Posted on 09/23/2005 11:00:24 AM PDT by Liberty Valance
Some of them help elderly family members in wheel chairs, while others chase after toddlers who have been stuck in cars far too long. Still others walk dogs in patches of grass along the highway, while some just stretch their legs and look toward the long road ahead, but they all have one thing in common.
“After watching what happened in New Orleans, it really puts the fear of God in you,” said Brian Bang of Spring, Texas, one of the thousands fleeing ahead of Hurricane Rita as it takes aim at the Texas coast.
Overnight, Kerrville has become a safe haven for hundreds seeking refuge from the threat of Hurricane Rita and a safe port for those with farther to go. Bang, his family and their dog were headed to Marfa, Texas — the nearest place where they could find an available hotel — when they stopped Thursday at the Interstate 10 rest stop east of Kerrville. It was the first time they had stopped since they left about 3:30 that morning, joining the hordes of fleeing Gulf Coast residents.
“It’s sort of amazing to see this and to find yourself in this long line of people and you an evacuee in America,” Bang said. “You expect to see that in the Middle East, but not here.”
Others stopped there, too. Cars lined both sides of the rest stop on the westbound side of I-10, while the eastbound side was empty. Almost all of the people heading west left homes along the coast the day before in cars and minivans loaded with whatever they could carry — blankets, pillows and clothes.
Bang said it was only the second time in 25 years of living just north of Houston that he has decided to leave home because of a hurricane. But he said it was a simple decision to make. The hard part was finding a place to go.
Kerrville-area hotels were filled three days ago, and Bang said he spent two days calling all over the state before he found a hotel. He said they would spend the rest of the day driving to get to Marfa, where they would wait to see what becomes of their home.
“Everything we own is there and you worry,” he said.
Sisters Sherri and Donene Olmstead of La Porte — on the south side of Houston — were headed to a camp ground in Fort Stockton, where they planned to hole up with their three dogs.
“We couldn’t leave them,” Donene Olmstead said of the dogs. “They’re the reason we left when we did.”
She said they left La Porte about 2 p.m. Wednesday and spent the first 16 hours on the road traveling at no more than 10 mph. The first place they could find gas was in Hallettsville about 100 miles west of Houston.
Sherri Donene said they decided to evacuate before the mandatory order for La Porte was issued Thursday after Rita reached Category 3. It is the first time the sisters have evacuated since moving from Phoenix in 1989.
Like most people, they were compelled by the television images of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
“I’m worried about what we’re going to find when we get home,” she said.
Hundreds of others made the decision to stay in Kerrville, even if that means camping at local parks. Officials have said about 500 could be staying at the Kerrville-Schreiner Park, and the American Red Cross Shelter at First Presbyterian Church had 75 people checked in early Thursday afternoon.
Plans have been made to open more shelters as needed, said Daletta Andreas, executive director of the Hill Country Chapter of the American Red Cross.
She said they don’t know how many might be coming to Kerrville, but the Red Cross has the capacity to shelter about 1,000 people.
“We have (volunteers) lined up for this, so we’re in pretty good shape. But if this goes on for a long time, these people will get worn out, and we will have to train more volunteers,” Andreas said.
Kerrville Fire Chief Richard Holloway said city crews have been placed on standby in case of any emergencies arising from the hurricane or from the influx of evacuees. For now all they can do is wait.
“It’s a waiting game right now,” Holloway said. “We do have a plan and it’s been approved by the State of Texas, and we are prepared for just about anything that could happen.”
Good luck, Liberty Valance!
By the way, HEB was founded in Kerrville.
Hill Country ping.
ping
At Walmart here yesterday, people were filling whole shopping carts full of bottled water. I couldn't figure that one out. BTW, Nido (whole powdered milk) by Nestle is available at Walmart. It tastes better than Parmalat milk, IMHO. I don't even buy regular milk anymore, with the exception of Promised Land midnight chocolate milk---mmmmm, it's so good.
I feel for the people fleeing Rita. Obviously they wish it was under different circumstances, but they have stopped in a beautiful little city.
I lived there and worked in the local HEB Bakery before they built the store where it is now. I use to fish in the Guadalupe River and hunt on a ranch out in Ingram. God Bless the people fleeing Rita, and the city of Kerrville. I still get misty about the place as I sit here in this foresaken state (Illinois).
My Mother-inlaw and great uncle both live in Kerrville. Glad to see ya'll are helping out. Houston to Marfa is one hell of a long drive. Hope they have good reservations!
I drove through Kerrville yesterday afternoon after doing an estimate for a customer and I could hardly believe all the extra cars and people all over the place-I'm so glad that there were places for so many to stay until it is safe for them to return home. Hubby and I have offered our two extra bedrooms to one of his co-workers who lives near us for the overflow of his guests-he has most of his family on the way from Houston and will arrive early this evening-he is expecting more than a dozen family members.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.