After reading story after story about the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, I still can't fully imagine what it would be like to go through something like that. Although we did feel the 'after-effects' of Ike early Sunday morning, it was some wind and rain; that's it. We didn't lose power, and although there was some flooding, it was NOTHING like they have experienced in Texas.

I try to compare going through the ice storm in 2007 to what they are going through in Texas, and it's just not the same. Sure, we lost electricity, but you could just put your food in a cooler, add the rest of the ice in your freezer and set it on your back porch. It was cold enough outside to keep it from spoiling. You could still drink the water, and if you were lucky enough to have a gas water heater, you could still take a hot shower.

Heat? Yeah, it was cold. So unless you had a generator hooked up to your furnace, or had some other heat source, it was cold Cook? Well...you could improvise and if you didn't mind the cold, heat up the grill outside and cook, or perhaps if you were lucky enough to have a gas stove, use that. (or like in our case, Billy actually started our fireplace and heated water in a teapot!)

However, we didn't have to wait in line for water, ice or even those 'ready-to-eat' meals. Generators were in short supply, but I believe most that needed them were able to get them. (or course there were some that chose to STEAL them from other houses, or railroad crossings!) We were lucky in that some areas of the city had power so you could usually find a restaurant or grocery store open. So, no; I can't even comprehend what it would be like to try and survive like they are having to.

Our pastor's family lives in the Houston area, and are apparently doing okay. Our pastor's wife has a sister that recently moved to the Houston area, and her family came up here to escape the storm. They have since found out that their house has been damaged by trees, but cannot get back down to see just how bad the damage is.

So it's hard for me to fathom just what it's like to live through a disaster like Ike...or ANY hurricane for that matter!! We just have to dodge the tornadoes here!!