please give me some good news...

[Houstonia]

I'm tired, worried, distraught and depressed beyond belief. I've reached the point where I just don't feel like I can move around and get things taken care of.

All of my siblings are criticizing my parents decision to remain in Houston. My parents:

1) don't live in a flood plane
2) don't live in a mobile home
3) don't live near the ship channel

They are also in their 70's and extremely stubborn. All of the families on their street are also remaining in their houses (southwest side of Houston).
My parents have been through Alicia.

My siblings are sending me requests for tissue samples so they can identify us.

Meanwhile local mets are repeatedly stating that while Rita will be "the storm of the century", by the time it reaches Houston, it will (probably-hopefully) have died down to a more manageable category 3 or so.

The mayor of Houston has NOT called for a mandatory evacuation of the majority of Houston. In fact, he hasn't even called for a voluntary evacuation of the majority of the city. For those in low-lying areas-yes, for those in mobile homes-yes.

PLEASE someone - PLEASE send me some reassuring words. I'm at my wits end. Is this going to be it for Houston? Will those of us in southwest Houston not make it? Will my sister (who lives in Katy) have her life in danger? Is my uncle right in asking if we have an inflatable mattress that we can float on when it floods to the rooftops (okay, my uncle lives in Minnesota and never has even seen a flood)?

PLEASE send reassuring words, and send them FAST...

Distraught in Houston.

[Brent]

I'll try...

That it will weaken a bit before landfall?

YOUR STAYING??? Are you serious???

[jwayne]

1. you don't have to worry about storm surge.
2. you don't have to worry about flooding unless you are in a flood plain
3. wind is going to be bad in sw houston. you do have to worry about this. if this thing landfalls as a cat 5 in freeport, you will wish you had left.

sorry for the bad news with number 3.

[SamSagnella]

1. you don't have to worry about storm surge.
2. you don't have to worry about flooding unless you are in a flood plain
3. wind is going to be bad in sw houston. you do have to worry about this. if this thing landfalls as a cat 5 in freeport, you will wish you had left.

sorry for the bad news with number 3.

I second this post completely.

[Brent]

1. you don't have to worry about storm surge.
2. you don't have to worry about flooding unless you are in a flood plain
3. wind is going to be bad in sw houston. you do have to worry about this. if this thing landfalls as a cat 5 in freeport, you will wish you had left.

sorry for the bad news with number 3.

Yep... I would say that's right.

If your in the eastern eyewall of a Cat 4, you'll be regretting your decision.

[vbhoutex]

On the SW side, winds will probably be in the 120 mph range if she doesn't weaken much. If she weakens they could be down around 100 mph. Flooding from bayous backing up is not much of a concern where you are(presuming with your P's). There is no chance of Houston flooding like NO did except in areas that are surge prone.

[wlfpack81]

Others have spoken the truth. Based on this latest north jog in the landfall forecast (now just ne of Freeport) sw-ern sides of Houston will be in for some pretty fierce winds from Rita as it moves nw to the south of the city. I wouldn't want to be in that area come Fri night / Sat morning.

[Houstonia]

On the SW side, winds will probably be in the 120 mph range if she doesn't weaken much. If she weakens they could be down around 100 mph. Flooding from bayous backing up is not much of a concern where you are(presuming with your P's). There is no chance of Houston flooding like NO did except in areas that are surge prone.

vb - are you stayng in town or have you left already? I can't remember what the winds were during Alicia. We could handle Alicia - we didn't have any damage except for some leaking in the roof and no power for 2 weeks.

We are not near any bayous.

I feel really helpless. I know my parents are going to refuse to leave. I can't go without them, even though they gave me that option. My dad is boarding up the sliding doors and the east facing windows.

I'm actually more concerned about the heat once the power goes off. It's going to be really really bad and that worries me almost as much as the tornadoes.

[jopatura]

Is it the Bellaire area? They've called for voluntary evacuations. Not sure if it'll go mandatory. I know they are really really worried about Braes Bayou because of all the ongoing construction still on it.

[Houstonia]

Is it the Bellaire area? They've called for voluntary evacuations. Not sure if it'll go mandatory. I know they are really really worried about Braes Bayou because of all the ongoing construction still on it.

No, my parents are in Sharpstown. My mother was amazed that they were asking people in Bellaire to evacuate.

[kometes]

Call the local authorities and see if there will be local shelter available. If it's still a cat 4 and you are in the path, you don't want to be in your house and you don't want to be on the road. Once it starts, you will be stuck in your house till it's over, even if your house is falling apart. A nice reenforced concrete school is much safer.

People who go outside in 100+ mph winds die. People who hunker down in whatever shelter they have live.

Don't panic and stay sheltered.

[SamSagnella]

I feel really helpless. I know my parents are going to refuse to leave. I can't go without them, even though they gave me that option. My dad is boarding up the sliding doors and the east facing windows.

At the very least have him board up all of the windows. For god's sake, the wind'll change direction and those east-facing windows won't matter much when the ones on the west side are blowing in.

[jopatura]

It's because of the Braes Bayou. My parents don't live too far from it, refuse to leave also, and our homeowner's association doesn't think our neighborhood will make it through because we have a lot of old house on our block. And we did horrible during Alicia.

[Houstonia]

I feel really helpless. I know my parents are going to refuse to leave. I can't go without them, even though they gave me that option. My dad is boarding up the sliding doors and the east facing windows.

At the very least have him board up all of the windows. For god's sake, the wind'll change direction and those east-facing windows won't matter much when the ones on the west side are blowing in.

That shouldn't be a problem. We only have one west facing window and it's a small kitchen style.

[Houstonia]

Thanks for the chat y'all. I don't feel much better, but at least I feel ... well I guess I don't feel much better, but thanks for trying.

Geez, I hated sitting through Alicia. I hated not knowing what was happening, not being in control of my surroundings, not knowing what was coming next. Hearing the house-shaking gusts and the house-shaking thumps of trees falling.

My worst nightmare is tornadoes - I lived in Michigan when I was little and never got over having to run into the basement in the middle of the night.

I just can't believe I'm going to have to sit through another 12 or so hours of this storm.

[alousteau]

The only good news that I can give you is that I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance........

Get out. Although Houston is a diff city than New Orleans, you are also more populated. If the worst should happen I think it will take longer to get to stranded people, etc. than it did in NO. I have family in Houston that is staying, if it makes you feel anybetter.

Stay away from windows, and get into an interior room of your house on the first floor. The storm will be bad, but the days or weeks of sweltering heat, humidity, and lack of basic services is what is going to make it unbearable. My wife's family from NO was not happy about being here at our house for the storm, in fact they left two days after, they had hardly any damage at their house. Needless to say they spent one night there and life was so miserable at their house they came back for another week.

In this kind of situation my opinion is if you are not a part of the solution you will eventually become part of the problem.

[Houstonia]

Unfortunately, I guess I should make it very clear that at this point - leaving the city is NO LONGER an option. For better or worse - we're in it for the long haul.

[dwg71]

Unfortunately, I guess I should make it very clear that at this point - leaving the city is NO LONGER an option. For better or worse - we're in it for the long haul.

The canadian model moved south to corpus..... hope that helps.

[alousteau]

I understand. Just make sure you are prepared!!!!! We will all be praying for everyone to our west!

[corpusbreeze]

You wont have water your lawn for a while . Good luck and may God have mercy.