how are houstonians preparing?

[Houstonia]

Who's staying? Who's going?

If you're staying, how are you preparing?

If you're going, where in Houston do you live that you feel you should leave?

I'm in NW Harris county, but I'm going to drive down to my parent's house on Thursday evening/Friday morning (assuming we don't work on Friday). My dad needs help bringing some heavy stuff in.

I couldn't convince them to leave and I guess they don't really have to. Tehy are not in a flood zone (a few blocks from the 500 year flood zone). no major bayous in the area. I'm more worried about wind damage with them. However, there was NO WAY I was going to spend another hurricane/tropical storm by myself.

So, the kitties and I will be traveling down into town. I hope to take pictures of whatever is going on!

What are Y'ALL doing?!?

[jasons2k]

I live near The Woodlands, 30 miles north of downtown, about 80 miles inland, and I am reluctantly staying.

I will have my best friend, who just bought a house on the Galveston West End a month ago, as a house guest.

We are both sending our wives up to Dallas to our parents with the irreplaceables (pictures, etc.).

We have plenty of dry food, water, propane, batteries, flashlights, 2 weatheradios, battery backup on my PC, etc. We are prepared to lose power for a week.

I would feel better with my windows boarded up, but I have a brick house and that's very difficult to do. Hopefully they will hold.

All the lawn furniture is going in the pool. All potted plants in the garage.

My biggest fear is a tree falling on the house - I have lots of big pine trees, but luckily none on the SE or SW side.

The best thing I can do is pray.

[hicksta]

J, please consider leaving.

[ROCK]

J, please consider leaving.

From the Woodlands?? Lets put this into perspective here. 80 miles inland what sort of wind reduction would he see? I am thinking low cat1 winds for a short period of time. I would ride it out but unfortunately I live 50 miles inland Pearland Beltway area and expect to have cat 2-low 3 winds. This all hinges on present track and intensity.

[hicksta]

J, just to be safe bro.

[jasons2k]

I will man. If it were a Cat 5 moving north at 20 mph along I-45, I might leave then. But for now I'm planning on a Cat 1-Cat 2 conditions.

I have a secure interior room. I'll hunker in the bathtub if needed.

Lemme clarify - Cat. 1-2 here, not on the coast of course!!

[ericinmia]

I will man. If it were a Cat 5 moving north at 20 mph along I-45, I might leave then. But for now I'm planning on a Cat 1-Cat 2 conditions.

I have a secure interior room. I'll hunker in the bathtub if needed.

Lemme clarify - Cat. 1-2 here, not on the coast of course!!

Lesson from hurricane andrew... break a window.. and kiss the house goodbye.

Go to home depot and get special clips that hold the plywood into the brick wall. They won't hurt the house, and you'll have something covering the windows. At least its something. A few bucks now saves lives and thousands and thousands in water and wind repair.
-Eric

[secretforecaster]

I live in NW Harris County in Spring near Kuykendahl & I will be staying. I guess I am about 20 –25 miles from downtown Houston. Just moved from 288 & Holly Hall area.

Tomorrow I will be buying food, water & batteries (if I can find them).

My friend is still laughing at me & thinking I am overreacting. She is not preparing AT ALL!

I am in a very new subdivision & there is a lot of construction going on. In front of all the houses being built there are stacks of bricks, portable toilets, & things that could be turned into projectiles. I hope by Thursday that all that stuff is removed!

Because the land has been cleared for development, there are no trees, well only newly planted ones.

I am praying for us all!

[Shoshana]

My cousins are staying too - my sister said when she talked to them they told her they were 'near' The Woodlands and at a 25' elevation.

My friends and their families in Texas City I haven't heard from yet. I'm sure they'll be packin up and going to a relative in Ft Worth. They leave anytime there's a real chance of getting hit - they won't stay for anything.

My sister's got inlaws in Houston - forgot to ask her what they're doin. Hopefully evacuating to Belton where other family is. They live in SW Houston I think so they may stay put - you never know with them. But I'll put a flea in my sister's ear...