streets are clearing out now. there's one corner store open, and there's like 30 cars parked next to it. people are grabbing whatever they can. even stuff they probably won't need, like cat food and trash bags and such. shelves are cleared.
the wind picked up a lot during the last hour only. before that it was a great day, but now it's dull, starting to get cloudy, and the wind's picking up more and more, blowing cans across the street and such. we're leaving the house for the last time in about half an hour, took all the things to the restaurant, we should be pretty safe there i'm thinking. taking a last shower, looking around the house for the last time, shutting power off, and heading over there permanently.
it's a weird feeling, knowing that the next 3 days are going to be hell, but there's nothing you can do to stop it, you know? It gives me a nervous, sick feeling in my stomach, because i dunno what could happen. one of the big power lines outside could fall on the restaurant, start a fire, and that'd be the end of me and my family. never experienced any hurricane, but i've heard the devastation a CAT1 hurricane can do, i can't even begin to imagine what a CAT4 (or MAYBE, they say, a CAT3 by the time it hits us) hurricane will do. i've seen the pictures of parts of New Orleans after Katrina... parts that were destroyed by the wind, not flooding or storm surges. a suburban neighborhood street, with nothing but boards and planks on either side of it, nothing standing more than a few feet tall. trees, houses, light posts, everything just devastated. will that be the fate of our house? quite possibly.
either way, i'm shutting power down to the house in a few minutes, then we're boarding up in the restaurant, and going to watch movies and such (got my main computer there, but no internet unfortunately). at least i can rest knowing my cars are safe, but it's the house i worry about though :-/. oh well, the restaurant is about a 3 or 4 minute drive from our house, and about a 15-20 minute walk, so that's good i guess...
hope this thing blows over and doesn't do as much damage as it's expected to. you know the funny thing is you see stuff on the news, and always think "it'll never happen to me"... i mean, don't get me wrong, i've helped with half a dozen disasters, and the relief work that followed, including the tsunami, hurricane Allison in 2001, and was heavily involved in preparation for the rebuild and relief of Katrina. but you always think "wow, this sucks" but you're invincible, you know. until events like this, where you realize just how mortal and vulnerable you are. and no matter how much money you have, or resources, you can't do anything to change it. everyone's as helpless here as the rest of us.
Well, hope everyone else in Houston (or surrounding areas) the best of luck. i'm sure i'll talk to you again soon. i'm terrified, and scared ****less, but who knows what'll happen... to our house, our belongings, or our lives even.
take care, and here's hoping to talking to you all soon. if that doesn't happen, then know it's been great knowing all of you, and i don't care what they say, this is the best community i've ever come across, without any question. sorry for any arguments and conflicts i've had with various ideas and members over the last few years. i'm sure we'll be OK though. we're a lot better off than most people, i hope. cheers.
Regards
~Stealth~
