Posted on 09/21/2005 2:18:03 PM PDT by dvan
Thank you so much for your prayers. We will need it. So far, it looks like Rita is coming our way. We are on the outskirts of Houston but the current path is showing that the eye will cross our little town.
We've been stocking up on necessities, and several of our friends from out of town have called and offered us (including our puppies of course) their home, but we won't make the final decision until tomorrow. Talked with our next door neighbors last night and if we stay, we plan on pulling our resources together to survive until things return to normal.
We are not firefighters, just friends of our volunteer fire department but today they asked us if we would help them should we decide to stay. They will be short of manpower handling the aftermath, since this town is comprised of lots of elderly folks.
So, we are leaning on riding it out. As far as the preparation goes, here's what we've done so far. If you can think of anything else, please let us know.
-We managed to borrow a generator from friends (they will be leaving in their fancy motor home) and we will share it with our neighbors to get our fridges going at least, got 10 gauge wire to hook it up with, -filled the tub with water, -Will fill the washing machine with soap and water to clean with, -filled big pots with water and put in the freezer so we will have big ice chunks, -filled all our coolers with water since the stores were out of bottled water, -got blankets lined up to block the doorways, -out truck is full of gas just in case, -will put our paperwork in contractor grade garbage bags and set them up high off the floor, -the same for our computers, which we will pack on Friday morning, -getting laundry done, -got a battery operated radio, -have enough dry food for us and the pups between our neighbors and us, -got bleach, -have enough "arms" and ammo just in case looters show up. Ha! Our next door neighbor is a detective and he carries an AR15 in his unmarked car. -gathered candles, etc. -been praying for the best outcome out of this...
WHEW!!! I am getting nervous all over again typing this list. Hope we are adequately prepared. Your prayers mean a LOT to us and the folks who will be affected by this. Houston's mayor Bill White is pretty sharp (even if he is a democrat, ha ha) and is keeping things under control.
All businesses in Houston and our area will be closed tomorrow until, and some highways are now one-way only out of the dangerous area. There was a big bus convoy headed out of Galveston this afternoon. And our county is holding an emergency management meeting tomorrow for firefighters, police, and the paramedics.
All in all, I am scared to death, but I trust in God. His Will be done, no matter what. God Bless you, NWI, and the Americans United for a Free Republic for caring. Love to all,
Name Witheld by dvan
PS: I will email you before we pack our computers and let you know what's going on.
I just spoke with an old friend who lives there, right on the coast. They're boarding up and bugging out.
Wow....prayers going out!
You will certainly be in my prayers. Take care friend and we will see you on the other side of the storm.
They'll need it.
For those who don't know, Houston is built on a swamp.
If Rita hits too close, Sugarland will not be the only town with rice paddies over there.
I'm praying especially hard for everybody on the Gulf Coast!
I posted the Great Litany from the Book of Common Prayer on various threads as Katrina bore down on LA/MS.
Orate, fraters!
http://holycross-raleigh.org/bcp/148.html
O God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth,
Have mercy upon us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful,
Have mercy upon us.
O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God,
Have mercy upon us.
Remember not, Lord Christ, our offenses, nor the offenses
of our forefathers; neither reward us according to our sins.
Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast
redeemed with thy most precious blood, and by thy mercy
preserve us, for ever.
Spare us, good Lord.
From all evil and wickedness; from sin; from the crafts
and assaults of the devil; and from everlasting damnation,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory,
and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all want
of charity,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all inordinate and sinful affections; and from all the
deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness
of heart, and contempt of thy Word and commandment,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From lightening and tempest; from earthquake, fire, and
flood; from plague, pestilence, and famine,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all oppression, conspiracy, and rebellion; from
violence, battle, and murder; and from dying suddenly
and unprepared,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation; by thy holy Nativity
and submission to the Law; by thy Baptism, Fasting, and
Temptation,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion;
by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection
and Ascension; and by the Coming of thy Holy Ghost,
Good Lord, deliver us.
In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in
the hour of death, and in the day of judgment,
Good Lord, deliver us.
We sinners do beseech the to hear us, O Lord God; and that
it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church
Universal in the right way,
We beesech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to illumine all bishops, priests, and
deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of thy
Word; and that both by their preaching and living, they may
set it forth, and show it accordingly,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to send forth laborers into thy
harvest, and to draw all mankind into thy kingdom,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give to all people increase of grace
to hear and receive thy Word, and to bring forth the fruits of
the Spirit,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such
as have erred, and are deceived,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give us a heart to love and fear
thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee so to rule the hearts of thy servants,
the President of the United States (or of this nation), and all
others in authority, that they may do justice, and love mercy,
and walk in the ways of truth,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to make wars to cease in all the world;
to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord; and to
bestow freedom upon all peoples,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to show thy pity upon all prisoners
and captives, the homeless and the hungry, and all who are
desolate and oppressed,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the
bountiful fruits of the earth, so that in due time all may enjoy
them,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to inspire us, in our several callings,
to do the work which thou givest us to do with singleness of
heart as thy servants, and for the common good,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to preserve all who are in danger by
reason of their labor or their travel,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to preserve, and provide for, all
women in childbirth, young children and orphans, the
widowed, and all whose homes are broken or torn by strife,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to visit the lonely; to strengthen all
who suffer in mind, body, and spirit; and to comfort with thy
presence those who are failing and infirm,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to support, help, and comfort all who
are in danger, necessity, and tribulation,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to have mercy upon all mankind,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give us true repentance; to forgive
us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances; and to endue
us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit to amend our lives
according to thy holy Word,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors,
and slanderers, and to turn their hearts,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand; to
comfort and help the weak-hearted; to raise up those who
fall; and finally to beat down Satan under our feet,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to grant to all the faithful departed
eternal life and peace,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to grant that, in the fellowship of
all the saints, we may attain to thy
heavenly kingdom,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us.
Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Grant us thy peace.
O Christ, hear us.
O Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
or
Kyrie Eleison.
Christe Eleison.
Kyrie Eleison.
When the Litany is sung or said immediately before the Eucharist, the
Litany concludes here, and the Eucharist begins with the Salutation and
the Collect of the Day.
On all other occasions, the Officiant and People say together
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
V O Lord, let thy mercy be showed upon us;
R As we do put our trust in thee.
The Officiant concludes with the following or some other Collect
Let us pray.
Almighty God, who hast promised to hear the petitions of
those who ask in thy Son's Name: We beseech thee mercifully
to incline thine ear to us who have now made our prayers
and supplications unto thee; and grant that those things
which we have asked faithfully according to thy will, may be
obtained effectually, to the relief of our necessity, and to the
setting forth of thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our prayers are with you.
My prayers are with you.
(they will be leaving in their fancy motor home) ?????????
I would be leavng in mine too if Rita was bearing down on me.
You got it.
I used to live in Houston, and was there for Allison in 2001(I think it was 2001). I got lucky as water finally stopped as it was lapping at my front door. We luckily got no damage. I can't imagine what will happen in Houston if a 20-30 foot storm surge starts pushing it's way up the Bayous while it rains 2-3 inches an hour with 120 MPH winds.
God bless.
If they have time they should fill some sand bags.
If your area has a lot of trees, a chainsaw will come in very handy.
You might pick up a reverse osmosis water filter at a sporting goods store.
Prayers for all our Texas FReepers. May the Lord guide and direct your path for those who are bugging out...and may He bless and protect you for those who are staying.
If you have financial data on your machine that can't be replicated e-mail it to yourself for later retrieval, do the same with pictures.
So much more but I'm sure you've thought of it...good luck.
One more point...my wife has family in NOLA. Two cousins evacuated their families 48 hours in advance. One stayed. The one who stayed lost everything and spent two days on his roof with his wife and daughter. I don't envy you the decision....we'll say a prayer.
baby wipes - quick freshen up without using scarce water
meds
first aid kit
toilet provisions Toilet paper, and if water is scarce flushing water is hard to come by. Bucket lined with trash liner...kitty litter and bleach to sprinkle afterward. Some kind of lid for said bucket.
Hand cranked radio/flashlight
Crate or stake and leash for dog(s)
Paper plates utensils and knowing where you can easily access a can opener or whatever is needed to open foodstuffs.
God's peace and protection on you and those who are staying behind. May the Lord surround you with protection from the wind and anything else. GOD BLESS YOU!
I am going to be very blunt...you will NOT be able to help anyone else if you are dead.
Get out...and come back as soon as you can.
God helps those who help themselves!!
Better make that a GAS powered chain saw.
Battery operated radio with police and emergency bands.
Fill the freezer to STUFFED with containers of water as that will also help the freezer stay cool. Also, crank the temp down now to make sure it's as cold as can be.
Get all your family pictures and movies in a plastic bag and up high as those can NOT be replaced. If you have time, put as much on multiple CD's (copies) or in two separate plastic bags just in case one gets wet. That's the only thing our neighbor broke down after our last flood. We had her pictures spread out drying all over our house.
Seriously, get on line and print out plans for a solar oven. All you need is a couple big boxes (toilet paper size) and a couple rolls of foil, and tape. These things do work.
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