Looks Like Texas' Number Is Up

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by lifesaver
They are saying that 1.2 million people have/are evacuating the Texas coast.

News reports from the Houston/Galveston area say I-45 is a parking lot heading outta town.

[tinydancer]

Just saw a picture of the mob of cars leaving Galveston on I-45 and they were barely inching along. I was just in Galveston about 3 weeks ago. This looks scary.

[DeltAlum]

Hopefully, everyone started early enough to get out of town in a timely manner...

[AnonAlumna]

My husband's been calling one of his bro's every hour or so. He and his family are leaving League City. They've been on 45N for the last five hours, and he thinks they've gone about 20 miles.

In CC news, my two SILs are leaving in the morning to go to Waco. I still cannot convince my MIL to leave as well. She says, 'If it's meant to be, it's meant to be.' My other SIL says they're going to wait and see if it hits Galveston, if it does they'll be fine...she says. If it hits further south, they're driving 45 mins east to her sister's house. I just don't think that people listen to themselves when they speak. Obviously not the most educated people in the world. My two nephews (ages 5 and 7) are freaking out. They saw all the Katrina stuff on TV and have talked about it in class. It's funny, but they are more concerned for their safety than the adults are!

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by AnonAlumna
My husband's been calling one of his bro's every hour or so. He and his family are leaving League City. They've been on 45N for the last five hours, and he thinks they've gone about 20 miles.

In CC news, my two SILs are leaving in the morning to go to Waco. I still cannot convince my MIL to leave as well. She says, 'If it's meant to be, it's meant to be.' My other SIL says they're going to wait and see if it hits Galveston, if it does they'll be fine...she says. If it hits further south, they're driving 45 mins east to her sister's house. I just don't think that people listen to themselves when they speak. Obviously not the most educated people in the world. My two nephews (ages 5 and 7) are freaking out. They saw all the Katrina stuff on TV and have talked about it in class. It's funny, but they are more concerned for their safety than the adults are!

Folks... I'm gonna be straight, blunt and to the point, decorum be damned: if the authorities tell you to leave, GET THE F*CK OUTTA TOWN WHILE YOU STILL CAN! It's too late to do so once the rains start and the winds blow steadily over 50 mph.

I remember back in 1979 when I was 14 and hurricane David was gunning for Miami. It was a lot tamer than the Cat 5 monster it was, but expected to pack a mean wallop. My family decided to ride out the storm in our apartment on the third floor. Luckily, David veered north and we dodged a bullet, but a few months later there was a heavy rainstorm that put about a foot of water on the ground floor where the cars were parked. That was it... we moved out of that apartment and into a duplex - we were not going to ride out a big storm except in a shelter or well out of the path if we decided to evacuate.

The weatherguessers' computer models have Rita making landfall between Freeport and Port Lavaca, north of Corpus but south of Galveston. That puts Galveston and the Houston metro area in the dreaded northeast quadrant of the storm, and both cities are very likely gonna get the proverbial shit kicked out of them.

[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...

[AGDee]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
Slight correction... Andrew hit south Florida in 1992. The last active cycle of hurricanes occurred during the late 1950s and 1960s, ending in the early 70s.

I meant to say "which was after Andrew, which surprised me", because Andrew is the first really big one I remember hearing much about. That's what I get for posting when I'm tired.

Won't Texas make the freeways all one way going out like they do in FL and LA to ease the traffic situation some?

Dee

[lifesaver]

They have no plans for contraflow in Texas. Its extreemly manpower intensive, considered somewhat dangerous and is useless if its in an area of construction, which most all of Texas freeways are at one place or another....

I did hear that Bill White (Mayor) and the County Judge were meeting this AM to consider instituting contraflow. All Houston freeways have been a parking lot since 3PM on Wednesday.

[AnonAlumna]

My MIL is ignoring our phone calls...I guess that figures.

I was thinking about the TS that hit Houston back in 2001. I had a sister that was supposed to be getting married that weekend. She had to have a fire truck come and pick her up to take her to the church! It just floods SOOOOO easily in the central Houston area.

I agree with what you said, AlphaSigOU, once it starts raining...you're screwed! I have a feeling today is going to be a long day, for a lot of people!

[tinydancer]

Just heard on the radio that ALL north and south bound lanes of I-45 are now north bound only!

[Lindz928]

Traffic in Austin along 183 and 290 is CRAZY already! Lots and lots of people coming here.

The news in Austin is now saying that we don't need to worry. Right now it looks like we are only going to get 1 to 2 inches of rain and some wind gusts up to 50 mph.

I finally heard from Dr. Boy.... He is having to stay in Houston at the hospital all weekend.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
News reports from the Houston/Galveston area say I-45 is a parking lot heading outta town.

Better a parking lot than a marina. Gotta agree with AlphaSigOU, it's time to get out before it's too late.

The only encouraging thing I can think of is that when the weather folks here predict doom, gloom and twelve feet of snow is when we have fair and mild.

It would be nice if things turn out better than the dire predictions -- but I wouldn't bet on it in this case, and you can't trust the odds anyway.

This keeps looking worse and worse.

As an aside, haven't heard from my CBS freelancer pal, but I expect he's pretty busy.

[lifesaver]

Family left at 6AM this morning to San Antonio. As of 10AM, they are just past Sealy - about 45 miles. They described it as an 'end of days scene' people out and walking around their cars, etc. I'd imagine that about 2 million people have to have left.... and thats still less than half the city. I guess you just cant evacuate a city that big in under three days.

For Houston live traffic cameras see: http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/cameras/camtext.aspx

[AlphaFrog]

Originally posted by AGDee
Ironically, they called the Galveston hurricane of 1900 that killed 8000-12,000 people the "100 year hurricane). It's been 105 years... Lets hope we can save the loss of life and get people evacuated this time.

Don't get me wrong...I hope everyone who's on Gaveston gets off and that no lives are lost...but as far as property damage...if you were stupid enough to build on a barrier island, you get what you get. It's about like building on the side of an active volcano...when it finally errupts, you have no one to blame but yourself.

[Lindz928]

Originally posted by lifesaver
Family left at 6AM this morning to San Antonio. As of 10AM, they are just past Sealy - about 45 miles. They described it as an 'end of days scene' people out and walking around their cars, etc. I'd imagine that about 2 million people have to have left.... and thats still less than half the city. I guess you just cant evacuate a city that big in under three days.

For Houston live traffic cameras see: http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/cameras/camtext.aspx

Heard another person on the radio (I listen to the radio all day at work, sorry).... They left Galveston YESTERDAY at noon, and are just now getting to Giddings.

I'm sure that won't mean anything to anyone who doesn't know much about the geography of Texas, but Lifesaver, I'm sure you realize how crazy that is. Normally, that would probably only be a 3-4 hour drive at the MOST.