Update

It is Friday, and things have been very tense here.  Tides are up, and the entire coast will be getting slammed with winds up to 100 mph.  We have been anxiously waiting for word from all of our family members in Galveston.  As most of you know, that is our home town, and most of our relatives live there.  Billy’s mom has safely been evacuated, as has his sister, her kids and we just got word an hour ago that his elderly aunt has left the island rather late, and they are working their way through Houston to the hill country.  His BIL is part of the recovery team to restore power to the island, so he is in Houston awaiting re-entry to the island as early as tomorrow evening.

Our good friends live on the west end of the island, and Billy talked with them this morning, and they are safe in Houston….but the entire west end of Galveston  is under water.  This means their home is as well.  It is a stilt home, so we are hoping the damage is confined to the bottom level.

The waves are coming up over Seawall Boulevard, and this bodes ill for our family members whose homes are on the next block.  At 61st, the pier is being washed away.  The up-ramp is gone, as is the front of the pier.

Billy, myself and the kids are safe and sound.  Our home has been prepped as much as possible and it looks like it will be fine if Ike takes a turn north.  The boat and trailer……..well, only time will tell.  If we get a big tidal surge, the boat might be damaged and the trailer will have water in it. 

Like I said, it is tense here, but Billy is trying to keep things light.  I keep fretting about the house, boat trailer and such and he keeps saying “It ain’t nothin’ but a thang”. 

Our loved ones are safe, and for this I am grateful.  All the other stuff can be replaced. 

My thoughts are with all those in Galveston we have been unable to get ahold of….hopefully they are all safe on the mainland.