RITA CLOSES IN FOR A WILD WEEKEND
As something like a million people have fled the Houston and Gulf Coast areas of Texas, Hurricane Rita can already claim one record; she has been the cause of some of the biggest traffic jams in the world ever! The highways system around Americas fourth largest city simply aren’t designed for this mass Texadus. Authorities having been working around the clock to try and open inbound lanes to outbound traffic and Governor Rick Perry says that as slow as traffic is people should not turn back.
Jessica Lewis writes on her Xanga. “We slept from about 9:30pm till 2:30am, woke up, packed up, and got the hizell out. As I drove out of Kingwood Drive and entered the 59 feeder, there were cars EVERYWHERE. Stopped on the highway.”
Karen Salazar also reported the gridlock. “The traffic on the beltway going north, one of the evacuation routes, was inching along at 4 mph. I can walk that fast. Also, there is not enough gasoline in or around this city to keep your car going for such an ordeal – most stations that I saw yesterday were already out of gas.”
But as the city braces itself for 150mph winds and possibly the worst storm it’s ever seen, by no means has everyone evacuated. News media sources were already reporting that gas stations and supermarkets were running out of supplies as early as Wednesday ahead of the storm that’s predicted to hit late Friday.
On her Xanga Sommer writes. “We were gonna head out of town, but we couldn’t get a hotel or a motel anywhere closer than Lufkin. then we were gonna head to College Station and stay with some of my sisters friends…then I went to get gas this morning and there was none.”
Many though have deliberately decided to stay on and ride out the storm. “Our house is pretty much a fortress; if you shut out the lights you can’t see your hand in front of your face. I think that we are as prepared as we can be” Reports Jude Caldwell as her husband, Matt, defiantly sprays “Rita Sucks” on the boards that now cover their windows and doors.
Posting pictures on her Xanga blog yesterday Jude says that the experience feels surreal. “I’m at the point now where I don’t even want to watch TV to see where the storm is heading. Right now when you walk outside the sun is shining and the sky is perfectly blue. It is a beautiful day!”
Shae Cottar also decided to ride out the storm at his in-laws. But they may well now have additional people staying with them after guests from a dinner party failed to go more than ten miles in six hours after leaving the party due to the traffic gridlock. But when Shae and his brother in law went out to get some extra supplies they were greeted by an alarming scene near a closed Wal-mart store on highway 290.
“500+ evacuees that were stranded. Each with cars, babies, no food, no water, and no gas. I couldn’t believe it. They were all stuck at the gas station waiting on gas that was not going to come. I found a police officer who had a truck and had been filling the back end of it up all day with water and bringing it out to the growing masses. He was near tears. He’d been at it since 5AM and said, “This is the most depressing thing I’ve ever seen.†Writes Shae on his blog.
The BBC has reported that National Guard trucks are taking badly-needed fuel to petrol stations and stranded motorists around Houston. But one eyewitness told of how people were abandoning their cars and possessions when their vehicles ran out of petrol on the motorway.
Evacuating an area this size is fraught with logistical difficulties and other problems, such as the bus fire this morning which has claimed the lives of 24 senior citizens who were being taken to safety on interstate 45. But despite this, according to Texas state officials the slow evacuation is still “on schedule.”
The category 4 hurricane is due to make landfall later today at which point all anyone can do is sit tight and wait for it to pass. The stories of hurricane Rita may only yet be beginning, lets all hope they’re not as bad as some might fear.
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Jessica Lewis’s blog
Sommer’s blog
Karen Salazar’s blog
Jude Caldwell’s blog
Shae Cottar’s blog
Wrote the following comment on Sep 23, 2005 at 6:43 am
Friends from Houston started out at 9am yesterday. 6 hours later they were in Sealy (about a normal 45 min away), 14 hours later they were in Brehnam (a couple of normal hours away). The traffic was horrific, but those who wanted out are out. I was wondering this morning about returning traffic on Monday morn. It will be a ride, that’s for sure.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 23, 2005 at 5:28 am
Marzooky and I are tucked in nicely. It’s a good thing we decided to stay, as exhausted fellow Xangan’s trying to evacuate had to give up after hours just to make a normally 30 minute route. Embracing_Extraordinary made it to the Woodlands last night after a mind boggling 15 hour drive from Houston.
Houston is notorious for traffic on good weather days, but this is amazing. The bus fire is absolutely tragic.
Thanks for keeping the updates going, Simon.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 23, 2005 at 8:03 am
There is complete mayhem down here. Believe it or not, I flew down here just for the purpose of being down here to help out and get things ready for the big storm. The thrill-seeker that I am would not miss this for the world. Why sit in traffic for hours on end, running out of gas, completely dehydrated, when you could be relaxing in your own home?
Wrote the following comment on Sep 23, 2005 at 8:20 am
Newly updated photos and story about the 500+ folks stranded on my Shaeman.com site.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 23, 2005 at 8:43 am
Thanks for your concern. Winds are picking here in NW Houston, but no rain yet. The temp is in the upper 90s F. We’re just waiting it out. I rode my bike down to a local store and there were about fifty people waitng outside to buy some stuff, but I don’t think the grocery store will be opening!No stores are open as far as I can tell. Take care.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 23, 2005 at 9:54 am
Simon,
You are way too concerned about the good ole’ USA.. heh, it borders on obsession… lol Just kidding man. Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.
I and my wife and three teenagers are in northwest houston in our brick, one- level home. We have storm windows and a shelter-in-place as well as a ton of ice and food packed tightly within our deep freezer. We have as much stuff off the floor as possible, and all of our valuable stuff (papers and such) in plastic containers up high. We also have a full propane tank for our grill and all of our outside stuff in the garage. We are riding out the storm along with my little brother (32) and a live-in guest (17).
Thanks again for your thoughts.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 23, 2005 at 10:46 am
Thanks Sie. I am far away from home and fear for all my loved ones (and, my pettiest concern, my car) :-P I appreciate the updates which feel more real than any news CNN can give me at this point. Thank you so much.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 23, 2005 at 12:43 pm
It makes me somewhat glad I left Texas. I was in Corpus Christi. Scary thought, these hurricanes…
Wrote the following comment on Sep 23, 2005 at 4:34 pm
Riders’ on the storm………… Riders’ on the storm……………
Wrote the following comment on Sep 24, 2005 at 6:12 am
that schoolbus pic is the one that pissed me off so much b/c it was in the austin american statesman a whole day after the fact, as their morning news. oh well. growing up in houston spoiled me (news-wise).
Wrote the following comment on Sep 25, 2005 at 5:17 pm
This storm was massive in the gulf as it was approaching. Very scary to think about. Now we all can see what it did. Nature is just amazing and terrifying at the same time.