THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, May 21, 2022 • Page 3
Hurry up and prepare, it’s hurricane season MY DISASTER LIST – Batteries? Check. All sorts of batteries? A, AA and AAA. (No two TV remotes, flashlights or smoke detectors take the same size.) Charge my iPhone, iPad and iHearingAid battery chargers. Water? Bottles of it left over from Winter Storm Uri back in February 2021. Can I just scrape off the mold? Obviously, I am getting ready for a most unwelcome visitor: Idalia, Hermine and/or Virginie. Yes, Houstonians, it’s almost the opening of hurricane season when the American Red Cross tosses out the first doughnut. You should begin preparations, too, because over the last 10 seasons, eight storms started before June 1. It’s getting worse. Between 1991-2020 there was an average of seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Last year, the U.S. had seven hurricanes, again, but four that reached Category 3 status or greater. This year the predictions are for nine hurricanes and four that reach at least Category 3. This is according to Colorado State University’s Phil Klotzbach. (I could never figure out why we go to Colorado State University, 1,223 miles from the coast, for info on what’s blowing our lawn furniture into the next ZIP code.) Meteorologists blame the increasing number of storms on El
LYNN ASHBY Columnist
Nino, Spanish for El Nino, and global warming, but I blame the press. Every late spring our TV weather people point to the radar that shows a cloud just west of Liberia, and warn breathlessly that the cloud could turn into a killer hurricane that could well swamp Houston. (I also blame the press for COVID19-through-56, acne and the Texans’ offensive line.) For example, the Weather Channel gives us its predictions and adds: “Additional details will become available over the next few months.” Great timing. When I am standing on my rooftop waiting for a Texas National Guard helicopter to rescue me, the Weather Channel will tell me that a hurricane has hit town. But suppose the weather wizards are right. Look for other signs, such as when the animals at the Houston Zoo are lining up two by two, or
your insurance company announces it is canceling your flood insurance policy. Note when you turn on your TV news, see if the meteorologist is wearing a life jacket. Maybe your neighbor is in her front yard putting up a flood gauge. Another clue: Your lawyer calls and asks if you want to update your will. And your kids call with the same question. So stock up on essentials, including diapers, toilet paper, Sterno, matches to light the Sterno and fill your bathtub with water. Get a hand-operated can opener. You will certainly lose power (ERCOT’s slogan: “Don’t blame us”), so your electric can opener will be useless while you starve because you can’t pry open that can of Campbell’s Iquana Soup. Rope. Either tie down your lawn chairs, barbeque pit and pets or bring them inside. Same for your children. Raise your garage door. Remember, no electricity. Got a radio that runs on batteries? Why not? Go get one. Plywood. Notice that prior to every hurricane we see people line up at the local Home Depot to buy plywood they will nail over their windows. Question: What did they do with last year’s plywood? It didn’t rot. Those 6-by-8 foot boards won’t fit in their garbage can. Check your bar. Brandy can be consumed at room temperature. Vodka needs ice or at least it can be put in the
freezer early on. Incidentally, last week I was in my liquor store to make my monthly purchase of vodka and there was a sign on the shelf: “We no longer handle Russian products.” Ha. Take THAT, Vlad! OK, my weekly purchase. Maybe thrice weekly. You have been wondering what hurricane names will go down in infamy. We can say “Harvey” and everyone knows what we mean. (FEMA says help is on the way.) Same for “Katrina.” About 250,000 Louisianans fled to Texas fleeing Katrina, and almost two decades later, more than 30,000 still live in Houston. Wouldn’t you? Last year, the average income in Houston was almost $11,000 more than in New Orleans. The average Black family in Houston makes about $47,000, compared with $31,000 in New Orleans. As for names, they are given to tropical storms, but if they reach a sustained wind speed of 74 miles per hour, then they are deemed hurricanes. Atlantic storms name lists repeat every six years unless a storm is so severe that the World Meteorological Organization’s Hurricane Committee (WMO) votes to retire that name from future lists. When a name is retired, it’s replaced by a new name. So we won’t see another Karina, Ike or Harvey. Incidentally, there is no Stormy Daniels.
This year’s list goes from Alex to Walter and includes the aforementioned Idalia, Hermine and Virginie. In 2020 there were so many named storms, a record 30, WMO ran out of its 21 names (they don’t use Q, U, X, Y and Z), so they used nine letters in the Greek alphabet, but that idea was abandoned because Zeta, Eta and Theta are too similar. It was confusing. Giving storms female names began in 1953, and in 1979, the names alternated between men and women. During the same year, the WMO’s Regional Association IV Hurricane Committee (I’m not a member) began using French and Spanish names for storms. In 2003, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston criticized WMO for not using African-American names for storms and hurricanes. “All racial groups should be represented,” she complained. The Congresswoman suggested names such as Keisha, Jamal, and Deshawn. I’m not sure anything came of her complaint. All right, you are ready for Idalia. But now that I think of it, the Texas National Guard won’t come to rescue me from my rooftop. All the guards will be down on the Rio Grande looking for immigrants. Ashby is huddling at ashby2@comcast.net
THE READER. value of their businesses due to lower sales. Lower sales volume will deter future businesses from investing in 11th Street. - Many of these 11th Street business owners also live near their places of business, and are concerned about increased traffic affecting walkability of smaller streets. In an ideal world, bicycle lanes are a desirable addition to a community. However, when the amount of commercial activity is weighed against the many safe bike routes that exist throughout the Heights, one realizes that 11th Street is not an ideal place for bike lanes. Alliance for Reasonable Traffic Solutions (ARTS)
11th Street Road Diet Dear Editor: Listed are some of the worries that cause uneasiness about a road diet on 11th Street: - Traffic that is backed up at lights or behind left turners will affect ingress/egress of businesses. - 11th Street has a mix of mostly commercial, and a few residential establishments. There are more than 150 driveways and side streets on the 1.5 mile stretch of 11th Street that will undergo a road diet. More than one business owner expressed worry about conflicts between motorists and bicyclists at driveways. A conflict could result in a fatality or serious injury for the bicyclist. Who would have the right of way, the bicyclist or the motorist? And how will that be negotiated “in the moment”? Bicyclists in the “protected” bike lane may have a false sense of security, thinking they have the right of way the entire length and not looking out for motorists who also think they have the right of way or do not see the bicyclist. - Reduced patronage of businesses. Heights businesses attract customers from all over Houston, not just local Heights residents. If 11th Street becomes too difficult to travel, people may be discouraged from patronizing our local businesses...which would lower sales volume and sales taxes. - Businesses may suffer reduced
Dear Editor: I am a resident of the Heights who also drives, walks and ride bikes. I am opposed to the 11th Street plan because it will result in more bicycle accidents in the Heights not less due to more conflicts between cars and bike riders. If you want proof look at Bike Houston’s Bicycle Crash Map showing the accidents on Heights Blvd where there are bike lanes. Regarding a couple points made in the guest editorial. According to the city’s presentations road diets do not always reduce the amount of traffic on a particular street. Of the 18 examples they presented 5 actually resulted in increases in volume and in 7 others the volume remained the same. Secondly, reducing
speeds is a good thing but even at 30mph there is a 50% chance of a fatality or serious injury. The Nicholson crossing is one everyone agrees on but there are better alternatives which the city refuses to accept. As far as crossing 11th Street, a better solution might be more pedestrian activated stop lights (HAWKs) like at 10th and Shepherd. And if you want to connect to the White Oak Bayou trail an easy way is to ride down 14th St. which has stoplights at all major streets then cut through a quiet neighborhood west of Durham and cross pedestrian crosswalks at TC Jester. The speed bumps on 8th, 10th, 12th, 13th and Tulane are a perfect reason why these streets are safe alternatives for riding a bike rather than bike lanes on 11th St. The city’s plan for 11th Street is a bad idea for many reasons but from my point of view it will be dangerous for bicycle riders especially when there are better ways to ride a bike around the Heights.
Galleria Book A Consult Today
This is only the beginning - Coach
281-886-7888
Live your best life 281-886-7888 502909 BriarHillcroft Hollow St. Ln Suite 695 SUITE W410 Houston, TX 77057 Houston, Texas 77027
Paul Herrera
Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com
✓ B12 MaQx Booster ✓ Appetite Control ✓ Boost Metabolism ✓ One on One
www.anewyou.co
“Lose up to one pound a day safely, without feeling hungry.” - Dr. Oz HCGe Gives you control of your diet again!
THE LEADER PUZZLERS. An s w e r s f o u n d i n t h i s w e e k ’ s C la s s ifie d s e c tio n
SUDOKU
Dog Rabies Vaccination
10
$
45*
* With Wellness Exam
Call About Cat Vaccines
New Well Puppy & Kitten Exam
FREE Routine Male Cat Neuters
49
$
5315 Antoine@ Pinemont
713-688-9625
Hours: M-F 7am-6:00pm Sat. 8am-12 Noon
ACROSS 1. Adenosine triphosphate 4. Plane 7. Plant cultivated for its tubers 10. Wreath 11. Equal, prefix 12. Type of fish 13. Measuring instrument 15. High-pitched crying noise 16. Chilean seaport 19. Make in advance 21. Where planes land and take off 23. Nicaraguan capital 24. Reprint 25. Evergreen genus 26. Vale 27. Not the most dry 30. There are four of them 34. Pie _ _ mode 35. At or near the stern 36. Attached to the side of a motorcycle 41. Soft-bodied beetle 45. ‘Rule, Britannia’ composer 46. __ of March: rough day for Julius Caesar
47. A way of changing taste 50. Bubbled up 54. Remedy 55. Barrooms 56. Henry Clay __, industrialist 57. A citizen of Thailand 59. Cove 60. One and only 61. ‘__ death do us part 62. Zero 63. Thus far 64. Brew 65. Crunches federal numbers
DOWN 1. John __, Pilgrim settler 2. Drink table on wheels 3. A canoe 4. Baseball player nicknamed ‘Kitty’ 5. Midway between east and southeast 6. Direction of attention 7. Egg-shaped wind instrument 8. Cadavers 9. Farewell 13. Revolutions per minute
14. Small constellation 17. Vineyard 18. Consumed 20. Pitchers need to get them 22. Educational assn. (abbr.) 27. No longer is 28. Peyton’s little brother 29. Small amount 31. An awkward stupid person 32. Popular pro sports league 33. Pigpen 37. Type of head pain 38. ‘Jiminy’ is one 39. Diarist Frank 40. Boat race 41. Can be split 42. Thought 43. Staggering 44. Baltic country 47. Sunscreen rating 48. Paddle 49. Togetherness 51. Beat-influenced poet Anselm 52. Midway between northeast and east 53. Fall back, spring forward 58. Afflict
WORD SCRAMBLE