Estimated reading time: 9 minute(s)
Report and Photos by Jesse Muhammad
Originally published 9.15.08
On Sunday, September 14, I drove back to Houston from Austin which was 24 hours after Hurricane Ike ripped through my hometown. I wanted to check on my family members who remained back, investigate any damages to my home, visit with members of Muhammad Mosque No. 45, check out our Mosque property and of course I wanted to take pictures along with interviewing storm victims for the Final Call Newspaper. (pictured below with a fallen tree)


I filled up my tank before leaving and I was planning to fill up several gas cans and place them in my trunk. But I was rushing and FORGOT! Can you believe that? And I didn’t think about it until I got half way down 290 East. Boy I knew that was going to present a problem later on. In route to Houston, the traffic was moving swiftly but the gas stations were packed and lines stretched for miles. I even personally witnessed a fight at one station at a gas pump! Once I got into the city, the destructive sting of Hurricane Ike was no mystery. I immediately lost my cell phone signal, all tollways were FREE of charge, and people were packing highways trying to go in the opposite direction. (mosaic collage below)





I drove up and down the streets shooting hundreds of photos and interviewing people. I shot some video coverage as well, that I will be posting to my blog real soon. I made it to the grounds of Muhammad’s Mosque No. 45 (Pictured Below) and there were two huge trees that fell in the back yard by our Regional House and in our neighbor’s yard, minor single displacements, but no major damage. Tons of debris to clean up too. Our sign was knocked down and bent up. But we may be able to host our first meeting post-Ike this coming Sunday. (See Pictures below)


I then headed to the Northeast side of Houston, which looks just as bad as 3rd Ward. In Part II, I will describe that experience plus how I almost ran out of gas heading back to Austin! (yes, it is true.)
Here are a few more of my photos. ***IF YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE LEAVE ME A COMMENT***EMAIL YOUR PICTURES TO:
jesse.muhammad@gmail.com.

