Ike comes close, but APN
Clubhouse spared
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Hurricane Ike blew into Galveston Island, up into Texas, the
eye crossing just to the east of Conroe and APN's Clubhouse.
Its wind speeds dropped from
Category 2 to that of a Category 1 storm just about the time it
neared closest to us, but that was enough to topple several of
our large trees.
Below are a few photos showing
the aftermath.
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Ike's path plotted by
Stormpulse.com
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This aerial photo of APN's grounds shows the location of trees
toppled by Ike
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Looking down APN's driveway from the street, showing a tree
blocking the way |
A closer view of the trees blocking the driveway. These
are Trees 1 and 2 in the legend.
Tree 1 was uprooted and when it fell it took out Tree 2, about
15' above ground level.
Farther back in the picture you can see where a limb sheared off
Tree 3.
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The limb that broke off of Tree 3 |
Tree 8 is to the right in this photo.
The tree in the center of the photo is dead, but surprisingly is
still standing. |
Tree 8 as seen from near the clubhouse door. |
Trees 7 and 6 |
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Tree 8 (the stump on the far left), and Trees 7 and 6.
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Trees 6 and 7 in the foreground, Tree 8 in the background.
Tree 8 fell to the right, while Trees 6 and 7 fell to the left.
Explain the physics of that. |
Tree 6.
The still standing tree in the center of this photo appears to
be dead, too.
Had it fallen, if it didn't hit the building it would have
landed on the electrical line. |
We came this close to being hit by Tree 6.
Whew! |
A dead tree towering over the Clubhouse.
Why did this tree, in the clearing, survive, while those
surrounded by other trees that buffered the winds, did not? |
Trees 4 and 5. Tree 4 is laying on the
ground behind the brush,
it uprooted and as it fell it likely snapped Tree 5 off about
10' up. |
The root ball of Tree 4 is to the left. To
the right is the limb off of Tree 3. |
Tree 3 and the huge limb that fell off of it. |
Another view of Tree 8. |
Trees 10 and 11 |
Trees 12 and 13 |
Trees 1 and 2 as seen looking down the driveway
towards the street. |
Trees 1 and 2 |
Looking down the electrical right-of-way from the
street.
The trees all appear to remain standing, although there is a big dead one
that can be seen in the background to the left of the pole, and
a dead
branch appears to be dangling from the top of the tree to the
left. |
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One week later - Saturday
September 20 - APN Work Day
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Randy cutting up what is just a limb that broke
off of Tree 3
A huge limb from an even bigger tree! |
Dueling Chainsaws
Randy and John cut a tree up while Mike, Roger,
Larry and David wait to carry the segments away |
Barry and Larry load up debris to be carried off |
Ray drags a branch to the trash pile |
Jim grabbing some branches to haul off |
Mike coming back for another load to haul off in
this wheelbarrow |
Taking a break to stay hydrated
John, Mike, Rich, Randy, Jim and Roger |
Randy cutting up another tree as Rich and Johnnie
load up debris to carry off. |
The same scene a few hours later, looking good!
Jim, Bob, Mike, Randy, Mike, Johnnie and John |
And in the end, a little less shade, maybe a few
sore muscles, and a lot of firewood. |
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The good Lord was kind to APN, as although they came close, none of the falling
trees hit the building. As miraculously, none of them hit
our power lines, either. We lost power for a while, our
refrigerator expired, and we had to clean up debris. As a
club we were lucky.
We wish everyone else in Ike's
path would have fared as well. At least two of our members
suffered significant damage to their homes. There are many, many
individuals in Southeast Texas that suffered severe damage, even total loss of
their homes and other property. Tragically, some lost
their lives as well. They have our heartfelt condolences.
May God be
with them.
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