Harvey flooding in Texas and impacts

Thank you Jesse,

I am in the Tomball area just outside of Houston. This storm is incredible and the devastation in Houston and the surrounding areas yesterday through this coming Thursday or Friday will be remarkable. We appreciate your prayer.

Ron H

Ron,  I still have a son and daughter living in Houston and a sister/family in Willis, grandson in Kirbyville, etc.   Yes, may the worst be behind us and the weather improve, as it may, and there be no more loss of life.  I know, this is very optimistic, but it did help me get through Alison in 2001.

take care and stay dry.....

God bless..   Jesse

I stress out just thinking about the Texas Gulf as we bask in perfect weather here in New England...find ourselves waking up in the middle of the night and watching the weather channel.....wish i had the powers of a god that could end this

One has to remember it is a fallen world.

received these from a friend in NC. His daughter's family lives about a mile from this location in downtown Houston

Moonman posted:

received these from a friend in NC. His daughter's family lives about a mile from this location in downtown Houston

OMG! What a shame. Hope everyone pulls through and are OK.

RonH posted:

Moonman posted:

received these from a friend in NC. His daughter's family lives about a mile from this location in downtown Houston

OMG! What a shame. Hope everyone pulls through and are OK.

Downtown was still dry yesterday - lots of water - I am awaiting news - but all of his family are safe

Just talked to a lifelong friend (and Lionel enthusiast) of mine, who lives on the west side of Houston, not far from Buffalo Bayou. He has lived there 41 years and never had flood water even close to their house. Right now he and some helpers are moving all this train stuff and other belongings out of their detached garage/train room, which sits slightly lower than their house. Water is already on garage floor and rising fast. It is knee deep three houses down the street from him. They are moving everything to the second floor and praying that is high enough.

 The folks down there need lots of prayers.

So far so good in my community. I am on the west side of Houston (Katy). I feel for everyone else however.

Yes, our prayers are with everyone concerned with this massive flood. Prayers for the folks in Houston and suburbs, with the help coming in, the medical staff for everyone, the law enforcement, the volunteers from all the surrounding states, simply said, Everyone involved in any way....May the Lord bless everyone.....Its so sad, but, hopefully everyone can rebuild...

To our fellow citizens in the great state of Texas our prayers go out to you. My family and I always enjoyed our vacations in Texas and its residents. In the 1990's I flew into Houston from Chicago , rented a car and drove to Cleveland or Sheldon, I was in engineering with Union Tank Car Company. I always enjoyed working with the shop personnel at both shops, always serious about the job assignments but we had time for teasing and levity. I have not seen may of these people since December 1999 since I left the company, I sincerely hope and pray that they and there families are safe and secure.  

We've been watching the news channels and social media for the past two days. Our hearts go out to all affected. 

I was watching this morning, such a large city and so many people are affected! Our hearts also go out to all people in the area down there.

Truth is, this is just the beginning and it's going to get a LOT worse in the next 10-20 years.  Praying is not the answer, IMO, but less CO2 in the atmosphere is.

rdj92807 posted:

Truth is, this is just the beginning and it's going to get a LOT worse in the next 10-20 years.  Praying is not the answer, IMO, but less CO2 in the atmosphere is.

Really? Don't get me going on the hoax of climate change.  The US hasn't had a hurricane hit in a record 147 months.  Was that caused by climate change?

as for the effects, gas will be up 30 cents within a week or two.

I now return you to your regularly schedule discussion of trains.

Most scientists believe climate change is a real problem.
Did climate change cause Harvey? ...... probably not directly, but weather patterns are changing.

There are lots of train folks in Houston that are scrambling right now. I have been in contact and things are bad, real bad.  Lets offer them our support, and leave the climate change bickering out of it.

rdj92807 posted:

Truth is, this is just the beginning and it's going to get a LOT worse in the next 10-20 years.  Praying is not the answer, IMO, but less CO2 in the atmosphere is.

I guess all those cavemen and their SUV's really tore the place up during the ice age. 

My heart and positive thoughts for anyone damaged by Harvey.   It reminds one that we are all reliant on electricity, refrigeration and social networks to make each other productive and safe.  It will take years to recover what mother nature can do in a  weekend.  There was a news article about six people in a car drowning as they tried to leave.  There will unfortunately be more sadness and tragedy revealed in the coming weeks.

It is great to see that we as a forum are taking a moment and considering others caught in the deluge.  Maybe Menards could offer as the next promotion, $10.00 toward Houston recovery.  I would risk the wrath of the CFO for a few items.

Surefire posted:

rdj92807 posted:

Truth is, this is just the beginning and it's going to get a LOT worse in the next 10-20 years.  Praying is not the answer, IMO, but less CO2 in the atmosphere is.

I guess all those cavemen and their SUV's really tore the place up during the ice age. 

"Climate change in the past was natural, so it's impossible for humans to affect the climate!"

Reeeeeal smart.... 

rdj92807 posted:

Truth is, this is just the beginning and it's going to get a LOT worse in the next 10-20 years.  Praying is not the answer, IMO, but less CO2 in the atmosphere is.

There was discussion that the Gulf of Mexico was 2 degrees warmer this year, which will have a definite impact on Hurricane season this year. Regardless of global warming or normal climate shift, hang on to your hats! 

We had a large amount of rain dump on us this evening which no doubt cause lots of flooding. 

We are very fortunate here, we are 130 ft above the water table.

If we don't address the underlying cause of our friend's train layouts being underwater, then it will get worse.  That's my point.  I am suggesting being proactive and not passive on the problem.  A child of 5 can understand the science.  Just saying...

I don't want to hear or read about climate change, let's keep to the subject at hand.

The people in Texas really need our help and prayers. Please donate to the Red Cross and other places that are trying to help. They will need help for many months if not years. 

So let's keep our political views to ourselves.

Dave 

Why would someone say he does not want to hear about, or read about, the possibility of climate change? If it does turn out to be good science, then we're all in trouble.

B Smith posted:

Why would someone say he does not want to hear about, or read about, the possibility of climate change? If it does turn out to be good science, then we're all in trouble.

Because this thread is not the place. 

Well, why not? The thread is titled "Harvey flooding in Texas and impacts," which I would think leaves plenty of room for discussing both cause and effect. 

An opinion on climate change is not political, it's scientific, and the science to support climate change is most abundant.

There is a time and a place for discussions, this not the place. 

Lets think of the people affected by this disaster. 

I have donated to the Red Cross, have you?

Soo Line posted:

An opinion on climate change is not political, it's scientific, and the science to support climate change is most abundant

Maybe but this is not the place IMO.

It will be interesting to see how quickly the transportation network in Texas gets back and running. After Katrina it was pretty fast but all his heavy flooding could make a big difference. Lots of American goods that stock our stores and showrooms come through this area.

I find the diff posts to be interesting, and encouraging.   I did intend the "impact" of the title to be an inclination of how the effects of Harvey bears on our mutual hobby/likes, and those in the same as we toward railroad modeling,  what impact it has upon them and the hobby/real railroading in that effected region.  As with Ron and the layout he is constructing in his pole barn upper level, there are many fine layouts in the South Texas area.  many were on the TCA tour last year.  Can only wonder, and pray for the best, for them and the great individuals who built/own/run them.  It is great to hear of the train enthusiast Mowingman spoke of on the West side of Houston.  The fact he did have close friends to assist him in moving his trains is good news and we pray the effort is most effective.  Not complaining, but when I had the 4 ft of water undulate my residence in 2001 with Alison, my layout was only 3 ft high and the trains I moved from lower display cases were placed on top of the layout to keep out of the waters.  Well.........

But, I have survived, as well as 98% or so of the trains I had in 2001.  Many friends, members of the North Central O Gaugers in Lake County, Illinois, assisted me when I shipped all my collection to the Great Lakes naval Center area when working there (1999 to 2003).  Most damage I had was due to the fact I could not get into the train room for two weeks due to a freezer fell across the entrance door, preventing it to open more than a couple inches.  Also, at the time, I had more urgent issues to handle with salvaging what we could of personal belongings, knocking out drywall, pulling up carpet, making piles of debris next to the curb that included my nice collection of antique crank type phonographs.  They did not survive the three days under water, the cabinets fell apart and mechanics rusted into hunks of solid junk.  This included an Edison inherited from my grandfather, who passed away in 1966.  So.... Mother Nature throws us all many curves in life.  Sometimes we do get struck out.  But, we can always straighten our caps, pull up our boots, pick up where we left off and build back even better, stronger and with knowledge it takes more than that to knock us down.

Jesse   TCA  12-68275

Hurricanes are not to be taken lightly.I can only hope the people will be all right.There is gonna be a lot of damage from this.Because its pretty much just sitting there dumping more rain.I know there are places where people were caught by surprise.

Professor Chaos posted:

Surefire posted:

rdj92807 posted:

Truth is, this is just the beginning and it's going to get a LOT worse in the next 10-20 years.  Praying is not the answer, IMO, but less CO2 in the atmosphere is.

I guess all those cavemen and their SUV's really tore the place up during the ice age. 

"Climate change in the past was natural, so it's impossible for humans to affect the climate!"

Reeeeeal smart.... 

Thats not what I said. The point is that significant changes in the planets climate happen with or without us. To say that we are the root/only cause of shifts in the way the world works in what equates to a cosmic blink of an eye is silly..... 

jay jay posted:

We've been watching the news channels and social media for the past two days. Our hearts go out to all affected. 

Still watching. This event is flippin' unbelievable, but the human response to it is so heartening. 

It is really hard to pick a place in the country to live that is not subject to an extreme weather disaster. Here in the Midwest we get tornados and blizzards, and, too, floods. The SW had extreme heat, drought, and fires this year. The NE gets blizzards and hurricains, the Rockies get blizzards and extreme cold...name your poison..uh, since you don't have either a brontosaurus or a cave bear nibbling the roses along your back fence, it can be noted that the earth warms, and the earth cools and has been doing that for millions of years, and we ain't gonna stop it!

Colo Hirail..   That statement is so true.  My wife and I have discussed this much before, now even more since last weekend.  With the twisters and damage we had in May 2015 in Tuttle area, many friends and relatives stated we messed up moving here.  But, if we had retired to the property we have in Palacios, Texas (on the coast, had 9 ft storm surge), we only thank God we decided Tuttle, Okla was close enough to Texas and the Gulf coast.  I had enough of TS and hurricanes... did not want more.  As for the time frame, my house in Houston flooded with Alison in June 10 of 2001.  Contractors arrived to obtain contract in October (due to overwhelming load of disaster)... work began on rebuild in February of 2002, was completed in July, 2002.  Some may say that is too long..  But, you have to realize that was only in my neighborhood where over 1000 homes had to be rebuilt.  Even in 2002, some were still clearing out stuff from their homes that they had hoped to save, but were not able to.  Now, imagine an ever more massive extent of flooding, and an even more amount of rainfall.  Yes, it will be years in the rebuilding, no question about it. 

Jesse    TCA  12-68275

On the same note, heard from friends in Houston and my son/daughter still living there.  They are ok, but the neighbor hood where we once lived has again flooded from Greens Bayou and houses, again, have 4 ft or more flood waters.  My son just texted me and stated all of our friends and former neighbors have been relocated to shelters.. the old neighborhood is empty of residents.  Also, as some may have heard on NBC, the loss of a family of six.....   That is the grand parents and two nieces, two nephews, of the Salvadors.  Friends and once close neighbors of ours from when we lived there in Houston.  My son and daughter informed me of the possible loss of their family members yesterday from Andrew Salvador, a fine man who grew up and went to school with my oldest son.  This brings it all even closer to heart, and their grief and loss are also my family's as we were very close.  Such as it is, let us pray it becomes no greater than it already is... although we know the inevitable is always around the corner.

Jesse    TCA   12-68275

texastrain posted:

On the same note, heard from friends in Houston and my son/daughter still living there.  They are ok, but the neighbor hood where we once lived has again flooded from Greens Bayou and houses, again, have 4 ft or more flood waters.  My son just texted me and stated all of our friends and former neighbors have been relocated to shelters.. the old neighborhood is empty of residents.  Also, as some may have heard on NBC, the loss of a family of six.....   That is the grand parents and two nieces, two nephews, of the Salvadors.  Friends and once close neighbors of ours from when we lived there in Houston.  My son and daughter informed me of the possible loss of their family members yesterday from Andrew Salvador, a fine man who grew up and went to school with my oldest son.  This brings it all even closer to heart, and their grief and loss are also my family's as we were very close.  Such as it is, let us pray it becomes no greater than it already is... although we know the inevitable is always around the corner.

 

Jesse    TCA   12-68275

 

So Sorry.

Rob English posted:

There are lots of train folks in Houston that are scrambling right now. I have been in contact and things are bad, real bad.  Lets offer them our support, and leave the climate change bickering out of it.

I agree with Rob 100% This is NOT the time--and it definitely is not the place--for discussions of such things as politics, climate change, and other no-win topics. This IS the time to pray for, and extend help if at all possible, to those affected by this natural disaster. And since this is a train-hobby forum, we can even take a minute or two to express special wishes for the safety and well-being of our fellow hobbyists in the Houston area, and there are a good many of them there in all scales.