RITA CRISIS- Houston traffic!

sunnyjohn · Sep 22, 2005

They haven't turned those inbound lanes into outbound yet? Goodness.

I've heard about the fights for gas and the folks running out on the highway. Makes you wonder, what would happen if half the nation had to flee some natural or man-made disaster? Wht would happen if the West Coast had to evacuate because the fault line finally gave or some nutball set of a bomb in the East?

My pals in Dallas are telling me the city is packed to the gills with folks from further south.

Please be as safe as you can. If you can't get out, stock up on water and supplies so you can at least survive for 10-15 days or so until "help" comes.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Sep 22, 2005

People are trying to leave but it is utter chaos around the city. I am 30 miles west of Houston in Katy and the I-10 West traffic situation here is in CRISIS MODE. People are trying to evacuate and there is no gas. They have been on the road for 10, 12, 16 hrs and slowly idling there gas away. It normally takes us 1 hr 30 min to get to the beach in Galveston. A lady left Galveston at noon and was just getting to Katy at 0530 in a.m.-- that's 17 hrs! People gassed up before they left but have been in there cars so long- they are running on fumes. Early this a.m. people were in fist fights at the gas pumps in Katy trying to fill-up. People are getting out of their vehicles and literally walking down the freeway. My inlaw's live half way between Katy and San Antonio and she said that I-10 is backed up there, too. That's 90 miles from here. People are not turning there a/c on to save gas. The temperature here is supposed to reach 100 degree's today. They don't even have the benefit of a breeze cause their going 10 mph. TXDOT is trying to open up the inbound lanes for outbound traffic. Homeland security is talking about sending gas this way because there are drivers stranded all along every major freeway headed out of Houston. EVERY freeway out of Houston is totally clogeed and not moving. They are saying now that if you haven't evacuated now it probably isn't going to be worth it because chances are you will run out of gas before you get wherever you were planning to go. I am scheduled to work fri-sun (12 hr shifts) here in katy. Our hospital has invited our families to stay at the hosptial, so I am taking my daughter with me. Husband is undecided. Most of the people I have talked to here in Katy are staying. We are not in a flood prone area and no mandatory evac. has been issued here. The wind will be our enemy. Please pray for everyone in our area.

We are praying for you.

grannynurse FNP student · Sep 22, 2005

Why is everyone trying to leave on the interstate? We evacuated on state roads. There was traffic but not like the interstate,

Grannynurse :balloons:

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Sep 23, 2005

Bryan/College Station here - ~100 miles inland.

Hwy 6, the N. spur of 290 is running fine here ~ traffic @50mph.

Our 100,000 pop area probably has about 250,000 people at the moment. The few gas stations open are 10 cars deep at the pump. I've noticed though, that they aren't raising prices. I saw 1 station closed at 3pm, but open again after gas delivery at 6pm w/ gas still at 2.72 for reg unleaded.

And the local police are using the city's gas tanks to resupply cars out of gas on the hwy.

And in all this throw in the stupid decision to play the Aggie game tonight. "Congestion is awful in this town with 2.5 times the normal people. How can we make it worse? I know, let's have a major college football game!".

GLA South of here. Stay safe.

~faith,

Timothy.

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Sep 23, 2005

Bryan/College Station here - ~100 miles inland.
Hwy 6, the N. spur of 290 is running fine here ~ traffic @50mph.
Our 100,000 pop area probably has about 250,000 people at the moment. The few gas stations open are 10 cars deep at the pump. I've noticed though, that they aren't raising prices. I saw 1 station closed at 3pm, but open again after gas delivery at 6pm w/ gas still at 2.72 for reg unleaded.
And the local police are using the city's gas tanks to resupply cars out of gas on the hwy.
And in all this throw in the stupid decision to play the Aggie game tonight. "Congestion is awful in this town with 2.5 times the normal people. How can we make it worse? I know, let's have a major college football game!".
GLA South of here. Stay safe.
~faith,
Timothy.

do see that the contraflow lanes are relieving some congestion- thank goodness. it is going to be a mess when everyone comes back but at least those who fled are safe.

nicuRN2007 · Sep 23, 2005

I am so sorry you guys are having to go through this. It's unbelievable. I can't imagine having to go through what people have been through lately with Katrina and what people are about to go through with Rita. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 23, 2005

I am definately thinking of you all and have you in my thoughts and prayers. Please those of you in the path, stay safe, if you are even around to read this.

HONEYBEAR · Sep 23, 2005

You and your family and in my prayers.....my hubby is working down there at the moment...works for Continental at Hobby....needless to say Hobby is closed at this time......and he is far north (where our apartment is)-past Bush Intercontinental Airport....so hopefully he is in a safer zone.

People are trying to leave but it is utter chaos around the city. I am 30 miles west of Houston in Katy and the I-10 West traffic situation here is in CRISIS MODE. People are trying to evacuate and there is no gas. They have been on the road for 10, 12, 16 hrs and slowly idling there gas away. It normally takes us 1 hr 30 min to get to the beach in Galveston. A lady left Galveston at noon and was just getting to Katy at 0530 in a.m.-- that's 17 hrs! People gassed up before they left but have been in there cars so long- they are running on fumes. Early this a.m. people were in fist fights at the gas pumps in Katy trying to fill-up. People are getting out of their vehicles and literally walking down the freeway. My inlaw's live half way between Katy and San Antonio and she said that I-10 is backed up there, too. That's 90 miles from here. People are not turning there a/c on to save gas. The temperature here is supposed to reach 100 degree's today. They don't even have the benefit of a breeze cause their going 10 mph. TXDOT is trying to open up the inbound lanes for outbound traffic. Homeland security is talking about sending gas this way because there are drivers stranded all along every major freeway headed out of Houston. EVERY freeway out of Houston is totally clogeed and not moving. They are saying now that if you haven't evacuated now it probably isn't going to be worth it because chances are you will run out of gas before you get wherever you were planning to go. I am scheduled to work fri-sun (12 hr shifts) here in katy. Our hospital has invited our families to stay at the hosptial, so I am taking my daughter with me. Husband is undecided. Most of the people I have talked to here in Katy are staying. We are not in a flood prone area and no mandatory evac. has been issued here. The wind will be our enemy. Please pray for everyone in our area.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Sep 23, 2005

You and your family and in my prayers.....my hubby is working down there at the moment...works for Continental at Hobby....needless to say Hobby is closed at this time......and he is far north-past Bush Intercontinental Airport....so hopefully he is a safer zone.

Hobby is 30 miles SOUTH of Intercontinental. IAH is on the Norhside of Houston, Hobby is South of the Loop.

Update: Went out to go around the corner to the convenience store at 11pm central. Had to go to three stores cause the first 2 still had gas w/ lines more than 30 deep and police presence on site.

Saw many cars stranded and out of gas.

Oh my!

(I filled up both my cars on Wed morning and only had to wait behind 1 other car both times).

~faith,

Timothy.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2005

A classmate of mine is in Houston and is is stuck. She spent three days evacuating the hosital and now can't get out of town herself. Fortunately has a safe place to be. She said she has familiy members that spent 17 hours just barely getting north of Houston and is still not in a safe zone.

There are over 5 million people in the metro-Houston area. What a mess. Stay safe.

lisamc1RN, LPN · Sep 23, 2005

Stay safe everyone. What a scary and frustrating time!