The damage of Hurricane Ike

On Sunday March 22, we drove into Galveston which did not at first glance appear to have overwhelming damage.  One would see a business with a sign torn but that is not too much and then one noticed that buildings were closed because the roof had been damaged, or a wall was torn. At the same time hotel after hotel were closed and we realized that signs to indicate "Now Open" were critical pieces of information.  Later we rode the ferry to the Bolivar Peninsula where the damage was severe.  Some homes are being rebuilt now but there remains debris along the road side yet to be taken away.  One wonders at the sense of rebuilding on the beaches.  The delight for those living there is surly worth it but what is the cost to the country and the land and the sea?

In Galveston in the poor area for African Americans the damage to their homes has beentaking place over years of neglect through lack of repair money.  These people one can imagine do not carry insurance for the rebuilding of their homes.  The desparity is too evident and does not seem to be part of a free, jobs for all democratic America.

We stopped for lunch at a road side trailer kitchen on B olivar Island, as most businesses were not yet repaired or rebuilt.  Two Harley-Davidson motorcyclists were also having lunch, a man with white hair and a young woman.  As they rose to leave we both assumed that the fuchsia coloured bike belonged to the woman but to our surprise the woman climbed on the larger bike as the fellow climbed on the smaller fuchsia bike which did not immediately start.  Lesson: do not make assumptions.

Our last portion of this scouting trip was to look at the historic district.  There were two cruise ships at dock so a number of pedestrians and hence shoppers.  The high water mark for Hurricane Ike in this district was fifteen feet which would ruin the inventory of shops and close businesses.  Each side of the street had several historical markers describing the architecture of the buildings and the damage of previous hurricanes and fires.  A number of businesses have reopened and new ones begun.  What tenacity!