<p>There’s a new hurricane heading into the gulf. Predictions on Foxnews last night say it could go Cat 4-5. The cone of probability is from Mobile to Brownsville. </p>
<p>So, we had a lot of experts a few weeks ago that said we should have evacuated NO, forced if necessary. Which major city should we be forcing people out of this week? It should hit land by Friday. If we have to evacuate Houston/Galveston we better get started now. Same issues, long causeway, potential flooding, poor people including current evacuees. 10 times the number of potential victims.</p>
<p>Oh, and what if it turns and heads to NO? Should the feds take the hit again after they told Nagin he was moving people back too soon? Should we move the federal workers, troops, and citizens to safer areas. There was major damage 60 miles inland last time, so where should they go? Little Rock? No, that would mean they might take a full 2 days to get back.</p>
<p>I guess we will see how fast the National Guard and other folks will be leaving New Orleans this time…what day? I agree that the prospect of hitting Galveston/Houston is not a pretty thing…the evacuees will then gain a new moniker…what will it be? Dualees or Doublees I am sure with all the creative minds here we can coin the term. Katritaees?</p>
<p>Not looking good for Galveston/Houston, but it is early days yet.
Even through the lens of katrina, deciding what to do, where to evacuate is not easy.</p>
<p>As of now, I agree with Cangel, it doesn’t look good for Houston and Galveston. Unless other weather patterns that are steering the storm change, it could happen, though.</p>
<p>We learned in recent history, however, that Houston can flood quite badly with even a slow moving tropical storm. One of the worst hit places was a hospital. I hope that people are making plans starting today in case it happens.</p>
<p>My money is on Max Mayfield at the National Hurricane Center. He was right on the money with Katrina. If he says it’s heading that way, I wouldn’t think twice about evacuating if I was in the path.</p>
<p>It is quite obvious that Mayor Nagel has not learned his lesson and is once again willing to jeopardize the lives of his constituents in favor of economics. But hey, if once again the fed takes the fall and is then willing to break the bank to bail him out, why not.</p>
<p>Son just called, Umiami is cancelling classes as of noon today–shut down tommorrow as well and preparations are being made. </p>
<p>I don’t see Rita making it to Texas <em>I wish she’d just die out now!</em> but somebody on the GOM coast is ineveitably going to get hit again with a Cat II or III. Preparations from Mobile to Corpus Christi need to be started now folks. I hope everyone has learned that preparation is key.</p>
<p>Get supplies of course but how are they notifiying about evacuations for say elderly, young infants and others who take more time? Do you hear anything of that? Sorry you are all alone…any pets to handle?</p>
<p>Thanks. I will coordinate with my sister and family who live a mile from me. I don’t have any pets, just a 9th grader. I’ve got flood insurance but I’m moving all my photos to the 2nd floor; should take me about a week - LOL. Last big storm the water came 1/3 way up the front yard and I stayed up all night sweeping the drains off the back patio. The big pine trees around my house are scary, too.</p>
<p>So…a 9th grader can be of some help. When will school be cancelled? I am glad to hear you have another person so close as in a mile. Keep us posted and let us hear your story. I cannot imagine how you must be feeling after watching soooooo much coverage in the press about Katrina. Hang in there.</p>
<p>Bandit, same thing here on the rain as we are in a Dallas suburb. However, I still feel waterlogged from watching the Katrina coverage, so I’ll just turn on my sprinklers and pray that Rita loses her punch - and soon.</p>
<p>Galveston officials just had a press conference and they said not to panic but they have already given numbers for the elderly and handicapped to call for bus service, plus are going to alert the unincorporated areas. Voluntary evacuation will begin tomorrow afternoon, and of course they are watching the course of the hurricane and are working with all the emergency preparedness organizations.</p>
<p>Just talked to H and he hadn’t even heard of Rita.</p>
<p>Looks like it is going to miss us here, which is good, but it would probably do less damage here than in Galveston/Houston.</p>
<p>The current NHC/NOAA forecast has it making a pretty sharp turn to the north around 8 AM Friday, so there probably is a pressure system off the coast of Texas/Mexico which is steering it. If that system dissipates, it would be on a track to hit about 80 miles north of the Texas/Mexico border. Is that region densely populated?</p>
<p>Pretty much anybody’s guess, which is why evacuating a major metro area is a non-starter. Nobody will leave until they are sure where it’s going to hit, then many can’t. That’s why all the talk about failing to evacuate New Orleans was bull. 12 hours tops is about all you can count on for a warning, and then you maybe wrong by a couple of hundred miles.</p>
<p>My dad, who lives on the water in upper Galveston Bay just called and said, “I’m calling to talk to you about our evacuation plans.” I said, “What’s your plan?” He said, “We’re coming to your house.” The more the merrier! Luckily, I have a recently evacuated room.</p>
<p>We should know by mid week if it is actually heading our way, but I am going to the bay tomorrow to trailer our boats into Houston. No sense waiting until later when the traffic will be awful. My house is far enough inland that I should not have too many problems, BUT, for some asinine reason, the person who built our house put in a sunken living room. NOT a good plan in a city that is at sea level. Oh well, it won’t be the first time that we move the furniture into the dining room, thank goodness for brick floors that are easy to sop up.</p>
<p>Just curious, when was the last time that Galveston was evacuated? I don’t recall any evacuations with Allison 4 years ago, and I don’t remember much before then</p>
<p>80 miles north of the border is around the King Ranch area - not heavily populated, but there is Brownsville to the south, Padre Island, S. Padre Island, etc. The bridge (causeway) from Port Isabel to S. Padre Island was knocked down once a couple years ago due to a hurricane. Am 70+ miles north of Galveston, on the far north side of Houston - suburb, closer to the next county. Will be here for another one. We get rain and some wind, but the brunt is at the coast and lower areas in Houston itself. Pictures getting packed in plastic and going upstairs into gameroom. The metal box with documents, flashlight, batteries, radio, water, canned food, can opener, etc., is ready to go if it’s time - will head to San Antonio to friends if things look like they will get worse than normal up in this area.</p>