Reply #20: It took my sister's family over 28 hours to get to Little Rock [View All]

[AuntieM1957]

from north Houston.

They ran out of gas around Nacogdoches. Coasted to a gas station that one of the local cops told her about. Other cops had already yelled at her to get the vehicle out of the way.

She said the problem was the gas station was closed, and only taking credit cards. Luckily, she has one. But many others didn't. She used up her credit letting others get gas - and they all wanted to pay her with their cash. "It was all people helping people" she said. She had plenty of water and food, and shared with others.

There was no help from the authorities except that lone cop. When they finally opened up the contra-flow lanes, she says no one was there to guide them. They didn't even stop the southbound traffic completely. She says traffic was going both ways for a long time. Terror and panic.

She saw people camping out on the side of the road - informal tent cities. Babies being held out of overheated car windows so that they wouldn't die from the heat inside the car. More than one vehicle fire. No roadside assistance from any law enforcement. Again, only citizens helping citizens.

They tried side roads, and local law enforcement made them go back to the evac route. No DPS or local cops on the evac route. No tanker trucks.

The story she told me differs sharply from the story that the governor is telling.

I'm delighted that she and my 7 year old nephew are safe with my cousin. But after talking to her, I'm questioning the veracity of the news reports made this afternoon. They reported that they're getting people off the highways to shelters. God, I hope that is true.