Gasilla

What about those who are still behind? I'm living off 2 generators. I'm spending as much in gas every day as a motel would cost. Also, my wife is a nurse and her patients who live in assisted living complexes are not here and when they aren't here she does not work. When she does work she pays her taxes just like we all do. When something like this occurs we SHOULD be able to recover the FEMA money. That's why we live and pay for this country. I DO NOT consider it "free money". I consider it the country stepping up to the plate in our time of need just like we do every tax season. Surely, FEMA is not going to screw those of us who are living off generators! What about the Red Cross? They had some funds available for living expenses as well. Anyone know about that?

Homer, let Maw Maw know we will check her place again tomorrow. Yours too if you want, just let me know.

Just got off of the phone with a buddy of mine in Groves. They are high and dry. Like us, he said the main thing right now are the wind gusts.

Homer, the school was fine at around 6:00pm. That's not to say it still is. We are getting hammered in Orange right now. These gusts have to be 80-85mph if not more. They seem to be happening less frequently now, but it was scary 30 minutes ago. We are getting pelted with rain as well, but no sign of any water/surge.

Orangefield checking in... We're getting some rain right now, but the wind is not as bad as I was expecting. We still have electricity, although it has flickered a few times. The wind seems to be settling right now, maybe just starting to turn.

Off of Roundbunch, South of Texas Ave, past the Dishon Plantation towards Orange. Same area.

Self explanatory...

Your fearless photographer... I know, I know, I'm trying to figure out how to make this work. I'll have the real photos up next! This is scary! This is Ferry Rd heading out to Bailey's Fish Camp. The next one is 15 minutes later!!! Scary!!! More to come as I get them loaded. 9:15 and we're getting some rain, but not all that much wind.

How do I load a photo from my computer to this board?

The neighborhoods in BC that are on or near the water are in deep trouble, I'm afraid. I will have photos up soon. There are several that already have water in them and you could literally see the water rising as we watched. Most of BC above Texas Ave is fine right now, but at the rate it's coming in, this early, it's pretty scary. We didn't go over to the Bayou Oaks addition, but all of the additions we went to near the water were pretty much in the same shape.

We are going to head that way in a bit and try to get some pics. Stay posted. What part of BC are you interested in?

We drove through Orange earlier and there is no major water in West Orange or Cove yet. The bayous are getting higher, but nothing flooded except for the Boat Club. > The wind is picking up, but still nothing major. Maybe 10 mph steady with gusts up to 20, but no wind like what they are reporting over in Mississippi. We are going to venture to BC in a bit and try to get some photos. We will post on the picture thread.

I think it's even more funny that someone is descirbing the Tina turner add but doesn't get the joke... LOL!! Steeler, I think we maybe dating ourself. You can't get that joke unless you're old! LOL ;D

You had mentioned the last storm that you were right across the interstate from us. You must have meant from our new house!!! I kept trying to figure which subdivision you would live in right across the interstate from us in Little Cypress!!!! lol Yeah, T told me about your place across the Hwy a couple of years ago. I assumed you guys were in there by now. Are ya'll staying?

I heard that anything south of I-10 has a chance of storm surge, the closer to the coast, the worse... Actually, what Bostwick said was that anyone South of I-10 has a "chance" of getting water. It may be 5' or 5". He also said that worst case scenario is a 20' surge. If you are 23' above sea level then you are OK. You can check how far you are above sea level @ Google Earth. Bridge City is going to get some water. Groves and PN and Ned are probably OK, unless you are in a low part of that area.

I'm staying unless it heads our way. We are safe from the storm surge where I'm at here in Orangefield.

Feet above sea level: Beaumont- 36.1 Port Arthur- 9.8 Bridge city- 8.8 Groves- 23 Port Neches- 23 Orangefield- 29.5 Vidor- 36.1

Nevermind, [Hidden Content] says 180 mph... :o

On the comparison post someone put up earlier comparing this cane to rita, it showed that Rita had 175 mph winds at one point. Was that right? I don't remember it being that strong. I remember 150, but not 175. Can anyone remember?

For those of you who are staying... This, by all means, is no attempt to try and convince people to stay, but I was in highschool when Alicia hit Galveston back in 83. It was also a large storm with 115 mph winds when it came ashore. We stayed and I can remember thinking, "this isn't as bad as I thought it would be". I remember we got some rain and some wind, but nothing like I (we) were expecting. We did not get near the storm surge that was predicted. It was later said that it was because of all of the good marsh land we have in this area as it acts as a barricade against the surge. Below is the link to Hurricane Alicia: [Hidden Content] I'm only posting this for those of us who can't leave, all is not lost. Maybe this will put you a little more at ease. I think that, due to Rita, we tend to over-react a little when it comes to Hurricanes. I, personally, feel it is almost more dangerous to be on the road right now then dealing with the "potential" of 80 mph winds. Remember, we had 80 mph winds with Humberto last year and everyone made it OK. Again, I'm not trying to convince anyone to stay, just trying to make folks feel a little more at ease. The best way to judge how we will fare is to look at similar situations that have occured in the past. Alicia is a good model for that. Now, if it does turn toward us, get out! We have a model from 3 years ago how devastating a direct hit from one of these can be.

How many teams have beaten Jasper 3 times in a row with two in a row at the so-called "Bone Yard?" I know of one...

The WOS and LCM JV's didn't play due to the evacuation. WOS beat Kirbyville's JV last night 36-0. The WOS JV is very good.

If anyone thinks they need to leave, then they need to leave. If the schools aren't closed now, nothing says they will not be eventually. If they never do, then that's a good thing, isn't it? If your child gets an unexcused absence, well, there are surely worse things that can happen. I am certain they will not be beaten for it. As for your job, call and tell your boss you don't feel good about it and ask him if it's ok to go. If he says no then take vacation, if they won't let you do that then call in sick. If all that fails then send your family without you. I'm not leaving, but if I thought I should, I sure as heck wouldn't leave the safety of my family to someone I don't even know. Ultimately, we are the ones responsible for our own. I'm not going to put my family in harms way waiting on someone else. I think we rely way to much on our elected officials, we need to take control of our own destiny. So, if you feel you need to go, then go. Don't wait and then blame it on someone else. I'm not trying to ruffle feathers, i just really feel that, you guys who have a bad feeling, need to get. Take care of your families because that is what's really important here.

OUCH!