September 19, 2005
Rita's a'comin.
Tropical Storm Hurricane Rita is still coming to Galveston and people here are taking notice.
I went to fill my tank at the Wal-Mart, which has not yet raised prices (surprisingly). I would have thought at the first sign of a chance to gouge they would have jacked the price up to above $3.00. But it was still at $2.63.
The lines were three cars deep, and although things moved smoothly, I knew people were doing it because of this threat.
I went to the local "Home Despot", and the plywood was flying out of there like spooked seagulls. Luckily, we already have our plywood. At the Wal-Mart, all the D-cell batteries were gone.
It's obvious people are scared about this Hurricane. We saw what happened in New Orleans and don't want to be a part of anything like that. No riots, no looting. Just get out.
Unfortunately, Rita is going to hit some where on the Gulf Coast, and she will probably be a very strong hurricane when she does. The worst place she could hit would be New Orleans, and Mississippi just like Katrina did, but I don't think she will. My hunch is that Galveston Bay will be where she makes landfall. From my point of view that is the next worse place, but only because I live here.
Currently our plan is to vacate on Thursday morning, unless things begin to look less ominous. I'll try to take my Day Sailer and if possible a second one. We will take the CPUs from our computers and some clothes. The cats will come along of course, although they hate being transported in their cages.
I hate to sound panicked, and maybe I'm being influenced by the MSM, but at this point in time, better safe than sorry.
