Surviving Hurricane Ike Against All Advice... or perhaps not...

It's Sky Watch Friday post time!!(Please visit Tom, Klaus, Sandy and Imac's SKY WATCH BLOG (click here or on the logo) to participate in Sky Watch Fridays. It is so interesting to see skies all over the world!!! I highly recommend it!) Today, I would like to share with you a picture of a little cumulus cloud that is wanting to swell. The photograph was taken of my south Georgia sky in mid-July of last year. I love the blue, white green thing. Gorgeous. As instability develops in the atmosphere, a little cumulus cloud such as that one has the potential for developing into a little thunderstorm. I actually did get some rain that day, and there were some nice cumulus towers produced... but nothing too dramatic. I described the sky that day by saying... "The blue of the sky was so crisp with the white cumulus structure contrasting..." Indeed, it was a beautiful thing.

Now, for continued Ike coverage, Mikey shared this article with me about the obvious impending fear that I have been writing about over the past few days...

some might simply have been swept out to sea

People defied stern warnings that certain death would be the result of staying on the coastal region impacted by Ike. They were told to evacuate. They were warned that staying was against their orders and those who stayed defying those orders would be on their own after facing that "certain death" at Ike's hand. You know... I have heard a story of a man carried 10 miles when he was washed out of his home. Can you imagine being carried 10 miles in storm surge potentially crashing into anything? That man was spared for a reason. I hope he has chosen to listen to God's calling. I heard a story of a family, mother/father/2 sons who wrote their names and social security numbers on their arms in permanent ink in case the worst happened after they realized that sticking it out was probably not the best decision. I have heard tales of people seeking refuge and riding out the storm in a church with a lion rescued from a local zoo. I have heard of a retired couple in life jackets clutching onto each other as their floor gave way and a flagpole saved them from the roof caving in. I have heard about people deciding to stick it out and then, during the approach of the storm, deciding at the last minute to evacuate in flood waters surrounding them. I have read about people who lost everything... and now... now, they say they will never ride out another storm. I have heard way too much of this... (the photo at the right is an AP Photo)

After the storm, she and neighbors waited for rescue, but no one came. ~source

... for a group of people who weren't willing to take government advice and warnings beforehand, but now, are the first to say that the government owes them something. Yes, you have freedom, but if you are going to ignore the advice of experts, be prepared for it. Don't endanger others simply because you are stupid and stubborn. I have seen the barren land of entire communities, spare a house or two, completely washed away without a trace of debris... common sense tells me that those folks that chose poorly to stay behind went on the ride of their lives... until the end of their lives. Logic says that they were carried away in the surge. I really think I need to stop talking about this... it just upsets me. God be with everyone impacted... and please let them take the warnings more seriously next time.

Interesting article was just shared with me by my friend Michael (a non-storm chasing, Mike), which talks about the lonely house in Gilchrist.

Pam and Warren Adams rebuilt their home in February 2006 after Hurricane Rita destroyed it the previous year. [T]he couple hired a contractor to build a home that could withstand a Category 5 hurricane.

The couple evacuated to a friend's house in Lufkin, Texas, hours before Ike made landfall last week.

Pam and Warren have learned that their house is one of the few in the area to survive the storm. They are returning to see the devastating damage today. ~source

Have a great and blessed day!
~Dewdrop