The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
-Psalm 19:1

Do you know that God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
-Job 37:15



Thursday, September 18, 2008

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

53 comments:

  1. It is gorgeous I agree. Enjoy the skies this weekend.

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  2. Beautiful sky photo... it's a peaceful photo... one that I like to see and will focus on after all the news I have heard lately... take care.
    Mountain Retreat

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  3. Another great post from the storm chaser.

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  4. I envy the sky on your part, its getting cold here ans its gray, but still a good opp for skywatching!

    I enjoy every sky watch and I am glad you shared this! ViennaDaily Happy Skywatching.

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  5. a great story, with so many tales in it

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  6. Ooow this is really impressive tht house up the hill, you made a great blog here, I hope the people survived the hurricane...Do you like mountain climbing yourself?

    This week I show you my AMSTERDAM-ARENA skywatch, about an impressive cicle of buildings+sky.

    Interested? feel welcome and visit:
    JoAnn's D Eyes
    www.joannwalraven.blogspot.com

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  7. Great report and lecture.
    Thanks for share so useful knowledge.

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  8. I agree, Dewdrop, that people who are warned and then decide to NOT take sage advice should not expect taxpayers to bail them out.

    Important post to remind us all to LISTEN! Happy Sky Watch!

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  9. I certainly feel sorry for the people along the Gulf Coast but they were warned. I know the area well since that's where Martha and I go birding on Bolivar. Many people thought they could ride out a cat 2 storm, but there were other factors to consider besides the cat. rating.

    Thanks for all of the links provided.

    Troy and martha.

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  10. First off - thanks for your SWF Sky Lesson! Well done! You show some gorgeous cumulus. Dewlicious!
    And for the those who tried to defy the odds - I'm far from saying, serves 'em right. But what were they thinking? That magically Ike would curve around them and just don't do anything? Look back to 2004 at the Katrina catastrophe for crying out loud. And Ikes devastation might not have been quite as catastrophic - but it did spread much wider and deeper inland. Unbelievable stupidity.

    Despite that - dew have dewriffic Weekend!
    Cheers, Klaus

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  11. Beautiful photo of the horizon and thanks for your warnings about storms. Unless you have lived through them, people seem to underestimate the power and over estimate their abilities. Having lived through the blizzard of 78 with my own tales of adventure, if there is a storm warning, I'm off for the hills. Better photo opportunitites from a distance!

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  12. Great post and shot. It is so terrifying what can happen with a bad storm and particularly sad when people make the wrong choice. Sometimes it's not easy to know what the right choice is but in a case where people have options and early warnings it's a shame they don't always take warnings seriously. I've been through a direct hurricane in the past and was lucky. The older I get the less willing I am to rely on luck.

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  13. A great post! The image of the cloud is gorgeous - love the blue.

    You Ike commentary brings tears to my eyes. I have a friend who heeded the warning and is safe. My heart goes out to the families of those who didn't.

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  14. Another great post! I saw it in news too and I feel terrified:( Nice sky shot though! Mine is here. See you there!~ Happy SWF!~

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  15. Dew: What a neat cloud formation here and a interesting write-up for opening SWF.

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  16. great post. I like the photos.

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  17. Lovely shot and a great posting.

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  18. The SkyWatch Lesson was great, I enjoyed it and look forward to more on that subject. Very informative. I loved your photos too, and I have been enjoying reading your blog. I am glad I found it as I will be back. I feel like I have actually expanded my mind :)))

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  19. Stunning contrast between the intense blue and brilliant white... and thanks for your insight into cloud meteorology. You're not a member of the Cloud Appreciation Society, are you?

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  20. We have been caught in the mountains when a pretty puff of cloud grew rapidly into a monstrous thunder stor. Now I am always wary.
    You hurricane coverage much appreciated.

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  21. That cloud is spectacular. So crisp and clean and white! And so beautifully full!

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  22. Good work all round - yes I saw the story (and photo) of the lion.

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  23. Lovely photograph of the sky.

    I agree if people refuse to leave when advised they should stay quiet. Also, they should be charged for the expense of their rescue. Why should the taxpapers pay for it when they were told to leave?

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  24. lovely clouds and love the SWF page photo too!

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  25. Thank you great teacher. We are not worthy :-) Congrats again on your featured post. People who try to defy nature really need to think about what this says about them. We are not invincible. We are at the complete mercy of what nature throws our way. In addition to Hurricane anticipation in GA, we lived through several earth quakes in CA. Both often reminded us of our complete vulnerability.

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  26. Great sky watch picture! What puffy clouds. :o)

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  27. Beautiful sky, and interesting commentary. Obviously people will never learn, but one has to wondery why.

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  28. Hey there and thanks for stopping by my blog. You've got a lot of amazing posts about Ike here. I think I'll come back and read awhile. Thanks for all the great information. And yes, people are so foolish sometimes. A quote from a man who said he was staying put: "Well, I saw that traffic outa here and I wasn't gonna try and fight that. Think I'll stay put and ride this one out." I daresay he had the ride of his life. So sad. When authorities say the words "certain death", you need to heed that.

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  29. I like your Skywatch Friday stuff. I think I'll start doing it. Everytime I go outside the first think I do is look up to the sky :)

    SCM

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  30. that cloud will definitely develop to rain clouds. but it was bautiful indeed.

    Happy weekend!

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  31. We're even experiencing a bit of Ike here in Ohio, if you can believe it!
    Wow!

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  32. Your SW shot is awesome and I really enjoy the information that you share about your shots.

    I feel so bad for the people who lost property and lives in the hurricane, but I too wonder why some would remain knowing there was an evacuation order.

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  33. Great photo, great post. What contrast in the photo! And the news of Ike...still amazes me. We had remnants of it sweep through my area in the North. No one knew the devastation we would see...still not as bad as in Houston/Galveston. Thanks for sharing the photo and the news about the hurricane proof home. I hope the news is, indeed, good!

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  34. What an interesting blog you have -- and to think that if not for SkyWatch Friday, I might not have known about it! I'm not a storm chaser, but I'm definitely a weather junkie, so SkyWatch or not, I'm sure I'll be visiting your blog regularly.

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  35. Wow, I had no idea Ike was so big and had done so much damage. We don't get much news out here...thanks for posting those photos.

    Great job on your intro this morning (well, morning for me anyway), and look forward to more photos from ya...

    Cheers,

    Scotty

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  36. Thanks for hosting SWF and your informative info. Watching those clouds form and go higher and higher is fascinating. Your info on Ike's impact on the Galveston area is great, but sad. I have seen the damage storm surges can make on the Carolina and Florida coats, but not to the extent of the destruction on the Texas coast.

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  37. Very interesting posts on your blog - amazing photos of the devastation.

    Please blow your storm clouds this way, it is very dry here!!!

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  38. Interesting post as always and a beautiful Georgia sky!

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  39. We just don't know we're born in the Uk with such steady weather. Stay safe cathcing these awesome shots. Loved your educational skywatch intro.

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  40. Hi Dew.... Great start to Sky Watch this week.. you have had some great comments on that and over here as well... I made a right mess with Mr Linky and getting your link on 1st... but never mind lets see how we go on with lesson 2 next week... Thank you very much for all you time and effort. You are very much appreciated by all at Sky Watch and and watchers alike..

    :O)

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  41. I love the blue of our sky here in Georgia. And I agree, there;s just something wonderful about the contrasting blue white and green.

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  42. I am totally amazed by Pam and Warren's story. I'm glad they were smart; I'm glad their house withstood the storm. "Blame the government" is never something that sits well with me.

    Nice blue skies.

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  43. I love the strong contrast in your cloud photo. I imagine that if I had a storm heading my way, I'd pack-up the family and scoot, but I don't know where I'd go to.

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  44. I love the color of the blue against the clouds. I saw a video of a guy who stayed in the storm. He crawled up to the attic because it was flooding so bad. He called rescue during the hurricane to come get him. They said to him to tie a toe tag on his toe so if he dies they know who he is. He said he got mad at them. If he listened to them they said they could not rescue people during the storm.

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  45. excellent post & photo. Thanks!

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  46. I was impressed by your story about Ike. Of course we saw a lot on TV but we didn't really realize how bad it was and how stupid some people can be to stay in their houses, even if the government order them to evacuate. It's a good post Dewdrop!

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  47. It`s really sad to see all the damages that hurricane Ike has made.I feel so sorry for the people who have lost their homes,and some even their lives.Thanks for showing us the difference in Galvestone before and after.Your Sky Watch-post is very good,as usual.Have a wonderful weekend!

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  48. I am always so encouraged and uplifted by the comments left by the sky watch "family". What a fantsastic group to be a part of... Mikey, I highly recommend it! I appreciate all the kind words about the photo and the positive feedback about my sharing news about Ike's aftermath.

    For the people who shared their thoughts about the "ride it out" folks... I appreciate your contribution to the discussion. I'm with Klaus, can't say serves em right... since no one deserves that... but the unbelievable stupidity is astounding. If I were a storm chaser in that area. I would have probably stayed, safely inland... but my family would have been out of there!

    Pearl Maple, I was in that Blizzard. I was just a toddler, but I was in it.

    Carletta, So glad your friend heeded the warnings. My heart, too, is with those who did not.

    Denise, Glad we expanded your mind today!

    Lirone, Cloud appreciation society?! I would love to join!!!!

    Deirdre, I don't know why so many struggle with that false believe that they are invinsible...

    Country girl, come back any time!

    Mikey, please do join!

    Bobbie, Please do stop by as often as you like. Weather junkies are DEFINITELY WELCOME!

    Jules, I wish I had some to send your way... nothing my way.

    Tom, no worries. Lesson 2 will be the next shot at it. I appreciate you.

    Craver, the important part is leaving! Doesn't matter where?

    Connie, Can you imagine... toe tagging yourself...? How scary.

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  49. Another great photo! Happy SWF

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  50. your photo makes me want to go outside and make creatures out of the clouds! very fun! thanks for visiting my blog, as well as leaving a comment! happy swf!
    and a great weekend to you!

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  51. I real like all of your shots for sky watch.
    The main picture over at sky watch sort of remind me of smoke rolling in from a Forrest fire.
    Living in North Idaho we don't get hurricanes or tornado.

    Thanks for visiting and the coffee is always on.

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  52. you always have some wonderful sky shots and stories behind them, it is so sad all the devastation after Ike

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  53. Your really show the variety of clouds, both in peace and in storming away!

    I couldn't do SWF last week but posted some rainbow pictures as well as the boat racing in Salavan. My post is over here

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Dew comment, please...