<p>Well, it has been an interesting few days. Clear Lake was left behind on Thursday for further inland in Houston. Friday, we decided to head to Austin, and today we moved over to Aggieland (College Station).</p>
<p>We hear that Clear Lake City (where we live and where NASA-JSC is) received wind damage mostly. There were many broadcasts made from the Nassau Bay Hilton where one side of the building lost much stucco and the lobby windows were destroyed - it is about 1/4 mile from my office at the space center.</p>
<p>Anyhow, our neighborhood is still without power and we have been asked to refrain from returning yet. So, Aggieland will remain home for tonight.</p>
<p>I hated missing the football game, but it didn’t seem so smart to head up toward Dallas.</p>
<p>I hope that all of my fellow Houston area and other Gulf Coast folks are well.</p>
<p>Power just came back here in Cypress (northwest of Houston). Disappointed that our son couldn't come home this weekend for the game as planned, but he was definitely safer there. Only minor damage to our home/yard, but many large trees are down in the area, some on cars and houses. Retail businesses/gas stations are slowly starting to reopen. No school until at least Thursday due to wind/water damage in some buildings.</p>
<p>We had some wicked wind for our area last night which blew down all my tomatoes, peppers and other garden delicacies, blew our garbage cans about 1/8 mile down the road, etc. Even blew off a few shingles. Nothing like a hurricane though; I can't imagine 100 mph winds sustained for a whole day or more. Incredible that anything is still standing. Testament to building materials and practices.</p>
<p>Well, here is North Central Texas (Possum Kingdom Lake) all we received was a little rain (1/4 inch) and a whole lot of humidity. Hope all you folks in the South East part of the state and others in Ike's path are ok and that you recover quickly.</p>
<p>Wow! We are about 50 miles west of Houston and I am telling you, if we had been on the "dirty" side of the storm we would not be so lucky right now. If anyone says a Cat3 or larger is on the way next time - I am out of here!</p>
<p>We are safe, have electricity back and no damage to any property except one backyard gate blew out and four small trees blew over but were fairly easy to upright again. Most of the damage to our neighborhood and surrounding areas was to shrubbery, trees, fences, small buildings like the snack shack at the high school football field - splintered.</p>
<p>Soaringdad, and others, please let us know how you are when you can get back to us. We are thinking of everyone.</p>
<p>Update: Went down to Clear Lake today. Our home still does not have power. Some tree limbs were down, lots of debris in the yard and the back yard fence is a shambles. Parts of the roof looks suspect (shingle damage). However, our tropical fish survived (we transported them to a friends house who has power). Spent the afternoon cleaning up and I am now back in Aggieland (we did not know what the house would be like, so we did not give up the room - I am back to sleep and retrieve the computer.)</p>
<p>Wife and younger son stayed in Clear Lake with friends who are also hosting the fish. There is no good estimate on when power may be restored (from 1 day to six weeks is not a very good estimate IMHO). Anyhow, the plan is to head back tomorrow. We have another friend who is loaning us a generator and a window AC, so we will have a "cool" room to sleep in.</p>
<p>We were very fortunate - no flooding and nobody hurt. My heart goes out to those in Galveston and the upper coastal areas of TX and LA.</p>
<p>Other than perhaps early tomorrow, I am not sure when I will be posting again - 1 day to six weeks?</p>
<p>NASA-JSC is still closed and I am hearing it may be next week before reopening. ISS control was moved to other locations (Austin, TX; Huntsville, AL).</p>
<p>I can tell you that buying a generator works like a charm. We bought one just before that evil Y2K. We haven't lost power for more than 10 minutes ever since! I think the lower half of Indiana & Ohio all lost power on Sunday night from Ike, some are still out. We live in NW Ohio and all because we have a generator the power stayed on.</p>
<p>Yes, we too are without power in Cincinnati. A weird cold front merged with the fringe of Ike on Sunday and brought 4 hours of wind gusts that took out hundreds of old and beautiful trees. We should be up and running in the latest: a week. I still feel for those of you in the flood ed areas. We only have to endure one week and less cleanup.</p>
<p>No generator yet; however, I plan to get a good one!</p>
<p>Power came back a couple of days ago. Internet service and land-line phone a day followed the next day. We are fortunate as the folks across the street from us do not have power yet. The estimate is slightly more than 50% in the metro area now have electricity. </p>
<p>We are waiting on the insurance adjuster for estimates on the fence and roof.</p>
<p>Everyone is pitching in to try to get life back to normal. As I mentioned in the previous post, Galveston and the coastal areas were hit very hard.</p>