" 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.
You are right. We actually thought we were leaving early. We left earlier than most people in my neighborhood, some planning to leave yesterday morning.