Marcus Comeaux stands at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic church in Port Bolivar, TX. Comeaux is a member of the church, which was damaged in Hurricane Ike. The church has been open since 1959. Members are having trouble getting clearance from the Houston-Galveston Archdiocese to complete repairs to the church. Currently, members must travel to Winnie or take the ferry to Galveston to attend a Catholic church.

Prayer books line the floor at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic church in Port Bolivar.

Monet Walter, 13, left, and Colisha Preston, 13, share a jump rope on Angel Lane Feb. 19, 2009. The Oprah-donated neighborhood has been having an increase in crime recently, prompting people to install security devices and take other measures.

Patricia Isaac, left, and twin sister Pinky Rembert stand on Angel Lane where they both live Feb. 19, 2009. Both women lived in New Orleans for most of their lives until Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. The Oprah-donated neighborhood has been having an increase in crime recently, prompting people like Patricia and Pinky to install security devices. Isaac also plans on shopping for a firearm in the near future.

Tanika Thomas poses for a portrait at her home on Angel Lane where she lives Feb. 19, 2009. The Oprah-donated neighborhood has been having an increase in crime recently, prompting people like Thomas to install security devices.

Akbar Ahmed, a prominent Islamic scholar and professor at American University, is in Houston as part of a project he is doing on Muslims in America. Ahmed and four students traveled through the Muslim world and wrote a book, Journey from Islam: The Crisis of Globalization. He is now doing the same thing, but in the U.S., interviewing Muslim Americans.

JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ, Ring Magazine World Lightweight Champion, left, beat Houston’s own three-time World Champion, JUAN DIAZ by KO in the ninth round in a “Battle for the Ages, A Fight for…SUPREMACY.”

The sun sets behind pumpjacks in High Island, TX.

Miguel Favela, 11, poses Feb. 6, 2009 at Brenham Middle School in Brenham, TX. Kelly Favela, a 31-year-old divorced mom, put her mentally disabled son in Lufkin State School last June. Less than a week later, he was in an ambulance on his way to a Houston hospital after being overdosed with insulin. An investigation found that he was misdiagnosed as a diabetic by a doctor at the state school who failed to check his medical records. Miguel Favela, 11, is now at a different state school in Brenham but Kelly continues to have concerns about his welfare. Like thousands of other parents faced with how to work and care for their mentally disabled children, Kelly, a hospital social worker, made the difficult decision to place her son in one of 13 large state-run residential facilities, schools that are now in the vortex of a debate over what to do to make them better, or whether to keep them open at all.

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (11) loses the handle on the ball as he goes to the basket against Chicago Bulls Kirk Hinrich (12) and Tyrus Thomas (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, in Houston.

Rockets Luis Scola (4) and Carl Landry and Bulls Thabo Sefolsha (2) and Joakim Noah(13) scramble for a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, in Houston. The Rockets beat the Bulls 107-100. 

Joseph Jackson, 6, center, helped celebrate the presidential inauguration a few days early. The festivities began with the kindergartners and first-graders having a parade in the school Jan. 15, 2009 in Houston.

Attendants watch the Presidential inauguration at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Jan. 20, 2009 in Houston, TX.

Vanessa Smith cries as others cheer.

From left, Edna Besiant, Vanessa Smith and Dr. Emma L. Amacker react to the Presidential inauguration.

Dr. Jackie Cobbin holds her hand over her heart during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner following the Presidential inauguration.

Elizabeth Harman of the Flying Tigers drill team from the Collins Klein High School AF ROTC practice Jan. 8, 2009 in Spring, TX at Collins Klein High School. The team will be the only Houston school unit appearing in Obama’s inaugural parade.

M1 rifles, weighing approximately 11 lbs each, fly around Cpt. Jacob Ackman, 17, as the Flying Tigers drill team from the Collins Klein High School AF ROTC practice.

John Kroon, 16, stands at dress right dress.

From left, Evan Gilless and Angel Garza toss M1 rifles, weighing approximately 11 lbs each.

Sgt. Gloria Quiorga, 16, center, laughs following practice.

A three-alarm blaze damaged or destroyed up to 20 units at a southwest Houston apartment complex early today before firefighters extinguished it, almost two hours after it was reported. The fire at the Enchanted Fountains Apartments, 6909 Renwick at Edgemore, spread through an apartment building quickly because the building did not have firewalls, said Houston Fire Department District Chief Tommy Dowdy. Jan. 9, 2009 in Houston.

Nathan Hurt, left, son of Dr. R. Wayne Hurt, 68 and Maryann Hurt, and family friend Daniel Davis, right, look on at the remnants of a fire where Hurt’s parents perished in the River Oaks area at Timber Lane and Locke Lane killed two people inside early Saturday morning Jan. 17, 2009 in Houston, TX.

Briani Clark of Dodson Elementary delivers her oratory at the 13th Annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Christ, 500 Clay St., on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. Twelve pupils from HISD elementary schools competed in the contest. The competition, hosted and coordinated by Texas-based Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP law firm, kicked off with a performance by the Salvation Army Harbor Lights Choir at 9:45 a.m., followed by the oratory competition at 10 a.m. Students presented original five-minute speeches on the topic: “If Dr. King were alive today, what do you think he would say about current events?” Students were judged on their delivery, stage presence and decorum, content interpretation, and memorization.

Briani Clark of Dodson Elementary delivers her oratory.

Participant Kayla Joseph, left, turns toward the audience.

Kaye Allen, mother of participant Adrian Childs wipes away tears of pride as Childs’ coach Lilene Caldwell of Anderson Elementary looks on as the young man finishes his oratory.

First-place winner Gerra Gistand of MacGregor Elementary delivers her oratory.

Jace Beck of the Austin-based quad rugby team the Texas Stampede, reaches back for a pass during a game against the San Antonio Roughriders at the US Paralympic Military program  sports expo Jan. 17, 2008 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.  The program also included demonstrations for veterans to show them how to compete in events such as sitting volleyball, power soccer, challenge slalom, wheelchair rugby, Judo for the blind, air gun competition, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair racing and an amputee walking/running clinic.

People gather to light incense, candles and pray Jan. 26, 2009 in Houston, TX at the Teo Chew Temple in celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year. 2009 is the year of the Ox in Chinese astrology.

Mai Ha holds incense and prays.

Chris Ha, right, gathers with others to light incense, candles and pray.

Danny Lam lights incense.

Chris Ha prays.

Chinese New Year at the Chinese Community Center, Jan. 31, 2009 in Houston, TX.

Portrait for Rockets player Von Wafer. Jan., 30, 2009 in Houston, TX.

Hello Blog Viewers,

This is the last installment for 2008. If I remember correctly, this past year has been my longest continuous employment in my life as a photojournalist. It will be a year in February at the Houston Chronicle. All previous employment in photojournalism has been punctuated by soul-searching careers in completely unrelated fields, grad school and multiple three-month internships.

In the past year, I’ve watched my co-workers go out on hum-drum assignments and come back with pretty spectacular work. I have to remind myself that while I was off living on a beach in California driving a milk truck and watching the sun set into the Pacific, these folks were honing their craft on a daily basis.

I’d like to think after a year that I’m starting to hit some kind of groove in my daily work. Once in a while in the past year I would come back with a pretty good photo and then go months without anything decent. Time will tell. There is still plenty of room for improvement.

I think in the next year, my photo journalistic resolution is to bag some projects. Everyone is different, and while I’ve attempted projects outside of school at different internships, they’ve always felt rushed and usually fell short in some aspect. I wanted to give myself time to get settled in, let the city enter my blood and find a story organically.

A few ideas have since lined themselves up. In the recent past, the ideas seemed forced and more focused on the academic concept of what makes a good story – almost like listening to a robot play a concerto instead of a musician playing with emotion.

I hope everyone had a good year. Until the next post…

Cheers,

Eric Kayne

Former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams leaves the north side GOP headquarters Oct. 29, 2008 in Houston, TX after speaking to supporters along with other GOP candidates. Williams is the current chairman of Texas Victory ‘08.

Ed L. King, 79, has been shining shoes at the Houston Police Department’s Central Patrol Station since 1990. Photographed Nov. 21, 2008 in Houston at the HPD Central Patrol Station.

Houston firefighters battle a blaze at a decommissioned train trellis in the 100 block of Yale south of I-10, Dec. 29, 2008 in Houston, TX. Three engines responded to the fire.

Members of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office deliver an eighteen-wheeler full of Christmas gifts to the Children’s Assessment Center Dec. 9, 2008 in Houston.  All of the gifts were purchased and donated by members of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in an effort to share Christmas with less fortunate children. This is the 13th year that Sheriff’s Office employees have donated gifts to the Children’s Assessment Center. The Children’s Assessment Center is a multi-agency collaboration of public and private entities that have pooled their resources to provide a broad range of social and investigative services to children. Over 2,000 toys were delivered for 509 kids.

Darlene Tucker waits for a downtown bus as cold weather hit Houston this afternoon, Dec. 15, 2008 in Houston. Tucker was downtown for an appointment and had been waiting in the blustery chill for 30 minutes.

General surgeon Dr. Jason Balette prepares to laproscopicly remove a patient’s gall bladder through a port in the patient’s belly button Nov. 24, 2008 at Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands, TX. The procedure leaves only a tiny wound with minimal recovery.

Urban styles are in vogue at the Clipper Joint, one of many independently owned businesses lining Fulton Rd. between Quitman and Cavalcade, Dec. 5, 2008.

About two  years ago, John Kane and Elizabeth Asher, a couple, started Rescue Bank, a non-profit that supplies small animal rescue operations with pet food in much the way that the Houston Food Bank  supplies food pantries. The operation has grown. Over the first two years, Rescue Bank delivered about 250,000 pounds of food. In the last several months, a major pet food manufacturer, Nutro, donated 600,000 pounds of food. Dec. 23, 2008 in Houston, TX.

Quarterback Cody Green greets fans as the Dayton High School football team, which plays the Class 4A state championship Saturday in San Antonio, celebrates a sendoff Dec. 19, 2008 in Dayton, TX. The festivities started at 8:30 a.m. at the high school with a pep rally. After the pep rally, the team traveled to each of the district’s schools for a sendoff.

As seen through metalwork in the balcony, the first Christmas mass at the Co-Cathedral is ready to begin, Dec. 24, 2008 in Houston, TX. During his sermon, Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza mentioned that over 2,000 people were in attendance during the service.

Gloria Carrion makes the sign of the cross during the conclusion of the first Christmas mass at the Co-Cathedral.

Christian Wilson, 10, center, and David Hill, right, pray for Tania Davis as the Thousand Hills Church in the Park conducts a service for the homeless at James Bute Park Dec. 25, 2008 in Houston, TX. “I had a feeling today I was going to get saved,” Davis said. Davis has been coming to the church off and on for six months. She currently lives in an abandoned house with her partner. Differentiating from other churches, Pastor Marcus Wilson said, “We do this everyday. We touch people 365 days a year.” The church holds services and serves food twice a day, seven days a week.

Ricardo Rachell poses for a portrait, Dec. 30, 2008 in Houston. In the background is first cousin Anthony Sims. In 2003, Ricardo Rachell, who was severely disfigured by a shotgun blast to the face in 1992, was wrongly convicted in the sexual assault of an 8-year-old in Houston. DNA testing, however, exonerated Rachell early this month of the crime and he was set free. This week, he got some more good news thanks to Congressman Al Green who has arranged for world-renowned Texas surgeon Dr. Joseph Agris to rebuild Rachell’s face for free. Dec. 30, 2008 in Houston, TX.

Ricardo Rachell, left, is brushed off after a $10 haircut by Richard Miles of South Acres Barber Shop. It was his first haircut in freedom since being released from prison.

Dr. Joseph Agris pulls a polaroid picture of Ricardo Rachell, right, during an examination in Agris’ office Dec. 30, 2008 in Houston, TX. Agris said at least three different doctors will be needed to reconstruct Rachell’s face, but if all goes well, Rachell procedures should be healed and complete by  the end of 2009.

Dr. Norman H. Rappaport examines Ricardo Rachell’s an examination in Rappaport’s office Dec. 30, 2008 in Houston, TX. Rappaport said a team of doctors would be needed to repair the damage to Rachell’s face, including an ophthalmologist for his right eye.

Jan Albers, a member of the Red Hat Starlets of southwest Houston and Missouri City, visits The Grand 1894 Opera House during the landmark’s 114th birthday and reopening celebration Jan. 3, 2009 in Galveston, TX.

Gale and Mary Jane Rogers dance to “New York, New York” backstage at The Grand 1894 Opera House during the landmark’s 114th birthday and reopening celebration Jan. 3, 2009 in Galveston. The couple, who said “New York, New York” is their song, have been dancing for as long as they’ve been married – 51 years.

Hi Loyal Viewers,

By light a light month, I by no means light in terms of workload, only in terms of pictures I have to show. I wish I had more, but I don’t, so please enjoy what I have. I’m thinking about starting a new project or two in the coming month, so stay tuned. I’m kind of excited about them and the initial results have been encouraging.

Cheers,

EK

Cameron Tanju, 7, smashes ice into his face at the Snow Flurry at the Museum of Natural Science were 80,000 pounds of shaved ice posed as snow in the mild Houston afternoon.

HPD officer Joslyn Johnson makes a statement to the press at Memorial Hermann Hospital after an officer shooting in the 6000 block W. Sunforest Dec. 7, 2008. Johnson is the wife of deceased HPD officer Rodney Johnson who died two years ago in the line of duty.

HPD Chief of Police Harold Hurtt and Mayor Bill White walk from Memorial Hermann Hospital to where the media has set up to make statements regarding an officer shooting and death in the 6000 block W. Sunforest Dec. 7, 2008.

Lance Daniels, 20, wears the champion turkey hat after winning in the 13 and over competition during as contestants did their best turkey imitations to win prizes Nov. 15, 2008 in Houston at the Houston Zoo. Judging was based on best vocal call and strutting ability.

A woman crosses a skybridge on Caroline St. in downtown Houston.

Houston Fire Department and Haz-Mat team responded to a gas smell and reports of children feeling nauseous and light-headed, Nov. 14, 2008 in Houston at Harvard Elementary School. Some children were transported to area hospitals for observation.

Nathaniel Watson, a client from The Star of Hope Woman and Family Emergency Center, puts a coat on a homeless woman as Charles Williams, outreach coordinator at Star of Hope, looks on near downtown Houston.

Fans wave to Juanes as he arrives with other celebrities Nov. 13, 2008 in Houston during the Latin Grammys.

Jim Gesser, dressed as a Berzerker Barbarian, left, battles with Nicholas Monti, 8, of Magnolia at theTexas Renaissance Festival, Nov. 9, 2008 in Plantersville, TX. The festival was filled with thousands there to enjoy a journey into the Medieval past with stage shows, amusements and Middle Ages-themed food.

Kimberly Scales hangs an ornament for a friend who passed away from AIDS as participants gathered to celebrate World AIDS Day Dec. 1, 2008 in Houston, TX at Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital. Those attending the ceremony had a chance to place holiday ornaments on a “Tree of Remembrance” during the program to honor friends, family members and loved ones who have been affected by HIV/AIDS.

Lleno Sanchez carries a flocked Christmas tree to a customer’s car at Houston Garden Centers.

Shoppers walk through the Galleria in Houston, TX.

Betty Ruiz comforts her daughter Ceirra, 5, as school begins at Rosenburg Elementary. Ceirra was upset as she used to attend Scott Elementary and was now starting at a new school, where, according to Betty Ruiz, it is “totally different.”

Rosenburg Elementary opened following Hurricane Ike, Oct. 7, 2008 in Galveston. Some students from Scott Elementary were attending Rosenburg instead. Other students were used Rosenburg as a way-station for transportation to other schools.

Michael Brown, 11, right, waits for a bus to transport him from Rosenburg Elementary to Weis Middle School.

Cynthia Perez, center, comforted by computer lab teacher Connie Squiers, becomes emotional while thinking about having to bring her daughter Alyssa Gonzales, 8, right, to a different school.

Denise Alvarado and her children Orhiana Evans, 2, left, and Oscar Evans, 3, have been staying in a hotel after Hurricane Ike destroyed their apartment in one of Galveston’s public housing complexes Oct. 13, 2008 in Galveston.

Rodney Sweeny and Michael Babrie move a mattress out of the Palm Terrace public housing apartments in Galveston Oct. 13, 2008. Sweeny had lived at the complex one month with his lady friend, who had lived there for 20 years. At right, Irwin Collins installs a fence around the complex to keep people out.

Andre Dickie jumps the fence at the Palm Terrace housing complex to retrieve his furniture Oct. 13, 2008 in Galveston.

Rodney Sweeny walks to his apartment in the Palm Terrace public housing apartments in Galveston.

Sarah Horn, a former resident at the Oleander Homes housing complex in Galveston, talks to a reporter at her sister’s home where she currently stays .

Debby Rihn-Harvey, who recently won the 2008 United States National Aerobatic Championships.

Kendell Bermingham, 17, prays during a song at the March of the Surviving Youth 2008 Oct. 11, 2008 in Houston. The group met at Elizabeth Baldwin Park in the third ward and planned to march and pray in front of Planned Parenthood near downtown Houston.

Matt Regitz prays during a song at the March of the Surviving Youth 2008.

Peggy Volk, aunt of victim Macy Moyers, left, and Deana Moyers, right, mother of Macy, react after the sentencing of Bobby Davis Oct. 30, 2008 at the Harris County Juvenile Justice Center. Davis received 8 years in the Texas Youth Commission for his crimes.

County Judge Ed Emmett talks with Sam and Georgia Akers Nov. 4, 2008 in Houston on Election Day at the West Gray Multi-Service Center, 1475 W. Gray.  Georgia Akers is running for Harris County Probate Court No. 1. Emmett is running for re-election for Harris county judge.

Blake Dalton performs east coast freestyle poling in the City Hall Reflection Pool Oct. 16, 2008 in Houston. Dalton, a member of Core Performance Company, will be performing with other polers this weekend during the Bayou City Art Festival at the reflection pool at the library plaza at 2 pm.

HPD Capt. Victor Rodriguez of the property and supply division poses among what appears to be thousands of bikes inside the evidence warehouse Oct. 21, 2008.

Houston Police are preparing for the monumental task of moving more than 1million pieces of evidence from its troubled evidence warehouse – packed chaotically into an 80 year old building – to a brand new $13 million building.

Carey Barrett and Brenda Chapa have a moment after meeting for the first time Oct. 23, 2008 in Houston. Barrett donated his kidney to Chapa last week.

Brett Hubbs, who was a utility inspector for almost five years for the Katy Freeway expansion, takes a picture of balloon release during at the conclusion of a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 28, 2008 in Houston.

Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack hands out plungers to passersby at Westcott and Memorial Nov. 4, 2008 in Houston. Radack, a Republican, bought more than 1,000 plungers to give away as a reference to “Joe the Plumber” in support of the McCain/Palin ticket. Nov. 4, 2008 in Houston on Election Day.

Jessie Smith shows his support for his presidential candidate of choice Nov. 4, 2008 in Houston on the Hazard St. overpass and Hwy 59. The U of H political science student said, “I believe in Senator Obama and one day I hope to run for governor of Texas and I hope to change the state the way he has changed the nation.”

Joel Osteen gives a sermon, Oct. 5, 2008 at Lakewood Church in Houston. It is the largest megachurch in the United States with more than 40,000 weekly attendees during its services.

The non-competitive run portion of the Susan G. Komen Houston Race for the Cure begins near downtown, Oct. 4, 2008 in Houston. 30,000 participants used Allen Parkway to show their support for the fight against breast cancer.

The Tor Watch, a school spirit group at Ball High School in Galveston, performs during a pep rally Oct. 3, 2008 at Spoor Field.

Many of the Galveston ISD schools will be ready to go by next Tuesday, including Ball High School. But many students and staff won’t have to wait until then to see each other.

The district has been busy with cleanup since the storm, and staff will be back at the reopening schools today. Ball High School students will have the chance to meet this morning for a pep rally for all teams at 10am at Spoor Field. Oct. 3, 2008

Ball High School freshman Elworth Wilcox looks to the crowd during the pep rally.

The Tornettes, the Galveston High School dance team, perform.

Brent Farmer, Andy Patina, Tim Copado and Lee Mencacci, all members of the Tor Watch, a school spirit group, help deflate a giant inflatable football helmet after the pep rally.

Muslims pray during Eid Ul Fitr at Reliant Center in Houston. Eid is one of the major holidays for Muslims worldwide and signals the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

7,000 to 8,000 people attended the event.

Yousef Shareef, 3, stands between his father Ahmad Shareef, Jr. and grandfather Ahmad, Sr. during Eid Ul Fitr at Reliant Center in Houston.

Mohammad Tayyab and Aziz Benamar embrace following the annual Eid Ul Fitr prayer at Reliant Center in Houston.

Cleveland Turner sits on the stump of the tree that destroyed part of his yard art Oct. 2, 2008 in Houston.

Hurricane Ike damaged the house of  African yard artist Cleveland Turner, aka The Flower Man.  The orange show foundation is calling for a Saturday work day to make repairs.

Cleveland Turner holds part of the ceiling inside his home that collapsed from the effects of Hurricane Ike.

Got through my first hurricane intact. Twelve days without power, but some folks in town STILL don’t have power as of Oct. 1, 2008. Crazy, huh? And this was only a category 2 hurricane (although the storm surge was equivalent to a category 4 hurricane). I spent most of my time doing local coverage here in Houston, although I did spend a little time in Galveston, Seabrook, and Kemah.

Its good that life is finally resembling some semblance of normality. I can cook in my kitchen again, take a hot shower, browse the internet in my air-conditioned bedroom. I guess it was a bit like camping, only more like getting lost and spending more time in the great outdoors than originally planned.

Ike stuff will come later. First some stuff I couldn’t post last time because it hadn’t been published yet.

Cheers,

Eric

Two theaters in Houston are starting to show movies in the South Indian languages of Tamil, Malayalam, and Telegu made in India’s smaller, but just as prolific as Bollywood, South Indian movie industry. There are also three new radio shows in town targeting the growing community, many of whom have come here in recent years as engineers or students.

Prasad Kalva and Damador Valluri started the Andhra Mirchi and Tamil Mirchi radio shows earlier this year to tap into the growing South Indian market in Houston.

Going by their radio names, Bablu, left, and Chanti take phone calls, play music and have contests on the Andhra Mirchi Radio show in Houston. The show, which took nine months to get from idea to air time, has been on the radio for the last four months.

During the rehabilitation and discharge from the hospital, I got to spend a little time with a family that was inside the bus that crashed in Sherman, TX resulting in 17 fatalities.

The Bui family, all five of whom were in the Sherman bus crash Aug. 8. Three were seriously injured; the two youngest children were banged up but didn’t spend inpatient time in the hospital. Thiep Bui, the father, and Matthew Bui, his 15-year-old son, both eventually left the Dallas hospital where they’ve been doing therapy for the past week. They leave behind Thui Tran, the mother, who is still in Baylor’s ICU, although improving modestly.  The next day, Thiep was sent home while his son was to remain at the hospital for further rehabilitation and observation.

Physical Medicine Tech Barbara Martinez works with Thiep Bui by gently attempting to get Bui to bend his damaged right knee as he recuperates at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, TX.

Physical therapist Craig Vanderlaan tests Matthew Bui’s vestibular system, or equilibrium. Bui had issues with his balance and nausea when trying to complete certain exercises.

Matthew Bui, center, works with Chris Comstock during a physical therapy sessions.

Thiep Bui is visited by two of his children, James, 9, and Katherine, 12,  at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, TX. Theip told his kids to be good and behave while he was back home in Houston.

Matthew Bui and Minh Nguyen, an uncle, look at a get-well card from the Cy Fair High School marching band, of which Matthew is a member. “BFND” is an acronym for Bobcat Fight Never Dies.

Thiep Bui is led to a waiting van after being discharged from Baylor Hospital .

Lan Bui takes a photograph of the “Bui men,” from left Minh Nguyen, a brother-in-law of Thiep, Lih Vu, a cousin, Thiep Bui, The Bui and Thuan Bui in the hospital parking lot after Theip’s discharge from Baylor Hospital in Dallas, TX.

Thiep Bui, left, back in Houston at his parent’s home after an extended hospital stay, is quizzed by his father about his knee injury.

Kempner’s RB Julius White (5) makes a pass and continues to run within one yard of the goal line in the first quarter against Pearland.

Clara Ortiz Torres, from Columbia, is a student at the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston.

Emanuel Daniel, 10, plays around with his clarinet without a mouthpiece after performing at HISD headquarters during a presentation of of $450,000 worth of musical instruments.  Students from Lovett Elementary performed for those in attendance.

Debris lines the southbound lanes of I-45 after Hurricane Ike struck the area the night before, Sept. 12, 2008.

Chris Symank leaves his flooded jeep after checking on a friend’s house in Seabrook after Hurricane Ike struck in the night. Symank said he forgot the road dips down when he felt his jeep start to float.

B. J. Gabbert helps friends David Richey and Wesley Lichenstein recover Richey’s outboard motor from his sailboat at an apartment complex in El Lago after Hurricane Ike passed through the area the night before.

Sam DiMiceli visits the dock of his waterfront property for the first time after Hurricane Ike struck two days earlier in Bacliff, TX. DiMiceli said he was the contractor for the house he started building in February. He finished painting it a week and a half ago and planned to use it as a retirement home. The first floor of the home was destroyed while the top two floors were virtually unscathed.

The music is over for a piano washed up onto TX-146 near Seabrook in the wake of Hurricane Ike in Seabrook, TX.

Karen Gerdes of La Marque cleans debris from the front yard of her house after Hurricane Ike passed in the night. “This is the third hurricane this house has been through,” she said when asked about her plywood message covering a window of her house. Noting that the only real damage to her house was some brush and a backyard fence, Gerdes said, “we did okay, we did okay.”

Gary Corley nurses a cut on his arm received while salvaging items from his destroyed home.

Paramedics Ricky Hellwig, left, from Lufkin, Jason Stuck, also from Lufkin and Garrett Hoskins of Huntsville play hearts as they wait for an assignment in the wake of Hurricane Ike in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX. The paramedics noted they had not been assigned to help out in any areas  and have been waiting for three days to help those in need.

Sabrina Perez points down a hallway with weather damage from Hurricane Ike at Braesridge Senior Complex in Houston. Perez, a caretaker, was at the complex to check up on her client Carolyn Moss. Many seniors have been stranded at the Braesridge Senor Complex. Neighbors have come together to help each other out.

Sheryl Knotts, center, and Terry Kreid, right, get ready to deliver meals to their neighbors while navigating through darkened hallways at Braesridge Senior Complex in Houston, TX. Meals were cooked by another neighbor, Sylvia June, left, under a carport. Many seniors have been stranded at the Braesridge Senior Complex. Neighbors have come together to help each other out.

Sheryl Knotts, left, and Terry Kreid get ready to deliver meals to their neighbors.

Terry Kreid tries to read a map of the complex.

Terry Kreid delivers a meal to her neighbor Artelia Ross.

Resident Alma McNack shows the battery-powered television set her son gave her inside her bedroom at the Braesridge Senior Complex.

Tom Slack looks at sewage water pouring out of pipes below the group of condos where he and his wife live in Houston. The Slack’s, who live in condos off of Woodway, noticed sewage backing up after Ike passed through, some of it allegedly into Buffalo Bayou.

William Atkins, 64 and blind, helps elderly and disabled neighbors with chores and errands in a Hurricane-disabled high rise, Sept. 19, 2008 in Houston, TX.

(Note to blog readers: The high-rise managers were media-unfriendly. I know what you’re thinking: This would have made a wonderful story. I agree, but sometimes these are the brakes.)

Rabbi Roy Walter follows along with members of Congregation Emanu El as they perform Selichot, a service held to ask God for forgiveness before the Jewish High Holidays. The congregation used flashlights during the service because of a power outage due to Hurricane Ike.

Sarah Orsack, right, and her mother Carol, center, follow along with  the service.

Ann Frohbieter plays piano for the congregation.

Robin Beckwith, right, follows along with the service.

Capt. Les Cain, a towboat operator for Buffalo Marine. The company was involved in helping corral a Rickmers Vessel that broke loose at the height of Hurricane Ike in the Turning Basin at the Port of Houston. The reason that Buffalo Marine had towboat operators even in the vicinity at that time of night is that it was responsible for a tanker nearby that was carrying 50,000 barrels of oil. So as part of the company’s emergency plan, they were there to secure the tanker. Several tugs helped get the Rickmers Seoul vessel secured after it broke loose, and a Houston Pilot also was called out to board the vessel. Not only could it have hit the tanker, but it could have taken out at least part of the 610 bridge because the storm surge had made the water level rise so much, the coast guard said.

Leslie Nolan stands in front of the truck his friend George Helmond was found dead in before it is towed away in Galveston. Helmond’s body was left in the truck three days until it was finally taken away. Allegedly, Helmond was trying to flee during the height of Hurricane Ike as it swept over Galveston Island.

George Helmond, the only confirmed drowning victim on Galveston Island, died after he panicked while riding out the storm at home and tried to escape the rising storm water in his pickup truck. Leslie Nolan was his neighbor and life-long friend. They both went to electrician’s school together and had known each other for decades.

Galveston police officer Chad Powers, right, and Shenandoah police officer Mike Ruby, center, question a 16 year-old suspect as they help enforce the curfew in Galveston. The curfew in Galveston is now 8 pm to 6 am.

Stephany Brown ties a bandana around the face of her aunt, Sarah Horn, before they enter the destroyed bottom floor of her aunt’s apartment at the Oleander Homes. Horn has lived in the complex 27 years and will be staying with a relative. “No one expected this,” Brown said of the devastation.

Residents salvage what they can at the Oleander Homes public housing in Galveston. The whole complex has been evicted and has 10 days to gather their belongings. Complex workers have screwed shut all screen doors with a phillips head screw. All residents seeking to enter their apartments will need to bring a screwdriver.

Stephany Brown helps her blind aunt enter Horn’s apartment on the destroyed bottom floor at the Oleander Homes.

Shante Horn, 17, sprays disinfectant at her and her mother’s apartment on the destroyed bottom floor.

Shante Horn, 17, is handed family photos by her cousin Stephany Brown at the apartment of Brown’s aunt, Sarah Horn.

Catherine Malone, holding her great-granddaughter Veruschka Matthews, 9 months, is emotional outside her destroyed apartment at the Oleander Homes public housing in Galveston. Malone said “I don’t have no help. No husband, no boyfriend, no son.” The drawings in the background are of her deceased daughter and mother, who died within six months of each other, her daughter a victim of murder.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, leader of the Houston/Galveston archdiocese, embraces one of his flock at St. Patrick Parish on the first Sunday since the return of residents to Galveston.