Geek Habitat

I don’t think there’s that much cross-pollination between my Wild Texas: Parks, Nature & Travel Guide website and here so I’m reposting some of the Ike information I’ve posted there as a blog entry to help/inform:

• Pretty much all the food banks in Texas need additional donations of food due to the large numbers of evacuees they are serving. Three in particular are: Austin Food Bank’s resources are depleted and they are in urgent need of donations (money; pop-top canned meats, peanut butter; shampoo, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products). San Antonio Food Bank needs money or pasta, canned meat, rice, beans, cereal & individually-wrapped snacks. It appears the Houston Food Bank would most appreciate monetary donations at this time so they can purchase the truckloads of donation items required quickly to distribute to folks in need. I checked, and the Dallas (North Texas Food Bank) is *NOT* in need of food donations at this time although I’m sure they won’t turn away food & other donations.
• The latest news from Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is posted at TPWD: Emergency Notices including the staggering report that more than 5,000 people took refuge from Hurricane Ike at 53 different state parks across Texas. Most of them, more than 2,000, stayed at Garner State Park! I don’t know if other states do this, but Texas opens its State Parks to evacuees free of charge during natural disasters. Campsites (including tent/water & RV hookup sites) are free of charge; cabins and shelters are offered at a reduced rate. . For the latest info., folks should call the TPWD Central Reservation/Info Line at (512) 389-8900.
• While Texas bore the brunt of Hurricane Ike, it’s startling to me to see how deadly it remained as it traveled through the nation’s midsection and all the way up to the Great Lakes region:
  33 deaths in 9 states

  State breakdown:
  Texas - 7
  Louisiana - 6
  Tennessee - 2
  Ohio - 4
  Indiana - 7
  Illinois - 2
  Missouri - 3
  Kentucky - 1

  Coastal Rescues:
  1,984 people rescued so far; 394 by air

  Power Info:
  AP: more than 1.6 million customers without power

  Shelter Numbers:
  - At least 37,000 evacuees in Texas, including (in addition to?) over 5,000 that sheltered free of charge at Texas State Parks.
  Source: KTRK Houston (ABC13.com) — “Ike by numbers“

• A collection of absolutely sobering photos of devastation at Crystal Beach and vicinity.
• Texas State Parks affected by hurricane Ike. If you had camping plans over the next couple months, be sure to double-check that a.) the park you intended to visit is open and accepting visitors and b.) that the park you intended to visit is not at or over capacity due to hosting hundreds or thousands of hurricane evacuees.
• ABC affiliate station KTRK of Houston has confirmed reports that the historic Bolivar Lighthouse is destroyed, its top sheared off leaving little more than splinters sticking up — Source: abc13.com Blog: Bolivar lighthouse destroyed - Wayne’s report
• If you want to read the latest updates, one good source is to sign up (free of charge) for Twitter.com and follow these accounts who regularly post Hurricane Ike-related news and resources:
  @KTRKHouston (ABC affiliate in Houston)
  @chronhurricane (Houston Chronicle)
  @TrackingIke — was an amazing resource during the storm but is largely dormant until the next hurricane.
• MSM (Mainstream Media) sources regarding Ike include:
  KHOU TV

  Houston Chronicle newspaper

  San Antonio Express News newspaper / KENS5 TV

  Beaumont Enterprise newspaper

  Austin American Statesman newspaper

• Information for evacuees and supporting evacuees:
  American Red Cross
  FEMA: Hurricane Ike
  Official State of Texas website (relief, recovery, etc. info.)