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Houston family huddles, rides out Ike like others
2008-09-13
HOUSTON - Long before her windows started humming and the lanky pine trees began swaying, new mother Claudia Macias had second thoughts about her family's decision to ride out Hurricane Ike in their home on the far east side of Houston. Muzi.com News 10078831-0 (muzi.com)As the night wore on and television news programs churned out reports of flooding and tornado warnings, Macias again questioned her decision to stay. Muzi.com News 10078831-1 (muzi.com) The Houston native had been through other hurricanes, but this one was different. This time, Macias was worried about her 3-month-old daughter. Muzi.com News 10078831-2 (muzi.com) Macias and her husband, Alex Villegas, 39, who evacuated during Hurricane Rita in 2005, were encouraged by the mayor's advice that thousands of families not in evacuation zones should "hunker down." Muzi.com News 10078831-3 (muzi.com) So, they planned to do just that in their four-bedroom home, along with Macias' parents, Carmen and Pedro Macias, and eight dogs. Muzi.com News 10078831-4 (muzi.com) But as the wind gathered strength, and worried relatives peppered the family with calls about flooding nearby, Macias began to gnaw at her cuticles and peek anxiously out her windows. Muzi.com News 10078831-5 (muzi.com) She wondered aloud whether there was still time to leave. Muzi.com News 10078831-6 (muzi.com) It was not yet 8 p.m. local time, and Hurricane Ike was still about 100 miles from landfall. Macias braced herself for a long night. Muzi.com News 10078831-7 (muzi.com) "I don't know who's going to sleep here tonight, maybe the baby," said Macias, 34, a teacher and principal who is taking a break from work after giving birth. "I'm not sleeping." Muzi.com News 10078831-8 (muzi.com) ___ Muzi.com News 10078831-9 (muzi.com) At the home on a quiet middle-class street, a pink "It's a girl" banner still hangs over a doorway. Toys, infant bouncers and strollers litter the house. The couple, married nine years, delight in every gurgle, smile and new move from their little girl, Citlahli. Muzi.com News 10078831-10 (muzi.com) Macias wanted to be prepared for the worst -- a last-minute evacuation, lengthy power outages and possible tornadoes. She packed clothes and emergency bags. She loaded nonperishable food into plastic bins and laundry baskets. She bought enough water to line the perimeter of her dining room. Muzi.com News 10078831-11 (muzi.com) And she cleared out a "shelter of last resort" in her first-floor laundry room and walk-in closet. If the wind began to roar like a freight train, this is where they would retreat. Muzi.com News 10078831-12 (muzi.com) "We're trying not to be visibly apprehensive," said Villegas. "We need to be confident in body language, and tone. We're trying to be calm, at least visibly." Muzi.com News 10078831-13 (muzi.com) ___ Muzi.com News 10078831-14 (muzi.com) Around 9 p.m., shortly after a local news radio station announced a tornado watch, that calm shuddered, then seemed to regroup. Muzi.com News 10078831-15 (muzi.com) Macias returned to the comfort of the routine. It was time for Citlahli's nightly bath. Macias tried not to think about the big window on one wall of the bathroom, or the sound of the quickening rain and wind hitting the panes. Muzi.com News 10078831-16 (muzi.com) Instead, she and her mother, Carmen Macias, 59, gently cooed to the smiling infant. Muzi.com News 10078831-17 (muzi.com) "I'm trying to ignore everything I'm hearing outside the window by singing and talking to her. It's not just for her sake, but mine too," she said. "I'm trying to keep it as routine for Citlahli so she doesn't pick up on the bad vibes I may be emitting." Muzi.com News 10078831-18 (muzi.com) Still, she noted earlier, even the baby seemed to know something was different about tonight. Citlahli couldn't even fall asleep for her afternoon nap. Muzi.com News 10078831-19 (muzi.com) "Her eyes are bigger. She is raising her eyebrows more," Macias said. "I can't believe she's going to go through her first hurricane." Muzi.com News 10078831-20 (muzi.com) ___ Muzi.com News 10078831-21 (muzi.com) As the night wore on, each person in the house found their own way of staying calm. Muzi.com News 10078831-22 (muzi.com) Villegas sat over his laptop, one eye on the screen, the other on the TV set. Every hour, he stepped out to the garage to check on the dogs. Muzi.com News 10078831-23 (muzi.com) Claudia Macias hovered over Citlahli, gently rocking the infant to sleep in her arms, then laying her down for the night in the laundry room crib. Muzi.com News 10078831-24 (muzi.com) Pedro Macias, 62, who is famous in his family for sleeping through Hurricane Alicia in 1983, posted himself in front of the television, occasionally nodding off for a few minutes now and again. Muzi.com News 10078831-25 (muzi.com) And Carmen Macias, who had taken a "little anxiety pill" before coming to her daughter's house, steadied herself the only way she knew: by going to work in the kitchen. Cooking chicken and rice. Washing dishes. Scouring the sink and the stove. Muzi.com News 10078831-26 (muzi.com) Still, every thud against a wall, every creak outside the window, every gust rattling the house, seemed to unnerve her. Muzi.com News 10078831-27 (muzi.com) "What is that? Is that a tornado?" she asked as the air conditioning unit kicked on just after 12:30 a.m. Muzi.com News 10078831-28 (muzi.com) Her daughter shared those nerves. Muzi.com News 10078831-29 (muzi.com) "It sounds ugly upstairs," Claudia Macias said, as she walked down the stairs. Muzi.com News 10078831-30 (muzi.com) "Maybe this is as bad as it's going to get," said her husband. Muzi.com News 10078831-31 (muzi.com) "No, this is just the beginning," replied Claudia. Muzi.com News 10078831-32 (muzi.com) ___ Muzi.com News 10078831-33 (muzi.com) The worst was yet to come. Muzi.com News 10078831-34 (muzi.com) Around 2 a.m., the power went out, plunging the house into total darkness. Muzi.com News 10078831-35 (muzi.com) Alex Villegas and Claudia Macias scrambled to grab flashlights, scanning the rooms for any damage. Muzi.com News 10078831-36 (muzi.com) Carmen Macias, who had been upstairs, scurried down to check on her daughter and granddaughter, who remained fast asleep. Her grandfather, sleeping soundly on an upstairs couch, also did not stir. Muzi.com News 10078831-37 (muzi.com) Cell phones chirped, as they had all night long, with friends and relatives anxious to make sure the family was safe. Muzi.com News 10078831-38 (muzi.com) Outside, the wind gusted and rain drummed against the window like small stones. Muzi.com News 10078831-39 (muzi.com)
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