Hurricane Ike - Page 4

**James R** · #46 09-19-2008, 08:54 PM

Here's another one for those who were concerned about Schlitterbahn Galveston.

BEFORE IKE

AFTER IKE (This was taken by NOAA, just edited and resized by me.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schlitterbahn's Statement

Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark will remain closed as we assess the damage from Hurricane Ike. The waterpark will reopen at a later date. Valid 2008 Schlitterbahn Galveston Island summer tickets may be redeemed at our other locations, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels and Schlitterbahn South Padre Island, this weekend only. All 2008 tickets will expire on September 21, 2008. Our thoughts and prayers are with our Galveston Island Families and Friends.

You can see that the large white tents were damaged, as the fabric covering was ripped off, fragments remaining. If you look just below the biggest one of the right, you'll see a sand volleyball court. I played on that last year (and got an intense sunburn at the same time). All of the panels on the Torrent (the enclosed wave/river) are gone, but I think the park removed them (rolled them up, or took them off) before Ike came. It seems as though, structurally, the rides held through. Hopefully there are no foundational problems hiding beneath. The rivers are full of sea water/crap.

I was actually supposed to go down to the park this coming weekend. My university had discount tickets and had a trip planned. That's not happening...

In other Ike news, here is a neat feature the Boston Globe has on Hurricane Ike. Warning, it's high-res image intensive.

**Leo C** · #47 09-19-2008, 10:38 PM

Wow, the roof did get ripped off like I was guessing would happen. Without the chlorine the lazy river is looking like Geauga Lake. Yuck. Thank you for getting those pics.

KY_THRILLBILLY · #48 09-19-2008, 11:37 PM

I woke up Sunday morning, on a day that I was off from work, and was amazed how windy it was outside. I looked out my window, only to see trees being shaked violently back and forth, while hearing the roar of the wind pound my house. It was absolutley crazy. A lady down the street from me, was taking her dog outside, when a large snapped and fell in her direction. In response, she ran but tripped on the ground, where she avoided the tree but ultimately injured herself requiring a trip to the hospital. In the town of Shelbyville, which is about a twenty to thirty minute drive from my house, their was a ten year old kid killed when he was struck by a tree. His aunt made him cut her lawn, which to me, is rediculous that she would jeopardize his life in such severe weather, pretty much sacrificing his life. The city of Louisville had about 250,000 people lose their power, about 100,000 people are still without power. I dont think I have ever seen so many fallen in trees in my life, their everywhere, streets are lined with them. I also cant remember anytime I witnessed a storm where rain or snow wasnt involved.

**Jimmy B** · #49 09-24-2008, 03:19 AM

Finally got power back and all is well with me. And as CHILLERLC1 (or we can call him Leo C now) mentioned, I had moved to Houston a few months ago with a new job, but due to the impact of Ike, this job will probably be very short-lived and I could very well be headed back home to south Texas this fall looking for new work.

Hurricane Ike is the costliest single storm in Texas history and the second most expensive ever in the Atlantic side, behind only Katrina, some current estimates around $31 billion in damages. Also, it is the third costliest hurricane in US history after the 2005 storms of Wilma and Katrina.

Galveston Island, which took the direct hit of Ike, remains closed and off limits to everyone (visitors and residents) indefinitely. Kemah Boardwalk, located midway between Galveston and Houston suffered near total destruction, but the rides remain in critical condition and the Boardwalk is planned to be revived and the rides that were damaged to be repaired soon. Several million people in southeast Texas lost power for some stretch of time; I believe I heard on radio, 80 percent of Houston lost power immediately after Ike's impact. Houston's tallest skyscraper, the JP Morgan Chase Tower suffered clearly visible and extensive damages from the hurricane force winds with many windows either cracked or completely blown out.

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Hurricane Ike is the third storm to land on the Texas coast this season, the other two being Edouard and Dolly. Of the three, Ike at 110 MPH winds was the most intense, but slightly edging out Dolly's 105 MPH winds as far as sustained winds at landfall go. Both Edouard and Ike, chronologically, impacted Galveston and the Southeast Texas region, while Dolly struck the Brownsville and South Padre Island area.

Hurricane Dolly at the time of its impact was the third costliest storm in Texas history. In the same season, the Brownsville area got hit, and then the Houston/Galveston area got it....both times my hometown of Corpus Christi was spared; however many locals there are now wary that our time could possibly come -- perhaps later this fall; the citizens and local officals are indeed preparing in case their turn comes up this season.

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Now going off topic here, a few of you have asked me privately about my avatar and asked me if I was going to change it after having gone through Ike. My answer is still a resounding NO! Ike is just the latest of several hurricanes I have been through over my lifetime; in fact, my avatar epitomizes my fascination with hurricanes, having studied them in the past, and having experienced them on the Texas coast. That is also why my user name is Hurricane on ThrillNetwork and a few other boards I have registered, which is indicated in my signature below.

Hopefully, we'll hear from the other two Houston-area ThrillNetwork staffers, Byron and James R, and any updates they have to offer.

**Byron** · #50 09-24-2008, 09:22 AM

Galveston opened to residents this morning and there's quite a bit of traffic from people trying to get back in right now. Over 600k people in Houston still don't have power, and about 1200 traffic lights are out around town.

**James R** · #51 09-24-2008, 11:07 AM

There are traffic lights out all over the Houston-area. It's crazy! Some people need to calm down at these now 4-way stops, or they're going to kill someone. Some of the most trafficked intersections in Houston still are not under the control of a stop-light, but a few I've crossed are directed by police officers...

sfft_2108 · #52 09-24-2008, 04:07 PM

I don't know If I were from Galveston that I would want to go back and look at the damage today. There will be a lot of people out looking at the damage, but isn't there a curfew or, and surely there is no place to stay. So what are they going to do with all the people? Send them back to shelter?