[lifesaver]

Things have started to ramp up here.

There's lots of people on the freeways here that are from elsewhere. Was running work errands and saw lots of people with their cars loaded up and pets inside headded west of SA on I-10 - probably to the Hill Country or San Angelo/Abilene/Lubbock/Amarillo.

Also, there has been a run here on gasoline and bottled water. I had to go to Target to get a universal remote for the TV and there was no water to be had. I filled up the truck this AM. As I was driving home from Target, I passed 10 or 12 gas stations. The ones by the freeway or that had the cheaper gas had lines 6 or 7 cars long (I've never seen that in SA). Once you got a few blocks away from the freeway, the gas was a bit more expensive (about $0.07 more per gallon) but there was no one in line. I'd gladly pay $2.00 more (total) to fill up if it means I could be in and out.

Now the storm is 175 mph sustained and has been projected to hit freeport (the place 35 miles from my family's house.) I really hope for everyone that it hits Port Lavaca, because the major cities will be spared the worst. My mom is really wigging out, but all their preparations have been completed for the most part. I have no idea what time they are headding out. Guess they will get here when they get here. I can still communicate with them by text.

I have to admit that I am a little concerned about the Tornadoes here in SA. My neighborhood got hit real bad by tornadoes from Gilbert in 1988. I just hope its not a geographic reality of where I live that causes the tornadoes to drop around here.

This is just crazy. God help us all.

*eta - now my sister is wigging out. She just called me sounding absolutely exhausted and drained. She was in tears thinking that she cant get out. She topped off her gas tank this afternoon but heard that it was taking 10 hours to get to San Antonio on I-10. A freind called her to tell her that it took 4 hours to go from 610 to the beltway on I-10 (probably an 8 mile drive). I told her that going first thing in the AM was the best thing. The roads are packed now because its everyone who got off work at 5 or 6 pm, who got their house secured and didnt get on the road until 9PM. The plan is now for her to leave Houston at 6AM. She's afraid if she waits any later the traffic will only get worse and that she'll run out of gas on the way and that there wont be any gas left along the way. I tried to get her as calm as possible and told her that there was still 30 hours until storm force winds start to hit their area. If they only go 10 mph, they will still be here with time to spare. Plus, the farther she gets from Houston, the easier traffic will get. I was just shaken because she was in tears and she doesnt cry.

I fear she's going to lose everything thats not in the car with her...