Ike's Fiery Fury

I chose to stay there partly to comfort her, and partly because "the Heights" are higher above sea level than my own place and less prone to flooding. In the house with us were her elderly parents, and her mentally challenged uncle. Although the beginning of the storm was uneventful and appeared to be heading towards the same antic-climactic end as Hurricane Rita, what woke me in the middle of the night was probably the most terrifying experience I've ever had in my life.

Around 2 a.m., I was awakened by chatter in the master bedroom next door, and decided to check to see what the fuss was about. My girlfriend, Christine, and her parents were staring out the window, looking down at the street below them and trying to figure out why their neighbor, Mike, and his family were rushing to their car in the middle of the hurricane.

As soon as I heard, I knew something wasn't right. A moment later, Mike was ferociously pounding at our door. Christine's dad Charlie and I quickly rushed downstairs and opened the door to a terror-stricken face. Mike yelled that his house was burning down and that he "strongly advised" we immediately leave, as our house was most likely next.

Shocked, I walked outside and looked up to my right at the roaring flames whipping around not ten feet away from our roof. It was raining ferociously, and embers spewed forth from the house, burning my skin when they landed on my neck. It looked like it was raining fire.

I rushed inside to help my girlfriend and her parents grab some quick necessities like clothes and shoes. Then Christine and I ran throughout the neighborhood, knocking on doors.