RITA: my parents could not (did not) evac.

[redacted]

For those of you who missed it in Ben's "get the fuck out" thread, my parents live in Cypress (NW Houston metro). Out of the flood zone.

After much wrangling -- we finally got my stubborn to a fault father with heart problems to agree to leave with my Mom and their 2 dogs and 1 cat.

He spent 3 hours on the road and got 3 miles, turned around and went back home.

Now the media is saying it's too late to leave.

I found a hardware store in Cypress that should be receiving a shipment of plywood tomorrow. They open at 7:30a -- I told them to be there at 6a. Hope they listen.

I offered to make them hotel reservations on Sunday -- I told them to evac Tuesday.

I am fed up and worried.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

1. Please, I hope they will be safe n/t

[Erika]

2. I hope they are OK, will be OK

One big problem I have with the Bushbots is they never consider those with special circumstances. Elderly, tired, sick, animals etc.

[msongs]

3. seems rita is turning to the east ...next report at 8pm pacific time nt

[redacted]

6. Local Texas news just reported a few minutes ago that is slightly west now

don't know if it's a wobble or a direction change.

[highplainsdem]

40. Max Mayfield was just on CNN and he thinks it's just a wobble.

He's still expecting landfall near Port Arthur.

[redacted]

41. That would be good news. I appreciate that we don't get CNN.

[highplainsdem]

11. Both CNN and Fox are reporting that it turned a bit west again.

According to what they said on CNN about ten minutes ago, the turn taking the track west of the computer models was about an hour and a half earlier. They're waiting for the update in about 20 minutes. The meteorologist on Fox, where I heard this first, had said about 8 pm CDT that he's predicting landfall at Galveston.

[cry baby]

4. Hope they can hunker down, at least they aren't in a flood prone

area. Hope they will be OK...I'm sure they will.:hug:

[jody]

5. I understand your concern but you too will be old someday.

I'll keep you and yours in my prayers and ask that Rita does them no harm.

[redacted]

10. They are not that old. Still in their 60's, but Dad has congestive

heart failure.

[jody]

16. In their 60s! They're just youngsters full of spirit.

Have a nice evening cause they'll be OK. :thumbsup:

[redacted]

22. LOL: I suppose Dad might be in more danger of Mom killing him for

not leaving earlier and forcing her to tolerate the storm/heat --than he is from the storm.

[A-Possum]

7. Hoping they do ok

*hug* You tried your best; I've seen your posts. You told them the right thing to do, leave early. If the storm goes up the TX/LA border, they should be ok. If it moves back west and comes in at Galveston, then it's another story. They will probably experience hurricane force winds. Still unknown which will happen.

[pitohui]

8. they're doing the best they can

please don't be angry w. them

my friend died evacuating for katrina & traffic was flowing

the stress, the heat, the traffic not moving for hrs, that can be too much for an older man w. heart problems

i would be worried also but try not to be "fed up"

it is so hard to know what is the right choice, ppl do die from the stress of evacuating

i hope they will be well & your family safely re-united soon

[Just Me]

9. Do the best you can, let the rest go.

That is ALL you can do. :hug: That is enough! :hug:

[redacted]

Thanks, trying to be at piece with it. Having gallbladder surgery Tues.

Thinking I should reschedule that. Stress.

[Just Me]

24. Seriously, do NOT put off that surgery.

Without it, you're strength to be helpful to your parents is dramatically diminished. Gall bladder problems drag your health down, a LOT!!!

Take care of your health. You can't control the decisions of your parents. You can take control of your own health such that you will be strong enough to assist your parents even when they make mistaken decisions.

Please, follow through on that surgery because I KNOW it will make a difference in your capacity to be healthy enough to contribute to others. :hug:

[redacted]

28. Good point. I am meeting surgeon for pre-op tomorrow, I bet he'll want

me to go through with it.

[Just Me]

38. M'dear, gall bladder problems infect your capacity to contribute,...

,...because your body (and mind) are weakened. You can NOT really help your parents without tending to a physical ailment that makes you WEAK. Trust me on this. I've been around several people with gall bladder problems; and, after the surgery, they feel like 200%.

You have already done the best you can for your parents whose decisions you have no control over. Now, take care of your health such that you will be stronger, strong enough to cope in the event that your parents' decision turns sour.

Please. There is no use in sacrificing your health over others' decisions about their own life. Be healthy enough to serve as a net in the event that their decisions may be wrong.

[Missy Vixen]

55. I'm hoping for the laparoscopic version for you

Please do not cancel your surgery; if you have the above version, you're down for a few days and will need to take it easy for a week or so. You will feel 200% better, I promise. You will be able to help your parents even more if you are feeling better yourself. Just a hint: When the doctor tells you you will have to keep to a lower-fat regimen, it's the truth.

In the meantime, good luck with the surgery; I'll be thinking good thoughts for an excellent surgeon, an easy procedure, and a startlingly quick recovery. I'll also be thinking good thoughts that your parents come through this safe and sound.

Julie

[redacted]

60. Lap. is the plan and see my message #57. That's what I thought when I read

your post.

[Lex]

12. If they are getting plywood, maybe this thread will help

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4851955

I will be keeping your parents in my thoughts and prayers.

[redacted]

14. Thanks they have brick so they have to get something like that. Or

masonry screws.

[highplainsdem]

13. Hope they'll be okay.

[enid602]

15. flood

I used to live in Spring, close (but far enough away) from Cypress Creek just off Louella and Steubner-Airline. Seems it was always the same neighborhoods being flooded. Are your folks in the flood plane?

[redacted]

17. No they are not in the flood plane. In fact they specifically chose this

neighborhood for that reason.

They did not flood during Alicia.

[MuseRider]

18. There is nothing more

you can do. I know that doesn't help a lot but you did all that you could. They made up their own minds. I will think of them and hope for the best. It sounds like you need to take care of yourself now. I won't tell you not to worry but let go of the rest of it if you can. :hug:

[kestrel91316]

19. Does their house have a big walk-in closet with no windows for them to

take refuge in? It would be safer than being in a room with exterior walls/windows. They could hunker down inside a large closet for the worst of it, with a shortwave radio and food/water.

[redacted]

20. They have a bathroom with no windows. And a walk-in closet. They have

16 gallons of frozen water, batteries, candles, plenty of food and a cell phone.

Full gas tanks minus the 3 hours on the road earlier today.

I worry abt the heat when the power goes out.

[kestrel91316]

39. After the storm they can sit in the car with the AC on if it gets too hot,

for a while at least. And then I bet certain facilities in the area will have generators and AC running. Afterwards.

[NYC]

21. If they don't get plywood,

tell them to take the dogs and cat and sit in a large closet during the wind.

[redacted]

25. Mom will do that. God knows what that stubborn old man will do.

Knowing him, he probably try to go fishing in the storm.

Why he moved there -- fishing.

[NYC]

30. When the wind starts blowing things around,

he can ask your mother, two dogs, and cat to move over in the closet.

Try not to worry.

[redacted]

35. lol.

[expatriate]

23. Redacted, I've thought about this a lot overnight.

I'm sorry they weren't able to get out, but considering your Dad's condition, this is probably the wiser choice, what with all the breakdowns and cars out of gas, and people being stranded. If he'd tried to continue to evacuate in the heat in such conditions, he might not have survived at all.

All they can do now is batten down the hatches, batten them down twice, and ride it out.

I have an elderly parent (age 72) who I live far away from, and I understand all your frustration and anger - but they are adults and there is only so much you can do.

Please keep us posted. I am thinking of you all.

[redacted]

26. Thanks.

[never_get_over_it]

27. I made the point with Katrina critics over and over again

IT IS VERY HARD TO EVACUATE - I live in FL and evacuated for Frances it was so hard during Frances that when Jeanne came you couldn't have pried me out of here for Jeanne. I'm not sure what I would do now....more likely to evacuate early than to stay - it is hard and it can be expensive

Although I don't know TX geography it seems like they are far enough in land that maybe the storm will have lost strength for them and if they are not in a flood area they should be ok.

I will think good thoughts for them - and you try not to worry too much.

[Land Shark]

29. Yup. I wonder if MSM will ever connect dots: Not enough time to Evac!!

[Lorien]

44. Why? I evacuated from Jeanne. Made reservations at cheap hotels

gassed up the car, and left at 5am two days before she hit. I drove to Ohio from Central Florida. Sure, I got stuck in some awful traffic, but I'm use to that (I used an atlas to take back roads after several hours). It was a hell of a lot easier than getting by after Charley, with no power, phones, gas, ice, and trees blocking most roads-for two weeks! I'll take evacuating over staying put any day (granted; it's hard if you have no car or money-but if those aren't problems then I fail to see the difficulty if done in a timely fashion).

[never_get_over_it]

46. Turn on your TV and look at the pictures of the traffic

it was probably easy for you to evacuate for Jeanne becasue most people didn't evacuate - at least where I am. It took us 11 and a half hours to evacuate for Frances - to a location that would have normally taken about 4 and a half hours. I had at the time two dogs and two cats that went with me which made hotel choices limited and then when we got to the hotel it was a disgusting hell hole - and if we hadn't found another hotel I would have freaking slept in my car instead of that first hotel. It probably cost me well over $500 to evacuate for Frances and although I could afford it some can't - I'm not advocating not evacuating - I'm just saying its just not as easy as people who haven't done it think it is.

[Lorien]

50. I took three cats, and I used small 2 lane highways

instead of the interstates (which I tried for six hours-what a waste of time and gas!Drove 45 miles east on small side streets and had smooth sailing the rest of the way). I stayed in La Quinta and a run down Motel six-both accept pets (La Quinta for no additional charge). IMO is was far EASIER than I thought it would be (though I would have felt differently had I not taken that two lane highway or booked my hotels before I left). I would never dissuade anyone from evacuating.

[redacted]

51. Lorien, that was there idea -- back roads. They got caught in traffic

on a 2 lane rural road that eventually ends up in Waco.

Even those were stuffed. They thought if they continued on as they were they would run out of gas before they got to even a gas station.

Given that I am glad they turned around, but still . . .

[Lorien]

70. That's awful! How I wish that they had listen to you days ago!

But still, my sense is that the hurricane will lose much of it's strength by morning, and wobble away from Houston. Just a gut feeling (and I've been right about these things so far-hope my record continues)!

[never_get_over_it]

52. I figured you might have taken cats with you

I hope your cats are better in the car than mine. At one point I thought my one guy was in shock - he hated the car and I had him on sedatives and he was still a mess. The animals were probably the primary reason I didn't evacuate from Jeanne - but also it was only a short time after Frances and I had evacuation fatigue as did EVERYONE I know - I only know one family that evacuated from Jeanne near me - I'm sure there were more but not nearly the number who fled Frances. I didn't live here at the time of Charlie. The point of my post is that there were so many critics after Katrina about people not evacuating. There are different circumstances for differnt folks that contribute to the difficulty. Traffic, finances, pets, illness or whatever. I would never disuade anyone from evacuating either. The point of my post and I'm sticking to it - evacuating is not always the piece of cake that folks who have never done it think it is.

[redacted]

53. agreed. I bet it's a nightmare. I just wish they would have done it on

Tuesday so it would have been easy. They have the money to do it, it was just plain stubborn obstinante behavior. arghhhhhh!!!!!

[never_get_over_it]

56. Agreed

but you know we sit down here hoping it will blow out to sea or fizzle out . My brother who lives in AL bitched at me SO much about Frances that I left just to shut him the hell up - lol - I'm sure they hoped it would just go away. They will be ok I just know it!

[Lorien]

69. Sorry, but a nightmare is sitting for hours through a hurricane

and then trying to get by in the aftermath. No contest whatsoever. I'll evacuate again at the first sign of another major storm headed my way; I'll take no chances with my life of the lives of my pets simply because evacuation is costly (and I am in serious debt) and inconvenient.I stand by my contention that to stress the "difficulties" of evacuation puts lives at risk by encouraging inaction when action is possible.


That said, I have a feeling that Rita's impact on Houston will be far less than predicted.I pray that my gut instinct is correct.

[Lorien]

68. Keep some Feliway on hand in case you need to travel with

your cats again. I find that it makes for a significantly calmer journey. Two of my cats lose their minds in the car without it!

[Stephanie]

67. please post that as a thread

it counters the RW talking point that people without resources "chose" to stay in NOLA.

[Elwood P Dowd]

31. My Aunt and Uncle (both almost 80) couldn't get out

They live about 40-50 miles east of Houston and a few miles north of I-10 (IOW, close to Beaumont). They gave up because of the traffic and heat this afternoon. Took them forever just to get back home. Haven't heard what Plan B is yet, but my uncle will probably send me an email update tomorrow.

[ticapnews]

32. One of our customers couldn't get out...

I am a dispatcher for a security company and talked with a doctor from Houston tonight who powered off the alarm system at his office because Harris County has already stopped responding to alarm calls. He got his family on the road at 7:30 this morning and in 12 hours they went 30 miles, then ran out of gas. They managed to get some and drove back home. They will now have to ride out the storm.

Other customers I talked to tonight had similar stories. Many are stuck in Houston because they simply couldn't get out. Listening to this, and seeing the traffic jams on the news, I can't help but think of the end of Deep Impact when the tidal wave rolls up the highway and sweeps up all the cars. Hopefully those people will get off the roads and out of the way tonight and tomorrow before the storm hits...

The Weather Channel is encouraging everyone who hasn't left yet to pack tonight and hit the road at daybreak tomorrow.

[redacted]

34. Local TV (watching on the net) is saying to stay home and prepare if

you haven't left yet.

[expatriot]

54. Why? I don't understand. Isn't there 24 hours until landfall? They were

evacuating N.O. up until like 6-9 hours before landfall, weren't they?

[NYC]

42. That's 2 1/2 miles an hour.

(2.5 x 12 = 30) (2.5 miles per hour x 12 hours = 30 miles travelled)

In Manhattan, avoiding traffic and stopping for lights when necessary, the average speed of walking is 3 miles an hour. That is faster than your friend drove.

[Silverhair]

33. They should be OK.

There won't be any storm surge there. I have no idea about local flooding due to rain where they are, but if that is not a problem then their danger is much less. Rita seems to be going to hit about 60 miles east of Houston so the wind speeds in NW houston will be about 100 miles per hour. Most houses can survive that, unless there are trees that may fall on the house.

If they can go to a local shelter, that would be best. Ask them if any local shelters are available.

[bunny planet]

36. I know just how frustrated you feel. I couldn't get my mom to leave her

house in Florida last year when Charlee was headed straight for her, and police with bullhorns were ordering people to evacuate her housing development. She stayed in her walk-in closet, ended up being fine, only because in the last fifteen minutes Charlee wobbled south and hit 60 miles down the coast in Port Charlotte instead of Tampa Bay.

I hope your folks will be fine too. Are they in a single family home, is it boarded up, do they have a safe room, away from windows.

[redacted]

37. SFH not boarded but a bathroom and a closet with no windows.

[Kenroy]

43. Ugh...

parents can be infuriating. It's how they pay us back for OUR childhoods.

I hope they'll be fine (thank god they're not in the flood zone). They just have to survive the winds, but the latest reports show the storm passing east of Houston.

They'll be in my thoughts. I'm also worried about a friend's brother who lives in Galveston. He got out, but he'll probably lose his house.

[redacted]

45. I hear ya, it's their payback. But I was a really good kid. Maybe they

could think about returning the favor. ;-)

[Kenroy]

47. heheh...

Just try not to drive yourself crazy over this (I know, easier said than done). The likelihood is that they'll be fine - they may have some deprivations after the storm passes, but they have food, water and candles. Hopefully the heat will abate after the storm, too.

I wish them the best. Please don't make yourself nuts worrying about what-ifs.

[Ilsa]

48. Redacted, I bet they will be okay. If they try and leave, they could

end up trapped on the road. If they board up, I bet their home will be fine, especially since they don't have to worry about flooding.

[redacted]

49. Thanks Ilsa, I have the worst tension headache. It's so hard to let go.

[EFerrari]

57. It is really hard. My little mom is a cowboy. She's not even

a hundred pounds but can stir up a ton of trouble. And it would be easier to charm the moon out of the sky as to get her to change her mind.

We do what we can. Take care of you.

[redacted]

59. Thnx SFexpat haven't seen you in awhile. WB

People have been so nice in this thread I think I might have to cry.

[EFerrari]

61. I know.

I have a picture of your parents after the storm, just fine and still driving you nuts, firmly in place.

Me, I'll probably have to bail my mom out of jail because she's going to D.C. for the march.

:hug:

[redacted]

62. LOL. Are you going to the SF version. I can't go. NT

[EFerrari]

63. Yeah, I'm going. LOL! Maybe I should park that bail money

with a disinterested third party out of state. :)

[merh]

65. Enjoy the march!

:hi: :hug:

[EFerrari]

64. Dupe.

[calimary]

58. Keeping our fingers crossed for them!

I hope they do listen to you. But sometimes parents don't want to listen any more than they complain their kids don't want to.

You can only do what you can do. They should be proud to have in their lives someone like you who cares this much.

[merh]

66. I'll be saying prayers for your folks and others that are in Rita's

path. :grouphug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

71. *hugs and prayers*

[Up2Late]

72. They should leave now, the Houston roads a almost empty

Just avoid Downtown I-45

Check out this thread I started

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4858141>

and this

<http://www.transguide.dot.state.tx.us/Traffic/ccmap.php>

<http://www.transguide.dot.state.tx.us/Traffic/dtmap.php?cc103>

and these traffic cameras:

<http://www.transguide.dot.state.tx.us/Traffic/allcameras.php>

Tell them to use the Toll Roads, they are empty