Reports from hurricane survivors trickle in from Texas
Hurricane Ike left the house a week ago, but many residents of Houston and parts north are just getting their power back and lives in order. Our masters track friends there are totaling up their losses, but keeping their sense of humor. One is Doug “Bubba” Sparks, an M55 pole vaulter from The Woodlands, north of Houston. Bubba wrote several days ago: “Our vault facility took a hit . . . even though the coaches did one heck of a job strapping down the pits. One front bun got the case ripped right off of it though the pit never moved. The rollout runway we got from Ron Morris at OnTrack was twisted like a red vine licorice piece. Both pits looked like swimming pools.”
Here’s Bubba’s original note to friends:
“We’re all right with no property damage. MANY weren’t so lucky. I’ve gotten lots of calls and emails from people and it’s been very frustrating to see and hear yet not be able to respond.
After four days of no phones or power, we finally got electricity about an hour ago. In the area well over 2 million people lost power so the cellular network became useless as everyone reverted to that. Oh, I could get your emails and texts but my responses would be bounced.
To simply check my voice mail for my home and cell phone took 30-50 attempts in immediate succession before a call might happen to go through. If I did get someone on the phone it was garbled before unexpectedly dropping. OK, enough of that. Keep your prayers with those less fortunate.
PART TWO
Our vault facility took a hit too even though the coaches did one heck of a job strapping down the pits. One front bun got the case ripped right off of it though the pit never moved. The rollout runway we got from Ron Morris at OnTrack was twisted like a red vine licorice piece. Both pits looked like swimming pools.
Thank goodness they also put the standards away before the storm. I went home to change to work on the clean up, only to return and see that in those 30 minutes that Coach Green had the cross country studs do it before I got back. I did a very short jump session for quality control.
School is closed until Monday and I have been asked not to hold practices during that time so our Tuesday practice and Saturday meet is off. I’m sure everyone understands. So, see you locals next week and for the rest of you, thanks for thinking of us. Hope to see you all soon.
On September 15, M55 middle-distance champ Horace Grant posted this comment:
We have all been affected in some way by the storm here. I have gone through most of the big storms as a native Texan during my life time. However, this one has been quite devasting to our community.
As most of you have seen on the news, this one has spread quite a bit of damage over a wide area. I had some damage to my home, lost all the trees in my yard, one missing my bedroom by about ten feet, and just heard today that my area is not expected to have electricity for a number of weeks.
I can still communicate wirelessly, and I am fortunate to have a backup generator to run a few hours a day. We are blessed not to have been physically injured and pray for those who have suffered worse. Thanks for all the concern and prayers.
We’re still hoping to hear from Houston Elite TC members Bill Collins and others. Please let us know you’re OK!
4 Responses
Ken,
Bill and Stephanie are without power and so their ability to communicate and tend to email is limited. They are hoping for power by early this week. But, they are both OK and getting along the best they can under the circumstances.
To the best of my knowledge the Houston Elite group are all OK, but they are dealing with a lot of power and downed trees types of issues. It may be a while longer before some of the South Texas athletes can report in.
I am OK. If a falling tree did not hit you, the loss of power was the biggest problem. Finally got electricity yesterday.
I did not have time to check on the high jump pit. With the wind we had, it might be 100 miles north from its original location.
Milan
Bill Collins wrote me Monday morning:
Thank you for the concerns and all the others as well, we just got power on last night, we had no damage to our home, a few trees down and the fence is gone, but Stephanie and I are well. The rest of the group of athletes in Houston suffered about the same as I did, some are still without power, but things are well. Once again thank you so very much for you concern.
I live about 1/4 mile from where “Bubba” Sparks practices. It was pretty awesome alright. I think the eye passed within a mile of my house.
It’s a very interesting experience to see steady 80 mph winds, and with gusts much higher that which last for 12 hours. But the wierdest part is to see them start from the West, then move to the South, then from the East and then from the North. It’s probably a little like being in a blender!
If another comes our way and it’s any bigger than a category 2, then I’m outta here.
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