Another hurricane, IKE

[Janet]

Not sure what the other weather people are saying, but ours said this morning that the storm should be a cat. 3 and hit just a little north of Brownsburg. Did say it could change course too, but as of this morning...that was the predicition. Also said it should hit early Saturday morning. Anyone really close to there?

[Tiramisu]

I think Marilyn is/was in that area and it's headed north, over Gayle.

I like www.stormpulse.com because it shows the city names. The latest report (about 30 minutes ago) showed it coming in around Port Aransas. I'm hoping my oldest daughter will take her kiddos and go to my son's house. My g-son is on oxygen right now and needs cool air. We'll probably be without power for a few days.

We've already gotten all our guys off the oil rigs, so that's safe!

[Janet]

That site is pretty nice Sandy....thanks!

Last address I had for Marilyn was Victoria...where is Gayle located?

[Tiramisu]

Originally Posted by Janet

That site is pretty nice Sandy....thanks!

Last address I had for Marilyn was Victoria...where is Gayle located?

Around Austin, I think!

[gja1000]

Yep, I'm in Austin and the storm tracker had it coming in right over Austin, but current projections have it slightly to the east of Austin now. We'll still get some wind and rain, how much is anyone's guess. I'm getting prepared for a power outage as we do not usually have any sort of sustained winds of 30-50 mph and they are predicting that wind for Sat afternoon and evening. I think it is safe to assume, we may be out of power.

So, we are stocking up on ice, water, bread, fruit, lunch meat, candles, batteries, etc. so if the power is out, we won't have to open the fridge in hopes of saving the contents.

I think the prediction is the worst case scenario, and I hope we have less wind and rain, but I guess we have to be prepared for the worst!

[Janet]

These darn hurricanes!!! I don't want you to lose power...you won't be able to be with us!

[Marilyn]

Well, we're home. It's kinda long story, but we bailed out on the procedure in Houston. Hubby was on the table and he and I both felt that it was not the right time. Something felt wrong, too many red flags. I hadn't told him my feelings, because I knew he really wanted to get this done and behind us. I was in the waiting room crying. He'd been away from me for maybe 10 minutes and a nurse came and got me and said my husband wanted to talk with me. We had both lost confidence in the doctors and the staff due to some things that happened yesterday and this morning, so we called it off, got him disconnected and came home. We will meet with the his cardiologist and review options. We may try a different facility and a different team of doctors in a couple of weeks.

Glad we came. Things were not the way we wanted them to be here in advance of a major storm, and if we had stayed in Houston and had the procedure, the wind would have been too strong by the time we got home to move the RV, so we are all boarded up now and things are as we would want them. The dogs that were boarded are picked up from the vet's office, they were requiring that they be picked up today. The RV is hitched to the truck and ready to head out early tomorrow. Tanks are full of gas. Gas is selling out and very hard to come by, so we were fortunate to find some. One vehicle is full of super, but who cares.

We were heading to San Antonio, but Karen's roommate will have a lot of her family there, so we are heading to Melissa & Garrett's in Austin. We'll get some tropical storm winds, but at least will be out of Cat 3 or 4.

We got about 2 hours sleep last night worrying about everything. What a waste of a room at the Marriott!! We're running on adrenalin now, I think. It's been one crazy, crazy day. My cell phones have been going crazy with everyone calling to check on Hubby and wanting to know what is happening.

Karen and Melissa were down on the coast today, Karen at our house and Melissa in Houston. They both said there are hundreds, literally, of tour busses, school busses, ambulances, headed in both directions. It's crazy around here. Right now the track brings it right over us. It may shift, but we're just not taking any chances. Some of our friends are staying, but they are in older lower lying homes. Ours is on high ground and a two story with wide open golf course behind us. Nothing to break the wind.

I know this is long. I'm stuck in overdrive. Will try to keep you posted as things progress.

Everyone, please be safe!!!

[Marilyn]

Originally Posted by Janet

That site is pretty nice Sandy....thanks!

Last address I had for Marilyn was Victoria...where is Gayle located?

Yep, that's where we are. If you hear it is going into Matogorda Bay or Port O'Conner, that's basically a direct hit for us. We are inland about 20 miles as the crow flies which causes us to be well above the storm surge (we are approx. 95 feet above sea level), but not out of the wind and rain. Windows, roofs, power lines, trees are at risk with a Cat 3 or 4. Much of the damage results from blown in rain, through a compromised roof or window.

My office, by contrast is in Port Lavaca, on Matagorda Bay. We are about 200 yards (if that far) from the water and approx. 16 feet above sea level. My office may be in danger of flooding, and is a standard metal building, warehouse type construction. We're a little concerned about the office. Hubby's office is in Victoria, in a pretty well protected location and is also boarded up.

[Marilyn]

BTW, here's a link to our hometown paper. I don't like their website at all, but it does have up-to-date information on evacuation from this area.

www.victoriaadvocate.com

[Forgivenmom5]

Marilyn first of all be safe. I am also praying you will not have much damage to your home and offices.

[Tiramisu]

I still think Ike is going to split the difference between Marilyn and me, with the eye coming in over Freeport. I'm pretty bummed out that, with this foot, I can't do anything to help Hubby prepare for this storm. He has to drop a 20'x20'x12' tall canopy. It took him 2 hours last time, with me helping.

I'll be working from home tomorrow because these crutches don't work well on wet surfaces.