Hurricane Harvey Archives - View from the Front Porch

15 07, 2024

And Then Came Beryl

By judythemorgan|2024-07-14T16:33:35-05:00July 15th, 2024|Make Me Think Monday|1 Comment

Photo: www.outlookindia.com

Hurricanes and Tropical Storms are a way of life here on the Texas Gulf Coast. And, there have been some doozies.

Hurricane Alicia in 1983 The area hadn’t seen a hurricane in three years and this one packed a wallop – 21 deaths, and NO power for twelve days.
Tropical Storm Allison (2001) Another doozy that hung around for four days dumping rain that flooded the Texas Medical Center. Allison was the flood of record for the Houston area before Harvey (2017) which was the worst flood storm in US history.

During hurricane season, weathermen track disturbances from the African coast. When the whirling winds head into the Bay of Campeche, our serious storm preparations begin.

Beryl (2024) looked harmless as it crossed into the Gulf of Mexico. We prepared but didn’t worry. Then the storm picked up steam, became a Category One hurricane, and turned westward toward our part of the coast.

Beryl fooled us when it came ashore at 4 a.m. unleashing powerful wind and intensified over us. Trees swayed and tumbled. Water rushed. Power lines went down. Homes lost electricity. Hospitals ran on backup generators for days. Thankfully, our whole house Generac kept us powered. Sadly, there are still homes without power today.

Seven people died in Texas, and 2.5 million customers were without power.

Beryl was the first storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season to make landfall in the US. Scary to think we have four more months to go.

There have been other Beryls. Beryl in 2012 was a Tropical Storm that hit the Southeastern coast over Memorial Day weekend, ahead of the June 1 official opening date for hurricane season. That storm’s powerful winds knocked out power across the region and dumped 4 to 12 inches of rain.

Beryl in 2018 was the first Atlantic hurricane that year. It intensified quickly from a tropical depression to a Category 1 hurricane. The remnants of Beryl brought gusty winds, rough surf, and dangerous rip currents to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Nice name Beryl, but its reputation is awful and scary. I’d suggest picking a different name for the next Hurricane season.

Texas, My Texas

By judythemorgan|2018-04-07T13:10:47-05:00April 9th, 2018|Make Me Think Monday, Writer's Life|4 Comments

I recently changed my FB banner. I know, I know. FB is a touchy subject these days, but in order to connect with readers I keep an active FB presence. But I digress…

I chose a Texas bluebonnet picture. It’s the one you see on the left. When I think of Texas, I think of bluebonnets. I missed them when I lived away.

Famous Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) Wildflowers.

Texas is bluebonnets. People also associate the state with Lone Star beer, cowboys and rodeos, astronauts and space centers, cattle and the Texas Medical Center.

Texas is a very diverse place. Same thing’s true of a Texan and I’m not talking about the football team players.

We all have a picture in our heads when we think of a native Texan. Usually it’s someone with a cowboy hat and boots, but there’s more to a Texan and even Texans who never wear cowboy boots.

Hurricane Harvey gave images of real Texans and not many of them wore Stetsons. The folks in those pictures looked like anyone else helping their families and neighbors when hard times strike.

Texas has its own language, Texas-speak. A whole slew of vocabulary that can have folks scratching their heads. I just used a Texas-ism—slew, meaning a whole bunch.

We’re always y’all-ing and gonna and fixin’ when we talk. Non-Texans do sometimes need an interpreter.

When I’m lazy in my writing, Texas talk naturally flow into my first drafts even if my characters are not Texans. My critique partners and editors often catch phrases like:

come hell or high water – proceeding, regardless of the problems, obstacles, etc.

conniptions – get upset and raise a ruckus

hissy fit – kin to a conniption; a state of extreme agitation and not a pretty thing to see

hot as tin toilet seat – in Texas we know that’s HOT

screaming bloody murder or banshee scream – not a pleasant sound at all

bone tired – yep, been there

slow as molasses – visualize molasses syrup oozing out of the jar

keep your pants on – meaning not what you think, but to be patient!

If you’ve ever been to Texas, you know it’s a special place. You love it or hate it. Seems there’s no in between.

But there’s something in a natural born Texan’s blood that tends to bring them back to Texas no matter how far or how long they wander. My daddy always said I’d come home and I did.

Labor Day and Hurricanes

By judythemorgan|2018-09-01T10:15:51-05:00September 4th, 2017|Make Me Think Monday|1 Comment

I’m late posting today. After the last week, I’ve come to realize spending time with loved ones is more important than being late. Yesterday was sibling game night and I simply forgot to post!

You might have noticed the lack of blogs recently. That was partly because I had no power at my house, but mostly because I just couldn’t get it together.

First our move and getting settled took priority then the weather interrupted.By last Wednesday, I was deeply engrossed in preparing for Hurricane Harvey landfall. Chasing around for bottled water, power bars, and batteries. Standing in long lines at stores. Waiting at the gas pump.

Then Friday came and Harvey landed. We sat on the bad side. Rain pounded Houston and us (we live 40 miles NW of the city).

For four very long days, we battled pounding rain and gushing water. Ended up with 31” of rain where we live, thirty-eight hours without power, but no serious water damage.

So many weren’t as fortunate. You’ve seen the newscast pictures. Up close and personal, it is so much worse.

Driving through our old neighborhood, what we saw made us cry. Almost every home had mountains of carpet, hardwood flooring, windows, doors, furniture, clothing, household goods everything piled at the curb. People were everywhere giving hugs, hauling stuff, and helping to gut homes. It warmed our hearts to see everyone pulling together, but the magnitude overwhelmed us.

This rebuild after Harvey is going to take years. Please, if you can, give to the relief effort.

There’ll be no Labor Day holiday for Houston. Their labor has only just begun.