Two Things That Make Me Fret
Thing 1: you wake up in the morning to see that Big Jim Cantore is standing on your local beach.
Thing 2: See Thing 1 and realize that Trump has not appointed a head of FEMA or Emergency Management, but I hear he did call Chuck Woolery to see if he had time to do it between his reverse mortgage and catheter commercials. So there’s that.
I’m sure we’ll be fine here on the banks of the Brazos River, but starting today we will be busy. Our grocery stores have turned in zoos, there is not a battery or bottled water to be found, or a generator left within a 100 mile area.
On top of that, Bubba and I have a political event in Victoria, Texas, today that has not been cancelled. Since both Primo and El Jefe are out of the area right now, I’m turning this joint over to them at least for today.
Enjoy and I will check in when I can. Again, we will be fine.
Had been wondering about you ever since viewing the National Weather Channel. That damn Harvey is going to be spread out between Houston and New Orleans and as far north as Baton Rouge. Ideas: water wings, flotation devices, a big ass boat!
1Be safe, remember the campaign promise, only he can fix everything. So don’t worry about FEMA, he’s got it covered.
2Luckily FEMA does have a confirmed Administrator:
https://www.fema.gov/brock-long
Thankfully the language in PKEMRA requires the FEMA Administrator to have emergency management experience. Fortunately the orange idiot appointed someone who is qualified and respected by FEMA staff. Not sure how he got through.
3Be safe
4I was at a Scouting event in Indiana one week when a storm was coming into Virginia. A young man standing next to me said what you wrote in Thing 1. He had run into him in the grocery store where he worked part time on more than one occasion.
5Prayers for all affected by Harvey.
6I just hope it doesn’t sweep through once, then come back around for Page 2.
(Little Paul Harvey joke for the oldsters.)
Stay safe, and take a dust rag with you to the attic if it comes to that.
7Stay safe, please.
8Wonder if this hurricane will be Trump’s ‘Katrina’.
I hope for the people’s sake it will not be.
Before Katrina hit, the Weather Channel crew pulled out of their New Orleans hotel and headed for one further inland. This really frightened the desk clerk, who asked if she could go with them. (Also the Times-Picayune, I think it is, posted near the height of the storm that they were abandoning ship and would try to make it to a safer place to resume coverage….)
Houston is used to floods and JJ assures us that she’ll be okay where they are, so I won’t worry too much, but best of luck to all.
9Crap on toast! I didn’t even think about FEMA. What the heck. Texas can take care of its own, I hope. I live up in Seguin near San Antonio. I’m worried about the flooding since we live like a hop skip and a dip next to the Guadalupe river. To everyone out on the coast, y’all be careful.
10Good news. On Tuesday 8/22 the Senate confirmed (95-4) the FEMA director. He is Brock Long who ran Alabama’s Emergency Management Agency and was the state’s on-site commander during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. He’ll be a busy fella real soon.
11Let’s hope there’s no reason for Trump to tell the nonexistent head of FEMA he’s doing a “heck of a job, the best job ever.” Maybe Trump could quickly put Fredrick Douglas in charge?
I hope everyone along the Texas coast has a safe home or other shelter to stay over the next few days.
12Here is “the rest of the story” Annabelle Lee, I know for a fact that Juanita Jean and Bubba have a set of serious water wings and that she is a professional level hatch batten-downer! Still we are saying our prayers and crossing our fingers that She and Bubba don’t get up close and personal with the aforementioned Cantore!
13Everybody from Texas and Louisiana take care. I hope it doesn’t turn out to be as dire as it sounds.
14They are about to do a briefing and announce that they believe it’s going to be a Cat 4 when it makes landfall (Former student works for NOAA). 20 – 30 inches of rainfall depending on where you live. Be safe all!
15Just spoke with god-daughters’ Oma (great-grandmother with whom they live) about girls’ mother & new step-father, who live on Bolivar peninsula. They’ve checked into hotel in Galveston (not sure if the island or mainland) which I guess is a bit better.
16The mother of my “almost” god-daughter is talking with her family who live in Corpus about their plans. Heard that evacuation has been recommended. Oh, just remembered that “almost” god-daughter’s father, step-mother, and half-brothers live in Rockport. At least he has several siblings who live in Central Texas who can shelter if need be.
Pat Miller, Brock was confirmed in June. The Senate is not in session.
17I hope people anywhere near the path of the storm evacuate if they can. There is going to be a ton of rain and nowhere for it to go. Not a good idea to “ride it out.”
Predictions are a Cat 3 but these predictions always change. Whatever it is, it will be ugly.
Houston will flood — of course primarily in the economically disadvantaged areas. Mitigation efforts have been pitiful.
All y’all in Harvey’s path (and neighborhood) be careful and stay safe! You’ll be in my prayers.
18Did a 24hr x 24″ in Key West. 4′ of water in Sloppy Joes on Duval. Many ruined cars and houses. I was tending six fishing boats…
19About Mr Brock, the new head of FEMA:
20https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2017-08-23/trump-fema-chief-supports-cutting-coverage-for-flood-prone-homes
Chloebear, I hafta say that Houston is pretty much an equal opportunity flooder. Last year, we had 2 big floods, which severely impacted well-to-do suburbs on the north, west, and slightly-south sides of town. Also roadways near the very upscale Houston Galleria. I could be wrong, but I don’t feel that disadvantaged areas are necessarily more flood prone than other places, around here. And I have lived here 23 years….hoping to stay dry this weekend!
21If you run into my great-niece Natalie in Victoria today, please tell her to get out of Dodge. She insists she’s staying. Her grandmother and I are worried sick.
22