more on Where to go? Which way to go? No gas anyway!

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Simon Higgs <simon () higgs com>
Date: September 22, 2005 4:46:23 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] Where to go? Which way to go? No gas anyway!


At 09:47 AM 9/22/2005, you wrote:

I can verify this. I just got off the phone with friends in Houston  
who live close to the 290 (to Austin) and cannot access it due to the  
congestion. Their next closest evacuation route is the 10 (to San  
Antonio) which is also jammed solid. They are packed and ready to go  
but literally cannot get out of town.

Their major decision to remain behind isn't one of choice. They are  
comparing the risk of being caught out in the open in a car when the  
hurricane passes overhead against having some more solid shelter from  
their house (which isn't in a flood area). It's not a case of staying  
behind for the sake of staying behind. If they can actually make the  
drive to Austin or San Antonio, they will do it. Right now, they  
can't get there.

Begin forwarded message:


> From: Kelley Greenman <greenman.k () inkworkswell com>
> Date: September 22, 2005 11:46:09 AM EDT
> To: dave () farber net
> Subject: Where to go? Which way to go? No gas anyway!
>
>
> Hi Dave,
>
> I don't know if this will be appropriate for IP. It's just more "real
> world" disaster planning. This is from a friend in Houston. She lives
> in a West Houston suburb, so her decision to stay isn't crazy. But,
> in spite of all the news that makes it look as if getting out is a
> snap, as long as it's done early, it's not always so easy, even when
> you have the money.
>
> I hope the highways clear up with contraflow, since it will be
> horrible if anyone is still on the highways when the storm passes.
>
> I've redacted her name and e-mail address to safeguard her from the
> spambots.
>
> <begin forwarded message>
>
> "It's taking folks ELEVEN FREAKIN' HOURS to drive just 20-30 miles on
> I45, I59 and I10. Plus, there's not enough gas to fill all these
> damn SUVS and Hummers, and so people are sitting in traffic, going
> nowhere -- literally -- in 100 plus degree heat, because of course  
> we're
> breaking records here -- and passing out in their cars.
>
> There's no good news to any of this storm, but I am hoping it
> continues to shift eastward. Bad for Louisiana, I know, but this is
> survival. I am most concerned about the winds. We're talking 75-140
> mph winds for a minimum of 8-10 hours. The house is a one story,
> mostly brick, composition shingle roof. Everything will become a
> projectile. We've got water, are cooking up food, have tons of dry
> and canned goods, medications, essentials, everything. Neighbors are
> coming out and assessing who is still here -- most -- so that we can
> watch out for each other. By tomorrow afternoon, we'll be circling
> the mattresses and hoping for the best.
>
> There really is nowhere to go. All those folks on the freeway?
> Unless they have family, they are fucked and going to be in their
> cars forever or in whatever shelter there is. BUT THIS IS THE KEY
> THING: They've been telling everyone to go NORTH. That means
> they're all coming up 45 and 59, going to Dallas and such. THIS
> HURRICANE IS GOING TO STILL BE A CAT 1 BY THE TIME IT REACHES DALLAS
> SOMETIME LATE SATURDAY. So if you're on the road, you're just
> running in front of the hurricane.
>
> Going west is just as problematic, because the roads are stacked.
> Nowhere to stay in San Antone or Austin, and the wind range of this
> mofo is about 200 miles wide. Oh, and then there's the problem of NO
> GAS.
>
> So, do you get on the road and be stuck in the heat or the deathly
> wind, or hunker down and hope for the best?
>
> I think they've done as decent a job as possible to evac the worst
> zone -- the storm surge areas -- and getting the information out, but
> beyond that, what else can you do with an area of 4 million plus
> people and all of their cars, families, pets, etc.? To be
> realistic, not much. I doubt that's something some of our folks in
> tighter communities w/mass trans,etc., whatever on the east coast to
> understand, but that's the way of things down here.
>
> It's a mess."
>
> <end forwarded message>
>
>
> When you need to communicate, Ink Works!
> http://www.inkworkswell.com
> +1 (727) 942-9255
>
>
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Best Regards,

Simon Higgs



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