I was listening to a Houston Chronicle columnist describe the destruction along the coast left behind by Hurricane Ike, and he said “It looks like a tornado went through there.”
And, yes, based on what photographic evidence I’ve seen, the damage is remarkable. But as he spoke I thought, “I can’t remember the last time someone was talking about devastation and said, ‘It looks like a hurricane went through there.’”
Interesting. Yet this isn’t meant to diminish the destructive potential of hurricanes in any way —- coastal Texas is fresh testimony to their power.
Ask all those people who decided to ride Ike out at home and now wish they hadn’t. Ask them a year from now, when infrastructure and homes are rebuilt but winds pushing above 30 miles an hour induce cold sweats and sleepless nights.
With Ike’s widespread damage as a reminder, will more people heed evacuation orders when a hurricane again threatens the U.S. coastline?