I have just endured a nightmare going through this evacuation for my area (C). We thought we were smart leaving early, before it was mandatory, which started the next day at 6am. We left town Wednesday at 7 to go to my sister's in east Tx. She's 2 hours from Lufkin. 24 hours later with 2 kids (1 in a wheelchair with Muscular Dystrophy), we still had not made it to Lufkin. People ran out of gas everywhere. Cars broken down. We turned around off of 59 and came back last night after the news was it is headed to Beaumont. We were home in 1 1/2 hours. Going to my mother's in Pasadena this evening to ride it out. My mom and sister had headed out and got to Kingwood yesterday, and came back after hearing it was headed to Beaumont.
Our original plan on Monday was to stay in Houston at a nice hotel to ride it out, but I couldn't get a room. We will never put the kids through this ordeal again. My daughter was so uncomfortable in her chair, and at times laid in the back seat, and that is dangerous because she couldn't be buckled in.
Let me just say, I have the best kids on the planet. My 11 year old never whined, and would just say "are you okay mom?" like after someone rearended my camry around 3 am Thursday. A woman from LaMarque fell asleep driving. I felt so bad for her, because she had been driving on 146 since 3pm the afternoon before. I couldn't see damage on the car that evening, but the next day I did.
My husband was driving the van for the most part always ahead of me, but cell phones were not working to call each other most of the time.
I haven't read anything on FR in the last 2 days, so I hope everyone else is doing well. Sorry to sound whinny. I went 36 hours without sleep, so I may not be making much sense. I was in a coma last night, when I hit my bed.
We have a ton of supplies we are taking to Granny's. She's on much higher ground than we are here.
We took the evacuation route of 146 to 59. Starting Wednesday at 7pm, we were only in Dayton Tx by 7 am the next morning.
Did I mention our poodle was a jewel too in her kennel? I saw more pit bulls in the back of trucks not restrained. Lots of people just riding in the backs of trucks. So many people breaking down and no gas.
Take care all of you Beaumont freepers. My good friends in Lake Charles I can't even get a hold of. She called me 2 days ago saying they were watching the storm, but were concerned about us.
Goodness--God bless you and keep you and your wonderful family--including the furries--safe in His mighty arms!
We will never put the kids through this ordeal again.
That's the biggest problem by far with this evacuation fiasco - when the next storm comes towards Houston, a lot of folks won't evacuate because of what they went through over the last two days. TxDOT needs to get its ass in gear and work out the contra-flow problems.
God love you...what an adventure. Showers...sleep..food.
Glad you're with us and that you checked in:) Sounds like you have wonderful kids.
Prayers for you and yours. God Bless your kids. They can be remarkably plucky and strong for you in the most amazing ways, can't they?
I'm so sorry. I hope you will be safe in your refuge. The Red Cross is supposed to be opening refuges along I-45, but I pray they won't really be needed...
Thanks for the report.
Get some rest. Prayers sent to you and family.
Please let us hear from you again when you are settled.
What an ordeal! If people in the north and areas not prone to flooding wouldn't have added to the traffic, you wouldn't have had such a horrible travail. :/
Good luck and God bless you!
" We will never put the kids through this ordeal again. "
Lanza, we evacuated from Zone 2 on Wednesday, also. My plan was to be on the road by noon Wednesday, as I wanted to be well away from Houston BEFORE the Zone 1 mandatory evacuation started.
We actually left from my in-laws place in League City at 10:30. Went west on 518 to 35, then took the Beltway to US290. Things were slow on the Beltway, but things were at hwy speeds on 290 until we got to a stoplight at Brenham -- which held everyone up an hour. It took us until 3:00 to reach Austin -- which is pretty good considering.
I feel for you. My recommendation is to leave sooner rather than later. Had you left at 10:00 am on Weds instead of 7:00 pm you probably would have reached Lufkin by 7:00 pm. It is a pain to leave early, but less of a pain than what you went through. And much less of a pain than suffering through a house flooding with a kid in a wheelchair.
I am not trying to be a told-you-so, just advising you as to what my experience was.
I am so sorry for what you went throught!! Thank God that you are safely back and good luck tomorrow.