Two Wild Women,* Four Days, No Arrests

the water washed away everything but the chance to begin again so we came from cities & towns, from long golden fields & we stood side by side until we made a bridge to dry land.... ~ Brian Andreas, from Promise

I've started and stopped this post multiple times. It isn’t going to answer all your questions about the hurricane that devastated Texas August 25, 2017 (and the effects of which will mark so many communities along the coast for years to come). It is only my thoughts and impressions from four days I spent with my sister (and one day with my brother) “in the zone.”

My sister knows me. She knows I hate to be hot and I need coffee in the morning. Well, one outta two ain't bad.

I wish I could explain what it's like - growing up on the coast and experiencing multiple storms. The wind and the rain, the flooding and the aftermath mark you.

You learn to follow the process** and wait.

I don't want to think about that long wait for the storm to make landfall and the need, the urge to get in the car and go (but still having to wait until you have a plan and the "okay" to head into the damaged area).

Finally I received word that my sister and brother-in-law would be returning to their home in Victoria.*** It's not like they needed me, but I needed to go. My brother was loading up saws and supplies to go as well.

Friends who learned I would be traveling south drafted me to deliver supplies - loading up the back of my car with the donations that are always needed (diapers, toiletries, water, cleaning supplies), DH tucked a hat/mosquito net into my suitcase and cash into my pocket.****

We think we know our siblings, but they have skills we know nothing about. Our brother provided a stable, temporary fence repair. It will last until our sister can get a permanent repair/replacement. He went home for work and came  back for the long weekend to work further south with some cousins. There is so much work to be done. (My sister and I shared the driving and photography. Her photos are noted by the initials BFH)

Overwhelming damage and challenges

Power was out. Many traffic lights were not working.***** Water was undrinkable. Trees and fences and roofs were down. Mobile homes were tossed around. Rivers rose out of their banks flooding low-lying neighborhoods and cutting off access even up-country from the coast.

Along the Guadalupe River outside of Victoria. This is Fox Road. Our grandmother took buggy rides down Fox Road.

On the other side of Victoria the rising river covered part of Vine Street.

Everywhere we went, people were moving - preparing for FEMA, organizing donations, checking on their neighbors, handing out water, cooking food for emergency workers, repairing power lines, cutting up the fallen trees, directing traffic, getting the schools ready to start or re-start. Convoys of electrical workers and other disaster relief workers had headed to the coast and more were on the way.

By the time my sister and I hit the road to Refugio, Woodsboro, Sinton, and Portland, school boards had already met to offer help to devastated school districts and start determining how they might share facilities.

People were exhausted, and grimy, and overwhelmed, but so busy helping to get their communities up and running that they had no time for self-pity. And everywhere we went we heard voices of gratitude and optimism:

"We lost our roof, but our house is standing. We are so fortunate."

"Our town is a mess, but no one died here. We are so blessed."

"No, we have no power and we cannot drink the water, but my family is safe. We have everything."

Great expanses of mesquite/huisache/cat's claw lay twisted and broken along our route. (Between Refugio and Woodsboro, BFH)

The Journey

We traveled fast so we could do what we needed to do and still return before curfew.****** I've included a few photos so you could see what it looked like as we drove south. These are small examples of massive damage. At some point you just focus on the road and move forward. Roads were mostly clear although traffic lights didn't always work. It was important to pay attention to which lights were cycling through and which weren't. Kindergarten lessens mattered - Be polite. Take turns.

Many business were closed, but those that opened up - even with short hours and minimal staff - raised spirits. (Refugio, BFH)

School is out. I think this was Refugio. (BFH)

More destruction in Refugio. (BFH)

It was a bountiful harvest this year, according to friends. Here are round cotton bales near oil/gas facility outside of Taft. We saw hundreds of these bales lined up in the fields. The "new" bales were mostly safe, but some modules did not fare so well. (BFH)

Cotton modules sit damaged in a field near Woodsboro. Cotton was blown along the fence-line and in the shrubs nearby. It is a sad sight - the loss/damage of a good bit of a crop. (BFH)

"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." - Fred Rogers quoting his mother. (BFH)

No words. (BFH)

(BFH)

We saw many gas stations were damaged (and I observed more as far north as Gonzales). While some operating stations ran out of gas, we were always able to find gas. (BFH)

Some damage in Sinton. (BFH)

Shorebirds in the sun. Hey, Dad! (BFH)

Great Egret, Chiltipin Creek, Sinton (BFH)

Getting in ahead of curfew. (BFH)

We stopped to deliver donations three times. Cousins who were trimming trees all over the place stopped long enough to meet us for lunch. We visited family and friends (but didn't get to everyone, unfortunately) while endeavoring to "keep out of the way."  We received tea and goodies, barbecue, grace, enthusiasm, hope, memories, and vision. We brought hugs and encouragement.


Avoiding Cleaning Out the Frig (a nasty job - she accomplished it after I left)


The following day we drove to Goliad to meet a friend and spent a few hours at the Presidio La Bahia*******  clearing some storm debris ("picking up sticks" is how he described it).

What a beautiful place - La Bahia in the fog.

Mom sent a "Hello." Schoolhouse lilies bloomed around trees in the courtyard.

The view over the burn pile. The resident group of vultures flew in slow circles over the nearby San Antonio River.

We discovered some new math: AGE+HEAT+MOSQUITOES=DONE

[I also discovered "generator math" I could sleep with 3 generators growling, but not 4 or more. But that is another story.]

Our stamina gone we headed home to continue working (slowly) in Victoria and logged more time powering up cell phones and batteries when we could find a working plug at a local business or in the car.

Heading home

Scout said bye.

Before I left Victoria, my sister and I stopped in on the family of my mother's best friend. Chain saws were buzzing as enormous swarms of mosquitoes tried to drive everyone mad. We grew up with these "kids" (who were helping their dad clear their home of broken trees). They are a capable bunch (with a generator, well water, and a fan. That fan felt great!) - needing nothing but time to finish their work. [More than once we have laughed about how each of our mothers sang the praises of the other's kids. While perhaps it was some maternal conspiracy to con us into better behavior, my siblings and I always suspected our mother was right. They are lovely people.]

We talked a little of the "old days" when we vacationed together on the river and made tentative plans for a visit under better conditions.

After parking lot goodbyes with my sister (we were both getting a little giddy - and not in a good way) I filled up the gas tank and headed home along the normal route - the flooded highway now clear.

UPDATE:

Friends and family continue working in the storm-damaged area. My sister has power again. Emergency workers still staff shelters. Utility workers continue their efforts. Another friend is taking a crew with demolition/construction/cleaning supplies in a day or so. Schools will begin as soon as they can be ready - some this week, some next. Recovery will take many months, but we are well on the way. Watch for ways to help.



NOTES:

*And our brother who is wonderful. He's the "highest evolved human" of the three of us - Don't worry, my sister agrees. Our mom always said that we girls were good for a two day visit, but there were no guarantees after that. Mom was usually right, but we made it through this visit just fine. Maybe we were simply too tired to fight.

** In case anyone is interested:

I. Monitor the storm via TV and radio. Mark coordinates on a map (usually printed in the newspaper at the beginning of hurricane season). Now it's all available at your fingertips.

NOAA map

II. Once the path becomes clear, get ready. Fill the bathtub with water (to flush the toilet, if needed for nothing else). Board-up or tape the windows. Stockpile drinking water. Purchase food that can be prepared without refrigeration, extra insect repellent, and batteries. Make sure you have 7 to 10 days of supplies...utilities often take time to return. [Once we went to help my baby brother prepare because he had a number of folks to assist. The storm turned into Mexico and the only casualties for us were my rings. I had put them on my watch for safety and the entire thing disappeared during our work. Now "leave jewelry at home" is on the list.]

III. Respond as needed - rescue those in danger, remove debris, stabilize damages, feed your neighbors, wait for utilities. Fake it 'til you make it. [Mom and Dad always had coffee ready on the camp stove for the neighbors. See first photo above.]

***We had a photo of her house. It looked good, but she would have some clean up to do. We also have family property with renters. I was obligated to respond and make sure any emergency repairs were done, if possible (all was well with the property although the renters have a variety of challenges at their homes - some heartbreaking). We were lucky. So many were not.

**** I'm keeping him.

*****You treat each intersection as a 4-way stop. Of course people get anxious and make mistakes, but I saw no accidents (had no accidents) and heard few honks from the impatient.

******I haven't had a curfew since I was 17. But it was essential for these places "where the lights are out." Here is our curfew story:

My sister and I got in the car after curfew on Thursday night to charge the phones and cool off for a minute (don't judge!).  We had car lights on,  heard a cry, and locked the doors. And then a car pulled up. A man got out. He came toward us. I started to get 911 on phone.  Turns out it was the across-the-street neighbor checking to see who we were. Good neighbors! We went from mild panic to laughter. No one hurt - no one arrested.

*******http://www.presidiolabahia.org/
https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/american_latino_heritage/Presidio_de_la_Bahia.html
[As scouts we camped across the way at the state park and ran wild along the muddy river paths and through the ruined mission that has now been reconstructed - I suppose no scouts are scaring each other and hunting ghosts in the evenings these days.  https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/goliad]


Final Note:

HEB really came through for its customers during this emergency. They opened stores in record time. They had water and ice shipments arriving every day. Staff crossed the state to cover for employees who were stranded or otherwise unable to work. Well done, HEB.

Victoria HEB reopened quickly (as did stores all over the impacted area). The staff was amazing - cracking jokes at 7 a.m

Pretty impressed by this company.