It's been a busy morning here. Putting plywood on the windows, storing lawn furniture and pot plants, getting gas and water and propane. It looks like Lili is going ashore just tho the east of us, but it didn't take the northward turn until just in the last few minutes. For the last two days, every time they showed it's projected path, the line ended exactly on my back porch.

We're about 20 miles inland, and about 30 miles west of the Louisiana border. But, of course, we are in the bayou country, even outside of the flood gates for Port Arthur. They called for a voluntary evacuation at 6:00 this morning, and I think we are the only ones left in the neighborhood.

I've stuck out a couple of these before, but I know that a big storm surge would put water in our house. If Lili goes to the east, we will probably be OK, if it doesn't turn, or if it wobbles west, we're done for. Our main cabin is raised four feet, but the guest house where one son lives is only two feet up. Also, the two houses down the street, in one of which the other son lives, are about four feet lower overall than we are. A ten foot storm surge would do us quite a lot of damage, even if we didn't loose the roof to wind. We've also got 24 large windows in the main house alone.

We are going to wait until we see what it looks like tomorrow morning before we try to leave. The highways are bumper-to-bumper now and have been all morning, moving at about 10 mph. Being caught in gridlock for 18 hours is not my idea of a smart thing to do. I do have the motorhome loaded up, extra gas and the tow car hooked up behind, so if we decide to run, all we'll have to do is load the pets and go. I imagine we'll know about 2 am, and the roads should be clearer by then, anyhow.

I hate to leave, but I know we'll at least loose power for a couple of days, and it's still in the 80's here this time of year. Two days without air conditioning is not fun. I imagine we would camp in the motorhome and run the genset and it's AC.

Anyhow, I'll let you know, but I might not get back on line with the story for a while. I'm on a borrowed connection right now, as my normal server has started moving their equipment to higher ground.

To any of you over towards New Orleans, Vermillion Bay or New Ibearia, I wish you well, and be safe.

Lon

-- Lon (lgal@exp.net), October 02, 2002

Answers

Thinking of you, be safe!

-- helen (big@storm.s), October 02, 2002.

Lon, don't wait until 2 AM! This one is looking really bad, and I don't see how it can miss your area. I realized gridlocked roads won't help you out, but when that eases you need to go ahead and leave. Please.

-- helen (biting@nails.the.steel.kind), October 02, 2002.

Thanks for the concern Helen. You got room at the farm for us? Just kidding, I know you would if we needed it. It just turned into a catagory 4, and it ain't looking good. If it doesn't turn north pretty soon, I'm gonna get worried! Can you believe that my youngest son is still having to work -at the movie theater! He said there was one customer, but the new manager is from up north, and has never seen a big storm on the gulf coast before.

Anyway, he gets off about 5 pm, and like I said, everything is hooked up, loaded and pointed out the driveway. The only thing that could trap us here is high water, and we shouldn't see that until tomorrow morning at the soonest.

-- Lon (lgal@exp.net), October 02, 2002.

Honey, you pack my phone number and give us ring when you get close. We'll find you and take you home with us.

-- helen (cleaning@house.right.quick), October 02, 2002.

Lon, please be careful! You're thinking of heading North and I'm wondering if I should head South? My kids are about to have a coronary! ;-)

They keep saying it will turn to the North, but I'm not seeing that. Each time they give new coordinates, it goes further to the West than North.

I know what you mean about the traffic! At least I would be going opposite of the flow. What to do.... ???

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), October 02, 2002.

Gayla, it looks like Houston is gonna miss all the fun, but the traffic still might be a nightmare. If you come this way, don't expect a hotel room anywhere within 200 miles north.

I just got this email from a friend in Houston:

Houston Hurricane Season Notes

We're about to enter the peak of the hurricane season. Any day now, you're going to turn on the TV and see a weather person pointing to some radar blob out in the Gulf of Mexico and making two basic meteorological points:

(1) There is no need to panic.

(2) We could all be killed.

Yes, hurricane season is an exciting time to be in Houston. If you're new to the area, you're probably wondering what you need to do to prepare for the possibility that we'll get hit by "the big one.'' Based on our experiences, we recommend that you follow this simple three-step hurricane preparedness plan:

STEP 1.

Buy enough food and bottled water to last your family for at least three days.

STEP 2.

Put these supplies into your car.

STEP 3.

Drive to Nebraska and remain there until Halloween.

Unfortunately, statistics show that most people will not follow this sensible plan. Most people will foolishly stay here in Houston. We'll start with one of the most important hurricane preparedness items:

HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE:

If you own a home, you must have hurricane insurance. Fortunately, this insurance is cheap and easy to get, as long as your home meets two basic requirements:

(1) It is reasonably well-built, and (2) It is located in Nebraska.

Unfortunately, if your home is located in South Houston, or any other area that might actually be hit by a hurricane, most insurance companies would prefer not to sell you hurricane insurance, because then they might be required to pay YOU money, and that is certainly not why they got into the insurance business in the first place. So you'll have to scrounge around for an insurance company, which will charge you an annual premium roughly equal to the replacement value of your house. At any moment, this company can drop you like used dental floss. Since Hurricane Georges, I have had an estimated 27 different home-insurance companies.

This week, I'm covered by the Bob and Big Stan Insurance Company, under a policy which states that, in addition to my premium, Bob and Big Stan are entitled, on demand, to my kidneys.

SHUTTERS:

Your house should have hurricane shutters on all the windows, all the doors, and -- if it's a major hurricane -- all the toilets. There are several types of shutters, with advantages and disadvantages:

Plywood shutters: The advantage is that, because you make them yourself, they're cheap. The disadvantage is that, because you make them yourself, they will fall off.

Sheet-metal shutters: The advantage is that these work well, once you get them all up. The disadvantage is that once you get them all up, your hands will be useless bleeding stumps, and it will be December.

Roll-down shutters: The advantages are that they're very easy to use, and will definitely protect your house. The disadvantage is that you will have to sell your house to pay for them.

"Hurricane-proof'' windows: These are the newest wrinkle in hurricane protection: They look like ordinary windows, but they can withstand hurricane winds! You can be sure of this, because the salesman says so. He lives in Nebraska.

HURRICANE PROOFING YOUR PROPERTY:

As the hurricane approaches, check your yard for movable objects like barbecue grills, planters, patio furniture, visiting relatives, etc. You should, as a precaution, throw these items into your swimming pool (if you don't have a swimming pool, you should have one built immediately). Otherwise, the hurricane winds will turn these objects into deadly missiles.

EVACUATION ROUTE:

If you live in a low-lying area, you should have an evacuation route planned out. (To determine whether you live in a low-lying area, look at your driver's license; if it says "Houston,'' you live in a low-lying area.) The purpose of having an evacuation route is to avoid being trapped in your home when a major storm hits. Instead, you will be trapped in a gigantic traffic jam several miles from your home, along with two hundred thousand other evacuees. So, as a bonus, you will not be lonely.

HURRICANE SUPPLIES:

If you don't evacuate, you will need a mess of supplies. Do not buy them now! Houston tradition requires that you wait until the last possible minute, then go to the supermarket and get into vicious fights with strangers over who gets the last can of SPAM. In addition to food and water, you will need the following supplies:

23 flashlights and at least $167 worth of batteries that as it turns out, when the power goes off, are all the wrong sizes for the flashlights.

Bleach. (No, I don't know what the bleach is for. NOBODY knows what the bleach is for, but it's traditional, so GET some!)

A 55-gallon drum of underarm deodorant.

A big knife that you can strap to your leg. (This will be useless in a hurricane, but it looks cool.)

A large quantity of raw chicken, to placate the alligators. (Ask anybody who went through Betsy; after the hurricane, there WILL be irate alligators.)

$35,000 in cash or diamonds so that, after the hurricane passes, you can buy a generator from a man with no discernible teeth.

Of course these are just basic precautions. As the hurricane draws near, it is vitally important that you keep abreast of the situation by turning on your television and watching TV reporters in rain slickers stand right next to the ocean and tell you over and over how vitally important it is for everybody to stay away from the ocean.

Good luck, and remember: It's great living in Paradise!

-- Old Lon (lgal@exp.net), October 02, 2002.

"Of course these are just basic precautions. As the hurricane draws near, it is vitally important that you keep abreast of the situation by turning on your television and watching TV reporters in rain slickers stand right next to the ocean and tell you over and over how vitally important it is for everybody to stay away from the ocean."

They forgot to mention: in the background there will always be some idiot kid surfing the waves. (His parents must be REAL proud!) ;-) There will also be a tourist with his family (holding little kids by the hand so they won't blow away) who will say, "I've always wanted to see what a hurricane was like."

I hope you're right about Houston, Lon. My heart is in my throat... I was in New Orleans when Camille hit Mississippi. I was 12 years old and I will NEVER forget. (We had almost 100 mph winds.) We went to see the area shortly afterwards, and all that was left for hundreds of yards were cement slabs. Please don't take a chance!

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), October 02, 2002.

I imagine we'll leave in a few hours and go north to my brother's near Lake Sam Rayburn. They've had tornados in that area before associated with this kind of storm, so it's all a chance. I feel sorry for my neighbors over in Lousianna, though. It really looks grim for Grand Isle and New Iberia, both beautiful places. Even New Orleans might get it's feet wet with this one.

We will be on the "dry" side (west), so not much rain, and the winds will be offshore from the northeast, so that will help blow the water out of the bayou lands. But they are still calling for 50-70 mph winds here, even with the storm turning north. So, it's probably time to hit the road. If I get drownded, it may be awhile before I'm back on line. :•)

-- Lon (lgal@exp.net), October 02, 2002.

((((Lon))))((((Kit))))) - y'all take care now, y'hear?

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), October 02, 2002.

Please don't get 'drownded'. We want to know how the story ends. ;-) (Emma is still tied up!) Don't head towards Houston, either. My son is stuck out on I-10 with what he describes as "lots of cars from Louisiana piled high with junk". ;-)

Lili finally moved more North than West. I'm breathing a sigh of relief, but praying for all of those in her path.

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), October 02, 2002.

Thanks for the info, Gayla, and for the concern, Trish. I'm thinking we'll just stay put now. It looks like we'll only get 35-50 mph winds and very little storm surge. Anything less than 6 feet won't get in the main house.

You should've seen the sunset tonight. The the first rain band hit about 10 minutes later. I'll keep you informed, and try to think about poor Emma in the meantime. I really didn't know that Glory was going with her until the last moment, and now I gotta do something with her as well. I'm guessing they will turn out OK.

-- Lon (lgal@exp.net), October 02, 2002.

Well, it's first light, and we're still here. Getting a little breeze and we've had two little rain showers in the night. I guess we missed a bullet again. I'm glad I guessed right, but I could just have easily been dead wrong.

The worst thing about hurricanes is that you have to get out and board up the windows two days before it might reach you. And two days before a hurricane is normally 90 degree temps with 110% humidity. I'd do it again, though, if a class 4 storm was coming.

The weather channel guys did an excellent job, this time. While the local guys were gining crazy, the NHC folks were predicting the northward turn that Lili took yesterday afternoon.

Speaking of local weathermen, I heard some really dumb stuff this time. One said (with wide eyes and that listen-to-me-or-die look) not to head west without a full tank, because you could not get off the interstate before the first Houston exit. The first Houston exit is less than 30 miles. I also heard a weather channel guy say (while he stood in all his heavy weather gear, with kids walking by in shorts and t-shirts) that you MUST take lots of cash with you, because if the power is out, the gas pumps would not take your credit card. I guess he was talking about that Amish gas station where they still work the pump by hand.

Anyway, it looks like we won't be affected at all, and I thank everyone for thinking about us. Now, I think I'll get the wheelbarrow and stroll the deserted neighborhood. The missus has a birthday coming up and wants a new TV.

-- Lon (lgal@exp.net), October 03, 2002.

Lon and Gayla, you must be in a most frightening situation with family all over the place and not knowing whether to go or stay. Our late night news showed the incredible traffic jams which must put you off travelling, but I would be happier to hear that you had got out for the time being rather than staying and taking your chances. Either way, I hope you and your families come through this safely. Will be waiting for good news from you both via the net. Sincerely. Carol.

-- Carol (c@down.under.com), October 03, 2002.

Carol, we're all OK. Thank you for caring!

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), October 03, 2002.

Speakin of the senate

Shamsheer

watch out for redlof

-- imme (¿¿¿??@greenspun.com), January 21, 2003.