KatDaddy back home in League City

[KatDaddy]

We fared great with no damage. Its been very crazy and glad to be home. I hope everyone gets home safe to no damage. This has been quite an event.

[HurryKane]

So glad to hear you are safe and sound!

[Canebo]

Welcome back and glad everything is just the way you left it. No damage here either. The power went off for about 5 seconds just after 2 AM this morning, but that was it. I got all of the boards off the windows and it looks like home again here.

[dwg71]

Welcome back and glad everything is just the way you left it. No damage here either. The power went off for about 5 seconds just after 2 AM this morning, but that was it. I got all of the boards off the windows and it looks like home again here.

It seems like there was only minor damage in Harris and Galveston County (Yaga's wall excluded) and areas west. North Sides have more trees and the damage was a little worse. Far eastern Chambers county and to the east had more damage.

We dodged a bullet, I am so thankful.

[Rainband]

We fared great with no damage. Its been very crazy and glad to be home. I hope everyone gets home safe to no damage. This has been quite an event.

Glad your safe and sound

[vbhoutex]

Good news KatDaddy and Canebo!!!! DWG71 hit it on the head as far as Harris Couty damage is concerned. We have trees on houses in our neighborhood. The trees are wonderful for shade but not good when we have windstorms!! Compared to our neighbors to the East we dodged a huge bullet here in the metro area!!! For that I am thankful and I am praying for a quick recovery for all those to our East that have been severely affected.

[ROCK]

If there is one thing I have learned from this it is my plans need a complete over haul for next year. As much as I know about these things I did not have my plans made in time to evac. 18 hours on the road running out of gas WILL NOT HAPPEN AGIAN. Just a few things that I will do from here on out.

1. Send wife and house cats (3) out of town 4 days out
2. Have boards ready for windows with all tools to do it with.
3. LOTS LOTS OF GAS.
4. More food
5. Generator for the days after. Even though I didnt lose power

and the most important plan is to make sure the inlaws have a plan also so I dont have to worry about them. Let me tell you, in-laws god love them, didnt have a clue what to do or how to do it. They relied on me and that is to much stress. I spent more time and nerves on them than my own family.


Just glad we dodged the bullet on this one and hope people east get on their feet soon......

BTW- thanks DWG, KAT, HOUTex, Jeff, for your insight. Helped alot....


Paul

[tampawx]

Glad you all are safe.

[Eye10TX]

Didn't see anywhere else on the forum to check in, so am doing so here.

I feel kind of silly saying I'm OK after riding it out in Houston, but I certainly didn't feel silly for the 3 days I was "rushing my hurricane preparations to completion," as the NHC advisories always say!

Today was decompression day. Too exhausted to undo all the windows and doors, etc., yet.

My learning experience: not to worry about lightning in the rainbands, as there isn't any. Could've gotten online, but was afraid of electrical storm. Turns out all the orange glowing flares I saw in the sky were transformers blowing--at least, it was the reflection of them in the low-lying clouds.

Never lost power, after 3 little brown-down flickers (not even brown-outs) or water. Have a ton of hurricane food and bottled water and ice to "enjoy" now, if I dare to relax before November.

Of course, if I consume them or use my batteries or anything, that will guarantee another storm's arrival as soon as I'm unprepared! But I doubt it will be another Rita with Cat 5 strength and millibar pressure in the 800s!

Glad most are safe and hope ALL will be.

[no advance]

Glad your safe. Might as well get organized and ready for the next yrs. Texas is very vulnerable and will one day not be so lucky.

[Typhoon_Willie]

Glad to see you guya are ok!

[vbhoutex]

Even an old fart hurricane veteran like me has learned from this experience. The gas situation has taught me that I will be buying four 5 gallon gas containers that will be filled well in advance of a bonafied threat so I will have gas for evacuation(if needed)past the full tank I already had. I have learned that I will have proper boarding prepared beforehand, even though we really didn't need it this time. We did board up some windows, but not like they should have been. Even though I may never have to use it, I may still go out and buy a generator.

I am just so glad that as best we can tell, all of our Houston area posters seem to have come through the experience in good shape. Even Kelly in Beaumont is ok even though she doesn't know what kind of shape her house is in.

[inotherwords]

I am very glad so many of the Hou/Galv. posters are OK. I am still hoping to hear from the posters who were in Kemah and also in Beaumont/Port Arthur and Lake Charles.

[no advance]

Dont forget to keep those boards dry. Ive had plywood in my garage for 10 yrs or so and its fine. Tightly stack them so they dont warp.

[Garnetcat5]

Glad you are ok....you ended up in the mission bend area...grew up there..and teach in that area.. coworkers N of I-10 were complaining of hwy6 being turned into 2-lane road because of construction...what incredibly horrible timing! During hurricane season construction on a evac. path.....*smacking txdot on back of head*... If ever again we face this contact me as I know lots of backroads in that area to avoid hwy 6!!! We will be redoing our evac plan to avoid Bellville and cameron and hopefully cross over 1-10 futher west.....more backroads!!

[dwg71]

I am very glad so many of the Hou/Galv. posters are OK. I am still hoping to hear from the posters who were in Kemah and also in Beaumont/Port Arthur and Lake Charles.

Everything, I have heard about KEmah is very positive, very little damage if any. Trees and fences basically.

[Stephanie]

I'm glad that all of you from the Houston area are alright!

ROCK, et al - your experience with Rita has taught all of you alot. You will all be great teachers for those that will eventually need sound advice once again during another hurricane.

[jeff]

First time I have been home since Wed. Just got power back on here at the house. Tree limb down across the drive way. One house took a tree through the roof down the street. Mainly just a lot of limbs and small debris. Did see a few power poles down and a couple billboards knocked over.

Could not believe how empty this place was on Friday. Nothing was open. Simply amazing.

All said we are very lucky compared to those just to our east.

One comment on the EVAC. I hope those that left will do so again when we are threatened. Just look at the pictures from Holly Beach and remember.

Time for sleep. Only have had about 6 hours since Thursday.

[WeatherEmperor]

First time I have been home since Wed. Just got power back on here at the house. Tree limb down across the drive way. One house took a tree through the roof down the street. Mainly just a lot of limbs and small debris. Did see a few power poles down and a couple billboards knocked over.

Could not believe how empty this place was on Friday. Nothing was open. Simply amazing.

All said we are very lucky compared to those just to our east.

One comment on the EVAC. I hope those that left will do so again when we are threatened. Just look at the pictures from Holly Beach and remember.

Time for sleep. Only have had about 6 hours since Thursday.

Glad to hear your back home safe and sound.

<RICKY>

[Stratosphere747]

[quote="vbhoutex"]Even an old fart hurricane veteran like me has learned from this experience. The gas situation has taught me that I will be buying four 5 gallon gas containers that will be filled well in advance of a bonafied threat so I will have gas for evacuation(if needed)past the full tank I already had. I have learned that I will have proper boarding prepared beforehand, even though we really didn't need it this time. We did board up some windows, but not like they should have been. Even though I may never have to use it, I may still go out and buy a generator.

I am just so glad that as best we can tell, all of our Houston area posters seem to have come through the experience in good shape. Even Kelly in Beaumont is ok even though she doesn't know what kind of shape her house is in.[/quote

David....

No offense....But keeping four 5 gallon gas containers in your garage or especially in your car is EXTREMELY dangerous. That is not a solution and could possibly put yourself and your family in even more danger. *even with certified containers* Although gasoline is not as flammable as oxygen, the dangers with those amounts you mentioned are real.

Scott