Houston's Chennai moment!

[shankarank]

I know this belongs in the lounge! But wanted to give a shout-out to Gautam Tejas Gajanan - to see if everybody is OK from his surroundings/friends and family.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/28/opinions/ ... index.html

No urban drainage system can handle this type of deluge

[shankarank]

Pearland which houses the cherished Meenakshi Temple, MSS having raised money for it, was forecast with 25 in. rain.

[Sachi_R]

Today Sushma Swaraj has said 200 Indian students are marooned in Houston. Now you say Meenakshi Temple and surrounds will receive 100 cm of rain.
Tragedy. Hope people have the strength and support to tide over this.

[rajeshnat]

HOpe all of you are fine . Prayers for the rain to stop.

[Sundara Rajan]

Unlike in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, there are responsible, responsive governmental and private organizations in Houston, Texas that are taking care of all marooned people, although the city was less prepared in the beginning. From what I see in local and national news outlets, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN etc.(not state owned !) help is pouring out from all sources to take care of the needy. Meenakshi temple, I hope has an elevated foundation and should withstand the deluge and provide refuge to the needy, as large temples in south India were designed to do. Local folks in Houston area may please confirm.

[arasi]

Yes, Sundara Rajan. Help is offered from every quarter. But it's going to take time for the unfortunate people who are suffering, before they get back to their normal lives--as in Chennai and everywhere else where disasters strike.That one day when Irene wreaked havoc on our shores was enough to freak us out. Those hours when a huge branch of a maple broke and hung dangerously over the roof for hours, and finally fell, was scary enough. Then Irene left us in a hurry. A week of aftermath, and that was it. Many lost their homes.

This in Houston is something else. May the gods show mercy...

[VK RAMAN]

800 square miles and 6.5 million people, fourth largest city in U.S. Untold miseries; but this will pass.

[Sundara Rajan]

'The Hindu" from Chennai reports that two Indian students who were brave(?)
enough to venture a swim into the flood soaked lake in Houston area on Friday had to be rescued and one was still in critical condition and that more than 200 Indian students had to be moved to shelters by the Consulate and local Indian volunteers. There have been no reports from fellow foramites from the area about the situation. What is the condition in/around the Meenakshi temple ?

[shankarank]

It is likely the same issues of lack of power and communications cut off - that we faced in Chennai when for a week or so we could not reach anybody.

[Sundara Rajan]

I just spoke to a person working in the Meenakshi temple,(281- 489-0358) Houston,TX and was told that there was no flooding problem INSIDE the temple, and that a few devotees were visiting the temple at this moment and that there was no need for any concern.

[arasi]

Thanks, Sundara Rajan...