Looks Like Texas' Number Is Up

[Alpha Sig Scott]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
Plano's north of Dallas - I live east of there, in Wylie. When Rita makes landfall it's expected to head north. Depending on how strong she is when she makes landfall we'll more than likely get lots of rain, gusty winds and maybe some tornadoes, but by then Rita will have lost most of her punch.

Stay safe bro

[Alpha Sig Scott]

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

At least that's good news. Hopefully more people can now get out of dodge.

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by Lindz928
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.

Wow. Right now the family is in Bellville caught in traffic. If I see them before sundown, I'll be impressed.

[Lindz928]

This is right about now in Houston.... I-45 at Louetta.

[AnonAlumna]

My dad is in Plano, and he said that people are bracing for the leftovers there as well! Not to the same extent of course, picking up things from yards, etc.

The one piece of good news, for my in-laws at least, they're expecting Rita to make a more Northern fall. That should put CC out of the main part of it, but they'll still get some NASTY weather! My poor husband got sent home from work today (and he's in the ARMY!!!) because his blood pressure was so high! As long as I keep him off the phone and away from the weather channel, he's okay!

[peanutttu]

Originally posted by Lindz928


This is right about now in Houston.... I-45 at Louetta.

Ok so I know they opened up 45 to run North in all 8 lanes...but where exactly did it open up...anyone know?

[lifesaver]

Yeah, I have become friends with the TranStar site. Looks like they are introducing contraflow on I-45 first, 290 second and I-10 third. Hopefully they will get it in time to help my poor family out there. They are now past Bellville and still have 3/4 tank of gas left, so I feel a lot better. Hopefully with contraflow, it will improve things. Hopefully, they will be here before dark. Its 102 out there - and thats the air temp. I cant imagine the heat index.

This is absolutely unbelievable.





Phucking Katy Freeway

[DeltAlum]

Just read that Rita's winds are "down" to 165 mph. (from 175 earlier)

[lifesaver]

Family is halfway now, with a half tank of gas and moving. I think they will make it OK.

Brother in law couldnt get plywood, so he canabalized the plywood in the floor of the attic and is using that to cover the windows.

[adpiucf]

Every gas station is out of gas! I drove around this morning forever... I only have 1/2 a tank!!!!

We're heading out soon a little further inland and north. Taking the backroads. My coworker has a full tank, so she's going to drive.

...Talk to you after the storm.

[peanutttu]

My b/f's friend's dad works for Shell. He said that Dallas will probably be out of gas by the end of tonight. I'm not sure how true this is, but I do know I sat in line last night for gas in Lewisville (15 miles north of Dallas). I spoke to my little brother who lives in Tyler (90 miles east of Dallas) and he said that a few towns out there were already out of gas.

Although we aren't expected to get hit like Houston, I did get this email from my b/f's sister. Richardson is a city north of Dallas.

------------------------------
Subject: Fw: hurricane preparation 9/21/05

Residents- this is from our Emergency Management Director at the
City of Richardson. Notice the suggestion to stock up on water and batteries, and to fuel up your vehicles. He is expecting we'll get some spin-off from hurricane Rita, so we should plan for possible power outages due to high winds and possible tornadic activity.

Hurricane Rita is now a Cat 4 (131-155). The models used to track hurricanes show that the probable impact will be near Matagorda. With this being the general location of landfall, the strongest side of the storm will severely impact the greater Harris County (Houston) with destructive winds, very heavy rains, and tornadoes.

After landfall, the track of the storm is projected to move over Dallas - Fort Worth area. If the storms reach land at a Cat 4, by the time it reaches DFW, it should be a CAT 1. We will experience wind gusts at time greater than 50 mph up to 74 mph. The Metroplex will experience the affects of Hurricane Rita by Saturday afternoon. We can expect periods of heavy rains and possible tornadic event associated with the rain bands. I would suggest that you stock up on batteries and potable waters. Fuel up your vehicles.

I strongly suggest you monitor the weather channel or your news station for the latest information in this changing event.

<crime prevention... removing the opportunity for the crime to occur>

John C. Corbitt
Crime Prevention Unit
Richardson Police Department
972-744-4952
john.corbitt@cor.gov
------------------------------
So i just went and stocked up on some necessity items!

[JennRN]

Ok, so I'm glued to the Weather Channel.
All my friends in Galveston have boarded up their homes, taken what they could, and have gotten the hell out of there. They made it to Dallas yesterday after a 7 hour trip. My friends and family were trying to leave Houston today and are stuck in traffic-my uncle left Houston at 3:45 am, and when I talked to my mom this morning at 9:00 am, he had traveled about 50 miles. I have some other friends who live in League City right on the water-I have no idea where they are or what they're doing, because everytime I call the cell, I get voicemail. I am praying they're away from there and safe.

I went to nursing school in Galveston, at UTMB. I'm sad when I think about the fact that after Saturday, it will most likely not be there anymore. That island is so fudged. The Seawall doesn't even extend for the whole island. Plus, over the past few years, because of beach erosion, the city has been building the beaches back up-so instead of covering the city with 17 feet of Seawall, it's about 8 feet now.

All the places I have wonderful memories at on Galveston are going to get blown away..my friends homes..UTMB...I HATE having to hold my breath until Saturday to wait and see what happens. Say tons of prayers for everyone down there, please.

[lifesaver]

Sister called me a few hours ago to tell me that they had found a gas station and they were able to top off, and then hit up a McDonalds, go to the bathroom and stretch their legs. This was the best thing thing for them at the time - made all the difference. (It was off the main road) they were able to reconnect with IH-10 and by that time it was in contraflow.

They took pictures, so I'll post them when they get here.

[PM_Mama00]

What happens to the people who are still stuck on the highway when it hits? Is there anywhere for them to go or does everyone usually make it out?

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
What happens to the people who are still stuck on the highway when it hits? Is there anywhere for them to go or does everyone usually make it out?

Dunno. Neither does the leadership of the City of Houston. they are trying to figure it out and the clock is ticking.

They are calling for volunteers to come to the bus barns and drive up and pick up people.

My mom said that was the hardest part of the whole trip. Seeing the people broken down on the side of the road and knowing that if they arent helped, they will be out in the hurricane.

Sister had some friends that came to SA ahead of them that had a brother and g/f who ran out of gas halfway between Houston and SA and there is no gas. They are fortunate to have family already in San Antonio that can go back and give them gas and such.

Houston and Texas DRAMATICALLY underestimated how many people were leaving. They still say 1.3 million evacuated. No way. This has to be at least 3 million. Someone put it best: it's yet another 'perfrect storm' You have 2 million people in the costal area that have to evacuate through a city of 4 million that at its best, is a traffic cluster phuck. Were hearing horror stories of travel times from galveston taking 17 - 28 hours to get up to dallas. Or people in my sisters neighborhood (they took the back way out) that only moved 6 miles in 10 hours.

Lets hope Bush dosent screw up his 'redo'. Lets hope governor hairspray isnt the idiot we all know he is.

My family is safe. It took them 12 hours. I am grateful they are here with me.