Electric Ike

So, Ike is done having it’s way with Houston, but the clean up is going to take a while. My apartment is still without power, so that’s not great.

I’ve relocated to Austin for the time being since it looks like power will be out a while. It’s frustrating to live so close to some of the ‘powered zones’ (Downtown, TMC) and not be hooked in.

This entire experience has left two words in my head: underground utilities.

I mean, seriously, this is going to happen again if we don’t bury the lines. We need to milk FEMA for all we can and get this problem fixed once and for all.

Also, the copious numbers of overhead power lines unsightly, the huge number of them give Houston a uniquely negative image.

When I was a kid (6-12 years old) coming to visit family in Houston and Dallas I had two impressions of the cities…

When we were going to Dallas, I knew we were ‘there’ when we drove over the really big lake (Lake Ray Hubbard).

When we were going to Houston, I knew we were ‘there’ because there were suddenly power lines everywhere. I particularly remember the high-mast lines, but I had a general recollection of Houston being humid and having power lines everywhere.

That image stuck until late in my college career when I had reason to go spend time in Downtown Houston on several occasions and realized the city was more than an electrified swamp. I was a bit reluctant to move here when I got offered the job I have now, but decided to chance it, and have been very glad I did. It’s a great city!

But this isn’t a city that makes a great first impression. It grows on you. That’s fine, I’m glad to live a place that I like more after living here longer, but it would be nice if people had a better first impression of this place. I’m tired of defending Houston when I go to conferences around the country. Our city’s low-quality image is frustrating and inaccurate, and I think it has a lot to do with little things like excessive numbers of rotten old power poles still hanging around well established urban areas.

So, for all these reasons we should really take this as an opportunity to improve our storm resistance and our aesthetic image all at once. It’d be a shame not to.