Evac'd a little north - not far enough!

[Shoshana]

fyi ... only 10% of my calls to stations going thru now and my previous post, is stuck in edit limbo. I don't want to hit submit again ad double or triple post...

[southerngale]

Brent, I have no idea. They ordered mandatory evacuations for both Jasper and Newton counties and for certain residents in Tyler county as well. They're expecting hurricane force winds up here but I didn't think warranted a mandatory evacuation. Perhaps because it's the Piney Woods up here with a gazillion super tall pine trees. As of now, we're still here, they haven't forced us out nor brought the papers to sign. It's getting close to 8pm. I don't know what's gonna happen, but I hope they don't make us leave. There are no hotel/motel rooms anywhere in Texas that I know of, at least not in the directions people are heading. One person spent 6 hours going 9 1/2 miles, turned around and went back to Beaumont. I'm hearing many similar stories.

Thanks so much for all the info Shoshana and others. The only place with any gas is backed up way down the highway and they don't think they have enough for those people. I don't want to waste what I do have sitting in line, and then not get any. I already did that at the other station. It's hard to get calls through for us too.

Btw, there's a couple of webcams here. One is in Beaumont and one on Pleasure Island. Might come in handy later...

http://www.kfdm.com/index.shtml

[Shoshana]

What about local churches? They may know somewhere you can shelter if the hotel kicks you out... Have you had a chance to call any? I can't get thru to Jasper area at all now or I'd call for you...



Google Map Jasper Churches

Alot of churches there - that's a multipage url.

[JQ Public]

Jeez! You're in jasper and you still have to leave? Look how far north it is???

http://www.cnn.com/US/9902/22/dragging. ... .texas.jpg

[HurricaneQueen]

It does appear to be far inland but unfortunately is very close to the TX/LA border which is very near the potential landfall as currently predicted. This is a huge storm which will have effects far from initial landfall. From what I've seen it may be a Cat 1 very far inland. For Kelly's sake, I hope not.

[southerngale]

Well, a new development. I'm not quite sure what to think. They had us sign a waiver and now the owners are EVACUATING. They basically said to stay as long as we wanted but they were leaving. No sheets, no towels, no service, and towels are hard to come by already. I don't think this place has ever been full with no vacancies.
I wonder where they are gonna fill-up.

This is weird.

The track is very disturbing to me as well.

[Ixolib]

Well, a new development. I'm not quite sure what to think. They had us sign a waiver and now the owners are EVACUATING. They basically said to stay as long as we wanted but they were leaving. No sheets, no towels, no service, and towels are hard to come by already. I don't think this place has ever been full with no vacancies.
I wonder where they are gonna fill-up.

This is weird.

The track is very disturbing to me as well.

I agree, you have found yourself in a very weird situation. Thank goodness you still have internet capability. Soon enough, though, that may disappear. Considering this weird set of circumstances, we're gonna worry pretty heavily if we don't hear from you periodically. Seems the shoe's now on the other foot, but thankfully you're hurricane-smart, so we shouldn't really anticipate any problems with your safety - right!!

[MBismyPlayground]

SouthernG,
I am shocked to see that there are NO shelters for Jasper or Newton Counties even though judges have ordered mand. evacs......

Have you checked this out?? Or tried to call that number??
"For additional information please contact Billy Ted Smith, EMC or James Gunter, Assistant EMC at the Jasper County Emergency Operations Center at 409.383.6168 (non-published number). "

Geez, I am upset and am now gonna have to feed that worry bug that sits on my sholder. You will be in my thoughts big time.

Let us know if your situation changes.

[TreasureIslandFLGal]

IF you are in a typical hotel, it probably has a big window in the room. Check the window and see if it is a slider type or what. Be sure you prop it if you can to help keep it from buckling or moving enough to let in any air or else it will blow out in high winds. Unfortunately, most hotels use very cheap glass since they have a tendancy to need replacing often from any rowdy guests. If you can, board it up. If you can't, see if you can get a mattress from another room, or your own to put up against the window. That may at least help if it does blow out or something tries to smash through it like a tree branch.
Additionally, if the roof is a flat one, check to see if they have the reinforcing brackets on it, otherwise it could easily "peel back". Hopefully you are not reliant on this sort of roof right above yoru head.
Dis the owners shut off the electricity and/or gas at the main switch? Otherwise you could be concerned with fire threat if wires get exposed to water or a gas leak develops.
If some of these issues concern you, please try and get to another shelter of some kind. It may sound strange, but try a kennel. Many board pets in these situations because they are sturdy and not in a flood zone. Central rooms are usually concrete with no windows and the animals are all caged. Seems extreme, but you may be in an extreme situation! -I haven't read all the posts from this thread yet.

[southerngale]

I just called that number for the EOC and asked. No shelters here.

They did board up all the windows here today, with only one door left to the office. They boarded up the others and I'm sure they'll board up that one when they head out. It's not a fancy hotel. This is Jasper. lol We got the best one available at the time, but it's clear they weren't prepared for this many people. At least they boarded everything up though. They left us with some extra towels...if we re-use them, they should last a few days. I thought I was coming far enough inland...it didn't occur to me to bring towels or sheets to a motel. Even if the power went out, they usually have tons extra of that stuff. Oh well, my bad.

Anyway, thanks for the concern y'all. I'm so worried about what might happen to my hometown and my home....at least I have a roof over my head. And it better stay put!!

[LAwxrgal]

I just called that number for the EOC and asked. No shelters here.

They did board up all the windows here today, with only one door left to the office. They boarded up the others and I'm sure they'll board up that one when they head out. It's not a fancy hotel. This is Jasper. lol We got the best one available at the time, but it's clear they weren't prepared for this many people. At least they boarded everything up though. They left us with some extra towels...if we re-use them, they should last a few days. I thought I was coming far enough inland...it didn't occur to me to bring towels or sheets to a motel. Even if the power went out, they usually have tons extra of that stuff. Oh well, my bad.

Anyway, thanks for the concern y'all. I'm so worried about what might happen to my hometown and my home....at least I have a roof over my head. And it better stay put!!

We're thinking about you and you're in our prayers.

[Shoshana]

Are y'all alone at that motel? Or are the other guests? Does anyone outside that motel know exactly where y'all are just in case? (Like in case we don't hear from you and we send someone""Knock Knock! This is Storm2K checkin up on y'all!")

'shana

[bevgo]

Southerngale--we will keep you in our prayers. I don't think they can force you to leave though. Hang in there.

[Pebbles]

Southerngale... you know your in my prayers!!! Stay safe and check with us when you can. I know you tried hard to get out and hopefully you will be ok where you are. Crossing my fingers and praying that you will be! *BIIIIIIIIG HUGS and LOTSA LOVE*****

[CajunMama]

OH Frack.....I am just shaking with rage at those owners. What they are doing is so unresponsible. Take care my twin and hunker down good. I'll be praying hard for you and your family.

[Doc Seminole]

I am like, "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!! Southerngale, looks like you all are in the potential bullseye.... CRAZY!

If I were you, I'd find out where the police, fire or ambulance dudes are going to be. Maybe they would have a better shelter than an older motel. I don't think they would turn you away. Like start crying or something.

Hopefully gas supplies can get replenished some over night or in the morning, maybe then you could get gas to get to a shelter in another town.

Take care and we'll take this before the one who is charge here.

Doc Seminole

[MSRobi911]

Frack

My thoughts and prayers are with you and will be until we hear from you after this storm passes. Stay safe and I know you know how to do that. I am so worried about you and Frick. I guess the shoe is on the other foot now, three weeks ago it was ya'll worried about me, now its me worried about ya'll. Please call if you get a chance!

Mary

[Garnetcat5]

it's probably the rainfall amounts that will come after the storm...I heard 30 inches in some places...thought to center in Ar/La/Tx region if it doesn't do an Allison. Just a FYI not to hurt but for information...Make a quick decision it took me 12 hours to get from SW Houston (richmond tx) to Temple (tx) and didn't find gas until Sommersville TX and above. Check txdot for road conditions maybe? Take all the water you have and a blanket to cover for using the bathroom cuz the lines were long in gas stations and by afternoon filthy. We drove without ac for most the way until I got gas...Good luck and God Bless.

[Doc Seminole]

southerngale,

Are you there? What's going on today....

[southerngale]

We're still here. They had us sign a waiver saying that we were responsible for the lives in our rooms, releasing them liability. We watched them load up their cars, board up the last door to the office and go. They handed us a load of towels from the dryer, extra toilet paper, soap, a few candles and matchbooks and off to Longview they went.

There are some other people here...we've made friends with some interesting people. We've been left in the very sad situation of turning people away. When they ask where the office is.."behind that plywood over there." Dozens of cars were in the parking lot with people sleeping in them. People stuck in the bumper to bumper highway have been knocking on motel rooms doors asking to use a bathroom. Nothing is opened here anymore.
Last night I went to look for gas at a "hidden" place off the main highway and once out, I realized all the traffic was northbound. I couldn't even turn left when I needed to...cops had it blocked off forcing people to go north. I had to go had to go a little farther north to turn left, find the gas station and then make my way through backroads to get far enough down the highway that i could come back up northbound to get to the motel. Btw, the hidden gas station did have supreme gas. After waiting in line for a while, I was able to get some!! So when I headed south through backroads so that I could hit the highway and go northbound, I was sure I went far enough, could see the highway ahead but they had the road blocked. A big ol orange and white gate thing blocking it. Too bad...we just went around it. We couldn't NOT come back.

Frick, they told us to leave and we didn't. I dunno...

Thanks for the prayers everyone.