Enlighten Up, Already! River Oaks Update

Yesterday, I discussed the serious problems Houstonians face in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, specifically the endless wait for up to 500,000 customers to get any semblance of power restored.

After reading today’s Houston Chronicle, I realize that not only do the poor folks in Galveston and surrounding small towns suffer, but that Houston’s swankier residents also endured hardships due to this hurricane.

So, let me summarize two harrowing stories that appeared in today’s Houston Chronicle:

Ike’s Aftermath: Let Them eat…osso buco?

and Being Powerless Doesn’t Stop The Party

The rich are different from you and me. Their affluent abodes never take on affluence during storms. Many of Houston’s poshest pads accessorize their curbside appeal with invisible buried power lines invulnerable to tempests and the resulting inconvenience of blackouts.

However, some of the humbler River Oaks denizens found that Hurricane Ike failed to distinguish zip codes. Those whose electricity grows on tree poles evacuated to more welcoming climes, jetting to Paris, Aspen or New York (in summer, how gauche!). Those who lacked private aircraft sought out refuge in Four Seasons or Five Diamond lodgings around the Lone Star state. One socialite, already safely in Austin on “philanthropic business” found her suitcase(s) contained only “a cocktail dress, diamond earrings and running shorts and a t-shirt.” Hopefully, she also included some Jimmy Choos to complete that ensemble.

Houston’s movers and shakers weren’t spared moving and shaking from Hurricane Ike. The Houston Chronicle reports that “the prized Bentley of one major player was smashed by a tumbling tree.”

Thus, no one escapes hurricane or karmic forces. All are twisted in the enduring loop of samsara (suffering). Some of us just spend it shoveling sewage from our living rooms and others sweat over gala party rescheduling snafus at the toniest Tony’s restaurant.

Ike Disaster Strikes River Oaks

The beach front communities of Gilcrest, Bolivier and Crystal Beach are no more. Tattered debris of people’s lives line city streets up and down Bay Area communities. Galveston residents still may not return to their homes and those already there find mud, sewage, toxic chemicals and various varmint homesteaders in their houses. Hundreds of thousands of residents (including my ailing 96-year-old mother-in-law) still await electricity. Many traffic lights throughout Houston fail to work, resulting in massive traffic backups and crackups.  Many schools have yet to reopen due to lack of power or water damage. Hospitals run like M*A*S*H units, if lucky. One triage unit dealt with a man who contracted flesh-eating bacteria. While 57 people have been killed by Hurricane Ike, the number of missing has yet to be reported.

But those stories are not the biggest disasters and disruptions facing many Houstonians.  Our well-healed and storm-protected River Oaks residents (i.e. where Houston’s JR Ewing types sip mint juleps and plot hedge fund takeovers) received a disturbing e-mail from the management of their beloved River Oaks Country Club.  Seems Hurricane Ike leveled 180 trees at the pristine and formerly shady and green River Oaks golf course.

With such damage yet to be removed, River Oaks golfers may have to relocate their foursomes to the smaller Augusta Pines or to the ancient (circa 1999) Greg Norman designed Meadowbrook Farms (alas a course that allows public to put as well) or to Redstone Golf Club, home of the PGA Tour’s Shell Open tournament. 

Perhaps FEMA or their Congressional cohorts might reimburse them for their loss, hardship and golf relocation expenses. And probably with the way our lobbyist system and trickle-down tax breaks work, I’m sure the River Oak golfers received more than adequate compensation already.