please give me some good news...

[crazy4disney]

Voluntary evac for Bellaire??? Lovely... we're running from Friendswood to there, because that's where my folks are and the only place we have to go. I don't even ever remember seeing a bayou anywhere near there... but they live closer to West U. Does that make a difference?

I might just die from stress before the storm ever hits.


-gina-

[Yankeegirl]

I am in the Cypress area too, and Im not leaving... We are boarding up the windows that face south, but besides that I have stocked up on everything I think I might need.... I couldnt get ANY D batteries, but I have a a few flashlights that work, so I am going to hope for the best.... We should be ok... Ill let you all know when we get the power back on!!

[SoupBone]

I just saved a lot of money on my car insurance...Geico...????

Just trying to break some of the tension...

I hope you guys in Texas stay safe...most of my family is in Houston( Jersey Village, Sugarland, Etc.) and I am worried sick about them right now....Take Care...also remember this...God Blessed Texas with his own hand...

[dwg71]

I just saved a lot of money on my car insurance...Geico...????

Just trying to break some of the tension...

I hope you guys in Texas stay safe...most of my family is in Houston( Jersey Village, Sugarland, Etc.) and I am worried sick about them right now....Take Care...also remember this...God Blessed Texas with his own hand...

Soup:

Thanks, Houstonians are prepared. You cant say we were complacent. Heck freeways are packed 48 hours early. I hope LA folks are prepared.

[SoupBone]

Honestly I can't say we are...I don't know anyone from Lake Charles but I am in Law Enforcement and I haven't heard anything yet warning anyone from there. Thats not to say it hasnt happend but so far I haven't heard anything.

[curtadams]

If your house is sturdy, inland, and not subject to flooding you will survive even a Cat 5 hit, barring tornadoes. You will be scared &*$%less, you will probably be miserable for days or weeks due to no water, no electricity, no sewage, no garbage services, etc. But tissue samples are unnecessary. Board up the house and remove anything loose from the yard. Get plenty of water, food, cash, batteries, medicines, etc. Once the TS winds start DO NOT GO OUTSIDE.

I don't know if this counts as good news. I do know what stubborn parents can be like! If they really refuse to go you're making the right decision because they may need somebody young.

FWIW, my aunt rode out Frederic in 1979. My cousins have some real horror stories. Since then she leaves the coast every time a TS comes into the gulf!

[Houstonia]

Wow... just knowing that there are other Storm2Kers riding out Rita is making me feel a LOT better. Plus I just read that a friend of mine in north Houston will be staying at home. I have a friend who works for the city health department - he is essential staff, so he will be at home in Meyerland, as will two other friends of mine.

I feel better in the knowledge that I am not the last person left in the city. If we're going to suffer - better to suffer together...

[TampaBay]

If your house is sturdy, inland, and not subject to flooding you will survive even a Cat 5 hit, barring tornadoes.

However, if you have a gabled roof, it will fail due to side / uplift pressures. If you do not have opening protection that will withstand 156+ mph winds then the resulting interior pressures will cause roof failure unless you have hurricane ties/straps at the roof/wall junction. Flying debris will penetrate virtually all residential exterior wall designs.

Still want to stay? You need to build a 'safe room' designed to withstand 140 mph winds...and maybe it will withstand the Cat 5 winds. Or maybe not. Of course even if you can find the materials you might be a little short on time at this point.

http://floridadisaster.org/bpr/Response ... manual.pdf

[inotherwords]

Houstonia, you asked about what it was like for Alicia. I was there at the time living around I-10 and Dairy Ashford in a 3 story apt., on the ground floor.

Alicia made landfall as a borderline Cat. 3 so by the time it got up to us it had diminished quite a bit, maybe borderline 1-2. We had 90-100 mph sustained winds where I was. Lots of downed trees, signs, power lines, etc. Power only out for 1 day when downtown inside loop folks were without for 2-3 weeks and had a lot stronger damage.

If Rita comes onshore as a cat 4 instead of a 3 as it is expected to, be prepared for a far worse time. I hope you have a secure interior room to go to without windows. Good luck, this is going to be a rough ride. If you have any chance to still get out I'd seriously consider it. I'd suggest maybe San Antonio at this point, or parts NW of where you are now.

[sma10]

I suppose the only good news I can give you is that if the storm follows the expected NHC track and strikes at the expected intensity, you will have no problem convincing your parents to evacuate for the next storm.

[bvigal]

This is really a tough decision My prayers are with you!!

If I knew 2 days in advance that an outbreak of tornados was going to happen in my area, and was concerned about flash flooding filling up my underground location for taking shelter from them, I'd seriously consider going elsewhere... if I had the option.

[bevgo]

When contraflow gets going you may be able to get out. You do NOT want to be there for a cat 3. I stayed for Katrina and am lucky beyond belief that I did not get surg and my apartment is still here. I was terrified and the aftermath is horrible. Go if you can possibly get out.

My prayers are with those of you that do stay.

[IsaacsStorm]

i am at the "family compound" around the sugarland/missouri city line right now, i am gonna ride it out here with about 12 other people. we are boarding the windows this after noon, we have tons and tons of water, food and batteries and i think we are about as prepared as we are going to get. everyone is a little nervous and a little excited - mainly b/c the track keeps going further away from us. maybe it wont be as bad as we thought. lets hope.

what can we expect if the eye goes beaumont or further east?

maybe i will be able to go back to work monday after all.... lol

houstonia hang in there. lots of people down here are riding it out. if you are here then you already know what to do ....and we might just be dodging a bullet here....either way stay safe!!!

[Brent]

The weaker side of the storm would be good... at least the surge would not come over Galveston and into the SE suburbs.

[SamSagnella]

But some bay-side surge flooding will still occur.

[arkess7]

my parents went through Charley in Orlando Florida last year and they had a good amount of damage....and that was a 100 miles or more inland from where Charley made landfall .......No power for 7 days...ruff times....and Charley is nothing compared to Rita or Katrina for that matter....I would try and get out if i were you....im born and raised in Florida and i dont take any hurricane lightly.....my thoughts and prayers are with you...

[mattpetre]

I think that if your parents do stay there is a decent chance now that the storm is going to park to the east of H-Town. This is not an official forecast just a good guess.