Author Topic: Anybody in touch with Texas flyers right now? (Read 2787 times)

Will Hinton · « **on:** September 13, 2008, 05:45:07 AM »

I know it's probably a bit too soon, but with the hurricane flooding and tornados in the Texas area, I'm wondering if anyone has had contact with any of our guys down there?
Will

Jo Ann Keville · « **Reply #1 on:** September 13, 2008, 06:53:50 AM »

I just heard from Richard Grogan, strong winds trees down and no power. Also from Mark Allen, he is in Austin, pulled his mom out of Galveston so she would be safe.. So far nothing serious as far as injuries go. These two guys posted on StukaStuntWorks so maybe you will hear something here also. That is all I know so far.

Mark Allen · « **Reply #2 on:** September 13, 2008, 06:55:33 AM »

Took my mom and a few of our things out of Galveston the other day. We're safe in Austin right now. Watching the news now and bracing ourselves for what we fear we will see when crews get out this morning. We're just hoping those that stayed behind are ok.

Mark

Ralph Wenzel (d) · « **Reply #3 on:** September 13, 2008, 07:20:16 AM »

We ran - - to Victoria. about 25 miles SW of Houston. No rain, little wind. We're starting to call around to see if we can return home today or tomorrow. The main thing is power.

Ralph

john e. holliday · « **Reply #4 on:** September 13, 2008, 07:34:27 AM »

Here in the KC area we are getting the aftermath of the hurricanes that have been coming inland. 4 days of rain so far and it is no fun doing crossing duty. I just hope those that didn't heed the advice to advacuate don't hae to many problems other than high water. If you look at weather map you will see hurricanes just don't bother the coastal areas. Pray for all, DOC Holliday

Bill Gruby · « **Reply #5 on:** September 13, 2008, 08:04:43 AM »

I just heard from Rich Grogan. A 75 ft. Pine Tree took out the corner of his house. They are in the back side of the eye and it's gettin bad. He and his family are OK though. He has no power and is communicating with his Lap Top on the "Brotherhood Forum" He will stay on line as long as possible. May God watch over all the people in the path of this storm.

"Billy G"

Bradley Walker · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2008, 09:43:23 AM »

My brother in Houston lost his fence.

It is starting to blow here now.

Bill Gruby · « **Reply #7 on:** September 13, 2008, 09:50:15 AM »

A gentleman named Mark Allen just checked in on the Brotherhood Forum. He and his Mom are from Galveston. They left and are in Austin and OK. David Strawn is a Minister is College station. They set up a shelter in the church auditorium and have about 150 guests right now.

Take care Brad this one seems to be getting worse if that's possible.

"Billy G"

I have been tracking the storm from here in Connecticut with this link. I met an awful lot of friendly people in Houston at the 2008 Ringmaster Round Up.

http://www.stormpulse.com

Bradley Walker · « **Reply #8 on:** September 13, 2008, 10:20:59 AM »

We can use the rain... I do not suspect the winds will be much over 50 here. That is not real unusual.

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #9 on:** September 13, 2008, 01:19:10 PM »

This thing was bad. We are truly blessed that we didnt get what the rest of the neighborhood got. A real mess everywhere

BillLee · « **Reply #10 on:** September 13, 2008, 03:53:54 PM »

Galveston and Houston got hammered real bad. (I've been watching the same news media as everybody else!)

The storm came almost due north after clearing Houston. What was left of the eye came over us here just west of Tyler about 2 hours ago (about 3p.m.) We've had a lot of wind and a lot of heavy rain, but the storm is degrading rapidly as it moves north and it doesn't look like there is any major damage in this part of the state. We had the power flicker out once for just a few seconds. That in itself is pretty unusual since around here, extended power outages are not uncommon.

Bill Lee

Brett Buck · « **Reply #11 on:** September 13, 2008, 05:09:16 PM »

Quote from: BillLee on September 13, 2008, 03:53:54 PM

Galveston and Houston got hammered real bad. (I've been watching the same news media as everybody else!)

The storm came almost due north after clearing Houston. What was left of the eye came over us here just west of Tyler about 2 hours ago (about 3p.m.) We've had a lot of wind and a lot of heavy rain, but the storm is degrading rapidly as it moves north and it doesn't look like there is any major damage in this part of the state.

It seemed to stay a hurricane a lot longer than usual this time - it was pretty close to the 75 MPH "break point" when it got to Dallas/Fort Worth area. That's pretty far inland.

This will be the second hurricane remnant to go over my parents house in Hot Springs, AR. The eye (or what was left of it) of Gustav went straight over the top of their house, and this one is going to be pretty darn close, too. Fortunately, while they are on the lake, they are on a very steep hill and the water runs off very quickly.

Brett

Bradley Walker · « **Reply #12 on:** September 13, 2008, 05:56:35 PM »

It basically missed Dallas.

Howard Rush · « **Reply #13 on:** September 13, 2008, 07:26:12 PM »

I tried calling Pat Willcox and Richard Stubblefield, who live north of Houston. I got no answer, but they may be out flying combat. Calls to my uncle in LaPorte, on the coast, don't go through.

Mark Allen · « **Reply #14 on:** September 13, 2008, 08:46:31 PM »

Just confirmed, water in the house in Galveston. Don't know how high it got, but it's still there. Series of phone relays amongst the neighbors to get the info from one of them that stayed. Next door neighbor and his wife survived. Now we wait to see when they'll let us back to see how bad it is and what is left.

Mark

BillLee · « **Reply #15 on:** September 14, 2008, 01:58:33 PM »

Well, Ike is gone on up into the midwest today, but a lot of folks are still in deep doo-doo here in Texas. My son knows that the power is back on at his home in Friendswood (answering machine picked up the phone), but getting back there from here today would be simply impossible.

This morning there was a very heavy line of thunderstorms that went through southeast Texas. Added a lot of water to an area that simply couldn't take any more. Parts of the freeway system are flooded from the combined effects of Ike and more rain.

Spoke to some folks who tried, heading south on I-45. Ran into the back of the traffic jam (stop and go at best) at the 160 mile marker. That's 100 miles from Houston!!! My son and his family are staying here for another day.

Here's an interesting map I snapped off the National Hurricane Center website yesterday afternoon:

Note the coordinates

32.4N 95.3WThe coordinates for my home are

32.355 N 95.533 W
Can you say "Rat cheer!" (Texan for "Right here!")

Regards,

Bill Lee

Steve Scott · « **Reply #16 on:** September 14, 2008, 04:27:48 PM »

I work at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank and have a customer (a commercial bank) in Houston. They closed all of their Houston offices and branches Friday and were going to activate their contingency processing site in San Antonio.

They called me last year when our I35 bridge collapsed to ask if we were OK so I'll have to contact them Monday.

Following the devastating floods in St. Louis last spring, much of the paper currency stored in bank vaults (these are typically underground) and ATM machines was contaminated with pollutants and had to be replaced.

Mark Allen · « **Reply #17 on:** September 15, 2008, 10:51:35 AM »

Just got a call from the next door neighbor in Galveston about 2 hours ago. Brother in law had been (emergency responder access) there an hour earlier and thought the water had only come up to the level of the floor looking around the outside for water marks. Said the house was intact and secure, few shingles missing from the roof.

Neighbor said though, that all the houses there did flood. At least 4 ft of water in our homes. He and his wife spent the night in their house next to ours standing up with the water up to their waists. He says its awful there right now and to let other neighbors know.

Everything is the garage and house will be a total loss. What my mom and I have left other than the house that is standing is in my apt here in Austin. We are thankful that all our family is safe and that at least we are in a comfortable place and can start working to begin our recovery from here.

Mark

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #18 on:** September 16, 2008, 05:23:23 PM »

We survived the storm. Now on generator and throwing major$$ food out of 2 frigs we didnt get to cook. Starting over.Sad situation at the pumps, 2 mile lines..I'll try to post some pixs later now that puter is online.

Will Hinton · « **Reply #19 on:** September 16, 2008, 07:21:49 PM »

All of you in Texas please know that you are in our prayers. I, myself, cannot imagine what it would be like to be starting over at any point in my life as you folks have to do. I also know that you are survivers and will do just that, start over and survive!
God's best for you,
Will

Clancy Arnold · « **Reply #20 on:** September 16, 2008, 07:43:45 PM »

We had a lot of rain and wind Sunday from "Ike". The big thing was the first motorcycle race at the Indianapolis 500 track in 100 years, MotoGp, had to be stopped after 20 of 28 laps because of heavy rain and 60 MPH wind.

Lots of tree limbs down taking power lines. I am lucky that our area is fed power underground. Very few power outages in the 6 years I have lived here.
Clancy

Mike Keville · « **Reply #21 on:** September 18, 2008, 06:18:04 AM »

I've a close contact (non-modeler) in Conroe, TX...just north of Houston...who reported trees down, fence damage, power out, but thankfully no injuries to self or family.

Mark Allen · « **Reply #22 on:** September 20, 2008, 02:07:15 PM »

Thanks Will and to all the rest of you.

Just read that we'll be able to start returning to Galveston on Wednesday of next week. I was able to get there this last Thursday and got into the house and rescued a lot of my mom's clothes and things like pictures and such that amazingly didn't get wet. About 2 1/2 ft of water in all rooms of the house and about 5 ft or so in the garage and my back workshop. Its a mess, but now that I can get back next week and have already heard from the flood insurance adjuster about looking at it all, we can get started. Winter building projects sure are going to be different since the kit for one project and the engine for another are done for now. At least the CF gear from the kit will be reusable. I think I'll have a lot of other building to do first though. I'm going to savor that first flight I get to make again sometime in 2009 or 2010.

Mark

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #23 on:** September 26, 2008, 07:40:22 AM »

Going on day14 without power(except generator). I thought I'd share these images a friend emailed to us..
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/09/the_short_but_eventful_life_of.html

We made out just fine compared to these folks. Don't ever underestimate the strength of the most powerful force on earth-water.