We left Pascagoula at 3:30 pm CST for Atlanta. We drove straight through except for one stop for restrooms and a quick gas-tank top off. We arrived at our hotel (which we hate) at 2:00 am EST.
I will never evacuate again.
People asked us over and over and over after Katrina if we had 'learned our lesson' about staying behind.... They slapped us on the shoulder and said 'Phew! I bet you'll never do that again, right?' And that always just irritated me because I didn't share the sentiment.
Funny though... If you asked exactly the same thing about evacuating... I could say definitely never ever again.
It's an absolute miracle that we survived the trip up here... And, to think, we haven't even started the trip back yet.... I think we had better odds with the storm of the century.
7 comments:
I am not sure what just happened, I may have accidentally sent a comment in the middle of typing? Anyway, trying again -
At least you guys are out of there and safe and sound. Did your Mom come as well? The animals?
About every other year I struggle with the evacuation question. The last time we did was in 1954, when a hurricane actually struck and my mother bundled us out of here when we could barely walk against the wind.
We just went to my aunt's and uncle's house up the street inland, though. In retrospect, I have no memory of whether they were concerned about wind. I always assumed they were only worried about water, but looking back, I think they might have left evacuating until too late, and the adults were probably petrified while we kids were oblivious.
By adults, I mean my Mom and Aunts. My Dad and Uncles were some distance away at work and I don't think we had phones here back then. Everyone but us kids might have been terrified.
I tossed a post-hurricane photo temporarily up on the web at
http://members.cox.net/katkolling/vasavana.jpg
That's our house on the right and another Aunt's and Uncle's on the left. Hint, the houses were originally parallel, and normally the stove was not out in the yard :-(
Well, that's my hurricane story for the day.
One of the things that worries me about evacuating is where to go. I am temporarily catless, but finding a motel/hotel that takes animals, and more importantly where you can be sure the animals are safe, then the question of not getting stuck in some giant traffic jam... If I had major money I would have a second house somewhere safe.
I am so glad that it lost a whole lot of strength before it hit. I hope all goes well on the trip home. Take care.
I'm a bad bad friend, but forget that. I'm praying and thinking of you constantly. I know you are okay, I just hate knowing you are going through crap yet again.
Sending much love, prayers, good wishes, etc, etc...take care of yourselves!
XXOO
Swapna
A near as I can tell from grubbing around on the web, Pascagoula did basically okay? Some road flooding, some trees down, some power problems?
Hope you can get home soon and take a rest.
KA - amazing picture! I got to see it and show it to at least one person before the death of the laptop in Atlanta... Were you actually IN one of those houses when that happened?
And I know it's a little late here -- but yes - Mom was with us. She drove behind us in her own car.. and this time Judge rode with her rather than be crammed between luggage in our car. As for the kitties - ugh. We have absolutely no room for even a single cat carrier when we evacuate - even with the two cars. We have a cat door in the back door of the garage and set them up in there with food and places to rest up high... Our neighbor behind us was riding out the storm and knew they were there to check on them.. Still yet another reason why I HATE evacuating. I never want to leave them again and I won't. They're all home safe and sound although slightly irritated at our prolonged absence.
The second house option is the way to go. We want to find a place somewhere not TOO far away - but far enough inland. It doesnt have to be nice.. Just needs a roof and some walls and a way to get inside.
We made it, Sandy. :)
Swapna -- I have a picture to send you! :) Remind me!
HI, Anita,
No, we were up the street at my Aunt's by the time actual damage was done to the houses.
So glad you are all back home and safe and sound. Or will be after some sleep!
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