Ike is really, really big. He's making me a little nervous now as I see the outer bands taking swipes at the dots on the Texas map where I have loved ones. My family is "hunkering down," my brother finally agreeing (last time I talked to him anyway) to heed the mandatory evacuation order for LaPorte and ride it out, along with his daughter and big puppy, with my parents in Pasadena.
They won't be in as much danger of the storm surge there, but there are still tornadoes and high winds, flying debris, and flooding from rain to worry about. My parents' house has survived several hurricanes and tropical storms (if you consider once having a couple of feet of water in your house 'surviving'), but it's getting older, the land is sinking, and my mom woke up sick yesterday, so please keep them, and all the people in the path of the storm, in your prayers. It's going to be a long ride for them tonight.
