Benny rides out Rita on his bike

Benny Salas took a ride into the storm, came home to eat dinner out of his seven days' hurricane supplies - then went to bed.

The Galveston resident told the Herald on Sunday last night that Hurricane Rita was starting to tear into his house and had knocked out most services. "I can't believe you got through," he said on the phone from Texas. "There's a lot of power lines down and the power finally went out a while ago.

"I've got two mobile phones and no signal. I guess the masts have come down."

Then he yawned, and said: "I was asleep. You woke me up."

There's a studied nonchalance to those who live in the path of the storms that lash the southern coast of the United States. Benny Salas has it down pat, even when it comes to Rita.

He had meant to leave - as his parents did - but somehow got delayed. So, he wheeled out his bicycle and peddled down to the coast to have a look.

Mr Salas was lashed by waves at the 61st St pier, then gave the waves something to measure against as he cycled along the boulevard. "I was just checking things out," he said.

Having checked out Rita, he turned for home. "My house is well fortified. I have food and water for seven days. I didn't expect to stay but I'm prepared."

Rita was easing off, he said, and Galveston wound up avoiding the centre of the punch she packed.

"I've seen a lot worse. We'll clean this up in the morning."

Mr Salas paused, asked again where we were calling from, then said: "I'm sitting in the dark."

He thanked us for well-wishes from New Zealand - then went back to bed.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY