My parents and sis and bil are under a madatory order to evacuate by 10:00 pm.
My parents will throw a few bags in the truck and then travel 6 hours out of town without worrying about their house.

My sis, on the other hand, is freaking out about her house, two dogs, and when to get on the road. . . .
I tried to calm her down.




Mari

Hugs for all who have family and friends in the Ike's path....

Many thoughts and prayers going up.


Abbie

Mari, where do your folks live?
bizi

Oh Mari
I am so sorry about the plight of some of your family. It must be putting so much stress on you besides them.
Bobby

It looks like "ike" is going to hit the Houston area,and go inland a little,and now it's projected to go from Texas,to Arkansas. Mari,where is your family? BF

I'm ok about the storm.
I more weird and anxious when my people are traveling. I like everyone to stay home and stay put even in good weather -- one more neurosis.



They had to leave because the evacuation is mandatory.

My parents are going to the Texas desert. They took a few things and left early tonight.

My sis and bil will leave Thurs morning to go to north after they do some prepatory work like shutter the windows, and pack all kinds of junk. I told her to get their meds, a change of underwear, put the dogs in the car, and go.

BIL wants to dither around and talk about packing. (Also, I think that he prefers driving early in the morning rather than at night like my father is doing.)
Anyway, they'll be fine.
I hate being out of contact with her, but she has their cellphones and cell phone chargers and promises to call me periodically.

Mari


(I'm going to come back tomorrow and edit out the names of the places.)

Mari.........I pray your family remains safe

and everyone out there with family in the area of Ike........I pray for
their safety too.

oh mari they must be just sick about all of this.
sendi8ng positive thoughts to those in ikes path.

bizi

From bloomberg http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...PDg&refer=home



Hurricane Ike Aims at Houston; Evacuations Called (Update1)

By Brian K. Sullivan
Sept. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Hurricane Ike tripled in size in the central Gulf of Mexico as it churned on a weekend collision course with the 5.6 million residents of the Houston area, where coastal communities prepared to evacuate.
The system's strongest winds extend as far as 115 miles (185 kilometers) from the eye, up from 35 miles yesterday, the Miami- based National Hurricane Center said today. Ike's wind field is now larger than that of Katrina, the storm that devastated New Orleans in 2005, said Jeff Masters, the director of meteorology at private forecaster Weather Underground Inc.
``The total amount of energy is more powerful than Katrina, so we could be seeing a storm surge that could rival Katrina,'' Masters said. The storm is so large ``the location doesn't matter much; it is going to inundate a huge part of the Texas coast.''

They are ok.
Dad made it to the local library to send email to say that they are in a desert outpost 15 miles outside of Junction (very small town). They are in a trailer I think with electricity and A/C but no running water. So, for Mom and Dad, this is a camping adventure. -- my father's instinct is always to go away from people and to go as far as possible.

For my sis, the trip will be more stressful since she is with in-laws and has two big dogs.

Their houses will be safe -- they are out of a flood zone.


I worry about others. The storm surge and flooding from rain could be too much for some buildings.
I think that most people evacuated.

I'm sitting here trying to find out about the storm when I should be in bed.


http://www.weather.com/weather/map/i...e&from=hp_news


http://www.weather.com/maps/news/atl..._animated.html

Radar shows that the storm has come ashore.
Electricity will be out soon if not already for most places in its path.


I should go to sleep instead of being compulsive.
Actually news will be out after day light, or maybe later than that after the storm has passed through.

Mari