Hurricane Ike Update!!! We are Alive and Well

As of some time in the wee hours this Tuesday morning, the nibbler household started receiving electricity since the coming ashore of Hurricane Ike last Thursday evening.  This power finally allows us to do a quick update and let you know how we are doing!

To start with!  We are all safe and sound, including us, the kids, and the dogs!  We made it through a pretty scary thirteen plus hours of Hurricane Ike. 

When it was said and done, our house faired very well compared to those around us.  We have lost the majority of our fence, some sections of shingles on our roof, and part of our chimney.  The inside of the house did get some minor water damage through the holes in the roof and the fact the wind literally had all of the front side windows and door leaking on all four sides.  Compared to the devastation we see in homes and neighborhoods all around us, we feel extremely lucky and have no complaints.

The aftermath of the storm has been extremely interesting to say the least.  With over two million residences and businesses without power in the nations third largest metroplex for days on end, coupled with a shortage of gasoline, ice, water, and groceries;  the past few days have had a very third world feel!  Finally yesterday after several hours of searching and waiting we had a mini-celebration as we were able to buy some groceries.  Even more exhilaration was felt when late yesterday evening, we got our hands on some ice!!!

After sunset on Monday night, in what unknowingly turned out to be our last in uncontrolled darkness, (crossing our fingers) about thirty of our neighbors gathered in a driveway across the street where a generator, a big screen TV, and a DVD player turned out to be a make shift movie theatre for numbers of tired parents and a multitude of bored kids!  A truly enjoyable moment after a long series of frustrating, tiring, scary experiences!

There is still more to clean up and a lot more work to do, but for now there is at least some air conditioning to make it much more bearable!

Our thoughts go out to the millions more that are still suffering down here around us, and the families of the victims of this tragedy.  The victims that are known, and undoubtedly the more yet to be discovered! 

Mr. and Mrs. Gentlenibbles