I did say I would not be showing the damage of Hurricane Harvey since I felt it too personal. Today I am giving you a view of those places that will in all probability not be repaired and the owners have gone elsewhere.
This home is vacant. Note the color of the sky. That is a haze produced by the blowing sands of the Sahara desert in Africa.
This is a shot of the house that I took before Harvey. I was highlighting the rope on the fence. You can get a good idea of the normal sky color too.
Here are some homes that are being moved to a different location.
I did not realize there are businesses that will buy your home or RV and take it away.
Here is a lot that no longer has a house.
Another house ready to be moved. I was touched by the flag left by the owners.
Here is another lot where the house has been relocated. The car is still there.
This will most likely be torn down.
This was a popular restaurant in Port Aransas. Not sure it will open again.
On a positive note, this convenience store and gas station was totally destroyed but is being rebuilt.
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Wow. So much destruction. Those who rebuild, repair and stay on have my admiration.
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Thanks, Keith. Many did not have the resources to do so. Sad thing.
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I can understand the damage still being around. The island I was born on went through Hurricane Sandy and they still are not 100% repaired. Sad to see landmarks disappear.
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It is sad. There are several vacant lots whee landmarks used to be. Thanks, GP.
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Sad picture, dear John…but a positive one in the sense that there is so much new to be done for a new life to come. 🙂
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So true, Maria. Thanks.
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Cheers!
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😀
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Good to end on a high note there. Do you think people will move into the lots?
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Hard to say. I think it will take time for the lot owners to figure out what to do.
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Hope it doesn’t take too long. 🙂
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Think Sandy. Could be years.
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That’s exactly what I was thinking.
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;-D
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Thank you for sharing, John. Disasters, such as Harvey, take with them a bit of the heart of a place. Folks like you restore the balance and offer hope. 🙂
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Aw, thank you, Gwen. Very nice words.
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Thanks for sharing these photos with us, John. It makes you wonder about people…why some decide to abandon their property and others have the strength to rebuilt. I suppose everyone has different circumstances. Strange that the car was left behind. Happy Sunday!
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I wondered about the car as well, Jill. Thanks
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Thanks for sharing, John. A real mixture of reactions there and all created in moments. Hugs Xx
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So true. Thanks, Jane.
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Watching restoration is like watching a child grow. You don’t notice it from day to day, but when Grandma comes to visit and says, “Oh, my! Look how tall you are now!” you suddenly take a look and see how things have changed. It’s been so touching to watch Galveston rebuild from Ike. Port A will rebuild, too — you’re just at a different stage of the process. Thanks for giving us a look.
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Thank you, Linda. My memory of IKE was all the debris washing up on our beaches. It was tragic and heartbreaking.
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Thank you for giving us these personal glimpses of a place that means so much to you, John. It reminds me again that tomorrow is never promised. 🌹🥀🌹
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Yes, Maretha. We have to keep your thought in mind always. Tomorrow is never promised. Thank you.
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Thanks John! Happy writing this week!
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Thank you, Maretha. 😀
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It’s hard to fathom. I live in an area that really has no natural disasters. What we call a flood is a joke in other places. We get wildfires, but it’s pretty safe living in town. Your pictures are important. We see the immediate newscasts, then the cameras move on. It’s important to know even the cleanup takes years.
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Thanks Craig. It does take years and I am amazed at how many businesses are up and runningso soon after.
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It’s very sad to see homes totally destroyed or damaged beyond repair. I can only imagine the reasons people have for moving or deciding not to rebuild. Following you through the process of repairing the damage you had, shows that it’s not easy. And, despite having insurance, I’m sure it’s not inexpensive.
I wish them all well.
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The deductable usually takes people out of being able to aford the repairs. I wish them well too, Dan.
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You have to wonder how each successive storm changes the character of coastal communities.
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We have lost about all the houses that are not built to withstand a Cat 4. The newer ones can so I would say the storms inprove the survability of the buildings. Unfortunately the historic ones take the biggest hit. Thanks, Greg.
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These pictures give a good idea of the ferocity of the storm. I suppose the moves had something to do with insurance and fear of another storm. At least there’s some rebuilding. —- Suzanne
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The moves were a matter of economics. The city requires condemmed buildings to be torn down or moved. By moving, the owner gets a few dollars and doesn’t have to pay for demolation. The houses have to be in good enough shape for the mover to be able to referb and sell them. Thanks, Suzanne.
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Thanks for the detailed reply, John. 🙂 — Suzanne
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😀
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Some very chilling pictures here, John. That restaurant really got flattened. Thanks for sharing these.
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It did. It was on a marina which was hit very hard.
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Scary stuff. Stay safe, John.
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Thank you, Linda. You as well. You live in the snow country after all.
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Honestly, I’m more scared of tornadoes. 😛 Thanks, John.
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Me too. Art least with ahurricaine you get plenty of warning.
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True.
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Thanks for sharing, John. It’s a reminder that just because the storm is long gone, the devastation isn’t.
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Thank you, Jan
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Your photos give a face to the destruction some people have and are still experiencing. I understand why you kept them private for a while. But as we are learning that Puerto Ricans are still directly affected by the consequences of Irma and Maria, it’s important to show the reality. Like you, I find the flag very touching. As a French-born person this is something I noticed when I moved to the U.S. The fact that poor people or people affected by tragedy could remain so patriotic was something I had never witnessed in my native France. Best to you and your town, which must be so lovely when the sky is blue and the ocean and wind peaceful.
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Thank you so much for your feeling comment, Evelyne. We Americans tend to fall back to the things we love in times of trouble. Our country is one of them.
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This is so sad. I don’t know what I’d do in a similar situation.
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Yeah it is tough decision time.
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It’s heartbreaking, John. A good reminder to us of how long it takes to recover from any disaster. I agree completely with Gwen’s comment. Huge hugs to you and yours.
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Hugs to you, Teagan. 😀
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These things are reality and one cannot hide from them. Thanks for sharing. The skies have been really odd!
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They have. its going to be four to six weeks of this stuff. Ugh
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A picture is worth a thousand words. So sad, John.
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Thank you, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John.
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So sad to see those damages buildings and the glimpses of property still inside some of them, John. What will happen to that first home that has been abandoned now that the owners have left? Will it simply be left like that or will they perhaps sell it and take what they can?
We sometimes get the sands of the Sahara desert in our skies, too. It usually results in the sky turning a burnt orange colour. It’s quite creepy when it happens.
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Usually an abandoned home will be torn down. This one may be repaired but it has been so long I doubt it.
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So sad and heartbreaking. As Craig said, we really have no natural disasters where I live. The occasional high winds, but nothing as catastrophic as a hurricane.
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I used to live in that kind of area as well. We certainly have learned to appreciate the calm. Thanks, Teri.
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A hard post to like John. I hope those that haven’t been able to repair their homes, and businesses are able to move forward, and be whole again.
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I do too, Deborah. Lovely hope.
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The number of people’s lives affected is heartbreaking. A few years ago we had a terrible flood that destroyed so many homes. There’s one home in particular that affects me every time I see it even though it’s not the worst by far. The whole front of the house is washed out, the laundry room exposed but intact. It’s a brutal reminder that people’s lives were forever changed.
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We have a number like that, Rhonda. You are right about forever changed.
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