Comments on: Hurricane Rita- to stay or go- which one is the right move?

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 23:41:25 +0000

You are In my Prayers..I hope you cann keep the updates comming so I will know you are still there and OK.

By: fil

fil — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 22:01:08 +0000

Stay safe over there! You're in our thoughts and prayers.

By: Allyn

Allyn — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 14:35:29 +0000

Godspeed!

By: Joel Mc

Joel Mc — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 11:15:54 +0000

Be safe James. Praying that Houston does not suffer as much as New Orleans has.

By: Jehtris

Jehtris — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 08:39:07 +0000

As a resident of the panhandle of Florida, I share in your delima. I only moved here last year, and stayed through Ivan, Dennis, and Charlie. Katrina was a non-issue here, but did bring rain.

The main problem is the decision needs to be made a few days ahead of the storm, when you really don’t know the path it will take. You can’t leave the day before expected landfall because the weather will already start to be nasty. But with the traffic lines showing as bad as they are, it would be very tempting to stay put.

If you evacuate and the storm misses your area, then not only are you driving out with the masses, but you are driving back with them as well. Also, most hurricane damage is due to storm surge (oceans and lakes rising). My house is about 25 feet above sea level, so it would take a huge surge to hit it.

Then again, if it is a Cat 4 or 5, all bets are off. The winds are so strong that it can destory homes all by itself. If you have any trees by your house, they could fall on your house, car, power line, etc.

My family plan (no kids) is that if a Cat 4/5 is coming, we are gone. If we are in the right side of the cone of a cat 3, we’re headed to Orlando. Cat 1/2, we’ll turn up the AC, fill the tub with water, buy supplies, and play cards during the storm.

By: Marc Orchant

Marc Orchant — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 07:48:37 +0000

James - as much as possible, keep posting as events continue to unfold. You're in our thoughts and prayers today as Rita approaches. I know this has been a difficult decision for you to make and your post will (hopefully) help others understand that this is not a simple stay or leave question.

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 07:40:32 +0000

Everyone has to make their own decisions of course, but at this point, if I hadn’t left, I would probably stay put. The traffic lines they’re showing on The Weather Channel are staggering.

Be safe bud – kct

By: Eric Mack

Eric Mack — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 23:39:52 +0000

Thanks for the update, James. I also want to thank you for sharing your reasoning. I, too, have wondered what residents make the decisions they do.

I pray that you’ll find shelter in the storm.

Eric

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By: Hurricane Kids

Hurricane Kids — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 23:26:42 +0000