My brother had to pick up his evacuating girlfriend

[Chim Chiminy]

My brother left early yesterday morning to go get his girlfriend, who was evacuating from Houston. Her car broke down and all she could do was sit there.....surrounded by other people evacuating.

He said the traffic was horrible, everything at a stand still. So he pulled out a map and used the smaller roads to get them back to Austin. He was back at his house by 6pm, while people were still out there sitting at a stand still.

Why were/are all these people using the same highway to get out? There are many ways to get from Houston to Dallas/San Antonio/Austin areas......

My mom, also in Texas, said that the authorities told people not to use the lesser roadways and instead stay on the major highways.
I don't get it.....I know they are probably afraid of smaller roads flooding out, but as of now there still is no rain.

My older brother, who lives in the Dallas area, also has a girlfriend in Houston. She works at a chemical plant.
Her supervisor would not allow the employees to leave so they could evacuate. I should call to see what the situation is now......

Hope this hurricane is able to weaken some more.

[welovedisneyx4]

I was wondering about the other roads also.

That is bad out the employer not let the people leave. I would think if there was a mandatory evacuation, they would have to be "allowed" to leave. Maybe it is b/c of her working at a chemical plant?

[seashoreCM]

It's a gamble as to whether leaving early wil ultimately turn out to be better.

The latest news reports were of empty highways on Friday night. Perhaps leaving late with 40 mile an hour winds and 30 mph travel speed on the freeway would be better than leaving early with partly cloudy skies and 2 mph travel speed.

So far I have always left work late when it snowed during the day and have never been stranded, and also had a travel time much less than those who "left early". I do suspect that had I made the "better choice" of living closer to Boston, that strategy would have failed once, in early 1978.

Many employers, Disney included, expect their workers to batten down the hatches before leaving. In Disney's case that would include taking in lawn furniture and umbrellas, taking down hanging plants and banners, etc.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm