Hurricane Ike -All safe!

[Scooter's Mom]

My brother near Houston called. His county is under a mandatory evacuation. Tomorrow morning he is putting boards on the half a million windows in his house (there's a lot) and his wife is getting the girls ready to get out. They will leave around 2pm or so from what he just told me.

My dad is in Harris County. No mandatory evac called (yet). This is where Houston is. I am begging him to leave with my brother...

My grandma is also in Harris County. She hired one of those ambulance services after Hurricane Rita. I don't know when they will get her and her neighbors out - all are mid 80's and older... I am scared for them.

Katjaye, from here on the board, and her family are unsure so far. They may head up to Dallas. Two of their kitties used to be mine, and are elderly (Twinkie and Cassie were both born in 1995, so they're 13+).

The rest of my family - I haven't contacted yet. They are all further inland, so they will probably stay.

Please pray for them all to be safe and for them to make it through Ike with minimal damage.

Thank you.

[Laura's Babies]

Prayers for everyone in the path of that storm! They are scarey dangerous storms and had it come our way, I would have gotten out after my Gustav experience. We are suppose to start getting rain from it today. It is a BIG storm!

[pitc9]

Prayes for everyone that is in Ike's path.

[smokey the elder]

The Caribbean and the Gulf are just getting walloped this year. I hope that everyone can get out of harm's way.

[Karen]

Everyone in Ike's path will be in our prayers, that they stay safe and loved ones are secure.

[lvpets2002]

Yes I as well am worried about Ike's path.. Thats going to hit very powerfull.. My stepbrother & family live in Texas City which is right on the coast line where the oil refineries are.. They have already gotten out.. I feel for everyone in the path.. Some of our local rescuer's have headed to Houston to get all the animals out of the shelters to bring them on up here.. We are just to get rain & some wind.. Lots Prayers being sent.. God Bless Them All..

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Prayers on the way from me for sure!!!

We will get some of the rain and maybe some of the wind way up here in Kansas. Nothing like you all near the coast will get for sure!!! Even my kitties are crossing their paws for you all.

[phesina]

Prayers for all, of all species, in the storm's way..

[molucass]

My parents don't want to leave once again. They have already called for a mandatory evacuation. We are in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area of Texas, and I am really worried.. But they say we are going to stay.
I told them I don't think this one is going to be like Gustav where people evacuated and then nothing happened in our area.
Even though it doesn't look like its going to hit right here but more towards Galveston/Houston, we are going to be on the bad side of it, and will be getting A LOT of water/wind.

Prayers being sent out for everyone in the path of this storm.. And prayers that everyones houses will be ok when they are able to return. I hope everyone stays safe.

[Scooter's Mom]

Current update:
My dad is going to be heading over to Katjaye's to have a little "higher ground" to ride out the storm.

My big worry is my brother in Rosharon. He hasn't left yet. Says he's waiting 'til nighttime so the girls will sleep through the drive. His house is under a MANDATORY evacuation. He has to go or they won't help him. If it was just my brother I would shake my head and say, "Well, he IS stubborn." But they are playing with and possibly endangering the lives of my three nieces. That, to me, is inexcusable. They need to GET OUT.

Ok, I got that out of my system... worrying about my family is stressful.

Good luck to everyone in the path of this storm.

[Laura's Babies]

We are going to get tropical force winds and rain tomorrow here near Baton Rouge. They are warning us (as was my fear all along) that the trees already weakened from Gustav may fall and some of us will be without power again. We are getting rain bands today and some wind. There are a couple of trees around my house that worry me, one is a real tall pine tree that I was surprised to see still standing after Gustav.

I talked to my dispatcher today and she told me not to worry, just stay home and take care of things here. She admitted this is a lot easier than getting me off the boat and getting me home should something happen here. I am to call in Monday and let her know if I can get to the boat then. I sure hope so!! I am realy for a normal boring life again!

[molucass]

If it was just my brother I would shake my head and say, "Well, he IS stubborn." But they are playing with and possibly endangering the lives of my three nieces. That, to me, is inexcusable. They need to GET OUT.

That is pretty bad.. Like you said, if anything he needs to get out for the kids.

My sister is evacuating with my niece, but they were unable to get any reservations anywhere up in north texas... So they got one in New Orleans of all places. I personally think its quite stupid to go to New Orleans. As big as the storm is, the storm surges off the storm are probably still going to get New Orleans.

We are staying here with my parents, the dogs & cat, and Brynn. My sister offered to take Brynn with them, but I don't think she would be any safer there than she would be here, so she's staying with me. My daughters life is more important than my own, so I will make sure I do anything possible to protect her.

--edited to add:
Our neighbors are leaving their cats here, outside.. When we got home a little while ago they had left a note on our door, and left a bag of cat food on the porch saying "We are evacuating, and can't take our cats.. We knew you guys were going to stay here, so please feed our cats for us if you can. We are leaving them outside."
When we talked to them earlier, they said they were going to stay with some of their family in Austin.. I'm sorry, but if you are going to stay with family, tell them you are bringing your cats and leave it at that.. Don't leave them where you know a storm is going to hit.

[Scooter's Mom]

Ike is gearing up to make landfall soon - tonight or tomorrow morning.

Today at work is going to be so long.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Thoughts and prayers going out to everybody. Please stay safe and check in when possible.

[Laura's Babies]

We are getting some wind now (Just outside Baton Rouge.), 25-35mph and possiably gusts up to 55mph. I woke up to no power this morning (meaning no coffee), but it is back on now.

Rie said they have been up since 1:30am. The weather got real bad then and they could hear the drip, drip, drip in the celing in the dinning room. Her husband put a ice chect up in the attic to catch that drip. He stayed home today to tend to anything that needs tending to.

I had a friend call me from Pensacola, Florida last night and he said they have closed Santa Rosa Island because they are having 20 foot seas over there.

I am stayin home and praying no trees fall here. Giz and Boo are extreemly nervous and have spent some time hiding in the kitchen cabinets. I would just hate to have to move them again so soon after Gustav.

IKE! IKE! GO AWAY! Prayers for Texas are still flowing from here! May you all stay safe and God watch over you.