Dag, when I went to bed, Rita was Cat. 1 - wake up this morning I find out she's a Cat. 4!!! :eek:

http://centralkansas.cox.net/cci/new...e&id=D8COKQKO4


Everyone PLEASE be safe! Exquisite say whatever its takes (I like was AGDee posted) to get your dad to move his behind to a safe place.

Still praying for everyone.

All those who have family in the Houston/Galveston/coast area, keep us informed about what is going on.

Sending good thoughts your way.

I heard that they may have a forced evacuation from Houston and Galveston.... Exquisite5, maybe that will make him realize that this might be worse than he is expecting. I hope he does!

My trip to Houston is officially off for this weekend. Looks like I'm going to do College Station this weekend, then hopefully Houston next weekend. My best friend's parents live in Houston, and are probably going to evacuate to CS this weekend.

Other news, I talked to my jackass boy last night.... His family lives in Lake Jackson, and they are all coming to Austin to stay in his one bedroom apt for awhile. He said it looks like his hometown might get pretty much leveled.

Right now, Rita is a category 4 hurricane. It's predicted to remain at cat. 4 and make landfall on Saturday.

Stay safe, everyone. :(

Please. Amen.

At least from what I heard on the radio this morning, Texas has learned from the LA experience (or maybe they would have been this prepared anyway, but it's hard to believe) and are pre-positioning National Guard, Public Safety officers, aircraft, Federal Food and Ice and are executing "phased" evacuations to help with traffic congestion.

We all wish the best of luck to those everywhere on the Gulf Coast.

Looks like NASA is closing..

Mission Control shuts for Rita; Russians take ISS reins
By MARK CARREAU
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory...5/rita/3363608

My sister told me that everyone in Houston is in a Panic or dosent care. Theres no middle ground. Theres nothing in the grocery stores and there were already lines at the gas stations.

Also, I cant reach her on the phone and she cant get a line out. We've been chatting by IM.

We are up in the Heights so I think we are going to ride this thing out. We got our food, water, propane stove/lantern and lots of batteries. I just hope it swings a bit more left and then I'll be less worried.

Its crazy going to the stores here. I've never seen anything like this.

My husband's little (Greek) bro called this morning to see if he and his wife could come and stay with us. We're in NY, they're in Richmond. He teaches in the Ft. Bend ISD, and they shut the district down. There are currently (according to the Weather Channel) mandatory evacs for Galveston/Tiki Island...and it'll continue up towards the city through the evening.

In addition, my husband's in-laws are in Corpus Christi, where they've begun evacuating Flour Bluff and the rest of North Padre Island. My parents are in Dallas, and have invited them to stay up there. They are currently boarding up and getting the heck out! Apparently, ATM's are running out of money and my MIL thinks she needs to stay with her dogs....two chiuahuas that could easily go anywhere! :rolleyes:

Oh and whoever mentioned Texas City and gas prices is right on! That's a VERY scary thought!

As the owner of a chihuahua, I will say that one of the BEST things about them is that you CAN take them absolutely anywhere. She REALLY should just pack them up and leave. :(

I have talked to most of my friends there, and they are heading up to Dallas today, so they will be safe.

Now just waiting to hear what Dr. boy and my best friend and her husband/family are doing. I'm getting worried about them. :(

University of Houston is have a mandatory evacuation by 5:00 PM. The city is in chaos everyone is trying to get out. The phone networks are down. I wasn’t to worried but the panic has definitely set in. Stores are out of all essential items. I will keep yall updated the best that I can.

The emails between me and my sister below:

From: Megan
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 1:53 PM
To: Andy
Subject: RE:

I just heard it is taking 12 hours to get from Galveston to Hunstville.

I can't get any work done. All I do is talk to people or look at the net.

Go to KHOU.com. You can watch live Houston news

-----Original Message-----
From: Andy
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 1:52 PM
To: Megan A
Subject: RE:


Rita is officially a Cat 4, with 920 mb pressure.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Megan A.
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 12:49 PM
To: Andy
Subject: RE:

I have talked to several people and they can't find anyplace to stay in Tx. EVERYTHING is booked.


-----Original Message-----
From: Andy
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 1:36 PM
To: Megan A.
Subject: RE:

Wal-Mart is closing? Good lord. That is out of control.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Megan A.
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 12:31 PM
To: Andy
Subject: RE:

Someone just came in my room and said that Wal-Mart was closing in 4 hours. You know that it is serious when Wal-Mart closes early.


-----Original Message-----
From: Andy
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 1:29 PM
To: Megan A.
Subject: RE:


CNN is reporting that Rita has winds of 150 mph.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Megan A.
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 10:50 AM
To: 'Andy
Subject: RE: Phone

I can't believe already not getting through. I called to tell you that Hwy 6 is a nightmare. My school is just off 6 and I went to get food. It is bumper to bumper. It outta be fun with the cats in the car tomorrow.

Damn.

Just talked to my pal working for CBS and he is in Galveston dropping off liquids, food, stoves, tents, coolers and equipment for the CBS crews there.

I told him to get the stuff unloaded and get the hell back to Houston. It could be bad enough there.

He's leaving the hotel he's at in Houston and moving into KHOU-TV for the duration.

He and I have worked through onsite coverage of floods, tornados, plane crashes, fires and other disasters -- but nothing to this potential scale.

At least he's a former volunteer firefighter and has a good sense of self preservation.

I'm still pulling for the storm to make a hard left turn.

Not much chance, though.

Definitely - hope everyone in the soon-to-be affected areas stays safe and comes out of this ok.

Rita has just been upgraded to Category 5.

Just tried to reach my friend, but all phone circuits are busy.

Not good.

I just tried to call my Dr. Boy... Same message. I'm officially worried. :(