Welcoming 2009 and Looking Back at 2008 - Kingwood

Looking back on 2008 there are many news stories which stand out, but for Kingwood – there was only one that became the great equalizer.  The skyrocketing price of gas this past summer and the economic slowdown in the fall affected everyone, but it was Hurricane Ike that brought out the best of the Kingwood neighborly spirit.

Hurricane Ike hit Houston the evening of Friday, September 12, 2008.  Depending on your subdivision in Kingwood some residents lost power as early as 8:00 pm that night, others a little later.  But the real story was when you got your power turned back on.

Ike reminded all of us that although we can go a number of days without power, water and food – when we go without information; the situation turns more dismal.  For a while our battery powered radios told us most of Houston was in the dark, but as hours and days passed, local information became more and more important. 

Which supermarkets were open, what gas stations had fuel, where we could charge our cells phones.  Were there any restaurants open, when was school going to resume?   We saw neighbors helping neighbors sharing ice, water and information.  There were neighbors grilling and having spontaneous block parties. 

But something else started happening.  For the lucky few with power and internet access here in Kingwood, information started to flow via Kingwood.com.  With local news being reported and consistent message board postings, we discovered that many residents were calling their families living outside the local area and asking that they check Kingwood.com for current information.  Kingwood.com saw a huge number of new members as people from other regions logged on the ask questions on behalf of their family and friends.  We had people from throughout the United States checking to see which supermarkets were open, who had ice, what gas stations were getting fuel truck deliveries and had anyone seen bucket trucks with power crews in the local subdivisions.  That information would then be relayed via phone to family and friends in Kingwood. 

We at Kingwood.com did not anticipate this roundabout manner of community assistance but we were sure glad to be of service.  As we welcome in 2009, we want to wish all our members, and the greater Kingwood community a Happy and healthy New Year. 

As fences are still being rebuilt to replace what Ike destroyed, let’s remember that Kingwood.com is the community place where the best of our neighborhood spirit can be found.  Although you may have a fence around your yard, at Kingwood.com you can still hang out with your neighbors, even if you are sitting at home on your laptop in your fuzzy slippers and sweats.