TS/Hurricane Rita

tuxedokitties · Sep 22, 2005

I haven't been able to reach my brother in Houston by telephone...the lines have all been overwhelmed - busy all day yesterday. But I did reach him by email, and he said he'll try to make it out to come & stay with us today, if he can find fuel for his truck. He said the lines are extremely long & he was having a hard time finding fuel, and that people were acting crazy.

I hope he can get gas to get out of there!

My prayers are with all of you.

valanhb · Sep 22, 2005

I heard on the radio this morning that the current wind speeds are over 200 MPH!

kittenkiya · Sep 22, 2005

Good morning all. I checked the Weather channel this morning before I left for work, and Rita is a Cat 5 with 175 mph winds. She took a very slight jog to the east, but straightened out again. I am so very worried for all of you on the Gulf Coast. They (the weather people) put a lot of emphasis on the barometric pressure in these things, and Rita's at 804 is lower than Camille's at 806 millibars. I am not sure exactly what that means, but it is not good.

Please, please pack up your babies and leave. If this storm hits the coast as a Cat 5, the coast is toast and everything on it.

I live in Arizona and I know there is no way anyone could reach here, but I would be willing to open my home to anyone from the hurrricane area that can get here. I don't have much, but we all can share.

gailc · Sep 22, 2005

And I thought we had it back with the storm damage last week and more wind yesterday blowing down more branches from last week.
This hurricane (I'm on NOAA's website) it just incredible.

tuxedokitties · Sep 22, 2005

My brother is going to stay. He can't get gas to get out of town, and even if he could, the freeways are so clogged that people are running out of fuel from just idling & inching along for hours, and he doesn't want to be stuck out in traffic on the freeway between Houston & San Antonio when the storm hits - we're supposed to get high winds here too, though nothing like in Houston.

My aunt has been on the road all night heading for Dallas, and she's just now reached the outer edge of Houston. I hope Candie made it out soon enough to avoid the worst traffic.

Some evacuation plan! The mayor has even said that there aren't enough buses to get people without their own transportation out of the low-lying areas, so everyone needs to check with their neighbors & friends to make sure they have transportation out of there.

My brother's place is close to a bayou but is on relatively high ground, in an older building that has withstood hurricanes over the last 100 years. He's not in an area affected by the mandatory evacuations. I'm still worried, though. This is supposed to be a really fierce storm.

tuxedokitties · Sep 22, 2005

Running from Rita

amandaofcols · Sep 22, 2005

Everyone, I have an extra room in Columbus, GA and I'm sure we could find others! No, kids, well except the furry kind, and fenced in backyard!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get out of there!! Too many people ignored the warnings with Katrina and look at what happened!!! Lets not have a repeat! There's always a way out!!

caprice · Sep 22, 2005

Before I start....We could NOT leave.

If you've never experienced such a disaster, this is just unimaginable. We finally got out at 10pm last night, drove for an hour between two small cities, Fulshear and Brookshire. We sat forever. I had a full tank of gas...but it dwindled down to half a tank in no time. We turned around and decided there was no way we could leave. We were going to Spring Branch, Texas. We finally got all the way home and I was soooo sick because I had barely eaten all day, and we spent another 30 minutes in line at McDonald's. I am beyond petrified now. We are planning to get in the hallway about 9pm tomorrow night with Mittens and Watson and candles and flashlights, water and a few things to eat (yeah, right). So...this is where we stand now. The main reason why we can't leave, there is NO gas for us to get anyway. Just pray we can easily ride this out. I've read all the posts before me and I am truly scared now.

caprice · Sep 22, 2005

Originally Posted by Amandaofcols

Everyone, I have an extra room in Columbus, GA and I'm sure we could find others! No, kids, well except the furry kind, and fenced in backyard!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get out of there!! Too many people ignored the warnings with Katrina and look at what happened!!! Lets not have a repeat! There's always a way out!!

No, there isn't a way out, if there is no gas.

gailc · Sep 22, 2005

Can you go higher in your building??? Stay safe, make sure your 1st kit is ready.

pamela · Sep 22, 2005

I am SO SORRY to hear that.. My prayers are with u guys. PLEASE try to keep in touch when you can.

caprice · Sep 22, 2005

Originally Posted by GailC

Can you go higher in your building??? Stay safe, make sure your 1st kit is ready.

I live in a house. one story

tuxedokitties · Sep 22, 2005

Oh, Candie

I am so sorry! I'm praying for you.

Do you know if your house stayed dry during Allison?

kellyyfaber · Sep 22, 2005

Originally Posted by caprice

Before I start....We could NOT leave.

If you've never experienced such a disaster, this is just unimaginable. We finally got out at 10pm last night, drove for an hour between two small cities, Fulshear and Brookshire. We sat forever. I had a full tank of gas...but it dwindled down to half a tank in no time. We turned around and decided there was no way we could leave. We were going to Spring Branch, Texas. We finally got all the way home and I was soooo sick because I had barely eaten all day, and we spent another 30 minutes in line at McDonald's. I am beyond petrified now. We are planning to get in the hallway about 9pm tomorrow night with Mittens and Watson and candles and flashlights, water and a few things to eat (yeah, right). So...this is where we stand now. The main reason why we can't leave, there is NO gas for us to get anyway. Just pray we can easily ride this out. I've read all the posts before me and I am truly scared now.

Candie

My thoughts and prayers are with you. I am so sorry you couldn't leave. Hang in there, girl.

caprice · Sep 22, 2005

Originally Posted by tuxedokitties

Oh, Candie

I am so sorry! I'm praying for you.

Do you know if your house stayed dry during Allison?

I believe so. If you look at the link I posted, we are considered to be in the Heights. We are at mid-level, and it floods about 5-6 blocks down, starting with Byrne and Euclid. My sister-in-law just moved in on Beauchamp and White Oak. I believe her place will be destroyed. She's in Austin. It took her 6 hours yesterday morning to get there. I can't stop shaking. We are just waiting now for the worst. My duplex neighbor is in this with us. I am glad we have someone so close to talk to. I was going to try and take my mind off the storm by doing some homework that is due Saturday that my PSY teacher hadn't called off yet, but I can't even sign onto my online classes. About last night, it was horrible Mittens got so sick in his carrier. We are already tramatized by all this. I just hope our house is in tact by the end, and of course us 4. The only thing I am concerned now is my neighbor left Tuesday and she's got brooms and potted plants outside! Should I try and bring in her brooms?!! I heard they can serve as lethal missiles.

I am beyond upset, I've never experienced a hurricane. Alicia (1983) was here when I was 1. But, of course, I don't remember that and they say Rita will be a lot worse. I am thinking about cleaning out my VERY SMALL closet today, to be on the safe side for us 4 to get in. What do ya'll think? It would be a very tight squeeze.

katspixiedust · Sep 22, 2005

If your neighbors brooms and plants are in an area where wind could blow through you should definitely move it somewhere else. That was negligent on her part and you shouldn't have to worry about her extra things with all of the stress you're already feeling.

hopehacker · Sep 22, 2005

If you don't have gas for your car, please get on one of those buses and get out of town. From what I heard, they were letting people take 1 pet with theim, so you take the cat, and your husband take the dog. Don't tell them you are together, and get on the bus. Please.

beckiboo · Sep 22, 2005

Originally Posted by caprice

No, there isn't a way out, if there is no gas.

Candie, can your dh siphon gas from one car to another (assuming you have two cars)? Or could you hitch a ride with a neighbor?

I'm sorry this is so stressful, but with you being in advance pregnancy, you are on high priority to evacuate. Call your OB office, call your neighbors. If they have evacuated, could you "steal" some of their gas? Honestly, if they have an extra car left behind, they would probably be glad to have you fill yours just for your safety?

If not, you will remain in my prayers. Get the cats in a crate before it hits, or they will run off and hide.

talon · Sep 22, 2005

I faintly remember being in a hurrican when I was young - the only thng I remember clearly is being told to put masking tape on all the windows in an X pattern. If I remember correctly this was in case the windows broke - it would help keep the glass peices from flying everywhere.

tuxedokitties · Sep 22, 2005

If your house was dry during Allison, hopefully things will work out for you this time too. I would definitely try to secure any loose objects around the outside of your duplex, so they won't fly around & cause damage. It will also give you something to occupy yourself with too, so you can stay calm.

If you couldn't get lumber to board all the windows, the closet might not be a bad idea, just in case a window breaks. I wasn't able to view the map that you posted, but if you're in the Heights area, that's a nice older area with good solid homes that have survived lots of storms in the past. People were smart enough then to build housing on high ground

If you have any coolers, fill them with water so you'll have plenty of fresh water to drink and wash dishes with in case the water gets cut off for a couple of days. Just try to focus on getting what you need ready around the house, and pray, and know we're praying for you too.

I just read an article that says Gov. Perry is reversing the Southbound lanes of I-45 so all lanes will be going out of the city. Hopefully that will clear the traffic! I hope he'll do the same with I-10, too, and get some more fuel so residents can leave if they want to. There is still some time to get out, if only the traffic & fuel problems can be solved.

TS/Hurricane Rita

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