EEK - Ike!!
Hurricane Ike moved through the Houston area like a freight train through a china shop… massive, plodding, and powerful, it wrecked havoc on the city’s structures and utility systems. It made landfall last Friday night, September 12, bringing with it winds, rain, and devastation.
I live in Houston, and all of our operations are based here. Friday night around 3am I could hear and see the electrical transformers “popping” on their poles along the street. With an enormous bang like a bomb exploding and a brilliant flash of blue-green light, transformer after transformer blew out. By Saturday morning, 97% of the city of Houston was without power.
Water pressure is low, but present. The water supply is not contaminated to date. Power, telephone, and Internet access are sporadic; the official estimate is 3-4 weeks before the power grid is fully online. Several stores are open, though the store shelves are largely empty. The US military and other support organizations are handing out food and supplies to those in critical need.
We at Kalypxo are fortunate enough to be able to continue work. Though not 100% uptime, we have power, Internet access, and the resources necessary to get our job done. There will most likely be some delays in our activities and communications over the next few days. We are also under a curfew forbidding outside mobility between 9pm and 6am until at least Saturday, September 20.
The city was very well prepared for this situation and is getting back onto its feet rapidly. I anticipate everything should be solved within the next week or so.
