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.
Tarps and/or plastic to repair the roof. The faster you get it on the better after the storm. It will save you a lot of grief. Have nails, hammer and ladder to put them up with.
"Will fill the washing machine with soap and water to clean with"
I, personally, would do just water-- keep the soap separate. You can always take smaller amounts of water out and mix it with soap as needed. You may need that water down the road...
Praying for all in the path of Rita.
IOW, would I take 50-50 odds of surviving instead of 100% chance of surviving? NO.
All of us are paying the cost of rescuing people who put themselves in danger. It's much easier and cheaper for us to pay for water, MRE's, and shelter space than it is to pay for helicopters to pluck people off their roofs, or dig their bodies out of rubble. So we should have something to say about it.
Most people know what kind of natural disaster they could be threatened by - hurricane, tornado, earthquake, etc. - and if they're not prepared to deal with the risk, there are other parts of the country to move to.
Non-stop prayers going now.
I just prayed this litany for all residents of the Gulf Coast, especially in the areas that will be hit by Rita.
Thanks for re-posting it. It's a great prayer that covers all the bases.
Extra cash.
My prayers go out to all of those in the path of this monster storm. This is just unreal. Please, all of you, get out of her path!
You like to simplify things, I see. I tend to consider the circumstances surrounding an event before I judge. There are still too many variance factors up in the air.
Like I said, if this freeper lived in Galveston or other coast lines, I'd say go! without question, but not knowing all the details about this particular area specifically, I would not condemn him or her for leaning toward staying.
Please spare me your lecture about tax paying. Contact your representatives to complain about how your tax dollars are spent.
Praying for you all in any case.
Bustardi is predicting a possible eastward shift which could put the eye more toward Houston. That would be problematic in the extreme.
Stay safe.
Some things really are simple. If all of the community leaders - mayor, governor, etc. - say evacuate, then evacuation is the best idea. They don't just do that for fun.
If you're a meteorologist with access to current information about the storm track, then maybe you do know something about the "circumstances". Otherwise, the best thing is to defer to the people who do know.
From what I've read, this freeper's community leaders have not issued any evacuation orders yet. They will hold a meeting tomorrow and come up with a plan and a guideline for their residents and go from there, depending on the nhc's predicted path. You assume too much too quick.
Besides, the "circumstances" I was speaking of involved more than the technical aspect of it.
This note was posted about people in or near Houston. I have been watching all day stories about how Houston is evacuating the NO refugees from shelters, elderly and sick from hospitals and nursing homes, and encouraging people to leave. It's true that I haven't yet seen a mandatory evacuation notice (there might have been one, but I didn't see any), but if the authorities are evacuating everyone they could possibly move, then anyone who can get out themselves has plenty of warning.
Exactly! This note was posted about people in or NEAR Houston! This was not just about the Houstonians, but rather, an email from a freeper from the surrouning area of Houston. Hence, my conclusion that you tend to over simplify things was on the right track, which you just verified for me. Thanks.
I live in the path of Rita and am staying because the local VFD asked me to help them with the aftermath. The VFD has 15 members and does a very good job of fighting fires and responding to traffic accidents.
After Rita passes, there will be thousands of homes to be checked for people in need of help. I am not a trained fire fighter but I can help by going door to door and check on people.
I could leave and think only of myself and the few people I could take with me, but I think I can do more good by staying and helping any way I can.
I guess you have no idea how a small community operates.
Unfortunately too many people now are only concerned with saving their own A$$! Thank you and your wife for your concern for others.
I also know that you have been assisting some evacuees that were evacuated to Houston from New Orleans. This despite that fact that you have your own business and private concerns.
Now they have been removed and you find yourselves in the same predicament. You are shining examples for the rest of us!
I pray for your safety, wellbeing and success! God Bless!
Good luck guys!
Prayers are up, and I know you'll be fine -- and of great help to some who will surely need it.
(And don't forget to buy extra shells for the ole shotgun...)
She forgot toilet paper in her list...
I am in houston!!
got water , food(that dont need fridge or fire), beer, and ammo, gas, generator, and did i mention beer!
and i didnt need no stinking fed gov official to tell me to get the stuff!!
Lime. They need to buy lime or LOTS of kitty litter in case the toilet quits working, etc.
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