For those who are worried about hurricane evacuation (Houston, Galveston: house, tornadoes)

[Mr. Krinkle]

The media has really done a number one some of you. If you don't live near the coast or your home is not vulnerable to floods you (or your relatives)don't need to evacuate.

You are safe on Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Conroe and most of Houston.

This link is all you need
Office of Emergency Management (broken link)

Now relax a go out for a beer while you still have electricity.

[Poltracker]

That is not entirely true. If you live in those areas, you are safe from a storm surge associated with a hurricane and need to let persons in the surge zones (aka killing fields) get out. Persons in non-surge zones need to evaluate their shelter (a trailer is NOT adequate shelter) and take precautions to secure that shelter. A category 4 storm hitting directly in Galveston may cause sustained winds of 133 mph in downtown Houston w/ higher gusts. Between 110 -125 MPH in Spring with higher gusts. Sustained winds this high are dangerous. Persons in Spring will be ok for a cat 3 storm but their will still be damage.

The point is that if there is a storm in the Gulf, be prepared.

[CitrusFruit]

Originally Posted by Poltracker

The point is that if there is a storm in the Gulf, be prepared.

This is very true. The problem seems to be some edges of early panic creeping into some people (not necessarily on this forum). Panic, on any level, doesn't help anyone. :\

[Mr. Krinkle]

Originally Posted by Poltracker

The point is that if there is a storm in the Gulf, be prepared.

Exactly...be prepared. Your house will probably get some damage but not enough for an evacuation. You should be ok if your house is structurally sound. Board up your windows, pick up loose objects, ect…

[Poltracker]

Exactly, be prepared. Those scouts were onto something weren't they?

[Mom2Feebs]

I can remember Alicia, we lived in Kingwood and lost 5 trees, 2 were huge pines. It was pretty bad, even all the way up there. We lost our power for a week and got to stay at the Sheraton...which, for my sister and me was COOL! Now of course it would be a bit terrifying LOL! But we stayed in the house during the storm, and we were okay. We had lots of batteries, ice, water, and my mom's trusty weather radio.

[Guerilla]

The only thing to really be worried about is tornadoes and high gusts. Alicia produced almost thirty tornadoes (that were around the F2 status).

[Poltracker]

Alicia was a baby cat 3. A serious cat 4 would be alot worse but survivable if you were prepared. Key word "Prepared".

[lhafer]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

I can remember Alicia, we lived in Kingwood and lost 5 trees, 2 were huge pines. It was pretty bad, even all the way up there. We lost our power for a week and got to stay at the Sheraton...which, for my sister and me was COOL! Now of course it would be a bit terrifying LOL! But we stayed in the house during the storm, and we were okay. We had lots of batteries, ice, water, and my mom's trusty weather radio.

We stayed for Ike and we lived in Atascocita. The storm itself was scary, but we did not get any damage to the house. BUT. We did not have power for 2 weeks!! We didn't have a generator for the 1st week or so, then we were able to get our hands on one. But we were still religated to the bedroom for the next week! Luckily we had a gas stove. Trust me when I say it's awful to live in those conditions, especially with a toddler!! And we couldn't leave because DH and I both had to work.