My son in Houston is evac-ing here to Dallas and he just cell phoned

[Liberal In Texas]

me. They left about 4 hours ago and are just north of Conroe. Jeez, 4 hours to get just north of Conroe!

(As far as I could understand it, his end was terribly distorted.) He said his ETA to Dallas is still at least 3.5 hours.

Man this is nerve rackiing.

[Lithos]

1. It could be worse

Am glad he is able to get out.

L-

[Liberal In Texas]

9. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad he has the means and the smarts to get out.

Still, it's just damn nerve-jangling when your kid is out there.

If he had told me he didn't have the means, I'd have packed up the SUV and driven him out myself.

I guess what is also unknown, is how Dallas is going to be hit on Sunday. I think we're safe here from flooding, but a lot of people are not and there are going to be deaths. Plus, with winds predicted at 60-70 mph, we live in an old neighborhood with very old trees, and I dearly hope than one of them does not come down on our house and injure anybody.

Property I can replace. My family I cannot.

[fudge stripe cookays]

19. Yeah, it depends on those projected colored lines, huh?

We're in Rowlett, east of town, and I'm wondering how much of this we're going to see, and how strong.

I'm filling our master bath tub up tomorrow; we've got buttloads of water from Big Lots we've been stocking up. Flashlights and candles, a grill for cooking if we need to. But no generator and no propane stove.

We have a couple of big trees around us too, even though we're in a newer neighborhood. We're just up the block from the lake, but we're on a pretty good sized hill. I think we're OK in that repect.

You take care, Lib. Wishing the best for your son.
FSC

[Liberal In Texas]

24. Thanks FSC.

I think I'm going to have to deal with the water problem tomorrow. Man, I ditched so many containers just a little while ago. I feel like an idiot now.

We have a grill as well, but you can't cook outside in the wind.

Flashlights apleanty here. And many batteries. My good SONY shortwave JUST broke, and I'm going to miss that!

I'm going to find as much ice as possible on Sat. and fill up all the chests.

OK on food. Am I missing anything?

[koopie57]

21. we just had a storm go through here

60-70 mph winds they say and lots and lots of trees down. Is there some way you could tie them in some way? at least those that might fall on your home? One of our trees would have made it with a little help I think.

[Liberal In Texas]

25. When my son the rocket scientist gets here, I may ask him what we

can do. (He is a rocket scientist, really.)

We have about 3 days to prep. Good idea.

[Dora]

2. My husband is on his way from Houston to Austin right now.

I can't believe he frickin' went to Houston in the first place.

He and the rest of the band left this afternoon at 3:00. They had a gig at Sullivan's Steakhouse - they got there, played one set, then were told to go home.

He called me at 8:20 to say they were headed back, and it would take 7-8 hours.

[im10ashus]

3. That's not bad considering, is it?

I mean, the drive is NORMALLY about 5 hours, yes? Given the people that are fleeing, he is making good time. Try not to worry (easier said than done, I know). He's at least able to get out. :hug:

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. Usually 4 hours.

And you can trim time if you hotfoot a bit.

6-7 hours is insane, even with typical Houston traffic before leaving town.

FSC

[im10ashus]

8. That's quite the drive.

My heart and thoughts are with everyone in the potential path. PLEASE be safe. I know that's ridiculous to say. But, PLEASE!

[Liberal In Texas]

10. And that's just his opinion of his ETA north of Conroe. Gawd knows

what the real time might be.

No sleep tonight.

-Worried LibInTexas Dad.

[moc]

13. He'll make it!

:hug:

At least he's on his way. My Houston friends haven't left yet. :(

[Liberal In Texas]

15. They still have time. What are they waiting for?

I know, motels/hotels are really hard to find, but they've got to get out!

[moc]

18. My friend told me her husband was resisting evacuating.

She said they'd decide in the a.m. She lives in Bellaire, and they are under voluntary, not mandatory.

She wants to leave, though. They're going to decide tomorrow if they'll go to SA or come to Dallas. Have you heard if I-10 is any better off than 45?

[Liberal In Texas]

20. No I have not. I suspect it might be better just because

of the magnitude of people from Houston that would gravitate to Dallas on I-45.

[PDittie]

27. Parking lot at 4 this morning.

That won't change until TxDOT turns all inbound lanes on all freeways in the city into contraflow, and that better happen TODAY.

[moc]

7. It's 5 hours from Houston to Dallas; maybe 45m to Conroe...nt

nt

[fudge stripe cookays]

16. Sorry.

I've made it once round trip, and a friend was driving. We musta been going REALLY fast, huh?

:P
FSC

[Maat]

4. My husband cannot get a hold of his business partners in ..

Houston.

One is in Sugarland; the other is in The Woodlands.

Would they be evacuating?

Sorry, we are out here in California, and not getting much word.

[sonias]

33. The Woodlands has not ordered evacuations

Maat my husband is actually working in The Woodlands this week. I told him not to go too. We live in Austin. The Woodlands is not in the low lying flood prone areas of Houston. The company he works for Uni-Pixel is not evacuating. I've been able to reach him on both cell phone and the company land line. No problems. Things are going on like normal except traffic is bad and gasoline is scarce. He plans to leave early Friday morning, very early. We have plans to be in Dallas for the weekend. My girlfriend and I are driving from Austin. Not to evacuate, just a normal conference we're scheduled to attend.

Good luck to your husband's partners! I'm sure they will be OK.

Sonia

[moc]

6. I heard it was 10 hours to Huntsville, so this sounds better

I was trying to convince my Houston friend to evacuate up here to Dallas.

[Justyce]

11. This is why my husband doesn't want

to evacuate -- we're in the Port Arthur area. :(

[moc]

12. Oh, honey, get the hell out of there!

How far north of Galveston is PA? You're gonna get drowned! Get outta there!

[Liberal In Texas]

14. If I were you, I'd be goint to Shreveport. The traffic might not be so

bad. Port Arthur could get whomped.

Be safe.

[AuntieM1957]

36. Don't go to Shreveport. - the hurricane has moved east

now the projected path includes virtually all of LA coast.

They don't really know right now where it will land.

If the high pressure system currently in place over Houston holds, it will be LA. If the systems moves, as projected, it will be Galveston.

But going to LA is just trading ports in the storm - go north, far north. Dallas or further. I heard one forecast that said potential exists for hurricane force winds or about nearly up to Dallas.

[AuntieM1957]

35. Friend, I will pray for you

I'm more than a little nervous in Tomball (know where that is?)

I can't imagine staying in Port Arthur. Weren't you guys in the mandatory evac?

I hope he changes his mind.

The traffic in Tomball is god awful though - took me over 2 hours to go about 2.5 miles.

[Gman]

17. We left Corpus Christi at 6:30

made one stop and were in San Antonio by 8:30. Traffic was heavy, but nothing like that.

[adarling]

22. Get out of Texas all together

I am from Dallas, and when that hurricane hits, its going to bring a ton of tornadoes and hurricanes are vicious but tornadoes are truly something frightening. Best advice, go to New Mexico, cheap and in no way going to get hit from the hurricane.

[Liberal In Texas]

23. Is that what your are doing? Going to NM? n/t

[adarling]

40. no, i am at school in Indiana

But i might try and see if my parents will do that in Dallas.

[Liberal In Texas]

26. Update...

They're here and safe.

Apparently on the last bit, the traffic cleared up a lot.

Going to bed.

Everyone be safe.....

[txindy]

28. Glad to hear it!

:hug:

[nickinSTL]

29. what is the deal with Houston evacuation?

I know that certain areas close to the coast are being evacuated...what is the deal with the rest of the city?

My brother lives in Houston, on the west side.

No idea of his plans...haven't talked to him in a while (plan to call him today, see if he's still there)

[fudge stripe cookays]

30. Good idea...

This hurricane is shaping up to affect most of the state in one way or another. Your brother should get out if he has a chance.

FSC

[nickinSTL]

32. tried calling on my lunch hour...no answer

He apparently doesn't have an answering machine :wtf:

Anyway, I'll try again later.

Maybe he's already out. :shrug:

[moc]

31. The medical center flooded during Tropical Storm Allison

a few years ago. I don't even what to think about what's going to happen with a cat 4/5.

[AuntieM1957]

37. Category 5 - 100 miles wide.

If your brother is in Houston, he'll have storm problems.

The only question is how much and whether it's life threatening.

My brother is staying on the west side, too. I doubt your brother is in the life threatening part of the storm - but he won't have much fun for the next few days.

[nickinSTL]

41. just heard from my mom

and my brother and his girlfriend were planning to drive to Austin this morning to stay with some friends of hers.

Hopefully they got there before the traffic got too bad, and that Austin will be inland enough to miss the worst of the storm.

[AuntieM1957]

34. TXDOT just opened I-45 contra-flow lanes

turning the south bound side into north bound. but they think it may take several hours to clear the logjam. Did that about 12 noon.

They are also using tanker trucks to re-fuel stranded vehicles.

Cell phone traffic is getting spotty due to high volume of traffic.

I'm staying in Harris County - but about 30 miles north of Houston.
Think your nerves are wracked? My sister and nephew are also stuck on an evac route. 97 year old grandma and 75 yr old mom staying, also north of city but about 15 miles south of me.

[sonias]

38. They will open up all 3 major highways to outbound from Houston today

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/3364562
Hoping to speed the evacuation ahead of Hurricane Rita's arrival, authorities are opening the incoming lanes of three major Houston highways to outbound traffic for the first time ever: I-45, then U.S. 290, then I-10 later today.

Good luck to your family AuntieM1957. Keep thinking positive thoughts.
They will be safe.

Sonia

[AuntieM1957]

42. As often happens during an emergency -

they're giving conflicting information.

the TxDot (Texas Department of Transportation) public information officer announced in a press conference at 3PM that 290 will not be converted to all outbound.

It and 59 will be the two routes left open throughout the "event" (her word). These will be our primary supply routes throughout the hurricane.

Thanks for the kind words, I'm trying to stay calm. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best, and all that.

[melissinha]

39. my cousin was resistent

YAY, thanks for updating us on the highways.... Hope people aren't running out of gas on the way!

He lives in Sinton, the area schools have been closed (teacher) and he insisted on staying. Luckily his sister told his dad and he convinced them to leave, hope they took their dogs.

I wish you all and yours the most speedy exit. Stay safe. Better safe than sorry.