Schools Close, and Evacuations Begin (Houston/Galveston)

Houston Chronicle ^ | Sept. 20, 2005 | KEVIN MORAN

[anymouse]

Saddle up!

[clee1]

The difference in the handling of storm warnings between Texas officials and the Blanco/Nagin comedy team is telling.

[neverhome]

Just think how those poor folks must feel...

those who fled the southeastern gulf coast for the "safety" of Houston!

Can't help but feel bad for them.

[Zacs Mom]

I am preparing for 6 evacuees to arrive here late tomorrow. I just now spoke with a friend who is driving into Houston on I-35 ~ he is still north of Huntsville a bit but says the traffic heading north has been unbelievable. He likened it to traveling during peek hours on a holiday weekend.

I know Galveston will be putting a contraflow traffic plan into effect once the actual mandatory evacuation begins and that will probably mean it will be as difficult to get onto the island as it will be to get off.

I pray Galveston doesn't take a direct hit ..... I am hoping Rita will move further west, lose strength and eventually make landfall in one of the lessor populated areas. *sigh*

[MEG33]

I am here..N of Houston making plans for a probable drive north...I am going from one home to another, familiar settings, with my loved ones around ...

I agree that those who fled Katrina must be in shock...Prayers for them and all in harms way.

[fabriclady]

Let Pray

[Paleo Conservative]

Hurricane RITA Strike Probabilities

000
WTNT73 KNHC 210230
SPFAT3
HURRICANE RITA PROBABILITIES NUMBER 14
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
11 PM EDT TUE SEP 20 2005

PROBABILITIES FOR GUIDANCE IN HURRICANE PROTECTION
PLANNING BY GOVERNMENT AND DISASTER OFFICIALS

AT 11 PM EDT...0300Z...THE CENTER OF RITA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 24.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 83.2 WEST

CHANCES OF CENTER OF THE HURRICANE PASSING WITHIN 65 NAUTICAL MILES
OF LISTED LOCATIONS THROUGH 8PM EDT FRI SEP 23 2005

LOCATION A B C D E LOCATION A B C D E
24.4N 87.5W 45 X X X 45 NEW IBERIA LA X X 2 10 12
24.6N 89.4W 13 14 X 1 28 PORT ARTHUR TX X X X 12 12
25.1N 91.4W X 14 7 1 22 GALVESTON TX X X 1 12 13
MUHA 230N 824W 99 X X X 99 FREEPORT TX X X X 13 13
MUAN 219N 850W 1 1 X X 2 PORT O CONNOR TX X X X 13 13
MMSO 238N 982W X X X 6 6 CORPUSCHRISTI TX X X X 11 11
MMTM 222N 979W X X X 3 3 BROWNSVILLE TX X X X 11 11
MMMD 210N 897W X 1 1 X 2 GULF 29N 85W X 1 X 1 2
KEY WEST FL 99 X X X 99 GULF 29N 87W X 3 4 2 9
APALACHICOLA FL X X 1 1 2 GULF 28N 89W 1 9 5 2 17
PANAMA CITY FL X X 1 1 2 GULF 28N 91W X 3 11 4 18
PENSACOLA FL X X 1 3 4 GULF 28N 93W X X 8 9 17
MOBILE AL X X 1 5 6 GULF 28N 95W X X 2 13 15
GULFPORT MS X X 2 6 8 GULF 27N 96W X X 1 13 14
BURAS LA X 1 6 5 12 GULF 25N 96W X X 2 10 12
NEW ORLEANS LA X X 3 8 11

COLUMN DEFINITION PROBABILITIES IN PERCENT
A IS PROBABILITY FROM NOW TO 8PM WED
FOLLOWING ARE ADDITIONAL PROBABILITIES
B FROM 8PM WED TO 8AM THU
C FROM 8AM THU TO 8PM THU
D FROM 8PM THU TO 8PM FRI
E IS TOTAL PROBABILITY FROM NOW TO 8PM FRI
X MEANS LESS THAN ONE PERCENT

FORECASTER STEWART


$$

Well, looks like I'll be evacuating.

[fabriclady]

Lets Pray for every family in the path of the storm.

[PAR35]

a friend who is driving into Houston on I-35 ~ he is still north of Huntsville a bit

If you talk to your friend again, tell him he is pretty badly lost if he thinks he is driving to Houston on I-35. If he stays on I-35, tell him to turn east on I-10 at San Antonio and he'll eventually get where he wants to go.

[Zacs Mom]

LOL -you're right!!!



I guess I'm tired and a bit stressed this evening!
He's on I-45, of course!
You know, the one with all the constuction!!

[Zacs Mom]

constuction = construction!
Sheesh

[Westlander]

From a weather buf..for what's it worth..Matagorda is my prediction for the eye. Good Wishes, stay safe.

[neverhome]

[...I am going from one home to another]

If the need arises...

Calvary Baptist Church, Fairfield, TX:
I-45 North to exit 197 (US 84)-
Turn right (east) and go into town -
cross SR 75, continue east to court house -
at east side of court house, turn left 1 blk to Main st -
Turn right on Main, Calvary is on the left in next block.

They took in several New Orleans families. They're all out now, and many have elected to stay in Fairfield. It's a pretty nice little town (even without me!).

Anyhow, if you need to stay somewhere overnight, just get the number from 411 and give'em a call. They great folks. I was a member there when I lived in TX.

[PAR35]

construction

They've been working on it at least 15 years. I-20 is about as bad. Half the time, I just take US80 to Mineola or Gladewater. I haven't found a work around for I-45.

[neverhome]

[I haven't found a work around for I-45.]

Depends of course on where you are and where you're going.

Above Huntsville, old US 75 is still in use. Nice drive, light traffic, all the way up to Streetman (I45 exit 213).

For farther north (the construction near Corsicana/Ennis), US 287 is a viable option even though it adds miles. It can still save time. You can jump on US 84 east at Fairfield (exit 197), take it into town, and just past the courthouse bear left on FM 488. Follow it 19 miles to 287 and turn left to continue north. A lot of people use this route to avoid the jams on I-45.

287 will put you on I-35, US 67, I-20 and a couple of other routes, depending upon where you're bound.

Hope this is helpful. :)

[ntnychik]

Here's the latest on Galveston evac plans. See Zacs Mom's post #4. Windshield sticker needed to re-enter Galveston after evacuation.

[weegee]

That's because Karl Rove is feeding Governor Rick Perry the coordinates of the weather making machine.

[MEG33]

I have my house in Waco to go to with my daughter and her husband..Thank you for the offer, though..

[Zacs Mom]

neverhome ~ Thanks for the off-the main path tips - I printed them out as they might be helpful for my people driving up tomorrow. The last time I made the drive north from Houston to Dallas I remember the construction areas were really a pain. I'm sure that any chance to avoid at least some of them would be welcomed by the weary folks headed this way.

PAR35 ~ I know what you mean about the unending construction. I've come to the conclusion that there are certain highways that will always be "under construction"!! I-45 is one, 635 in Dallas is another and I-5 out in Washington, Oregon & California is absolutely one!!

[Nauta]

Just about two weeks ago was the 105th anniversary of the Galveston Flood (Sept 8, 1900), which killed 8,000, after Galveston was hit by a category 4 hurricane.