After the event that happened in our little area of the earth last september, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people asking the same question.  "How can I help?" was asked of me by friends, relatives, and acquaintances near and far.  After giving them my bank account and routing number, I started thinking about the local organizations and charities that not only got physically hurt by the storm but also suffered collateral damage as their supporters were hurt by time and financial strains as well.  So I've decided to make a list of local organizations that could use your support in either time or monetary donations. 

I'm not going to include national charities like the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army.  It's not that these organizations don't deserve our support and thanks (they most certainly do).  The truth of it is that these large organizations have a much bigger "hat" than our local ones do.  So without further adieu:

 

The Seafarers Center of Galveston provides a sanctuary exclusively for mariners.  Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual support are provided to seamen of all origins, races, and religious backgrounds.

The Seafarers Center has been a part of Galveston for many years and with our growing port, we have a growing need for this support center.

Physical support ranges from leisure activities such as pool, music, and a place to relax to a commissary to buy needed supplies such as soap and batteries, to informational resources like televisions, internet, and telephones.

Emotional and Spiritual support are often needed by seamen who have been on the water for months at a time.  Karen Parsons, the chaplain at the Seafarers Center, along with staff members Wendy Majewski and Melissa Clarke, do their very best to make all visitors feel some of the welcome comforts of home.

Hurricane Ike severely damaged the center located at 221 20th St. in downtown Galveston.  The center is in the process of rebuilding both the structure and reestablishing the services and amenities that they provide.

If you are interested in helping, please contact Wendy Majewski or Melissa Clarke at seafarerscenter@yahoo.com

 

Do you know of any other local organizations or charities that could use our help?  Please let us know!

 

 

Okay 2009.  You officially have to show what you're made of.  You can no longer bask in the shadow of 2008, hiding your potential in dark seams.  2009, you must now drop everything and get to work.  It will be no menial task.  Unless someone has been in a coma or tied to a bedpost, everyone knows 2008 had more to handle than it ever asked for.  Sure, 2008 saw the election of the first African-American President, but it also dealt with one of the worst economic downfalls.

For Galvestonians, 2008 had a front row seat to watch the most damaging storm to cross our path in over a century.  I hope you enjoy your newfound local celebrity status 2008.  Is it really worth it?

All said, I welcome you 2009.  I applaud your brave stance so far against the struggles you've found forced upon yourself.  2009, you and you alone will oversee the next 363 days.  You won't be responsible for anything until your December 31st is X'ed off.

Happy New Year Galveston from IBC!!!  What's your relationship with 2009??

I've been, by my own admission, hesitant to post. Not for lack of want but more out of a personal concern of me not knowing yet how to put the pieces of this whole thing together. The other IBC'ers have also done such a tremendous job of saying how I pretty much felt myself that I didn't want to re-hash it. I know I'm not, by any means, the only one that felt / feels that way.

I realized before the hurricane that it was time for me to reevaluate my business in light of the changing economy. Now after the hurricane, I have had to reevaluate if I can even stay on the island. Whole lot of reevaluating going on these days it seems true believers.

The question that keeps coming to the front of my concerns is if my business can withstand staying here on the island when so much isn't there to facilitate small business development and candidly, I still don't know if it can.

I had a conversation with a friend about this topic the other night and we both echoed the same concerns. Again, I know we weren't the only ones by any long shot but it is nice to talk to others who share in the same thoughts.

When I made the decision to move to Galveston a few years ago, I had no idea the amount of enjoyment I'd get out of this little place. I knew I liked it enough to move my business and myself from Amarillo and the past few years have shown me that like so many others, I have indeed grown attached to the uniqeness of the island and the friendships I've been fortunate to form here.

Post-Ike I've gotten so many calls and emails saying "Please move here." or "You can always stay here." (thanks mom and dad but I'm not sure either of us are ready for that one yet) or "Just come wait it out here and go back when it's ready." 

All the offers are generous, honest, appreciated and in the end, ones that I've decided to take a pass on.

I've had a lot of fun here (yes, I know...sometimes too much fun) but at the end of the day I don't feel that it's right to leave when things get tough. It might be stubborness, but I wouldn't do that to a friend. I don't think I should do it where I've decided to live my life.

It's a challenge to stay here right now and I believe will be for quite some time, but I've also been looking for change and although it took a hurricane to create it (is that the equivalent of getting hit in the head with a hammer to realize something?) the opportunity is there to use this to all of our advantages and I'm more encouraged now than ever to make those changes for myself and my business and hopefully, for Galveston.

I am curious though. What reasons have you all decided to stay and if you do own a small business. What are you planning on doing to stay connected and use this event to grow from? I could use all the advice I can get.
  

Safe travel to all and a fabulous Christmas to all IBCs!!!

 

I didn't forget about you, my loyal subjects (if I may so boldly refer to you in that way).  I don't have much to say today.  Christmas is right around the corner, and I am finally getting in the mood.  Although much shopping still lies ahead of me.  I feel like getting even more personal with this entry and allowing passage into something I wrote not long ago about the storm and the aftermath.  Strictly from my own convoluted digressions of thought processes.  That is all...

Pianos dance as ghosts sink in waters of oceanic tides
silhouettes speak suddenly into flames of distant heat
glistening shores have forsaken, thus speaking in drumbeats
forbidden lyrics change life forever, pulled off course
ropes dangle beneath drips of hard earned rest
lost is only inevitable if you relay blame on unforgiven
pick up the flame, pretend life is still a smoke stack worth burning
destroy desperation in a breath of curling green smoke
try not to blame those who have yet to be forgiven
struggle with this and the clouds move in like a chorus
foundations balance on century old strength and new dawns
hound's tooth tiki torches dance with red earth
digging claws rest in curled up abandonment sung to sleep by history
we sold our souls for opportunities of rebirth masked
sullen faces bled by heartbeats stricken with potential
dawn whispers death into thoughts of resurrection
rising kings conquer demons with a kiss, lips drenched in distant choice
pretend to stand on two feet, sink your toes into island politics
discover storms that dance on sandbar attitudes suspended by greed
platforms once raised with sticks carry ghosts with silent footsteps.
 

It is truly hard to believe that only 1 week ago this was the very same site of a scene dressed in garland, Victorian ladies and gentlemen, bagpipers and (God save her), the Queen in a horse drawn carriage for Dickens on the Strand.

 

As Mikie said while we walked down the Strand this evening, we are so lucky to live in such an amazing, diverse place that can successfully play host to such different events. 

The best part?  Running into our friends we saw last week who were wearing top hats, velvet and petticoats that, today, were decked out in leather chaps, boots and jackets. 

Galveston is on her way back, and her engine is revving strong, Mondo!

Did you attend this year's Lone Star Rally?  What did YOU think?  Please post it here!
 

Thanks very much to our city council representative for her perserverence getting us an answer regarding elevating using the ICC insurance coverage... Please see the following email below that I received from Mrs. Beeton this week:

Elizabeth,

            Immediately below is the answer to your question from our subject matter expert, Diana Herrera.  The basic answer is yes, a historical designated home can qualify for Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC).  In order to do that the house, not including the land value, has to be found to be substantially damaged, that is over 50% damaged according to tax assessment value.  Since this property is located in the historical district and since there was no requirement to do the substantial damage assessments in that area none were done.  So how does one accomplish this?

            The property owner has to show the City Planning and Permitting folks that the damage to their home "by flooding" was in excess of 50% of the home's CAD value plus 5%.  The best way to do that is for the home owner to obtain an estimate for the repair costs to bring the home back to the pre-storm condition with out considering any improvements, and also not considering the cost of elevating it, and present that estimate to the City Planning Department.  I believe it would also behoove the homeowner to check with Lori Schwarz or David Ewald at the Planning and Inspection Department because I think they may also be requiring the home owner to provide a fair market appraisal of the property by a certified appraiser to be consistent with what everyone else must provide.  The appraisal is the other way to establish the value of the home for the purposes of determining substantial damage by flooding.

            Once the city has made a decision that the home is substantially damaged as a result of flooding, it can issue a letter to that effect to the home owner.  The home owner then files a claim for the ICC with his or her insurance company and includes a copy of the substantial damage letter from the city.  My understanding is that the ICC claims process is the same it is for a flooding claim.

            Furthermore, as Diana has noted, the City Planning Department and the State Historical Preservation Officer (SHPO) must determine what it will take for the home to retain its historical designation and can require certain things be done in the elevating process to achieve that end result; for example, using shrubs and vegetation to hide the piers that are used to raise the property.  So I would also suggest that this homeowner consult with Lori Schwarz, the city's historical preservation expert, to determine what has to be done to meet the SHPO and the City's historical preservation requirements.

            The final area of your concerns is the question of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding to assist with elevating a home.  As Diana noted, and as you have heard from Shirley Mayes, the State Hazard Mitigation person for this region, the state's primary emphasis for HMGP grants is for "buy-outs", not for any of the other HMGP grant programs.  However, one of the other HMGP grant areas is for grants to elevate properties above the base flood elevation.  But, convincing the state that it should use the HMGP monies given to it by FEMA for this type of grant is up to the local jurisdiction, we have no direct influence on that.  So we cannot guarantee you or your constituents that there will be money from the HMGP program for elevating homes, only that such grants are authorized. 

Respectfully, Terry 

Terry McArdle
FEMA Liaison to the City of Galveston
AFO-Galveston DR-1791-TX