Thursday, September 22, 2005
Rita is coming
This just isn't good. We are trying to get ready for hurricane Rita. We are inland (1.5 hours from Houston), but we will get lots of wind and rain and will have lots of the evacuees. The University has cancelled classes on Friday, asked students to be prepared to stay in their dorms all day Saturday, and set up shelters and temporary hospitals. My students are either heading home to their families, preparing for family members who are evacuated, or buying food and water to prepare for the storm. A few are planning their mud football games--craziness, but they don't quite know what is coming. Galveston, Houston, and other coastal areas look like they are going to have a difficult time and are being evacuated. Our cell phones aren't working because so many people are trying to use the phones.
Our house has lots of big trees around it, which we expect to be a problem. A few are older and will probably come down--but hopefully not in the direction of our house. We will put plywood over the windows on the back of the house that might get hit by branches. Tomorrow will be the day to clean up everything outside--no potted plants, branches, lawn furniture or anything else. The lines at the gas pump are really long, but it looks like we still have gas (for less than $3 a gallon too!).
I took my camera into the grocery store last night but the battery died. I have to go to the store today so I will try to get some pictures of the empty shelves. Rumor has it that some stores are to get deliveries today, so we might be able to find a few more things. We bought bottled water, bread, canned goods, and other quick and easy foods. We have our barbeque grill and a camp stove, so that might help. It is really hot here (102 today), so losing electric isn't going to be fun.
If it looks truly awful on Saturday early am, we will pack up the child, pets, food and water and come to our offices at the University. If I can, I will be posting and showing pictures during the storm. Think positively for those on the coast in particular!
