Texas Governor's Mansion on Fire

I'm in Austin. I tried to watch "Meet the Press" on TV today - but the local news was all about the Governor's Mansion burning, a real shock. It started last night about 2 a.m. It sits only a mile or so from my hotel.

Had my window faced downtown, and I looked, I could have seen it burning--but the loss of that much history is too hard to watch even on TV. I'd rather not. Funny, but I woke up about that time. The A/C kept making odd noises.

Before coming here I attended the Hurricane convention at the George Brown in Houston. I was shocked that under "Preparations" they only listed two items, shutters and plywood! Plywood? How old tech for space city.

There was zero mention of New Tech -- Miami Dade certified Security Window Film -- which has been saving offices and houses in Florida for years! That was confirmed in the 2004 "Project Safe Windows" study of the Florida Hurricane damage caused that year. Buildings with security window film survived storms that destroyed buildings next door that did not have it. It's all because of wind-borne debris breaching windows and wind blowing the structure apart.

Not only does the film protect the building, it is "green" and cuts both UV rays and energy use. It works 24/7 (shutters and plywood don't). It's high tech and costs a fraction of shutters or impact glass. It's a win-win.

On top of security film, homeowners need to install a device I saw at the GRB to keep their garage doors from blowing in during a hurricane (this breach also leads to roof loss).

We need to upgrade our building technology BEFORE the next storm. But that requires the awareness to get there. I did not see that awareness among many of the emergency presenters yesterday at the GRB.

Hurricane season is here. Time is not on our side. We need to get new protection technology information to the public, and our emergency personnel, before it is too late.

Later, I hope to have breakfast with a niece I haven't seen in years before heading back.

Lated word: Missed Niece and this just came in from mom in Mason City Iowa, which barely missed the Parkersberg killer tornado:

"Nobody remembers when we have what is going on now. Floods Rain & more rain. We have so many flooded streets. Rose said they couldn't find a sump pump in town so they are bailing water out of the sump pump hole to keep water out of the basement. The water treatment plant shut down so I don't know how we are going to get fresh water at this time. We did have a couple of pitchers of water in the frig. All bottled water was already out in the stores,they are rescuing people from there homes any way possible."

Yikes.