The National Guard is also stationed at the Central Mall. Reporter Mary Meaux just came back and said they plan to be there from 9-6, giving out food, water and ice in the parking lot.
If you've noticed, I haven't had as many updates as I used to, but that's because at this point it's really only more of the same as far as updates are coming in. I try to only update this blog when we have something new come our way.
But, with all these photos I've been taking day after day, I'll have another photo blog up here at some point.
Mike Tobias, Port Arthur News
Friday, September 19, 2008
POD point in Groves
Driving around, I haven't seen much military personnel out and about, but finally, earlier I found some on my way to Bridge City. The POD for food, ice, and water has finally been established in Groves at the First Baptist Church. I can only imagine that they will go untill they're out of supplies, or perhaps they're doing it like the hot meals people and doing a few hours at noon, or in the afternoon.
I did get to Bridge City for a late afternoon press conference, where Judge Carl Thibodeaux and the mayors of surrounding cities came together to give a little information on their respective communities.
Following that, the media took a tour of Bridge City, of which the tour took a spin down Norbert where my brother-in-law's house resides. All in all, about 14 Port Arthur Police officers lost their homes in the storm, but due to mandatory 12-hour shifts, none can really take off enough to get home and take care of business.
I will say that I was pretty sure my brother-in-law's home was one of the worst neighbohoods in Bridge City...untill we kept moving down the street and onto Hardy. At least on Norbert you can see the road. The storm surge water on Hardy took out the bottom halfs of homes and garages, leaving splintered wood and piles of bricks at the base of skeleton home structures.
One good bit of good news I received: my wife may be coming back tomorrow. And I cannot wait 'till she gets here.
Mike Tobias, Port Arthur News
I did get to Bridge City for a late afternoon press conference, where Judge Carl Thibodeaux and the mayors of surrounding cities came together to give a little information on their respective communities.
Following that, the media took a tour of Bridge City, of which the tour took a spin down Norbert where my brother-in-law's house resides. All in all, about 14 Port Arthur Police officers lost their homes in the storm, but due to mandatory 12-hour shifts, none can really take off enough to get home and take care of business.
I will say that I was pretty sure my brother-in-law's home was one of the worst neighbohoods in Bridge City...untill we kept moving down the street and onto Hardy. At least on Norbert you can see the road. The storm surge water on Hardy took out the bottom halfs of homes and garages, leaving splintered wood and piles of bricks at the base of skeleton home structures.
One good bit of good news I received: my wife may be coming back tomorrow. And I cannot wait 'till she gets here.
Mike Tobias, Port Arthur News
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
There's no movie like a Pollabear movie
Joe Deshotel of Pollabear.org has been very kind to let me post his videos from touring the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Ike in Southeast Texas.
Here's some from his tour into Orange County yesterday. We start by crossing into Bridge City...
And here, Joe tours downtown Orange, near the Sabine River...
And lastly, Joe comes upon a staging ground for federal at the 16th Street H.E.B store...
We've come upon a very trying time here in Southeast Texas. It's trying from everyone involved, from parents to kids who don't understand why all the adults are so upset and stressed. No matter how dark it is in the middle of a tunnel, just remember there's always light at the other end.
Mike Tobias, Port Arthur News
Here's some from his tour into Orange County yesterday. We start by crossing into Bridge City...
And here, Joe tours downtown Orange, near the Sabine River...
And lastly, Joe comes upon a staging ground for federal at the 16th Street H.E.B store...
We've come upon a very trying time here in Southeast Texas. It's trying from everyone involved, from parents to kids who don't understand why all the adults are so upset and stressed. No matter how dark it is in the middle of a tunnel, just remember there's always light at the other end.
Mike Tobias, Port Arthur News
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Photo Blog 3: Bridge under troubled water
Bridge City that is.
First, let me be fair and say I'm only writing what I saw. I don't know many people personally in Bridge City, other than my brother-in-law, Ben.
His house is on Norbert. If you Google map Norbert, you'll please note that it is the last street in Bridge City to the South East. Directly behind his house...marsh...then Sabine Lake.
The road blocks were up on the way into town, minus one space big enough for a single lane of traffic to get onto the bridge. I had no clue what I was prepared to see; especially since it hadn't been 48 hours yet since I had received footage of the city under water.
As we made the descent into town, the water evidence was clear. Debris. Marsh grass. It all littered the road way, but had been pushed back by those who had managed to get in before us to clear the roads. The approach way was fine...and then we hit what used to be town.
The Budget Motel, to the right, right before you get to Ferry Road...gone...splinters, and remnants of a wall.
Four feet high piles of debris pushed to both sides of the street. Roofs off businesses. Awnings off. Signs off posts. Visible water lines on every business and home, averaging at least four and a half feet.
As we made our way down Roberts, then to Jones on the path to Norbert, we could smell the marsh mud...the dead fish. We could see yards and driveways covered in marsh mud. Streets still feet deep in water. Residents in snake boots clomping through the mud to get salvagable belongings out of their homes.
We got to Norbert and saw his home. Dried marsh mud covering his driveway. A visible waterline, visibly up the brick siding and higher than some of his windows.
As he raised his garage door, a stench of festering marsh mud and fish was overwhelming, so much that my eyes watered every second in there. Fridges toppled over piles of wet clothes, tools strewn about...mud covering his lawn equipment and four-wheeler. Guns knocked into the water.
In the backyard, a pool-full of who-knows-what. Patio furniture tossed about.
As we walked into the house, I couldn't tell where the floor started and ended...then I realized I was staring down into three inches of standing, marsh muddy water on top of his once white carpet. Dead fish floating in the wakes of our feet.
Apparently Ike's winds and driving rain made it's way into the house. Stuff from the kitchen and cabinets were in the dining room. Items from the dining room were in the living room. Items from the living room were in the other living room, and vice-versa. The floors were covered in wet, soggy food boxes and photo frames, which I then began collecting to salvage before they dried onto their glass casings and photos albums lost forever.
It's amazing, but apparently 110 mph winds can toss dressers, beds, entertainment centers and tables and chairs around pretty good. Amid the standing mud, I managed to get many, many photos he would need for insurance purposes. One such photo stands out. This one.
The items, replaceable, however the scorn and resentment felt towards the force of nature which came through unwanted can almost be felt through these helpless, lifeless victims.
We got what we could out, but it will take more runs there and back to salvage what's left to be salvaged. With every house in the area marked with the same, high water line, this is a tale that will be told time after time after time, with only the names to be changed.
I do have Pollabear.org's videos of Orange County, and I will quickly post them to follow up this blog. I'll do it quick; I need to get the sight of my brother-in-law's house out of my mind. Some of it's too hard to bear.
Mike Tobias, Port Arthur News
First, let me be fair and say I'm only writing what I saw. I don't know many people personally in Bridge City, other than my brother-in-law, Ben.
His house is on Norbert. If you Google map Norbert, you'll please note that it is the last street in Bridge City to the South East. Directly behind his house...marsh...then Sabine Lake.
The road blocks were up on the way into town, minus one space big enough for a single lane of traffic to get onto the bridge. I had no clue what I was prepared to see; especially since it hadn't been 48 hours yet since I had received footage of the city under water.
As we made the descent into town, the water evidence was clear. Debris. Marsh grass. It all littered the road way, but had been pushed back by those who had managed to get in before us to clear the roads. The approach way was fine...and then we hit what used to be town.
The Budget Motel, to the right, right before you get to Ferry Road...gone...splinters, and remnants of a wall.
Four feet high piles of debris pushed to both sides of the street. Roofs off businesses. Awnings off. Signs off posts. Visible water lines on every business and home, averaging at least four and a half feet.
As we made our way down Roberts, then to Jones on the path to Norbert, we could smell the marsh mud...the dead fish. We could see yards and driveways covered in marsh mud. Streets still feet deep in water. Residents in snake boots clomping through the mud to get salvagable belongings out of their homes.
We got to Norbert and saw his home. Dried marsh mud covering his driveway. A visible waterline, visibly up the brick siding and higher than some of his windows.
As he raised his garage door, a stench of festering marsh mud and fish was overwhelming, so much that my eyes watered every second in there. Fridges toppled over piles of wet clothes, tools strewn about...mud covering his lawn equipment and four-wheeler. Guns knocked into the water.
In the backyard, a pool-full of who-knows-what. Patio furniture tossed about.
As we walked into the house, I couldn't tell where the floor started and ended...then I realized I was staring down into three inches of standing, marsh muddy water on top of his once white carpet. Dead fish floating in the wakes of our feet.
Apparently Ike's winds and driving rain made it's way into the house. Stuff from the kitchen and cabinets were in the dining room. Items from the dining room were in the living room. Items from the living room were in the other living room, and vice-versa. The floors were covered in wet, soggy food boxes and photo frames, which I then began collecting to salvage before they dried onto their glass casings and photos albums lost forever.
It's amazing, but apparently 110 mph winds can toss dressers, beds, entertainment centers and tables and chairs around pretty good. Amid the standing mud, I managed to get many, many photos he would need for insurance purposes. One such photo stands out. This one.
The items, replaceable, however the scorn and resentment felt towards the force of nature which came through unwanted can almost be felt through these helpless, lifeless victims.
We got what we could out, but it will take more runs there and back to salvage what's left to be salvaged. With every house in the area marked with the same, high water line, this is a tale that will be told time after time after time, with only the names to be changed.
I do have Pollabear.org's videos of Orange County, and I will quickly post them to follow up this blog. I'll do it quick; I need to get the sight of my brother-in-law's house out of my mind. Some of it's too hard to bear.
Mike Tobias, Port Arthur News
Photo Blog 2: When times are tough...people are nicer
I say that because I don't know how many people I've met over the last few days that have the most positive attitude, despite this last storm we've gone through.
This morning, I was taking pictures at Gilliam Circle in Port Arthur, where tons of cars kept a constant, near mile long line of residents coming for food, ice, and a case of bottled water.
The first thing I noticed was this kid sitting on top of a stack of bottled water cases. Then I realized what he was doing. He was sitting up there while his grandfather was loading the water into the cars that came up. When his grandfather needed another case, he'd get one ready for him. I had to take that picture.
His name is Dalvin Warrick. He's seven years old and instead of sleeping in or playing outside, or anything else a seven year old would rather be doing, he was helping his grandfather, A.J. Thomas, help other people.
I got a chance to speak to Thomas as he was loading the cases of bottled water into a total strangers car, and he said something very befitting of a fellow neighbor in a trying time. "If our entire community came together as a whole in the city's hour of need, we can get this city back on it's feet in no time," he said.
How very selfless. How very true.
The Red Cross and Convoy of Hope teams were extremely eager to get the job done and well. They were very organized; I could tell this was not their first rodeo.
They were kind and courteous, and stayed to give out the essential goods right down to the last box.
I was offered dinner twice today by people I've never even met. The only reason I turned down the second meal was because I just got done eating the first. The first, being a big ol' pot of red beans and some rice, with a splash of habanero sauce. I'm telling you, I've been lucky. I haven't had to dive into a M.R.E, although it's still sitting on the counter in the kitchen, where's it's been since I almost ate it yesterday.
During Hurricane Rita, I lived off of peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches for days. Today, I've officially had my first Ike P.B. and J.
I also got a chance to tour Bridge City yesterday. But first, let me wrap up this blog. All I can tell you is, I have never seen first hand what I saw yesterday at my brother-in-law's house.
Mike Tobias, Port Arthur News
This morning, I was taking pictures at Gilliam Circle in Port Arthur, where tons of cars kept a constant, near mile long line of residents coming for food, ice, and a case of bottled water.
The first thing I noticed was this kid sitting on top of a stack of bottled water cases. Then I realized what he was doing. He was sitting up there while his grandfather was loading the water into the cars that came up. When his grandfather needed another case, he'd get one ready for him. I had to take that picture.
His name is Dalvin Warrick. He's seven years old and instead of sleeping in or playing outside, or anything else a seven year old would rather be doing, he was helping his grandfather, A.J. Thomas, help other people.
I got a chance to speak to Thomas as he was loading the cases of bottled water into a total strangers car, and he said something very befitting of a fellow neighbor in a trying time. "If our entire community came together as a whole in the city's hour of need, we can get this city back on it's feet in no time," he said.
How very selfless. How very true.
The Red Cross and Convoy of Hope teams were extremely eager to get the job done and well. They were very organized; I could tell this was not their first rodeo.
They were kind and courteous, and stayed to give out the essential goods right down to the last box.
I was offered dinner twice today by people I've never even met. The only reason I turned down the second meal was because I just got done eating the first. The first, being a big ol' pot of red beans and some rice, with a splash of habanero sauce. I'm telling you, I've been lucky. I haven't had to dive into a M.R.E, although it's still sitting on the counter in the kitchen, where's it's been since I almost ate it yesterday.
During Hurricane Rita, I lived off of peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches for days. Today, I've officially had my first Ike P.B. and J.
I also got a chance to tour Bridge City yesterday. But first, let me wrap up this blog. All I can tell you is, I have never seen first hand what I saw yesterday at my brother-in-law's house.
Mike Tobias, Port Arthur News
More places that are open
Driving through Port Neches, I saw H-E-B busy, with a lot of volunteers working. I heard they're distributing free ice, and I think they're letting people shop. The gas lines are still extremely long.
Going down Nall towards Magnolia, I saw Market Basket open, with people going in and out as they please...no line, but I think they were just starting to open up yesterday.
Also, many of the gas stations with goods inside are beginning open up, even though they don't have gas just yet. Probably selling cigarettes and alcohol, soft drinks, whatever they have to make money right now.
I saw a line of cars around the Jack-In-The-Box on Magnolia, but be warned...I don't know if they all pulled in because they saw cars in the parking lot and doors open.
Yesterday, Cody Pastorella and I pulled into the Jack-In-The-Box on 365 in Port Arthur because we saw people taking food out of the back. We thought they were giving the food away, but when we got out and asked them, they said they were only giving the food away to the employees that worked there, and that's what I think I and other people may have seen in Port Neches.
Give me a few and I'll pop some more pictures up here.
Mike Tobias, The News
Going down Nall towards Magnolia, I saw Market Basket open, with people going in and out as they please...no line, but I think they were just starting to open up yesterday.
Also, many of the gas stations with goods inside are beginning open up, even though they don't have gas just yet. Probably selling cigarettes and alcohol, soft drinks, whatever they have to make money right now.
I saw a line of cars around the Jack-In-The-Box on Magnolia, but be warned...I don't know if they all pulled in because they saw cars in the parking lot and doors open.
Yesterday, Cody Pastorella and I pulled into the Jack-In-The-Box on 365 in Port Arthur because we saw people taking food out of the back. We thought they were giving the food away, but when we got out and asked them, they said they were only giving the food away to the employees that worked there, and that's what I think I and other people may have seen in Port Neches.
Give me a few and I'll pop some more pictures up here.
Mike Tobias, The News
Day 3: Food Distribution in the area
I just went to two places...Gilliam Circle in Port Arthur and First Baptist Church in Nederland, both of whom have places distributing food, water, and ice in a drive-up service.
At Gilliam Circle, the line is snaking around the entire circle, coming from Thomas Blvd., and beginning on Woodworth/Memorial. They have an organization called Convoy of Hope and are partnering with local volunteers to help distribute the necessities into patrons vehicles. I believe what they were telling me is they were doing it as long as they had supplies, and they had plenty to go around. So much that if you had more than one family, you could get the supplies for both in one car.
They just finished up lunch time distribution in Nederland, but they have said they will be back in the late afternoon for a dinner distribution of heater meals and ice.
I will post pictures of this as soon as I can.
Also, gas stations are beginning to open up sparatically throughout the area. The Shell station at 25th Street and Memorial is open, but lines are forming.
In Nederland, a couple of places have begun opening for business. Market Basket is allowing a few people to go in at a time for groceries; some Seafood Deli down near McDonald's has an open sign out front on a piece of plywood; Domino's is open and a line of cars is beginning to form around that. I had heard a rumor that Touchdown Gas Station was opening with gas, but that turned out to be false. Their store is open, but they have no gas.
Stay with me as I continue to drive around.
Mike Tobias, Port Arthur News
At Gilliam Circle, the line is snaking around the entire circle, coming from Thomas Blvd., and beginning on Woodworth/Memorial. They have an organization called Convoy of Hope and are partnering with local volunteers to help distribute the necessities into patrons vehicles. I believe what they were telling me is they were doing it as long as they had supplies, and they had plenty to go around. So much that if you had more than one family, you could get the supplies for both in one car.
They just finished up lunch time distribution in Nederland, but they have said they will be back in the late afternoon for a dinner distribution of heater meals and ice.
I will post pictures of this as soon as I can.
Also, gas stations are beginning to open up sparatically throughout the area. The Shell station at 25th Street and Memorial is open, but lines are forming.
In Nederland, a couple of places have begun opening for business. Market Basket is allowing a few people to go in at a time for groceries; some Seafood Deli down near McDonald's has an open sign out front on a piece of plywood; Domino's is open and a line of cars is beginning to form around that. I had heard a rumor that Touchdown Gas Station was opening with gas, but that turned out to be false. Their store is open, but they have no gas.
Stay with me as I continue to drive around.
Mike Tobias, Port Arthur News
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