east-west roads become underpasses under the railroad tracks just north of downtown, Stone Ave and 6th Ave. During the summer monsoons they fill up with water, and it's not uncommon for people to drive into them and drown. Especially if they are tourists or new to the city. And I'm talking rainfalls less than what's just happened in Texas by several orders of magnitude.

[Honeycombe8]

63. Sending good vibes your way, Lurker. Hope they get there. Karma. nt

[Lifelong Protester]

65. Thanks for that.

That's all one can say, is thanks.

[MrModerate]

68. The mayor said that trying to evacuate 6.5 million people . . .

. . . Would have resulted in an even greater disaster -- and he's right.

Houston has a pretty good road system, but an evacuation would have been madness. Most of the people would still be stuck on the roads by Friday.

[Skittles]

70. I wondered why they didn't evacuate so I listened to his explanation

it sounded very reasonable to me

[obamanut2012]

72. He is right

[cwydro]

73. K and r.

I've been through hurricanes.

I hate those who speak from afar about how they know best.

[Lebam in LA]

76. K&R

Thank you for sharing your story . Not fond of Texas in general but love Houston. Hope this is over soon and all those affected stay safe throughout the state/region.

[Not Ruth]

77. Are consumables (gas groceries) being restocked, mail getting through, school and work open?

Power is on to keep food fresh?

My understanding from this post is that flooding is very localized and still manageable by neighbors.

I see that the first day of school (today) was postponed, do you expect schools to start this week?

Good luck.

[KatyMan]

84. Most schools cancelled for the week

something like 20 post offices are closed in the general area, though I think they're mostly rural.
We haven't lost power in our area, but lots and lots of people in town are without.
Not sure about grocery stores.
Edit to add here's what a Texas grocery chain called HEB is doing: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/2017/8/27/heb-rolls-out-disaster-relief-convoy

[Liberal In Texas]

88. Good on HEB.

Have to make sure I shop with them more often.

[angel823]

78. Agree

Getting kinda tired of folks who don't know the area making judgments about our "preparedness".

I have lived in the Houston area for 40 years. I was here during Alicia, Allison, Rita and Ike, when many folks attempted evacuation.

If your area normally floods, you should have had enough sense to leave if at all possible, regardless of what Mayor Turner did or did not order. Logistically and economically this isn't possible for everyone.

People panic, and if you order an evacuation for those in flood-prone areas, many folks who probably don't need to evacuate WILL evacuate in panic, further clogging the roads.

I have an 11 year-old daughter, 3 dogs and 5 cats. No way I would evacuate and get stuck with them in a car on a freeway overpass somewhere for 12-24 hours or more. Not that being stuck in a house with rising water would be better, but there are no "good" options here, just educated guesses for everyone at a public and private level, based on history and experience.

I support Mayor Turner and his handling of this event.

[jl_theprofessor]

79. I live here too

Houston is doing a great job responding considering the amount of flooding that's happening. I'm in the River Oaks area and safe from the worst of things, but I can't really leave the area due to surrounding floods.

[alarimer]

81. Thanks for this.

I haven't heard the negativity much, but you are right, people from outside have no idea what it takes to prepare for something like this. Really, it's almost impossible.

This storm was massive and developed quickly. You also cannot possibly evacuate millions of people in a couple of days. It CANNOT BE DONE. During the evacuation for Rita (which as I recall took much longer to develop), millions of people were stuck on the roads for over a day. They would have drowned in their cars and the toll would have been much, much worse.

Houston is essentially built on a swamp. There is nowhere for the water to go. Development makes flooding worse, all that concrete and blacktop and lack of zoning does further damage, but that's not the fault of the people who live there. I'm not sure officials can even plan for a 500-year flood. All of us, everywhere, are living on borrowed time from one disaster or another.

[B2G]

83. Thank you for saying this.

I've seen some posts that have made my blood boil.

The latest one about wondering if Texas might go blue is Trump screwed up the response about finished DU for me for the week. It sounded so hopeful...that millions of lives would be messed up if that came to pass seemed to be of no consequence whatsoever.

Stay safe and thank you so much for your efforts.

[lillypaddle]

85. Nothing like

back seat quarterbackers, eh? Um, I think that is a mixed metaphor, but you get the picture.

Stay safe, Houston.

[Lithos]

90. Thank you!

I'm in Austin, have many friends in Houston. I do want to highlight some very good things you are saying:

1) Neighbors do help neighbors, goes without saying. From helping stranded people, to crash spaces, to volunteering. Even local cities outside of the weather area here in Texas are sending their crews into the affected areas to help.
2) Local companies such as HEB do take it very seriously about keeping open and helping the communities they serve. They know how much people depend on them and they in turn do their very best to not abuse this trust.


Do disagree with your statement about not being prepared. I think the local community was prepared and is responding beautifully. I do think the politicians (Abbott and Trump) were not prepared and are using this for their political gain. And I also think they will claim the success of the community as their own.

L-

[Lurker Deluxe]

92. We will have to agree to disagree

I am not going to post a bunch of pictures, I was up late and have been involved in to much over the last two days to even begin to describe what is going on.

The group is meeting for lunch at 2pm and we will be heading across Strack to Champions Forest Dr and back to the area along Cypress Creek to do what we can. At this stage there is not much else that can be done. Cypress Creek is out of it's banks and is impassible, even with a boat it is crazy dangerous from water flow alone, debris just adds to the chaos.

The local police (Champions Forest PD) has been great in helping to coordinate the volunteer effort and telling us where we will be the most help. They have also been the go to group for when we find ourselves in a situation that is to dangerous for us, and them, to get the help needed.

The National Guard has been here since the beginning and were staged to respond.

Last night we saw a SUV get pulled into Cypress Creek just north west of Cypresswood, the ground just came out from under it and before you could blink an eye it was in being pulled into the creek. There was a family in it. We were on the south side of the creek and the local PD on the north, we attempted to follow the vehicle on the bank but there was just to much water. They were goners, you could just feel it. Around the bend came the boat, no BS boat now, the f'n National Guard in it's glory. 30' twin engine open bow bay boat, lit the area up like it was high noon, was on that SUV and got those people out so fast it was like watching a TV show.

Two large military trucks pulled up to where we were and 20+ jumped out, put up barricades, were back in that truck and down the road. The boat was gone back around the corner. Cypress Creek is barricaded on every street on both sides for miles, with live police manning major roads stopping people from getting anywhere near the creek.

This is being called "the worse flood in the history of the USA" and so far there have been two deaths ... fucking two.

TWO! Both from people in their vehicles.

If you think that is happening because the state was unprepared I have to tell you ... you are wrong. Period.

I am no fan of either, and truthfully Trump has nothing to do with what is going on here and needs to stay the hell away from Texas. Abbott is certainly a dickhead and an opportunist but as far as I can tell the state was prepared as best it could be and the assets and organization for the rescue efforts are top notch. The amount of water flowing through Houston right now is crazy f'd up and now all three lakes are dumping and all major retention areas are dumping because this jackass of a storm is circling around and lining up for a direct hit on Houston in a day or so.

The media can not get to where this kind of stuff is happening because no one can get anywhere, it is volunteers, local pd/fire, county pd/fire, state agents, and when all else fails the National Guard is here to back all of us up with both people and equipment that civilians just can not possibly provide. How much of the preparedness is due to local police/fire, county police/fire, or state agencies can be debated by some twits on TV when this is over but right now out on the streets there are volunteer, local, city, county, state, and guard units working side by side to prevent the loss of life.

Unprepared ... not today, not yesterday ... and damn sure not tomorrow.

[Lithos]

93. We said the same thing

If you think that is happening because the state was unprepared I have to tell you ... you are wrong. Period.

I am no fan of either, and truthfully Trump has nothing to do with what is going on here and needs to stay the hell away from Texas. Abbott is certainly a dickhead and an opportunist but as far as I can tell the state was prepared as best it could be and the assets and organization for the rescue efforts are top notch. The amount of water flowing through Houston right now is crazy f'd up and now all three lakes are dumping and all major retention areas are dumping because this jackass of a storm is circling around and lining up for a direct hit on Houston in a day or so.

Or at least that's what I meant. I'm not criticizing the National Guard at all, nor the Red Cross, Local PD/FD, Local Utilities (the Electrical Companies - at least here in Austin have been amazing), TxDOT, nor any number of organizations who are first responders to natural disasters such as these. I was critical of Abbott, the Texas Lege (who passed the insurance bill which will screw most who were damaged, and of course Trump and FEMA who have not showed up. I'm also critical of what is going to happen post Harvey when people need help to rebuild - it will be very limited at best.

L-

[Lurker Deluxe]

95. Well ...

The guard units could not be here unless Abbott put them here, they can not just do what they want. As we all learned in Katrina the guard has to be called in by the state.

FEMA can not do jack right now, they can not get here. Houston is underwater, there are no roads in or out that are passable. We will live or die by who and what is here for the next week depending on what this storm does. We have not run out of food or water, shelters are not overfull, gas is available, and for the most part utilities are up.

I do not see how you can second guess what Abbott has done ... what else do you think he should have done? Saying the state was unprepared because Abbott is a dick and has/will jack us over on insurance and help after the fact does not negate the level of organization I am seeing on the ground.

National Guard is here, assets seem to be where they are needed, rescue response has been effective, and so far we have very few casualties. So far, I would call this a success story as far as loss of life ... which is the ultimate measure of a disaster like what we are in the middle of.

[Lithos]

99. Abbott did not approve the guard until today

He is about 48 hours too late. What I think you are seeing are either local units, or specialized units from other states.

[Lurker Deluxe]

109. whatever

I saw the trucks, I saw the people, I was there ... and I am still here. Abbott called in the FULL guard Monday, once he knew where they needed to go. I can separate my political views from what is really happening when it is happening on the ground.

Your goal is to make this political and bash ... fine, have fun.

I've got work to do.

[Hortensis]

104. Thank you so for your vivid descriptions from your part of the scene, Lurker.

I confess the middle of a great emergency is not my favorite time for looking for stones to throw. Beautiful, wonderful Houston is built on a swamp near the Gulf Coast. The worst turned out to be worse than almost anyone reasonably expected. Okay. In a climate change world, turns out hurricanes can and sometimes do stall in place. In retrospect, virtually every adult among the seven million and more people involved would have altered some of their decisions based on what we know now. If nothing else, upped the insurance and shipped the piano and themselves to relatives.

It's 10:44 p.m. now. I hope all of our people down there are doing okay and have dry beds.

[calimary]

91. What a remarkable story.

There are angels among us. And thank Heaven for that. Thank YOU, too, Lurker Deluxe.

[hamsterjill]

94. As a sixth generation Texan, my thanks to ANYONE doing something to help.

All of the bullshit can wait. Now is not the time. People are dying. Animals are dying.

We can hash out the crap later.

[Lotusflower70]

101. Kudos

To you and yours who are showing the true American spirit. When crisis comes, we work together to get the job done. You are making a difference. Stay safe.

[marybourg]

102. Do you Houstonians feel that the local TV stations

are collecting and disseminating the kind of hard information people need? I've been watching since Saturday, and it seems to me to be mostly human interest stories, but little hard info, like what roads should the people ordered to evacuate tonite take? Where can they get gas? Which shelters are taking special needs people, etc., etc.

I'm sure they're broadcasting what they're being told, but they don't seem to digging for it, or acting as a clearinghouse of info.

[Quayblue]

105. Every random person has something to say

Unless they face it themselves.

Godspeed.