The family is okay!

I just got word from my in-laws, who were in Houston when Rita hit, are okay. They only experienced some winds and some broke tree limbs but they still have power and have experienced no flooding. Yeah! I was so worried about them because they tried to leave in that mass exodus of people but ran out of gas in 100 degree heat and had to go back home. Here in Austin, every school has been turned into a shelter and people are even camping in outlying communities and campsites. It's packed in this town. Gas stations are dry. The grocery store was emptied. No bread, no water, no ice...it was craziness. Now everyone is leaving and it's a headache to get out of this town but I am glad that this storm wasn't as bad as Katrina and people seemed more prepared this time around.

I heard some horror stories of people trying to leave Houston with their pets who suffered heat exhaustion and died in that traffic. One gentleman's cat died in the heat and he drove from Houston to Austin with his dead cat in his car because he couldn't leave it by the side of the road. My heart breaks for these people because I am the same way. He left with the thing he loved the most and it died while he was trying to save their lives. It's sad. I am lucky. I live inland and the only thing I have to worry about are thunderstorms, tornados and fire. I could never leave my 4 cats, 1 bird and 2 fish tanks. I understand people who refuse to leave even in the face of impending doom because I couldn't go anywhere without my babies.