My damage assessment partner and I are traveling through Texas lowlands right now and we just passed an incredibly flooded section of land. If we got out of the car and walked down into the field, the water would be well above our heads! Right now we are traveling from Houston, Texas, to the Orange County, Texas, Red Cross Chapter where we will receive our next assignment. Since we are only a few minutes away, I have to make this quick.
 
Back in Houston, the main roads are clear of debris, but the further out we go, the more debris we see. The damage is unbelievable. There are trees and power lines down everywhere, the rivers are high, the fields are flooded, siding and roofing are ripped off of homes and occasionally there is scrap metal wrapped around electric poles.
 
The power is out everywhere. Last night, the shelter we stayed at in Houston was the only building around for blocks that had power. For dinner, we tried to find something open, but no one has power to cook anything. A Red Cross ERV pulled into the shelter parking lot, and thankfully they had food for us.
 
I’m scheduled to be on assignment here in Texas for three weeks and by the look of it, every day will be spent doing damage assessments. The size of Hurricane Ike’s destruction continues for hundreds of miles and the number of homes and people affected is astounding. I know there are long days ahead, but the satisfaction of knowing I am helping others keeps me going.
 
Of course you also get to meet people from across the nation – and the world. My damage assessment partner is originally from Kenya and is interning at the Lancaster, PA Chapter. He is a nice guy and I look forward to working with him in the weeks to come.
 
TJ Runge
St. Peters, MO