I am writing this from Chicago O'Hare airport - definitely not the worst entry point to the US - on my way to Austin. In two decades of regular travel to the US I have never been told by an immigration official that I will probably not make it to my destination but was this time.
We were a bit delayed on leaving Heathrow but flying over Canada there was a 175 km/h headwind. Normally there is a headwind heading west but this is more than I can recall seeing previously. We were not that late in arriving despite the headwind but there was very low cloud and local TV was reporting flooding.
A hurricane is a terrible thing and I was aware before leaving that it was hitting Galveston where a century ago there had been massive deathtoll. However in our media-obsession with richer countries let's not forget Haiti where it is reported that one million are homeless! Haiti has almost no infrastructure and is very poor.
My flight to Austin was cancelled, presumably due to the hurricane, I waited in a long queue for people who had not made their connections. Many will not be able to fly tonight. I have mercifully been booked onto a 22:00 flight to Austin...mere inconvenience compared with those poor people who have faced the devastating power of Ike. Many passengers did not fare so well either and had to get flights the following morning.
O.
http://menomamauk.blog.co.uk
2008-09-14 @ 02:02