Hurricane Ike

[hsapiens]

Looks as if we here in Houston are likely targets for this week's hurricane. I spent today preparing so now the question is whether to stay in place for the storm or to evacuate to a hotel a bit more inland. We can make that decision around noon tomorrow. If Ike doesn't get stronger then it makes sense to stay home. Otherwise, I have reservations at a hotel in The Woodlands that will accept my dog. Hotel taxes have just been suspended so that option is looking far more attractive.

I expect we'll lose power so I'll be out of touch for a while. I don't live anywhere near the storm surge area so I'm not in any real danger. We've stowed our desktop computers, Joe's recording equipment, and his MANY instruments at my super-secure office. This house is normally a bastion of healthy food but veggies tend to rot quickly and taste better when cooked, so...the kitchen is now brimming with junk food like PopTarts for the boys, Fritos, pretzels, bean dip, water, Gatorade (for post-hurricane when it's stinky hot & humid and we have no a.c.), juice, bread, and margarita ingredients. I'm planning to watch Farscape on my laptop and drink margaritas. :)

Just announced was that New Orleans is offering discounts on hotels and restaurants to evacuating Houstonians. We aren't headed that far away but I'm seriously touched. *hugs NOLa*

Comments

[tejas.livejournal.com]

What a nice thing for them to do!

*hugs NOLA, too*

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Isn't it? It's good to know we have a sister city. :)

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Yep! After Ike, I think Houston and NOLA should get together and go out for margaritas and bitch about bad boyfriends. :-)

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

*snort* YES! And I already have the margarita fixings.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

LOL! I'm up for it!

Ike's not just a bad boyfriend, he's outright psycho!

Oh, damn, *what* were we *thinking*??????

[avidrosette.livejournal.com]

Stay safe, sweetie! ::hugs::

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Shall do! It isn't intensifying *knocks wood* and the major danger thus far seems to be the storm surge, which doesn't affect me. Rather, it seems as if the worst for us will be suffering for some period of days without a.c. Here in Houston that's no small thing. However miserable that may be, and it IS miserable, it isn't deadly if one is not elderly or in compromised health.

[winterfish.livejournal.com]

Gah! Hope Ike looses steam before it hits. Stay safe!

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

*fingers crossed* So far, extra energy seems to be going into making the storm larger rather than stronger. This is excellent. We're about 16 hours away from landfall and coastal areas are starting to flood but we're nowhere near there. We should be just fine.

[shutthef-up.livejournal.com]

Take care and stay safe!

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

We shall. It's looking favorable for us. Those living on the coast will have a lot of damage from the surge but we're far away from that. :)

[beeej.livejournal.com]

Ooh, you take care. Ike looks really big on the weather maps. Farscape and margaritas sounds like the best way ever to ride out the storm. ;) Don't worry about lims, I can take care of it now that I'm home.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Thankfully, it's big at the expense of intensification. Yay! Even better, it's a rapidly moving storm so once it hits, it should move out quickly. By tomorrow night, we'll be mostly in the clear. If one must have a hurricane, this isn't a bad one.

[msreba.livejournal.com]

Sound like me, I was out in line for gas and groceries. I don't know about evacutating yet. Where are you in Houston?

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

We're in Meyerland. You? We've decided that since the storm is coming through at 2-4 a.m. we're going to move to The Woodlands. Should anything go wrong, we don't want to spend those dark hours hunkering down in an un-air-conditioned hall with a dog who has storm phobia issues.

[msreba.livejournal.com]

Northwest side Acres Homes about 30 min south of the Woodlands. We are just starting to get some sprinkling.
What they are predicting now is strong winds and 5 to 10 inches of rain, and that the cleaner side of the storm.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Ah, then we're not so far apart. :) We're at the southern end of The Woodlands. We just gave the dog a really good walk. Funny thing is we're less than a mile from where we used to live. There has been so much development since we moved that it's nearly unrecognizable.

[msreba.livejournal.com]

I know! I work at the LSC Montgomery part time. That near where you are now.

[rocketchick.livejournal.com]

Stay dry, dammit! :)

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

We shall. I'm really hoping our *belongings* stay dry. Our house could use a new roof so that's my only concern. (Well, that and the flying debris.)

[paian]

Sending you lots of good thoughts! ::hugs::

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! This is not looking like a bad hurricane. We're far enough inland that the storm surge is not an issue. The storm is moving quickly so we should be in the clear by tomorrow evening. Here's hoping they get the electricity back up quickly! **HUGS**

[shadownyc.livejournal.com]

I wish you a safe outcome for you, your family and your home! *Hugs*

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Chances are we're all going to come through with flying colors. *hugs*

[princessofg.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

*hugs right back*

[mcroft.livejournal.com]

g'luck! We'll be watching and hoping things go OK.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :) If G is still stressing, it really looks like the energy has gone into expanding the storm's size rather than its intensity. Lots of flooding already in Galveston but we're all far enough away from the flood zones that the surge isn't an issue. Uncomfortable aftermath but thankfully NOT a possible Cat 4. I'm very happy.

[samantilles.livejournal.com]

Its great to see you're taking care of the important things: Technology, sci-fi, pets, and the alcohol... I can't think of anything else I would do myself, as those are the three primary motives in my own life! I don't live in a hurricane area, nor a flooding zone, but if I knew it was coming, I would so totally be working to make sure my books and DVDs were as safe as my computers... *is now pondering exactly what I would save and in what order... * so much for me getting work done now!

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

LOVE the icon!

It's hard to figure out what really needs to be taken with, what needs to be covered, what needs to be moved to a higher area, etc. Happily, I had a "dry-run" with Rita back in 2005 so I have already done most of the "thinking." Now, it's just the doing.

[selmak.livejournal.com]

take care of yourself!!!! Janie and I want to see you in November in.... *eek* New Jersey.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

No problem! We're out of the city. Not as far as I'd have liked but nonetheless we're in a snooty city to the north. I figure that if we lose power then this area will be high priority for re-connection. Also? Lots of restaurants to get a hot meal on Sunday.

Since the previous NJ location was called, "NY," then perhaps we can call *this* NJ location "Penn?" Not that NJ lacks for gorgeous scenery. I just haven't seen any of it near a large city.