Her Name is Rita

Dear Diary,

Three weeks ago, or is  it four, I walked into the  local Red Cross office and asked what I could do to help.  Very quickly I "learned the ropes" and with the "cheat sheet" in hand, that was updated sometimes hourly,  I answered calls and spoke with evacuees from New Orleans.  I think I learned a lot during  my volunteer time.  Sometimes it was so overwhelming for those seeking help. And overwhelming for those of us trying to give help.  The magnitude of Katrina was/is hard to grasp.  Not just the destruction. Not just the deaths. Not just the evacuees. Just everything.

One afternoon as I observed all the activity in our one little office, I thought of what was going on at the Astrodome,  at Reliant Arena,  at George R. Brown and at every other shelter in so many towns in so many states.  And I thought…the season isn’t over yet…what if there is another one?

My hometown is 68-77 miles inland from the coastal cities of Galveston, Freeport, and Matagorda.  My hometown is not under a mandatory evacuation at this time.  But…we are in the direct path of the hurricane if it comes ashore near any one of those three towns.  This one is already a catagory 4 and is due to land some time Friday night early Saturday morning.  She has time to gather  her strength. She has time to get stronger.

I spent time last night calling hotels in the San Antonio area. I spent time on the internet looking  for lodging.  There is nothing available any where near San Antonio, Austin, Bandera, Boerne, anywhere northwest of here.  I purposely didn’t go north or east as those areas have been designated as evacuation routes/shelters for Galveston county.

I’ve spent much of today washing clothes, securing the outside stuff, mentally planning what to pack, purchasing food supplies, and talking with family members about our game plan.  We’re headed to Junction and the deer lease that my sis and BiL have with some other friends.  There’s a trailer that will sleep 10. There’s a shower and running toilet (I think…no, I hope). There’s a grill outside for cooking.  My mama and aunt are going with us. My sister and hubby will be there.  Her sons will be together in College Station.  Mine will be in Austin.  That is if the oldest gets a flight from California. His van broke down.  To rent a U-Haul to get his shipment  home would cost nearly $3,000.  To get it to the airport and fly it cargo will be around $450.  He sold the van to the guy who towed him to town. He’s getting a flight to Austin.  Hopefully he and the shipment will arrive at the same time,  and in time,  for the festivals that he is scheduled to sell at.

My immediate family will be okay.  I think my extended family will be, too.  We will do our best to secure our home and belongings.  We will take care of each other. We will pray.

And all of this is because…

…her name is Rita.

~Susie