Hurricane Rita Freeper Sign In Thread

www.freerepublic.com | September 21, 2005

[Howlin]

If you are in the path of this storm, please sign in here, so that the rest of us can keep track of our "displaced" friends and family.

And when you return, remember to sign in, as we will be looking for you!

[dirtboy]

If it gets really bad we start to shave the cats.

Don't be silly. Everyone knows you don't shave a cat.

You use a weed whacker.

[Zechariah_8_13]

We're in Austin, but I don't think that really counts as "riding it out" LOL. More like, "watching some rain from inside the house."

[dirtboy]

And do you have tranquilzers for your animals? If you are cooped up in a closet with the furry members of your family, it would be good to have them calm instead of going apesh**.

[wolfhound89]

Power Co. left a tag on my front door stating they'll be doing some trimming on my two trees in the front yard. I have a 75' tall pine and a 50' tall maple. I guess they know something is up with the winds. I always have large branches falling when the winds got past 15 to 25 mph during storms.
I also have a creek/storm drainage canal next to my house. I hope flooding will not be a big factor by the time it all gets here.

[texianyankee]

Per Fox News, winds are now 165 mph

[sinkspur]

Another in Richmond, TX. River Park West. SW of Houston about 50 miles from coast.

You Fort Benders are giving me major heartburn! Why are you staying when you're so close to the coast?

Unless you're in a cinder block house elevated 20 feet, you are not safe. I have a bedroom, and we'll take your dogs and cats.

You don't get points for dying in a hurricane.

[Dog Gone]

Sleep, if you can, with your shoes on. If the power goes out and windows are shattered there will be glass everywhere.

That's a good suggestion, although I think it's highly unlikely that I'll get any sleep that night.

I bought a couple of big waterproof rubber bins this afternoon. Gonna stuff them with the important documents and photos. If we're on the dirty side of this monster as predicted, when the windows shatter rain will be coming in at a pretty good clip. When the power goes off, I'll put the computer in a plastic garbage bag in an effort to protect it. Not much else I can do, I'm afraid.

I hope the insurance companies remain solvent.

[kassie]

I was at Missouri City Wal-Mart this morning. I bought one of the last trash cans (for water) and their shelves were emptying fast. But the people were still very civil.

My husband brought home shotgun shells for our OLD shotgun. It was my granddad's. I forgot we had it. We do have other guns, but I had forgotten about this one.

Outside of natural occurrences beyond our control I think we're set.

[hobson]

Have you heard anything about plans to contra-flow the freeways? I heard on the radio that frwy contruction on 45 near Conroe and IH10 at Columbus is causing traffic jams.

[kassie]

Local news just said it was upgraded to a # 5.

[hobson]

I'm working on it. Thank you for your concern! I've got to go pack the bug-out bags. Be back in a few.

[Dog Gone]

The outside wall is brick. It's also only ten feet away from a neighbor's wall, so it shouldn't take the brunt of any wind or debris. Fortunately it's on the west side of the house. On the current track, I'm going to get mostly west and south winds during the worst of the storm, and east winds only after the eye has passed to my north.

It's about as favorable as I could hope for.

[Dog Gone]

And do you have tranquilzers for your animals?

Nope, but I'm about to make my final run for supplies. I think I'm the one who's going to need the tranquilizers, though. ;-)

[kassie]

You take care. It's going to be rough all over this part of Texas.

[dirtboy]

The outside wall is brick.

Excellent. Vitrified brick can withstand a pretty good shot from debris.

You can also drag a sturdy table inside the closet if you can find one that fits in there. That's a tornado trick.

[omegabea]

Hello all,

I'm in Willis on I-45 which is about 50 miles north of Houston. I am staying here at my newly opened RV park taking in evacuees and keeping our club house open for our monthly campers. Anyone leaving Houston in an RV, we are only 1/2 mi. off interstate and our website is www.omegafarmsrv.com and we still have spaces available.

Be safe everyone and I am hoping and praying that Rita diminishes and goes in at the least populated area of the coastline.

[texianyankee]

Same to y'all. I think by Friday noon we should know a lot more about the target area.
My best guess is the Matagorda Bay area.

[Dog Gone]

Per Fox News, winds are now 165 mph

Well, if it makes landfall at that strength, then it won't leave a house standing in its path and safe rooms won't mean a thing.

I've always wanted to see the Land of Oz.

[serpentineshel]

No problem! Just hope everyone ends up safe and sound! I've been through many hurricanes in Florida and I know that even if you stay through them, the aftermath is no fun. No power, no shower, canned foods. Yuck. I'd much rather be "on vacation" at a relative's up north!

[SaveTheChief]

Checking in -- I'm all the way up in The Woodlands and will be leaving first thing tomorrow, headed to points north of Dallas. I'm more worried about tornados than anything else.

Of course, if 45 looks as bad as it is now, I may stay with some friends who have invited me to stay.