Published: September 12, 2009 07:33 pm      

One year later, look back and be proud

Exactly one year ago today, Hurricane Ike made landfall on the Gulf Coast northeast of Galveston, its devastation reaching far and wide. With many in Orange County still recovering from Hurricane Rita, which slammed into the area almost three years earlier, Ike was quite the unwelcome guest in Southeast Texas.

However, just as we did after Hurricane Rita, we in Orange County and Southeast Texas rolled up our sleeves and got to work fixing what Ike broke and replacing what he washed away. In many ways and in some locales it was a more daunting task than it was three years before. While there is still much work to be done, though, we have made tremendous progress in recovering from the storm — as is revealed in photos from the area now, compared with images from immediately after the storm.

Many would argue that the resiliency and tenacity exhibited by those of us down on the coast is a necessity, considering the fact that we have to keep an eye on the Gulf waters for six months out of the year. And those who make that argument are right; we wouldn't be able to rebuild and grow any other way.

Still, though, we may look back with pride on what we have accomplished over the last year. There's no doubt that Hurricane Ike will not be the last storm that ravages our home, but the next time we're faced with such an ordeal, we may look back on the aftermath of Hurricane Ike for an excellent example to follow.