Today was my first day to really tour the storm ravaged neighborhoods of Galveston. Ike played with peoples belongings like a big, mean old bully. Bending metal, breaking 6 by 6 lumber, and strewing boats about parking lots as if to cast them from his sandbox.

Public works crews are scurrying through sand covered roads like ants. They are literally bulldozing tunnels and pathways where roads once welcomed residents and tourists to the Texas coast. It will be sometime before residents get back into their homes and neighborhoods, much less any resemblance to any kind of tourism industry. But not to worry, Galvestonians, the tourists will come back. Mostly gawkers at first, coming in to see for themselves the damage to once familiar hang outs. We were set up for lives along the sea wall early this morning but were asked to move because engineers just aren’t sure how strong the sea wall still is after Ike’s tantrum.

Buried in the sand I saw two safes that hopefully had been emptied by the owners before the storm hit. There really was no way to tell where they came from. In many areas Galveston looks more a like a construction and demolition landfill than a once thriving beach community of 60,000 plus residents. As if there weren’t enough for rescue and EMS personnel to deal with just in search duties alone, late today comes word that and island habitat for exotic animals had “lost track” of a TIGER!! I know where all mine are.

Seems like Ike left the cage open when he pulled out. And the cattle are walking about beachfront roads as if they were back home on the range. Amazing. Oh… the President was here today. Ceremonial. Nice day for a helicopter ride I guess. Seems like a waste of fuel… that immensely sought after commodity that residents would sell their last striped tiger for. Maybe that’s where he got off too. Tomorrow is a new day and residents will start being allowed to trickle in for their first look at the task ahead of them. Look only. No touch. No collecting.

Officials have said those who attempt to stay may face fines of up to $2000 dollars. There are reports that martial law might be declared. A jail cell and three hot meals a day promised to those who disobey. A jail cell and three hot meals a day….hmmm. For some who’ve lost everything that might not be a day at the beach, but here these days, a day at the beach means hard labor. How ’bout those COWBOYS!