Rita just went Cat 5!

[lovehoney]

That is GOOD news LoveHoney... so glad to hear it! How much longer before they get to where they are going?

They've made it to their final destination. Everyone is in good spirits. The little girls are going for a swim(they are very excited that Uncle has a pool! ). I just love how resilient children are.

dturner mentioned about I45. Did you hear about the bus burning near Dallas? It was horrible. About 24 people lost their lives. These were nursing home evacuees from Houston. 45 is backed up even more from the accident. Many prayers to all.

 

[dturner]

dturner mentioned about I45. Did you hear about the bus burning near Dallas? It was horrible. About 24 people lost their lives. These were nursing home evacuees from Houston. 45 is backed up even more from the accident. Many prayers to all.

Yes, I was glued to the TV this morning before I came to work - how awful for those poor people!!!

They have got to get those people off I45 today - I just hope they don't run out of time.

I haven't heard if it's still backed up all the way to Houston????? Anyone know???

 

[tzuhouse]

No, there are hardly no vehicles on the Houston freeways, now, other than those on the outskirts with no gas. Traffic is horrible up north I-45 because of the bus fire closing down the freeway for so many hours. They have moved the bus onto an 18 wheeler and are moving it off the freeway so that the traffic can continue towards Dallas. We are having a little wind here, breezy really, but we haven't seen wind in weeks, from what I remember. Very sunny still here and hot when the breeze isn't blowing.

Mary

 

[DemonLlama]

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/

You can see most of the latest stories, including the bus explosion, at the link above.

Things are not gridlocked in the city any more, but I-45 is a disaster now north of Huntsville after the bus explosion blocked all lanes and shut it down north of Elgin. All those people are having to get off the interstate where they can and find another way to Dallas.

 

[2tinksmom]

Here in Katy it's starting to cloud up a little and has gotten cooler. We are staying and riding it out. My husband's whole family is with us because they were in mandatory evacuation areas. It looks like right now that the worst of it will be to the east of us. (Much better than a couple of days ago when the eye was coming right over us.) I did hear on the news that the Red Cross are setting up shelters along the evacuation routes for those who are unable to get to their destinations by nightfall tonight. As far as gas goes, here in Katy we had some stations that closed pretty early on. We think that they are saving gas for after instead of waiting on tankers to come in to replenish them. Of course, they better not jack the prices up like they did after Katrina. Our neighbor left day before yesterday to go to Temple and her sister and family were going to Lafayette (they just lost everything in Katrina in NO). They arrived back here in Katy before daybreak after 14 hours on the road...they heard the landfall change on the radio and decided they would be safer here...but they had next to no food, two kids and a baby. Of course, being the ultimate Disney planner I am, I had so much food, water etc. that we set them up at least for a few of days. After that, we'll all be looking for supplies. Wish us well.
Michele

 

[C.Ann]

Wish us well.
Michele

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God bless - stay safe - and keep in touch for as long as you can..

I'm still hoping this hurricane will weaken more before it makes landfall..

 

[kimber79]

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God bless - stay safe - and keep in touch for as long as you can..

I'm still hoping this hurricane will weaken more before it makes landfall..

Same here.......my heart goes out to you all. I just can't even imagine what you all must be going through.

 

[lovehoney]

2TinksMom,

Good Luck to you and your family. Please keep us posted. I'm glad for Houston and Galveston that the storm moved East. I sure wish I was home now instead of near Dallas. We have no idea when we will be able to come home. We just have to wait and see.

 

[kimber79]

I know it is not as good as if she were just gone completely.....but it is good to hear that prayers are being answered and she is losing power and now down to a Cat. 3! Here's to continued loss of power Rita!!!!

 

[2tinksmom]

Thanks for all warm wishes. The wind has really started to pick up! We've been going outside as much as possible because I'm sure we won't be able to soon. I'll just hope my Dr. Pepper's last me until stores open back up again!
Michele

 

[stacey_leah]

We are supposed to leave for Disney next Friday. I live about 15 miles northwest of Lake Charles, LA. If I am unable to make the trip (due to work requirements or not having a home) will Disney refund or reschedule? (I do have trip insurance). Anyone have similar experience in the past?

PS - cell phones are VERY spotty, but text messaging seems to work most of the time.

PPS - we're in Dallas. Left home yesterday at 11:30 am, arrived at 1:30 am. (Usually a 6 hour drive.)

 

[2tinksmom]

We made it!! We only experienced high winds, very little rain, and off and on power. My in-laws did just leave. At their homes, they are without power and have lost some of their fence. They live in Deer Park. Luckily, they did not have any flooding. They left to beat the traffic jams that will forming soon as people begin returning. We are saying prayers for all of those east of us who got way more than was forecasted for them. I talked to my mom in Burnet (just north of Austin) this morning and she said they had no gas in town and the stores there were empty. Since they are such a small town, it may be awhile before their gas supplies are replenished. Everyone please stay safe and don't be in a hurry to come home if you can wait.
Michele

 

[lovehoney]

We made it!! We only experienced high winds, very little rain, and off and on power. My in-laws did just leave. At their homes, they are without power and have lost some of their fence. They live in Deer Park. Luckily, they did not have any flooding. They left to beat the traffic jams that will forming soon as people begin returning. We are saying prayers for all of those east of us who got way more than was forecasted for them. I talked to my mom in Burnet (just north of Austin) this morning and she said they had no gas in town and the stores there were empty. Since they are such a small town, it may be awhile before their gas supplies are replenished. Everyone please stay safe and don't be in a hurry to come home if you can wait.
Michele

I'm so glad you guys were okay. We returned home this afternoon. Just a few limbs down and hardly any rain. Our electricity was out when we arrived, but came back on within the hour . It tooks us seven hours from Dallas area to southwest Houston. Not too bad.

I tried and tried to get my dh to wait but he insisted we go home. Mayor White gave the evacuee return schedule when we were about 20 minutes from home. According to that schedule we should have returned Monday. DH got a speeding ticket on the way home - and it took all I had not to rub it in .

The scenes out of Beaumont and surrounding area are pretty bad. P and PD

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yep, nothing here...not even rain yet. It looks like it wants to but then doesn't. I am glad that this did not turn out as bad as it could.
I feel sorry for those of you that are affected.