whew! I just ran out and filled up when I saw your post, Lisa. Thanks so much for the heads up! I was able to get right in and get gas but they looked unusually busy for a Wed night and I have to go to Dallas tomorrow.

Sounds like a hurricane party at Mel's! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Take care all, my prayers are with you stay out of harms way.

Just saw the travel times out of Houston on our local news...to travel from north of Galvaston to Houston - 284 minutes...to travel from Downtown Houston to Beltway 8 (about 15-20 miles north) 238 minutes...I-59 is running a little faster - 180 some odd minutes.

BB

BB, you'd better take Mel up on her offer before her house gets full and the highway stop altogether.

This is a Texas intelligence test. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Don't flunk it.

-AD

Ikes! thanks for posting that info, BB!


slh

Godspeed to those of you evacuating and God Bless those of you taking people in. I've spent most of the last three weeks working in a Red Cross shelter here in Mississippi and am now trying to place families who would like to stay in the area because they don't have anywhere else to go. I've stopped watching TV because it's just too much to see it happening again somewhere else right now. One family I'm working with has family who went to Houston and are now headed to Arkansas. They haven't seen each other since Katrina. I do read weatherunderground.com. JeffMasters blog is very good and was right on the mark on Katrina.

Here are some things I learned and am still learning from Katrina. Susan may want to chime in. You are right to fill up now. And conserve your gasoline as much as possible. If the lines aren't too long, drive on the top half of your tank, then get more. Gas was extremely hard to get here for several days. All the oil rigs in LA and TX are locked down now, which means we're losing about a million barrels a day. If you think you are being gouged for gas or other supplies, get a disposable camera and take a picture of the sign and the station, your AG will go after them like a bulldog. I refused to add to the panic by camping out for hours at a time at a gas station. People siphoned gas here, so if you have a garage or gas lock, you may consider using it.

If you think you may lose power, eat as much as you can out of your frig. now. Get D batteries -- most flashlights and radios take them and they fly off the shelves. Bottled water. If you are in the line of the storm, fill up your bathtub with water in case you lose water. You'll have some to at least flush toilets with. If you have a grill, make sure the tank is full of propane, or that you have charcoal. I'm in central Mississippi, and even this far up we had lots of trees down, no power for 3-7 days depending on your neighborhood. Not trying to scare anyone, just letting you know what happened here. If gas lines get short, some stations will only take cash. So have cash on hand.

Mel -- you may want to invest in a few airbeds if you're going to have company for a while. They were priceless here. Get your essentials from the stores now, because after the storm hits, lines will be atrocious for a few days. Some of the problems we experienced here were mother nature made, some were the result of everyone's reaction. Don't add to the panic. Just get ready and then hunker down.

Take care folks and stay safe!
Shellybird

Ahh, Come now Melody, don't be modest, after all I did hear that you have "The Best Little Cathouse in Texas"! Hee!Hee!Hee! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Mrs. Dubya

Of course he's bringing a cat. Cats don't like water. Just be glad he's only bringing one. He is only bringing one, right?!?!?! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

L.

Mine was out for 15 days. We have two bottles of propane and used them both.

We are coffee drinkers and THANKFULLY we had some instant coffee. I charred a tea kettle boiling water on the gas grill.

Get a 5" battery operated tv if possible.

Get all your family together and hold on to each other.

Susan

LOL!! Guess you haven't seen my cat!! She likes to play in the water.

Just watched the tv this am and all the folks leaving to come up north. They said that there are almost no hotels from Houston to up in Oklahoma at this point.

I was fine until my son called last night. He wanted to know what my plans were and I kept saying that we need the rain. (which we really do, but this is ridiculous !!) So after trying to calm HIM down (he lives in PA) now I am getting concerned of what could happen here. I live 25 miles due south of Ft. Worth.

God Bless Texas !!!!


Carnation

God Bless Texas indeed!! I live next to a creek 30 miles north of Dallas. We have our concerns even up here from all the rain that we are to receive. Damn...have to figure out how to use the fancy ladder that I bought WSo so that I can clean out the gutters just in case we get an overabundance of rain.

It's so sad watching all the cars leave south Texas. Just sitting there on 45 running out of gas. They said on one of the news stations that there is no bottled water for sale all the way up to Huntsville.

There is gas again by my house this am and so far medium grade is still running at 2.75 so compared to post Katrina that is not too shabby. But we'll see what happens over the weekend.

Thankfully they did learn one lesson so far from Katrina...they have evacuated the ederly and those that had no transportation. They have been taken up north to Huntsville too.

My thoughts and prayers to everyone who lives down south or has family down south. God Bless Texas indeed!!

Anyone looking to get out of the Galveston / H-town area.....I have a 3 bedroom house and its just me and two dogs and a cat. You can email me at vy4heisman@yahoo.com . Be prepared though, with the rainy weather I am planning a College Football Saturday Marathon at mi casa!

Mel, I snorted coffee right out my nose when I saw that picture. I know people say that, but really... Too friggin cute! You'd do that, wouldnt ya?

SLH, I've got friends and family in Memorial, the Galleria Area, the Montrose, S.Houston, Clear Lake, Webster, Seabrook, Kemah, League City, Pearland, Friendswood, Santa Fe, Dickinson and Galveston, but most are in Clear Lake. I've heard from most, either directly or 2nd hand, and all except for the Memorial folks have left. I've also got a group of friends in Austin, and I've hooked some of the Houston folks up with places to stay in Austin. Nice that could work out (I hope they dont kill each other or start comparing notes!). I hope you've left by now, too!

It was odd seeing the broadcast from Kemah in front of Tookies last night. I went to high school down there, and we lived at Tookies, long before Seabrook was over-developed. I'd kill for a Tookie burger and Rings about now (I'm on a diet).

I was there for both Allen and Alicia. We got about 3' water in our house and lost part of our roof with Alicia. I have an aunt who told us stories about going through Carla, she was obviously traumatized.

Now, in the land of quakes, we get no warnings or parties. Our bridges just fall down. We're already paying $3.25/gal for gas, I cant imagine how bad this is going to get.

I hope everyone is safe and the storm treats us gently!! Everyone please be careful!! - Dru

Pray for us. Its looking as though she's moving a little more to the east, so we will see wind and rain, but maybe, just maybe, we'll be okay. I had places I could go (thanks Mel) but the roads were SO horrendous, I couldn't leave...you can get out on the road, but with our 95 degree plus temps, with or without the AC going, people are running out of gas - and their is no gas to be had just about anywhere.

We'll keep you posted as we can...

BB

My best friend's sister left at 5am from the Woodlands...they just phoned. They are in Athens. They plan on being in Dallas around 3 today.

Ah...the quakes of California...I am a Cali girl...we used to say watch for quakes whenever the Santa Ana winds were blowing.

this Rita is one big old scary girl

((( BB and her s ))) You are in my prayers. As all are who are near Rita.

Louie and Louie's mom are also in my prayers. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Perhaps someone should start a prayer thread.

God Bless Texas - and all good people everywhere !!

Car

BB -they are supposed to be sending th troops in with gas. I am praying for you -do you have a place to go - you are welcome here. Just let me know - Anyone else?? Our prayers are with all of you -hopefully God will answer our prayers and make this shrink.

This thing is crazy! We had a mandatory evacuation that was announced last night to be effective today at 10:00 AM...however it was withdrawn as of 12:00PM...

My entire city is shut down and all out of gas....I think it would have been better for Houstonians to head southward at this point! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Mel, could be worse...I was heading to my moms house with 4 dogs, a cat, 2 birds and three kids! Shall I head to yours instead! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

BTW, our final court date was supposed to be Friday Sept 23rd, but the courthouse is now closed until Monday...so the case has to go back on the docket! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />