Check your zip code for power, water

Here's a handy service we've been making available for several days now.  You can enter your zip code to see what other people in your area are reporting as far as power, water, damage, etc.  The database was created by a Rice University student, and made available to us.  

The Cavalry Arrives from Austin

After hearing of the shortages of water and food in Houston, the general manager of KTBC FOX 7 in Austin, Dan Baker, decided to help us out.  He filled a truck with pallets of water, ice, perishable and non-perishable food, and drove the truck HIMSELF from Austin to our loading dock.  These pictures don’t show all the ice and frozen foods we unloaded and stashed away.  Way to go KTBC! 

Paul is dead, man…. miss him, miss him, miss him

I’m not sure what made me pull off I-10 at the Taylor exit to check on the Beatles… but I had a strange premonition that even they weren’t untouched by Hurricane Ike.  What I found reminded me of a homicide scene… everyone gathered around a body, the corpse covered to protect it from curious eyes. 

UPDATE: Macca's face was damaged by the fall, so it may be a while until we see him back in his place. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1710915.ece

Take a Break

We've just wrapped continuous coverage. 110 hours straight. We'll continue with updates and extended coverage tomorrow. Because We Are Your Gulf Coast Weather Authority!

Still Going

Still on the air, 108+ hours and counting. I've sat in for audio, graphics, prompter, floor director and I've shot video of damage in my neighborhood. The most sobering moment came this morning as we watched live SkyFOX video of the devastation on the Bolivar Peninsula. Nothing but mud and debris, with the empty pilings poking up.

A personal look at the damage came this afternoon from my wife. She sent me a photo from today of the Crystal Beach area where her aunt and uncle built a beach house decades ago. The first photo is from before Hurricane Ike hit. The house just below the "H" in Holiday Drive was built by Joe Capello for his family. In the bottom photo it stood just north of the red arrow.


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A Grim Reminder

I was just listening to  Rep. Kevin Brady discuss what he's seen in his district in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.  One of the things he mentioned was seeing bodies lying in the street.  The bodies were from a nearby cemetery.  I guess it shows two things... that nature is no respecter of the dead, and don't count on finding your ancestors where you left them.

Same horse, different saddle

I was snagged by audio op Sammy Valdez to keep his seat warm while he handled some tech matters in the studio. That brief training I got on the audio board years ago is coming in handy this weekend.