Hurricane Rita

[write]

you will all have seen the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, but now we in  Houston are in direct line for Hurricane Rita.

I was planned to evacuate this morning but the roads were completely congested and the gas stations are now running out of fuel.

Our situation is we stock up on water and tinned goods and sit out the hurricane.

I am very afraid, but what else can I do?

[Marta]

Write,

OMG, that sounds scary.

I know nothing about dealing with hurricane, buthow about (a) having a backup plan of where you might be able to go, (b) buy lots of canned water (or soda) and food in foil wraps, (c) put your valuables in metal container and cover that with many plastic garbage bags, (d) make a bundle of some necessary things like blankets etc., and hang them from the ceiling or some post, (e) bring out some tires which can be used for floating if necessary. Also get many chocolates and keep some on your body. Excellent energy food in crisis.

May be the government hotlines are giving instructions on what to do in such situations?

My prayers are with you. Please let us know as soon as you are out of the harm's way.

Marta

[amethyst]

(((Write))) My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please take care. Get out if you possibly can. Hugs, A

[bliz]

Write, please get out if you have to walk out of town. This one looks like devastation beyond imagination. 

[Sela]

Dear Write:

I am praying for you and for all the people in your area that you will get through this safely.

Please....if there is any way to leave....I vote for that too.   This does sound like a nasty one.

God bless you and your family.

((((((((Write)))))))))

Sela

[October]

you will all have seen the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, but now we in  Houston are in direct line for Hurricane Rita.

I was planned to evacuate this morning but the roads were completely congested and the gas stations are now running out of fuel.

Our situation is we stock up on water and tinned goods and sit out the hurricane.

I am very afraid, but what else can I do?

Is there any public transport available to use??  Sorry if that sounds stupid, and I am sure there will be queues there as well as anywhere; maybe worse than the roads.

I really don't know what to suggest.  Trying to imagine what I would do in your situation.  I think I would buy in some bottled water, and water sterilising stuff (Milton fluid here - the stuff you use to sterilise babies bottles - a tiny amount of it makes water safe to drink.)  Also get in basic medications, and batten down any hatches you can find.  Maybe board up the windows, if you can. 

Under the stairs is the strongest place in a house, they say, or failing that under a dining table against a supporting wall or chimney, so maybe make yourself a den in a place like that, with plenty of blankets and such.  And also stock up on lamp oil (if you have a lamp), candles and matches, and a torch and batteries.  And make sure you have a portable radio with spare batteries as well.  And if you can find some whistles, give everyone one to put in a pocket, in case of emergency.

Keeping you in my prayers.   

[Awen]

Praying that you and everyone else in your position will be helped to get out safely before Rita hits.

[miss piggy]

(((Write)))

Praying that you and everyone else in your position will be helped to get out safely before Rita hits.

I join the others in praying for your protection!  Do take care.  I have no advice but am wishing you and all of Houston safe passage through the storm. 

xo, Miss Piggy

[Stormchild]

Oh dear Write... praying for you. Hope you find a way to evacuate but if you don't there is lots of good advice here already for if you stay.

All I can add is don't forget batteries and make sure everyone has a flashlight, there will be power outages and you will want light, plus if your freezer is partly empty put water in plastic jugs or bottles - that held drinkable water or milk or soda previously - fill only about 2/3 full, water expands when it freezes - and put these in the freezer, your frozen stuff will stay cold longer when the power goes out, and you can thaw some for drinking water if you have to. [You can freeze milk too as long as the container is not too full. It will help keep the freezer cool too and being frozen it will last a little longer if power fails.]

Fill all your prescriptions. If you have any pets put them in carriers and keep them under the table or wherever you go for refuge - easier to grab them and go, if there's house damage and you must leave...

October's right, stairs are strong, also bathrooms are, for some reason.

Will continue to pray for you. Please post to us as you can. Love you. Will be with you emotionally through this. Hope you can get away. Hope Houston is spared... and the storm weakens.

[write]

thank you all.

I'm actually very calm, have stock-piled provisions ( for the neighbours too ) and started taking down pictures/ ornaments etc and packing everything away.

The major problem I have now is- guess what! n-h who I let move back in for the weekend.

He started last night before he even got here, telephoned me drunk and ranting and raving; I told him to f- off and put the phone down eventually.

He was apologetic today, but now he's pacing up and down, making the worst predictions, being a total pain in the ass.
He just has no self-control once his emotions kick in.

He's watching the weather news all day and keeps saying we're in the worst path of the storm ( which isn't true ) and wanting to get out onto the highways ( which are congested and there's no gas )

We've been asked to stay put if we're not in a high-risk area.

I am feeling calm and resilient and able to do what needs to be done, but he is driving me nuts. Typical- whatever happens in life, it's all about him...

[October]

I am feeling calm and resilient and able to do what needs to be done, but he is driving me nuts. Typical- whatever happens in life, it's all about him...

God, what a nightmare!!  Forget the hurricane, N alert!!!

Try to regard him as spare provisions in case of extreme emergency, Write.   Then when he goes off on one, imagine which bit you would eat first, and what recipe you would use.   

[onlyrenting]

Write, Im watching the news, I see the roads are blocked and shortage on food and gas. Gas here in Plano TX is running out.
I got gas but one woman went to 4 stations before she found Reg.


My MIL had to be moved 200 miles away and my BIL lives in Jefferson NO. missed Katrina but now facing Rita.
Living here now for 6mos I never thought how much other people's safety and soon to EX's family would be on my mind.
My H doesn't want me to care or contact his family, I can't help but worry about them after 28years of knowing them.
I don't care what he thinks, I no longer care to make him happy. I do have to let go but for now Im concerned and worry.

write, Im thinking of you, prayers are being sent your way.  OR

[write]

thinking of you too onlyrenting, hope you are safe.

As for eating n-h, feed him to the dogs more like! )

He's wandering around doing chores right now.

I feel like I didn't have a choice but to have him here, but talk about how to make a bad situation worse- involve a N.

It's really made me see I don't want any future together with him and I even had a dream last night where I was frustrated and crying because he was oblivious to me and I couldn't make him see me!

[Marta]

Write, I must say that I am chuckling to myself after reading your last couple of posts. Even with a mad hurricane looming over your head, larger than life N somehow manages to make himself the primary irritant. Gosh, how powerful he must feel if he knew that he beat the almighty Boreas! How immensely infuritating he must be!

OR, all the best, and hope your inlaws come out safe and sound.

Good to keep hearing from you. Write, please Keep us poted.

Marta

[write]

well, we already had some flooding-

We filled up the baths as directed and one of them leaked through the ceiling...
fortunately we were in the room and noticed pretty quickly.
I've made some holes in the ceiling and it's draining out now.

Then the electricity flickered so I grabbed the candle box...and dropped a glass holder.

So we already have broken glass and flooding and it' not even raining yet!

Good news for Houston is the storm has turned east- away from us.
Which is of course bad news for Louisianna, but as one of the weather-casters said earlier: there's no good news with a hurricane.

I've just been outside and the winds are getting up, but it's barely raining. It's the coastline of the Gulf coast currently being battered, accordig to the news, but it's all evacuated as far as possible.