109038
Hi, Cuties! I am relatively new to being a cutie, but saw this post and was touched. I am in Orange, Texas and I am disabled and live with my mom. Fortunately, the water came up and stranded us in our home without power, water, etc... for about a week. We were very blessed as the water did some damage, stranded us, and came very close but did not get inside our home. However, our friends, family, neighbors were not all so lucky. It is devastating how much damage has been done. It is heartbreaking to see my loved ones so down about what has been lost and is irreplaceable. There are mounds of trash all along the road reminding us daily of everything lost.
One positive happened today... my nephews were due to start school the Monday the storm impacted us, but have finally started school TODAY. The local schools were severely flooded and still require major construction. For the youngest of the 2 boys, it is his first ever day of school. He kept telling me that the world didn't want him to ever go to school. Poor guy! However, locals devised a plan that split schools to fit among non-school facilities that can house a classroom, revising classroom schedules, etc... and whatever it takes to get all these kids back into school. Please pray my nephews have the best ever first day of school today.
Thank you!
-Kay
by toogie
20 Sep 2017
Welcome to Cute Kay, I just gave you your second flower. See the numbers change under you Avatar, where your photo, or image of something should be. Right now it just says Cutie and that is who we all are,'Cuties'.
I know Texans are still cleaning up and lives are disrupted, as in Florida now too. Some of us are going tomorrow from our church to help. Last week my daughter and SIL went and tore a house down to the 2x4 framing, so the people could start rebuilding. They went with their church group to Texas.
Do you embroider? If so, what machine do you have? I sew, embroider, crochet, etc and you can always get good advice from Cuties, just ask anything you need to know. Someone is always willing to help or point you in the right direction. Mostly, join in on the fun we all have sharing information, personal stories, or mistakes we've made so we can all do it better, next time. Looking forward to seeing what you embroider in Projects or what you're sewing in Sewing.Toogie
by crafter2243
20 Sep 2017
Kay I want to add my welcome to Cute. I hope you will hang around our community. Praying for a best day in school for your nephews.
by kay4sparkle
22 Sep 2017
Toogie, thank you and please thank your daughter and church group too. I embroider (Brother SE1800), sew, craft, make jewelry, etc... Basically I make anything my nephews dream up... currently I am trying to make Halloween costumes of the most particular Pokémon characters. :-)
Crafter2243, thank you also. their first day was a bit scary as their bus was 3 hours late getting them home, but today was not as bad. However, due to limited space all ages only attend 1/2 day of school everyday. I feel they are getting cheated out of a year of education, but what else are we supposed to do. People around here are lucky if they still have jobs and/or a workplace to return to... how much their kids are being taught each day is not the highest priority today. Thank you for the prayers.
543TTT hoping some others will see and check in still. Hugs. Nan W
by toogie
01 Sep 2017
I've still not heard from mariahail and I know her health is not good....I hope Cuties in Tennessee, Alabama, where ever Harvey ravaged through, check in too.
11738I am from Oak Grove, LA. Being in the N/E corner of Louisiana, we are only expecting wind and rain. Along with you Cuties, continueing to pray for all those in Texas and South Louisiana getting the worse of Harvey. God bless you cuties! Toogie, you are still an inspiration to me!!!
by toogie
30 Aug 2017
Awe, so sweet of you, but I haven't made too much lately. I keep looking at the track of Harvey and if you are in the NE side of Louisiana you may be about to get the rains. Hopefully it won't be too bad for you, if there is good drainage, it doesn't come down too fast and no bodies of water too close.
My daughter just heard from her friend in Creole, La. She said her home is still there! Not underwater, so God spared them. They lost everything during Rita.
I am still waiting to hear from friends in Beaumont & Port Arthur......
by KCowden
30 Aug 2017
Thank you! Yes, rains are here, but still not so bad considering Texas and South Louisiana. I live in a rural area where it isn't unusual for rain to cover the roads in low places. Thankful we have been spared so far.
3385ttt-Mairahail still hasn't checked in, nor the Dutchess, but mrskiki thinks thedutchess should be okay where she is located. Cuties from these areas let us know if at all possible, we are praying for you all.
109038I don't see many posts from the worst hit areas. Rockport, TX got the brunt of the damaging winds, I believe. We were too busy prepping to watch much coverage. Houston has been devastated by large areas of flooding. There were so many folks there that had to be rescued by boat from their homes as they had no way to get out. We saw a news report on one family whose home was flooded and had it catch on fire as well, before they were brought to safety. So many are at least temporarily homeless that shelters were filling up and they sent some by bus to Galveston to be flown to Dallas. The 2 airports in Houston are closed for now.
We are in Lake Jackson, TX staying with some friends from our church. Lake Jackson is surrounded by a levee and we feel that they have past the danger area. Our home is outside the levee area and flooded last summer and may flood again this time, hence the prep work we were doing earlier. Currently it is above water, but we live by a body of water that is fed by the Brazos river, which is above flood stage up river. Our situation depends on whether the rain water that we've had can drain before the river crest reaches our area sometime tomorrow. We had a lot of rain and the bayou is close to our foundation.
We were planning to evacuate out of the county, but by the time we were ready to go, there was only one route left because of all the surrounding flooding and there were reports that parts of that route were starting to flood. We were afraid by the time we got there it would be impassable, so made arrangements to stay here. As bad as all this sounds, we are doing quite well. Our hosts have been wonderful and we are actually having quite a nice time, except for the concern for our home and our cats are not too keen on being in a house with a large dog.
Thank you to all for your concern, but pray especially for those in Houston suffering from horrendous flooding, like Sonia Showalter and those in Rockport who were hit by devastating winds.
by pennifold
29 Aug 2017
I just got Sonia's email and we dowunder know what she is going through - but their storm is 3 times worse than what we had here in 2007. We only got 12 inches of rain in 2 days, they've got so much more. It's the clean up after the storm that's going to take months to repair. God bless them and everyone concerned. Love Chris
by toogie
29 Aug 2017
I am so glad you check in and you are safe. We will pray your place is spared and thankful you have somewhere dry safe to stay for now.
I know what you mean about news coverage. I know Houston is bad for sure but coverage is just like it was during Katrina. When Rita hit there was almost no coverage and it was hit hard, news didn't report much as they were still focused on New Orleans. One of my daughters best friend lost EVERYTHING during Rita. She has 4 children and today find themselves looking to lose it all again. They have evacuated and she frantically packed what she could in her SUV with the children. Her husband is working out of state and she got someone to move his truck to another location, hoping to at least save their vehicles. They are along coastal Louisiana.
The winds may not be as much a danger right now it's the water and tornado threats. I pray it all ends soon......
by sewtired
30 Aug 2017
Yes, LJ itself is surrounded by a levee and we're pretty sure they are in the clear now. The water was down at our place today, so we are home, but keeping an eye on the Brazos River as it will continue to rise and feeds into our bayou. The crest was predicted for today, but now they are saying not until Saturday. As our water recedes, we are in better shape to remain above water when the river crest reaches our area. Thank so much to everyone for their prayers. Now praying for Louisiana as well. Harvey was a nasty boy and he's not done yet.
11468I've been praying for all of them. Two of my dear friends have daughters living in the San Antonio area and although they were not the worst hit, there is severe amounts of water in their area and everyone is trying to help their fellow Texans. Possibly the most heartbreaking photo I've seen is a a nursing home where the residents were sitting in the gathering room with water up to their chests. How terrifying that must have been. Donations can be made through the American Red Cross site if you led to do so.
by toogie
29 Aug 2017
I saw the same scenes and all of it so heart wrenching. I hope none of us are ever in that situation but it makes you feel for those who were. I can only imagine and it would be terrifying,as you say. Hopefully, it will move people into action to either help physically or financially.
158552Thank you, Toogie, for starting this post.......I have been so worried about all the people in the line of fire from this storm........I pray everyone is safe with their loved ones soon!!!
261161I am in central Texas and had no problems from the weather. I think Duchess is around San Antonio and so should be ok. This event is not over yet and will cause issues for months to come. Houston is devastated and still raining. Haven't heard about SE Louisiana. Prayers are always welcome. Hugs. Nan W
by toogie
29 Aug 2017
Good to hear you are not in danger from the weather. I am glad you let us know not only about you but the Dutchess too. You are right, even when the immediate danger is over, it won't be 'over' for a long time. So heart wrenching to hear what others are suffering through. ...
11738Prayers are being sent from downunder. It's just devastating watching all the damage that Harvey has done. I hope everyone is safe and dry. Thankyou to all those personnel who are out in the thick of it saving lives. Love Chris
by toogie
29 Aug 2017
I know even though you are far in distance, you really feel for us here. Thank you for your prayers.
234253Thank you Toogie for reminding us of things we can do to help. Praying everyone is safe.
by toogie
29 Aug 2017
It will be so much loss...........I heard one lady say when she got back to her home in Rockport,Texas it may just look like junk to other people but it was her life she was trying to sort through and she cried. Her house was completely destroyed and her things were scattered like debris everywhere. I can only imagine and feel what it would be like to have to pack almost frantically only things that were most important or needed and losing all the rest along with your house.......
14619Toogie, I am in Texas, but in the Amarillo area, and other than a lot of extra rain, we are fine... No flooding, etc. Praying for all the ones that are in the lower parts of Texas!!! Thanx for caring Cuties!!! Hugs & Prayers for all... Judy.
by toogie
28 Aug 2017
Glad you checked in and are safe. Storms of this magnitude are always so devastating. We should not EVER have another Katrina, if people seriously heed warnings.
92391I am safe yall please keep Sonia Showalter in prayers she is in the Woodlands and it is devastated. prayers for all
by toogie
28 Aug 2017
Thank God you're safe and thanks for checking in. Has Sonia evacuated? I do hope so, and you're right, prayers for all are needed.
3432This blurb from CBS is so useful. When we had the Butte Fire here (70,868 acres burned and 921 structures lost in 2015) so many people went on a rampage against the Red Cross for not letting them wander in to evacuation centers (really - if you stayed at one wouldn’t you be happy for security) and drop off their used stuff. The Red Cross hands out packets of new things which they buy with money. Even new and made stuff can become problematic as the news blurb shows. Money is what really helps as QueenofHearts mentions. Being local, we were connected and able to get new quilts, pillowcases and totes (people need to carry their belongings about if they lost their homes) to people - but even then had too many quilts and the people handing them out were just driving up - “here take 6 quilts”. But if you’re not close enough to deliver, then the almost $20 for a Priority box to mail the stuff is a MUCH better gift. The hardest part comes after the evacuation centers close. FEMA will only install temporary trailers on land with the right hookups installed (because there are batteries and things in your home, each site had to have a hazardous waste cleanup first, get well and hookups working.. the fire here was in Sept 2015 and the last home sites to have hazardous waste removal so building there or trailers could proceed was May 2016). When people say recovery is slow, I think most have no idea how slow. Those FEMA trailers don’t show up for 6 months and even then, they made a huge deal about delivering their first 4 (talk about not a dent in the need). So many folks will put effort into so many things people can’t use in the coming months, it’s sad. For stitchers, the absolute best we had was someone making a quilt and raffling it off - it brought in over $700.00 and the cash can be used by so many different really helpful agencies. If many become moved to stitch for the disaster - we were telling folks to do some research and find somewhere local that would like their donations. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/when...
by toogie
28 Aug 2017
This link may help enlighten those who refrain from giving cash donations. That is a lot of 'stuff' to deal with, find storage for, and like the representative said, some unnecessary items like winter coats in tropics.
Thank you for providing this link
by maggiecal
28 Aug 2017
Your welcome, some people have no idea what shipping costs or that distribution of food needs to be done with thoughts towards safely.
4155I"m safe. We have no water damage from the storm
by toogie
28 Aug 2017
Oh so happy you are safe from the storm. Texas is so huge and I can't remember exactly where everyone is from. I think Mariahail if from around the storm path so hope she checks in soon too.
67271We, here in NW Florida, have been praying for the people in Texas before Harvey hit the shores. We have seen many pictures and the flooding is epic, the people without power is massive. And there are predictions that Harvey may turn and go into the Gulf picking up strength and hit Houston again. So please keep the prayers going and the donations too. These folks in Texas also hosted so many of the people from New Orleans after the dikes failed during the Katrina hurricane.
by toogie
28 Aug 2017
They sure did. People must help each other in times like these. Hope there will be no more loss of lives. The number of homes lost or damaged will be great....clean up massive job.
168887Also, if it is within your budget consider helping out with a monetary donation. Having lived through such an event I know how important that help is too. It took me years to recover and I will never forget the kindness of others.
by toogie
28 Aug 2017
So very true. However anyone is able to help will be appreciated. Thank you for reminding us.
by graceandham
28 Aug 2017
My tax lady lost her home and everything in it years ago in a house. She now lives in a trailer and says she would lose it all again for what she learned about the kindness and caring of strangers. She was showered with clothing and furniture and money gifts and surrounded by mercy. People are more important than stuff. Share the love!
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