Aftermaths of Ike (in my area)

So, as many of you know, we (my family and I) rode out Hurricane Ike as it made it's way through the gulf of mexico and up the gulf coast. It was loud and disruptive, to say the least. I really wasn't expecting it to be as bad as it was. Never again will I stay when there's a mandatory evacuation in my area. During the storm, I felt the way I feel when I'm on a roller coaster at it's peak...wishing I could turn back and never get on the damn thing to begin with.

We, the people in Jefferson & Orange County, Texas, were on a bad end of the storm, the east end. Many tornados branched off of the hurricane and did most of the damage in our area, but when it came to Bridge City and Orange, most of the damage was due to the storm surge (water rising from the river up into peoples yards and homes).

My house is fine, a few missing shingles, some siding fell off of our little building in our back yard, but we were extremely fortunate. Around my house there are houses with trees on top of them, big huge pieces of siding and roof missing, fallen fences, fallen chimneys and water damage.

My sisters' house, which is located in Bridge City got at least a foot of water in it (and it's on peers). The water surrounding Bridge City rose at least 10 feet. The road ways were blocked to my sisters' house so we took a boat up to her neighborhood.

So far, there have not been very many deaths reported, but we'll have to wait to see if the numbers rise once they can get into peoples' houses.

(Local convenient store's air conditioner dangling from the roof)

(Bridge City boat house under water)

(A house in Bridge City)

(Another house in Bridge City...you can see on the ply wood where the water had been)

(My sister, Chrystal, and her husband, Aaron, in their kitchen)

(A bird that got caught in a fence during the storm.)

(The polluted water after the storm)

(My sisters' backyard after the water receded)

(My sister on the phone with her neighbor...whose house is in the background)

(Our foot prints in my sisters' muddy hallway)

(Another house in Bridge City. You can see on the brick where the water had risen)

(Power lines that had fallen on Ave. H in Nederland)

(A broken boat house)

(A dead bird in my neighborhood)

(A chimney that had fallen off one of our neighbors' houses)

(Even though my cousins' apartment was alright, this is an end of their complex)

(It's important that I also that I thank my cousin, Gracie, and my sister, Jodi, for documenting the aftermath with me...a couple of which are in this post.)

I'll continue to update you with what I know, but that's it for now.
Thank you for your concern for the well-being of people affected by Hurricane Ike.
If you're interested, this is a link to our local news.

I'm sorry for all those who have lost their homes and have been displaced due to the hurricane or tornados, I'm sorry and I hope that you will find peace and hope within yourselves in the near future.

Peace, Love, & Hope

Jessi Hebert

www.jessihebert.com

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." Gandhi

"Take a hike, Ike!"

I'm pretty sure nothing good comes from hurricanes, other than an appreciation of your life and the material objects you posses. And, of course, a clear realization that Global Warming exists and is reeking havoc all over the place.

The cities along the Gulf of Mexico are, for the 3rd time this season, being threatened by a hurricane. First Edouard (on my birthday), then Gustav (on Labor Day weekend), now Ike.

Many people in my area have decided to stay this time around. Maybe it's because Edouard and Gustav were supposed to be bad and hardly touched us, or because it's supposed to hit Galveston, and we'll just get the fall off, but one thing is certain: I'm tired.

I'm tired of rushing to the gas pump and the grocery store and fighting the long lines and crowds, I'm tired of being forced to watch the weather all day and night, I'm tired of my jobs being post-poned or canceled due to the weather, and ABOVE  ALL ELSE, I'm tired of being scared.

Enough about that shit, how about some GOOD NEWS?

I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT!!!!!!!!

My older sister, Chrystal, is pregnant!

I've been knowing for about a month but have had to keep it secret because Chrystal, and her husband, Aaron, wanted to be able to tell Aaron's parents before I told the whole world!

It's been difficult, but I'm a great secret keeper.

As you can see, Jodi's happy to be an aunt, too!

Chrystal and Aaron's way of telling us was through my mom's birthday present. :)

Very cute!

Everyone's especially happy because this is the first grand-baby and nephew/niece in our family! I'll definitely be updating everyone on the progress of Chrystal's soon-to-be big belly.

Other than all of that, I've been having a good time at my parents lake house and I have pictures to show it:

(me hydro-sliding...well, trying to get up on the hydro-slide)

(My dad really loves the lake!)

(My mom bailing out before a big wake..)

(Aaron and his brother, Chris, skiing!)

(Aaron going under Chris' ski rope)

Well, I was going to add MORE pictures, but blogger's being an ass-face.

Shout-outs:

I miss all my old roommates and some additional friends from Massachusetts!

I miss Kara and Val and Lanea and Christi and Jen from Ranger!

Happy Birthday Paw-Paw!!

Congratulations Chrystal and Aaron on your pregnancy!!!

Okay, so I'll let you know how Hurricane Ike goes later on!

Miss you!

Love you!

And if you're riding the storm out like my family, I wish you the best of luck and I hope nothing bad happens to you, your family, or your house.

Peace, Love, and Hope!

Jessi Hebert

www.jessihebert.com

"In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything FALSE about HOPE."

-Barack Obama