Florice5-The current storm track puts the Woodlands in the path of hurricane force winds. How strong the winds will be is anyone's guess at this point. The path of the hurricane can (and probably will) change from the current projection, but hurricane force winds extend 60 miles outward from the center. If the track shifts to the west, the strongest part of the storm would probably hit The Woodlands. If it shifts east, they'll still get strong winds, but it won't be as bad. In either case, if your family is planning on riding this out, I'd suggest they do it at a shelter rather than at home, where they'll at least have the company of emergency officials and others who've dealt with storms like this before.

That's good (and the safest) advice weasel.

I'm so glad you all responded so quickly. I tried to tell them yesterday. But they wouldn't listen. They said that they didn't receive any mandatory evacuation orders so they thought they'd be ok. As of right now they're going to be joining another family in the same area. I want them far away from there but they say the roads are impossible and my mom was afraid they'd be stuck in traffic with no gasoline. I've been watching the news all day in between classes. How you can see something like this coming and not get out of the way is something I simply don't understand! They think that because they're 80mi inland they'll be ok. They feel prepared for the worst but I since they've never been through such a storm I don't think they can truly fathom the worst. Please keep them in your prayers. I will be maintaining communication with them as long as possible and then it's going to be waiting... and that's what I'm afraid of.

florice, I'm not going to tell you not to worry b/c I am the queen of worrying but do know that people here will try to get you the info you need.

All the best to you and your family,
OWJ

I hit send too quickly...

STW, Glad to know your dh is home safe and sound!

Thank you so much, it's nice to know that people all over care... I'll keep you posted.

God Bless

dear florice
on the 10 o'clock news this evening the storm track seemed to have landfall more on the TX/LA border, which is better news for your family. And if they don't have tall trees close to their house so much the better! They may lose electricity but should be just fine! I'll be thinking about them. stw, glad your husband is home safe!

Hello Florice, I will say prayers that your family is safe and that all will be well for them.

And seetheworld, I am so happy that your DH husband is home with you. How relieved you must be!!! I was so happy to read your post. Thank you for posting the good news.

Again, my prayers to everyone and their families that are in harms way.
May everyone be safe and sound. Prayers to all.

The Woodlands is north of Houston, a little to the west. It's quite far from the coast and according to the newest projection, about 50-60 miles from the storm path.

Houses there are new and should be well built. I'd only worry about falling trees and lack of electricity afterwards.

Not everybody needs to evacuate. The main reason for the traffic mess we have right now is people in Houston that are not in mandatory evacuation area leaving. And this is a pure reaction - rightly or wrongly - because of Katrina. If there wasn't Katrina 3 weeks ago, there would be this mad exodus.

thank you for your response... I just spoke to my mom and she said that almost everyone in her neighborhood has stayed... you're right about the traffic mess... it's hard being far away and not knowing all the details. It seems to be getting farther away from us and closer to Louisiana...AGAIN! A near sigh of relief for me but my heart goes out to all of those in the way of this storm. For my family's sake I hope it stays away, but for everyone's sake I wish it would just vanish. I wont be at peace until it's over. Thank you again for all of your thoughts, prayers, and latest information.

Florice
I share your concern as we have a son and grandson living in Houston. They will also ride out the storm and most in his neighborhood have decided to do the same. Even the Mayor of Houston is asking for those not in low areas to not evacuate. I know you've seen the traffic. It is awful. People out of gas all over the highways and no gas available. Their pretty much stuck but at least their stuck at home with neighbors who will help each other and they have water, batteries, candles, propane, etc. I guess what I'm saying is that we will worry together and pray and hope for a cat 3, however, it looks like it will hit as a 4.

Florice,

There's a picture on this morning's online edition of the Houston Chronicle showing two people from your parents neighborhood passing out water to folks stuck on I-45 yesterday. If that's an indication of the caliber of your parent's neighbors, then that's a great sign!

If the neighbors take care of one another, and they're not near the water, those are two very good things. Keep that in mind.

Don't be too suprised if you can't get through to them on the phone after Rita goes through. Sometimes land lines work, and sometimes they don't. We went through 3 hurricanes last year, and our phone service was intermittent.

Hang in there.

Hey P_M,
We were planning to head out your way (well, not to your house but to Austin ) but road conditions deteriorated rapidly. And it was nearly impossible to get gas. I waited in line 20-30 minutes Wednesday afternoon to fill up.
It looks like Houston will not get hit as hard as we originally thought. We will most likely be staying.
I'll update you as long as the internet connection is up and running.
Best wishes to everyone. So many people on the coastal areas heeded the warning and evacuated. Thankfully, my father and stepmother were able to gather some things and leave Freeport.
Now we're only hoping they have a home to come back to.

For you all with family in the Houston area, they are announcing on all the news stations that if you are not in a low lying area, a mandatory evacuation zone, DO NOT leave. If things hold up until landfall, the storm will pass to the northeast of Houston. It seems to be inching closer and closer to the LA border and I wouldn't be at all surprised if LA was landfall, rather than TX, not that they will escape it entirely as it's got a pretty large wind field, but they are on the better side of the storm. DH's brother lives in Kingwood and has decided to stay put, that they are safer there than on the highway right now!

There's been a bus explosion and fire n I-45 south of Dallas...a busload of elderly evacuees. First reports were that 20 were dead, and speculation currently is that it was somehow caused by O2 in use on the bus. Such a tragedy.

It's been a CAT 3 for a while. The situation for my family looks to be getting better. We're not out of the woods until this thing is over, but definitely better than a CAT 5. Thanks again to those who keep responding.

God Bless