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 certainly pray that you will be safe, but I wouldn't do what you're doing. I would evacuate to the nearest staging area and sign up with either a formal or informal rescue group to go back in as soon as possible.
If your VFD doesn't have a safe shelter that you can also go to, then you are just risking the possibility of needing rescue yourself.
I do know how small communities work; I am just not as optimistic as you are. I hope to hear how it works out for you - preferably on Mon., when you tell us how it all worked out splendidly.
(Homer Simpson says, ummmmmmmmm....... beeeerrr.....)
"and i didnt need no stinking fed gov official to tell me to get the stuff!!
You evil conservative, you. Best wishes to you and yours and stay safe! Please check back in asap.
Who said that his VFD doesn't have a safe shelter? There you go, AssYouming again. From what I've read, this VFD is in need of help in the aftermath of Rita.
"I do know how small communities work; I am just not as optimistic as you are. I hope to hear how it works out for you - preferably on Mon., when you tell us how it all worked out splendidly."
Your sarcasm has not gone unnoticed, nor will it be forgotten.
Oh I get it now. Cancel my previous post to you.
Thanks for your prayers; they are appreciated, even if it was laced with sarcasm.
Your prayers may be better spent on the people who tried to evacuate and are now stranded on I-10. I live in a home that is 100% brick and is not in an area prone to flooding. I have boarded up all the windows and have plenty of food and water etc.
Anyone with any intelligence considers all the options before making a decision. I feel I made the right choice and have not heard of any staging areas, so, we the people in this small community, come together and do whatever we can to help our fellow human beings. If you have info on staging areas be they formal or informal please advise as I have never heard of them. Or are they just something you invented to support your posts?
I live 30 miles west of Houston where is the closet "staging area" where I can go and sign up?
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