Rita report from Central Texas

[E's]

Note: To better understand the scope of this NATIONAL disruption, look at a map - or better yet - a geographical atlas description of the State of Texas. Between towns and cities there are VAST areas of open land ... "Miles and miles and miles of Texas" as an old song has it... Towns are few and far between and ranch houses are mostly located away from interstates and main roads...

As of yesterday afternoon, every hotel/motel room here in Austin, San Antonio and all surrounding towns/communities was booked. By last night Nan and I found the Sam's and Walmart packed with frightened people, all the water gone... and the evacuation of Houston was barely underway then. Nan had told friends in Houston - 2 adults with a baby - they can come here (we are 3 adults, an 8 year-old child, 3 large dogs and 4 cats in a 3 bedroom cottage) so we needed to stock up on nonperishable food and supplies (Austin are may experience wind/rain storms and power outages.) Later last evening my brother called to say one side of the clan who live in low-lying area below Houston, will come out to the Medina County ranch; another group would stay in the San Antonio condo... that is, IF and when they can get there: they all had planned to start out this morning ...

Where are the other thousands upon thousands of Houston, Galveston and TX/LA Gulf Coast folks going to go, and what will they do?

[/url]http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9389157/[url]

And when we add to this crisis the renewed crisis in Greater New Orleans, the situation becomes truly mind-boggling. Only a few inches of rain from this monster storm could easily broach the damaged levees and flood the city again. Son and the couple he is staying with were in River Ridge [look at a map of GNO] as of yesterday, but not allowed back into Lakeview... I am hoping they have not been ordered to evacuate again, as Orleans Parish returnees have been...

I am posting here in order to reach as many forum viewers as possible. Don't know when I can be online again, as I must get busy. Winnie is doing well BTW - she loves it here, being part of her family (or "pack") It is interesting to watch how she relates and learns; she is friendly with all the cats as well as with elderly mix Medb ('Mave') and Sergio the golden... one of the Siamese adoptees, Sasha, has become our special friend, sleeping on my bed and kissing Winnie when she has a chance... too cute!

E's Hobbit
Austin, Texas
23 September 2005

[E's]

Or is it only the 22nd? I know (think I know ) it Thursday, and am almost positive it is still September. )

[Marty]

Take care...sounds like you will have a houseful, as well as your hands full. The scope of this storm is frightening.

[Tambrey]

I just cannot believe that another powerful storm is coming in...I cried this morning when I heard the latest news of people having to evacuate...you take care and stay safe...I pray that your DS and his friends are able to get in one more time to save whatever can be from your home...

[CrystalsMom]

I cannot believe that you have to go through this again. Stay safe and post when you can because we worry about you.

P.S. Winnie sounds like she's doing great!! We should all be dogs or cats and have no worries, right??

[momPaws]

Unbelieveable as we watch here on TV...at least glad you are out of harms way now...bless Winnie and her little friend sounds so cute.

[k9Karen]

This is totally unbelievable isn't it? Rita just seems to want to get closer and closer to NOLA. I'm glad it has reduced in strength somewhat, but it's still an incredibly powerful hurricane. Here's hoping the levees can withstand any impact that's to come. I also hope that wherever landfall occurs, the damage is minimal. My nephew has been living in the Houston area for the past few months, so we are watching this one closely for that reason too.

So glad to hear all the animals are getting along so well. It's amazing how adaptable they can be.

[TheSkeptic]

Just think, these two storms will have devastated an area equal to one third of the whole continent of Europe. A catastrophe of biblical proportions. All we need now is for Los Angeles and San Francisco to have the "Big One." I wonder if the country could recover from such devastation in our life times.

[Ash]

I was thinking about that too. With Katrina and Rita they have already announced a major impact on the economy. I think one more (major earthquake, major terrorist attack) and the US will be on its knees.

[k9Karen]

I was thinking about that too. With Katrina and Rita they have already announced a major impact on the economy. I think one more (major earthquake, major terrorist attack) and the US will be on its knees.

We are much more resilient than that Ash. We will probably see some political fallout among elected officials at all levels, as well as shortages of certain materials - and inflation is almost certain which will affect us on every level, but this country can and will survive. Don't let the sensationalism you may be hearing from the international press let you think any thing else.