Dean: Evac Topic

[soney]

Thanks very much for all the extra tips on things I may have forgotten. I very much appreciate it.

[GalvestonDuck]

Sorry, but I have to disagree with the advice to take EVERYTHING possible. Take EVERYONE possible first. Take the things that can't be replaced (family photos, important papers, special heirlooms, maybe jewelry). Of course, take clothes that you might need (because doing laundry can be a problem for a while). And obviously, take emergency supplies, meds, tools, batteries, flashlights, and those other obvious items for living after the storm. But I don't think you need to worry about all the clothes or furniture, dishes, appliances, electronics, tools, Christmas decorations, etc. That's what you SHOULD have insurance for. Like Lester Burnam says in American Beauty, "It's just stuff." It can be replaced.

Lives can't.

[opera ghost]

Doesn't hurt to load down the car with as much as you can fit though- as long as you're not delaying leaving for stuff or leaving someone behind for stuff.

We're going to sit this one out in Houston. The only tolerable evacuation location is San Antonio for us and that doesn't seem much more safe than staying home with the probability of it moving south if it misses. Not in any of the voluntary evacuation zones and the neighborhood is well set up for riding it out (few trees, mostly multi story homes/apartments built in the last 10 years etc). Going to start saving water/food and charging up the small generator we have.

Kinda nervous, we evacuated ahead of the rush for Rita (and beat the rush back by leaving at 2am the night before they started re-opening the gas stations) so this will be the first time we made the conscious decision to ride out whatever comes since Allison. (and who knew Allison was going to be *that* bad.)

[Wren]

I'd suggest that people have alternate routes, as in plan B, in case all the kinks are still not worked out of the state's evac plans, and by all means have a Texas road map in your car.

[CrazyC83]

I'd suggest that people have alternate routes, as in plan B, in case all the kinks are still not worked out of the state's evac plans, and by all means have a Texas road map in your car.

One showing back roads, including county roads, would be most useful...

[Janie2006]

In my experience, backroads have saved the bacon quite a few times. I've been able to arrive at my destination without encountering the nightmare traffic jams, mostly due to a knowledge of the local road system and the rural state highways beyond it. Trust me, it's a real advantage.

[Starburst]

Special Weather Statement
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
824 AM CDT SAT AUG 18 2007

TXZ248>257-181845-
ZAPATA-JIM HOGG-BROOKS-KENEDY-STARR-HIDALGO-INLAND WILLACY-
INLAND CAMERON-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ZAPATA...HEBBRONVILLE...FALFURRIAS...
SARITA...RIO GRANDE CITY...ROMA...MCALLEN...EDINBURG...PHARR...
MISSION...WESLACO...RAYMONDVILLE...BROWNSVILLE...HARLINGEN...
PORT MANSFIELD...PORT ISABEL...SOUTH PADRE ISLAND...
LAGUNA HEIGHTS...LAGUNA VISTA
824 AM CDT SAT AUG 18 2007

...SOUTH TEXAS RESIDENTS SHOULD BEGIN HURRICANE PREPARATION...

ALL RESIDENTS IN DEEP SOUTH TEXAS AND THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY SHOULD
BEGIN PREPARATIONS AND PLAN AN EVACUATION ROUTE FOR POSSIBLE
HURRICANE CONDITIONS. HURRICANE DEAN REMAINS ON A WESTERLY TRACK
WHICH SHOULD TAKE IT INTO THE SOUTH CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO NEAR
THE YUCATAN PENINSULA AS EARLY AS TUESDAY MORNING. DEAN IS A
DANGEROUS CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE AND IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A MAJOR
HURRICANE OVER THE NEXT 5 DAYS.

RESIDENTS ALONG THE LOWER TEXAS COAST AND DEEP SOUTH TEXAS SHOULD
TAKE ACTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY WELL IN ADVANCE OF ANY
WATCHES AND WARNINGS. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE BEFORE YOU
PREPARE. IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A PLAN...IT IS TIME TO PUT YOUR PLAN
INTO ACTION.

ITEMS THAT ONE SHOULD BEGIN TO PROTECT WOULD BE FAMILY RECORDS
LIKE BIRTH CERTIFICATES...PASSPORTS AND PICTURES. OTHER ITEMS OF
IMPORTANCE THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTED ARE AN INVENTORY OF HOUSEHOLD
GOODS...INSURANCE POLICIES...COPIES OF WILLS...TRUSTS AND
DEEDS...CREDIT CARDS...FAMILY VALUABLES...AND VITAL COMPUTER
INFORMATION.

OTHER ACTIONS RESIDENTS SHOULD TAKE SHOULD HURRICANE CONDITIONS
THREATEN THE LOWER TEXAS COAST...CHECK YOUR DISASTER SUPPLY KIT.
PURCHASE FRESH BATTERIES AND CHECK YOUR RADIO AND FLASHLIGHTS.
FILL YOUR AUTOMOBILES WITH GAS. GET EXTRA CASH. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
FOOD AND WATER FOR YOUR PETS.

PERSONAL PROPERTY...LIKE CARS...BOATS...AND HOMES SHOULD BE
SECURED...TIED DOWN OR REMOVED FROM THE WATER. PICK UP AND SECURE
LAWN TOOLS AND POOL FURNITURE...STORE BARBECUES AND GRILLS AND
ANY OTHER ITEMS MAY BECOME FLYING DEBRIS.

FINALLY BUT NOT LEAST...NOTIFY FAMILY MEMBERS OF YOUR
PLANS...CHECK ON ELDERLY NEIGHBORS...HAVE EMERGENCY NUMBERS
READILY AVAILABLE AND IF RELOCATION IS NECESSARY LEAVE AS EARLY
AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID DELAYS.

PLANNING AHEAD COULD SAVE CONSIDERABLE TIME AND HARDSHIPS IN AN
EMERGENCY SITUATION.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION ON HURRICANE PREPARATION AND THE LATEST OF
HURRICANE DEAN.

$$

[Dionne]

If we were anywhere on the Texas or Louisiana coast, we would evacuate. When you know there is a cat 4 or 5 coming your way......get inland as far as you can.

For those that have already decided to stay and later discover your in trouble there is one thing you can do.....Write your social security number on a piece of paper.....put it in a heavy zip lock baggie and duct tape it around your arm.

I know that sounds terrible. It's called reality. If you find yourself in a landfalling Cat4 with big time sustained winds and your riding out the storm is a standard residential home....it is unlikely your "shelter" will survive.

As far as what to evac with......all legal documents, all pets, plently of cash, maker sure your spare tire is still good, water, snacks, any medications.....and leave EARLY.

Everything else is just "stuff".....

A closer look makes me think landfall is going to be in old Mexico. I'm going with the pro-mets on this one.

[wx247]

Fox News just mentioned that FEMA's director has suggested that all people in SE Texas to prepare for possible evacuation. I am kind of confused. I know that this makes sense... you should always be prepared for possible evacs, but isn't that a little disconcerting for residents especially since the NHC and others believe that Dean will likely hit EC Mexico?

[Stormavoider]

Fox News just mentioned that FEMA's director has suggested that all people in SE Texas to prepare for possible evacuation. I am kind of confused. I know that this makes sense... you should always be prepared for possible evacs, but isn't that a little disconcerting for residents especially since the NHC and others believe that Dean will likely hit EC Mexico?

5 days out?

[Sjones]

Fox News just mentioned that FEMA's director has suggested that all people in SE Texas to prepare for possible evacuation. I am kind of confused. I know that this makes sense... you should always be prepared for possible evacs, but isn't that a little disconcerting for residents especially since the NHC and others believe that Dean will likely hit EC Mexico?

Very disconcerning...seems like someone somewhere knows something and refuses to spill the beans...

[lrak]

Fox News just mentioned that FEMA's director has suggested that all people in SE Texas to prepare for possible evacuation. I am kind of confused. I know that this makes sense... you should always be prepared for possible evacs, but isn't that a little disconcerting for residents especially since the NHC and others believe that Dean will likely hit EC Mexico?

Very disconcerning...seems like someone somewhere knows something and refuses to spill the beans...

I think the cone has a 35% faliure rate at this point. They have to make news money somehow.