People along the Gulf Of Mexico...Houston

[jilltx]

It's time for a heads up! Tropical Storm Rita has a new projected path and Houston is DEAD center for landfall at this time. Perhaps now is the time to start making plans...just in case.

Link to Tropical Storm Prediction page with excellent graphics and information (http://www.crownweather.com/tropical.html)

Oh the J O Y

[jilltx]

It's time for a heads up! Tropical Storm Rita has a new projected path and Houston is DEAD center for landfall at this time. Perhaps now is the time to start making plans...just in case.

Link to Tropical Storm Prediction page with excellent graphics and information (http://www.crownweather.com/tropical.html)

Oh the J O Y

[Aggie4Bar]

That is craptastic! http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/uhoh.gif

[tirnanog]

Does anyone know when it's expected to hit the area? I just had someone call me from the "refuge from Katrina" thread looking for some place for their horses. They are from the Galveston area. I do hope more people are making plans. I will certainly help anyway I can, I just don't know how bad I'm going to get it. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/no.gif

[jilltx]

Tirnanog they expect it Friday late or early Saturday at this point **IF** it makes it here. I do realize that it's a big **IF** until it reaches the Gulf, but with all the refugees and animals already in Houston from Kastrina, it will make things that much more difficult if we do have to evacuate.

Check the link above and scroll down to the graphic of the path predictions. It's a great site posted at some point last year by some wonderful COTHer who's name I can not recall at this time. Thanks nameless one!! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Seahorsefarmtobe]

Wow! That is a great site. Let's hope this one miraculously fizzles out b-4 landfall - anywhere!

[Bethe Mounce]

Even though I am about 100-125 miles inland, if this hurricane hits Houston, then we will see quite a bit of rain I do think along with some wind. So, already this week I am stocking up on horse feed and other essentials just in case power is knocked out and fresh water not available. We need the rain, but we sure don't need a flood. From all that I have seen on the net and TV, the models are predicting the Houston Galveston area to have a direct hit due to the "hotness" we are experiencing in our area of Texas. If someone from the area needs room for 2 horses, Long Living Fat Horse Farms can provide some assistance.

[2 tbs]

Ok, I wanna know who from LA p*@#ed off Mother Nature??? I mean, looking at weather.com the projected path shows to hit parts of LA early Saturday AM (with just the outter stuff but still!) and then slam right into TX like jilltx said. I am at work, read this thread, looked at the weather channel, stood up and said to my coworker-mother nature is hunting down those that escaped Katrina!

I hope with every ounce of jingle, finger crossing, throwing salt over the shoulder, not walking under ladders, owning a black cat but not letting him cross my path and every other superstitious thing out there that this thing disipates or turns away from the gulf or something...though I just don't see anywhere else for it to go since it's gonna slide right across the bottom of FL and hang out in those lovely warm waters http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

I hope everyone makes their plans early so if the weather service starts making those calls to evacuate or whatever, you can get out quickly and safely with all your friends, family, pets etc.

[Kelly]

I need help, I know it's going to hit here!!! I
bought and stacked 150 bales of hay for winter d:.
I want to move my horses out of houston. I flood and have a 3 month old foal , who I love. Please need pasture/stall for five horse. I will pay for the time they stay. Until flood waters go down. One lagre gelding, 3 mares and one foal all get all well. I'm hoping to find some place by Wedensday. Up to date on coggins, worming and shots.
Please feel to PM or email
Thanks for any help or connections

[MSP]

Rita’s projected path puts it on a worst case scenario for Houston http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/145105.shtml?5day

If that is not bad enough if it jogs east it could dump on New Orleans, will the levees handle another blow? We all need to start praying this thing doesn’t turn in to a monster storm and hope everyone gets out of its ways this time.

With evacuees everywhere it is hard to say whether the usual shelters will be open for more evacuees. The Jackson, Ms Fair grounds/Coliseum is a pet friendly shelter and the barns have about 500 stalls. Mississippi Animal Rescue league runs the animal shelter there but I don’t know if they have room for small animals, they may be full from Katrina. It might be a possible evacuation site for Horses call 601-969-1631, fair grounds are off I55 in Jackson Ms.

[tirnanog]

Ok - here's my dilema - I have 2 horses in the NW Houston area. I would rather not move them if I don't have to, of course. But I don't have my own trailer. If I wait until I have to move them, then everyone with trailers will probably be moving their own horses. I am not mentally or emotionally prepared to do this. My 19yr.TB mare is a very bad loader. It's taken as long as 3 days to get her on a trailer. Sometimes as little as 20 min. It seems to depend on how desperate I am about it. If I'm desperate to get her on, then she won't go. If I don't care if she gets on, then she'll go. And this Rita thing will certainly make me feel desperate.
Ugh - maybe I should just go and get the paint to put my ph.# on them and the index cards with info and baggies and tie it to them.
How many Houstonians are making preperations?

[jilltx]

I am tirnanog. I live too close to the coast for comfort (near NASA), and while my house survived Alicia (cat 3) in '83, I would not want to stay for another one of that magnitude. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/no.gif

I have contacted my local OEM and asked about
evacuation of livestock. SOME cities close the roadways to trailer traffic 24 hours prior to landfall. I am trying to verify this to make sure it is accurate.

The Houston Office of Emergency Management (http://www.houstontx.gov/oem/hurricane.html) has some good basic information as well as evacuation maps for the city. If you live in outlying cities, you should be able to find individual OEMs on the net for information specific to your area.

[inca]

tirnanog - talk to Sonesta about what she is planning on doing. I would think you are pretty far inland to worry about evacuating your horses. BUT, talk to people in your area that KNOW what it is like there when there is a tropical storm or hurricane. Is it flood prone? If so, probably best to evacuate if they are still predicting it to hit Houston in a few days.

[Elisha]

At least there are several ways out of the Houston area. One of the problems with living in LA is that we don't have a lot of Hwys. Here is Lafayette, you pretty much either take I10 to Texas or I49 north to Monroe.

I wish everyone good luck, and I'll have my fingers crossed that everyone and every horse make it through this okay.

[Kelly]

Anyone know the number of the barn in college station down the road from the mall with the race track. I was thinking of calling them. I forget the name and the lady who runs it or does anyone know of any other short term boarding barns in the area.

[Ridgetop Ghost]

If anyone feels like driving to the east coast of Florida, I can find stalls for 30-40 horses or more, plus some friendly, southern hospitality. We've been through this too, so all of us down here in south FL are more than willing to help.

[tirnanog]

I think Sonesta is staying but ESG is making plans to go, though she's waiting til Thurs. to decide. My horses are only 1 mile from them so I just don't know what to do. I am looking for someplace for them to go though. Then I have to line up transportation. But if I make all the arrangements and my mare doesn't get on the trailer, I don't know what I'll do.
Since my 2 horses are the only 2 there, I would have to leave my 2 yr. old with my mare. I think they'll be safer together.

[jilltx]

Tirnanog is it possible for you to board at a facility close to you with a big secure barn? The Cypress area should be spared the majority of the damage and you'll probably only get heavy rain and some serious wind gusts.

I already received a call from the Galveston County Sheriff's office asking for voluntary evacuations! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[inca]

I honestly think in Cypress you should be okay. Your horses have shelter, correct? The biggest concern is flooding and flying objects. If your horses are in a low lying area, it might flood - ask around about the flooding. The WORST thing to do in flooding is to have the horses shut in a stall - they will drown if it floods.

[inca]

tirnanog - will your mare load if you load your 2-yr-old first? Most of the bad loaders I have had experience with WILL get on if their buddy is on the trailer first. Don't want to be left out of the fun and left behind.

If you get in a huge pinch, I have a 2 horse trailer and can come move your horses for you. Takes me about an hour to get to your area from College Station.

[tirnanog]

Oh Jilltx - good luck to you and your horses. I wish you could bring them to hang out with mine. I just wish I had a crystal ball. The property where my horses are is pretty high ground. The neighbors will flood but my horses are never more than a hoof deep in water. Now, if they stay, do they stay out or get put in stalls?
AY YI YI - where is that crystal ball when you need it?

[tirnanog]

inca- thanks so much for your offer. 2 shippings ago, I moved my mare, she had a 4 month colt by her side. I thought that there is no way she won't get on if he's on. Once again, she made a liar out of me. That baby went off and on the trailer at least 15 times trying to get mom on. She finally got on then flew backwards before door was closed and cut her head. She did eventually get on and when she does decide to go, it's very uneventful. The way she balks about getting on a trailer, you'd think that she'd jump and leap on when she finally does go. But nooooo, she just steps on like no big deal.

[inca]

Gotcha - she is one of those "if I feel like it" loaders. I have had one of those - luckily she has gotten over it and is now a reliable loader. Very annoying to not know if loading is going to take 5 minutes or 5 hours. And you are right that the more important, more pressing the need to load is, the worse they usually are. If you are just practice loading and not going anywhere, they will jump right on. If you HAVE to be somewhere and have a time limit, forget it.

Just let me know if you get in a pinch. This week isn't crazy at work so I could leave if I need to.

[grayarabs]

WEll I am worried. My horse is in NW Houston.
Cypress Creek area a few miles east of Cypress.
I don't have a trailer anymore. I am not so worried about the creek - because in the past it has "only" come about 1/4 way up the street.
I am tho worried about flying objects. I guess we are about 60 miles from the coast?
What could we expect for wind? We have some shelters that were not built that great - with some sheet metal that I am worried about. Crap - this all makes me real nervous. I wish I could just walk my horse to my house and put him in the backyard (er patio). It seems that a lot of horse property this area - close to creek - is very prone to flooding. I hate this!!!
hgu

[SGray]

Rosehill resident

I don't think that weather/flooding will be a problem for me

(gotta hope not since I only have a two horse which will not fit the 2 horses, 1 pony, 2 goats, 4 sheep,......of course, I'd never be able to catch most of the sheep so they'd be there to keep pony company....though I would carry great guilt with me regarding any animal I left if I ever thought that I needed to do so.)

(of course, the dogs and cats would be in the truck cab with me)

but, once again, I don't think that, at 80+ miles inland, I need to worry over-much

[MSP]

I brought my horse into the day light basement of my house during a hurricane, the barn was under construction! I made a stall of sorts in front of the washer and dryer. But we were of no danger of flooding just trees breaking and limbs flying.

My current barn was designed for this situation, I have stall doors for each horse that open to the pasture. I leave all doors open and the horses can decided what is best at the time. If the barn starts to come apart they can run out or they can run in to stay dry.

As someone stated, if you are in danger of flooding leave them turned out or evacuate. I have no horse trailer so I can under stand the stress of evacuation.

Good luck to all of you in the target zone, when will this end!

[hastyreply]

All you Cypress people. I grew up in that area in the 60s and 70's. There was a reason there were so many rice farms in that area. The land is low and flat and the water likes to sit there. This isn't a problem if it's still farm land and native pasture but jump forward 30-40 years and so much of that native pasture has been paved over and those subdivisions esp the older ones were set up like there were the only people around there. I worked for a company that ran some of those water and sewer plants in various subdivisions. Most of them are set up to use the streets like funnels to funnel the water directly into the creeks/bayous. What this does is that instead of it taking several days for water to filter into the creeks it all hits it within the first 24 hours. What you get is instant flooding.

When we first moved there in the mid 60's there was little or no flooding any where around. As time past in the late 70's early 80's there were several times that our entire property was under water except for the house which had been built about 8-10 ft higher than the surrounding land. We weren't any where close to any creeks or bayous but the subdivisions that were nearest had really screwed up the natural drainage. For those who know the area it was the Mills rd/1960 area.

I hope everyone takes care and is real careful. Pray for high pressure system to shoot it off down to Mexico. (sorry Mexico but better you than us).

[Sonesta]

I am not too worried about the horses being injured in the storm. We are far enough away that we should not get the full velocity and we have sturdy barns. And we have never flooded her (although with all the new constuction in this area the past year, who knows?) The main concern will be if we lose electricity for any real length of time, as we are on a well and the pump doesn't work without electricity. I am going to go buy a generator tomorrow and that should solve that issue.

[Sonesta]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I worked for a company that ran some of those water and sewer plants in various subdivisions. Most of them are set up to use the streets like funnels to funnel the water directly into the creeks/bayous. What this does is that instead of it taking several days for water to filter into the creeks it all hits it within the first 24 hours. What you get is instant flooding. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oh, crap. That has been my greatest fear. Maybe I DO need to make evacuation plans. Damn the idiot developers. Have you noticed in this area, they passed a law that REQUIRES developers to dig "retention ponds" to control flooding. Sounds good, right? But the @#%$@# developers have completely eliminated the possiblities that these ponds can help by filling them with water and fountains, etc. and advertising them as "lakes." They are marketing the lots as "life on the lake." So, the "retention ponds" are already full of water, so there is no room for flood waters. Nice loophole in the law and the developers don't give a rats patootie.

[grayarabs]

Cypress folks - how far inland are we really?
60 Miles? 80 miles? I just heard on TV our local weather guy say that within 100 miles of the coast we could get hurricane force winds.

[jilltx]

Well I know that Katy (Moore Road) it is EXACTLY 57 miles one way from my house, and I am 25 miles from the coast. Cypress is another 15-20 miles from Katy (??) so I'm thinking Cypress is about 90 miles(ish) from the coast?

How's that for bad math. I suppose I could just mapquest it and know for sure http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

**Map Quest says it 77.6 miles from Galveston to Cypress**

[hastyreply]

When they started building subdivisons in that area each developer did what he wanted. They weren't really close together and they took lots of short cuts. As they have filled in between you have subdivisions some which date back to the 60's (Champions, Timberlake Estates are examples) next to ones built in the70's, 80's and 90's. So it's pretty much a mish mash. I'm sure (well maybe) someone has tried to rectify some of this but there is always stuff that gets "grandfathered in" that can't or isn't changed.

There was not planning board back then. I don't know about now. I've been gone from the area

since the early 80's. I just rememeber pastures what at water standing in them for days to weeks after heavy rains. It would slowly soak in and filter down to the creeks.

Ya'll have it at least a little better off from the people south of Houston and south west. My grandfather rowed a boat between Alvin, Angleton and Wharton back during the 1900 storm, picking people up. It was a realitively barren area then compared to what that region is like now.

[tirnanog]

Sonesta - What are you going to do? How long before you know? YOu have alot of horses there - I'll help if I can.

[Sonesta]

Thanks, Yvette. I've got friends in Tyler and other places. I'm keeping a close eye and will begin moving them if it looks like it's going to be more than a CAT3. Under that and I think we can ride it out. We are well north of Galveston and were high and dry during the last "100 year floods" we had and during Alicia. I will get a generator tomorrow to make sure we can pump water from the well if we lose electricity, which I see as the major risk.

[SED]

Okay, first of all let's hope it goes back to a tropical storm and gives Texas some rain -- which we DESPERATELY need. My farm is so dry its like a dust bowl...

If, God forbid, it is stays a hurricane and looks like it will hit near Houston, then I think that everything on the west side will generally be okay. Stock some canned food and water, etc. and wait till the electricity comes back on. This far inland, that's the only real issue.

But JillTx, you are too close for comfort being on the east side. If it looks like it is coming this way and you want to take the Princess out of the way, let me know. We have 40 acres near Navasota. Just don't be surprised if you never get her back again!

[jilltx]

Oh dear SED... http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif The princess is royalty! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have to evacuate...

I'm now trying to decide just HOW far I want to go. I guess now we all wait and see. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/uhoh.gif

[fancypants]

How much danger is Pearland in? (about halfway between Houston and the coast) We are probably ok as far as flooding goes, we only had slightly overflowing ditches during Allison, but I don't know how the wind will be. I have tried talking to my parents about evacuating but they're not taking it very seriously yet since we're not in immediate danger. I need to start making plans for my horse, because I either need to pick up my dad's trailer from his farm 2 hrs away or find a ride for him with somebody from my barn. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif I have enough cages & carriers for all my other animals (and extra food). Thankfully I have a truck to move them in too because my parents suggested just leaving them on the back porch. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

[Rift]

O.K. here's how I look at it. After dragging some 30 horses out of hip deep water from Alloson, if you flooded then, you'll flood now plus several feet if you are in an area that's had alot of construction. i.e. Cypress. If you were very high and dry back then I would think you would be fine now from flooding. Flying debris, yes a problem, loose roof panels, yes, a problem, big trees close to the barn/house...problem.

I cannot speak for them but you guys can call the barn I lease at and ask for stabling. They are listed in the Tomball directory as SGF Winning Ways Farm. I have no idea what the office number is but I will go in and speak to the office tommorrow. We have maybe 15 stall right now. The stalls are very solid and there are no big trees and it's VERY high ground. I'm not going anywhere unless it's a strong cat 4 or 5 and even then I'll have to see some more projections for potential winds. I plan on sitting in our big cement block office with a bottle of Ace for those who need it and just hunkering down.

[SandraD]

The Horse Gazette web site has a list of facilities across Texas willing to take in horses in case of emergencies.

Emergency Directory (http://horsegazette.com/emergency.htm)

[flshgordon]

Fancypants, if I were you, I would be making plans to move to higher ground. We don't know the path of the storm yet, but if it's anything like they are projecting (CAT 3+) then I would think Pearland/Alvin would NOT be a good place to be. Especially since there is so much new development in the Pearland area.

I think it will be a day or 2 before we really know the extent of what's coming but I did put in a call to a friend in College Station tonight to try and hook up some advance plans for my 3 guys.

Sonesta---I hope you'll keep us all in the loop! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[Kate66]

OK, now I am starting to get a little worried. I am near Alvin too and have 6 horses & 7 cows and a 2 horse trailer, so am limited in how far I can move the animals. How bad is a Cat 3? Would it be worth sitting that out?

[OldLadyOnATB]

I have haerd reports tonight that this storm is now projected more east like Lake Charles and not necessarily Houston.

Where ever it hits....please take this as it was intended....

IF YOU HAVE PETS OR HORSES, PACK THEM UP AND GET THE HELL OUT!

I am not kidding.

Elizabeth

[Kate66]

I'm not sleeping too well for thinking about this now. Just took this quote from http://www.disastercenter.com "The NHC is now projecting that Rita will make land fall around noon EDT Saturday directly south of Houston, with a 50% probability that it will be a category 3 of greater hurricane. "

[jilltx]

Kate http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif

I stayed for a category 3 in '83...never again.
The aftermath is not a party either!!

Move if you can. Alicia moved directly up hwy 6 and Alvin/Pearland got a lot of damage. Not saying that it will happen that way again, but why stay around to find out if you have other options.

Even west or north of town is a better option than south.

[Bethe Mounce]

From what I heard this morning, Rita is probably going to be a category 4 or possibly 5 when it hits......now exactly where the eye is going to hit is the big question. I am in College Station/Bryan area and we, according to what I have seen on TV, will probably get much rain and perhaps some high winds like we did with Alicia. Just in case, I am putting feed in my hay loft Friday and some hay......we will be ok if we lose power, we are on Wellborn water, no pump. So, it's a wait and see thing........if someone needs some help, email me at Bethe57@cs.com or call me at home 979-846-6081 (am in the house at 8:30 pm or so) Leave a message if you have to......I'll call you back. Forget the cell phone, it works when it feels like working! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Layne Farm]

a cat 2 or more is telling you to get OUT. If you have a way or need a way I would post it. Please people start now better safe then sorry. When we were in MS on the convoy. There was major damage 3 hrs inland just from tornadoes. So please get out. Look up on the usef site and look under where people were helping the katrina people. see if that is somewhat close to you. Iam in fl and would help if anyone needs it.

[inca]

Actually a co-worker's husband works at Wellborn Water. It is POSSIBLE if the electricity is out long enough that we could run out of water. I am filling up to 100 gallon tanks if it is still projected to come our way as of Thursday. Right now, they are projecting hurricane force winds in B/CS Saturday afternoon. I'm not sure my barn will still be standing if that happens. I am going to see if Cedar Trace can take 2 of my horses if it seems likely that we get hurricane force winds.

OldLadyonaTB - Not sure where you heard that it will hit Lake Charles because every source I have heard says the Texas coast is most likely right now. But, they are also saying it is too early to know for sure right now and it could hit anywhere from northern Mexico to Louisiana. I'm hoping by Wed. evening or Thurs. morning, they will have a better idea exactly where it is headed.

[tirnanog]

Inca - if you get hurrican force winds up there, then those of us in Cypress are in definate danger?

[inca]

Yes, tirnanog. If we get hurricane force winds, so will Cypress. I didn't realize any of this until last night. I've never been here when a hurricane has hit Houston and it did not dawn on me that it could still be a weak hurricane when it got here. I think it will depend on how strong it is when it makes landfall.

I'm not worried about my place flooding because it is one big slope that goes back to a 30 foot deep ravine. (Although one of my stalls will get some water in it.) However, I doubt my barn is built well enough to withstand hurricane force winds. I'm sure major boarding barns, especially those with steel beams, ARE built well enough to withstand it. That is why I am going to see if Cedar Trace will take 2 of my horses. That will still leave me with a mare, foal and pony to deal with at home.

Bad part is that they really don't know where it is going to hit now. But, you have to decide tomorrow or Thursday morning what to do since it is projected to make landfall very early Saturday morning. It's a guessing game right now.

[Seahorsefarmtobe]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by OldLadyOnATB:
IF YOU HAVE PETS OR HORSES, PACK THEM UP AND GET THE HELL OUT!I am not kidding. Elizabeth </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Pls heed this advice - the sooner the better - 'ya don't want to be stuck in evac traffic for hours with a loaded horse trailer!

[kb]

For people in the southern part of Houston - one thing to keep in mind is the storm surge - yes wind and rain are a factor, but the storm surge can produce a lot of flooding as well. Not to be an alarmist or a chicken little....but the news in Houston did a story that if Katrina had hit Galveston - the storm surge would have brought water all the way to 610 and 45....not pretty at all. As of yesterday, I read the storm surge on Rita is at 8 feet....not too horribly bad - but who knows what will happen in the next few days. Just an FYI.

[kb]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Seahorsefarmtobe:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by OldLadyOnATB:
IF YOU HAVE PETS OR HORSES, PACK THEM UP AND GET THE HELL OUT!I am not kidding. Elizabeth </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Pls heed this advice - the sooner the better - 'ya don't want to be stuck in evac traffic for hours with a loaded horse trailer! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

So very true - you cannot imagine how traumatized some of those animals were...of course I have an evacuee dog (who needs a home) and an evacuee horse (belongs to a friend). So I am considering evacuating those who have already evacuated.

[jilltx]

Again an EXCELLENT weather prediction site devoted to tropical systems (http://www.crownweather.com/tropical.html)

Click on the link then scroll down to the "WIND SWATH FORECAST" and you can see the predicted wind speed and strength. It's even color coded!! This site polls all of the best and most current possibilities and displays them.

[Seahorsefarmtobe]

...plus, early evac gives you a better shot at finding pet-friendly lodging for your small furries...and a place for the heese!

[2 tbs]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by kb:
As of yesterday, I read the storm surge on Rita is at 8 feet....not too horribly bad - but who knows what will happen in the next few days. Just an FYI. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

8 feet is bad enough but this thing is still (or at least as of an hour or so ago) a Tropical Storm - as it moves across the warm gulf waters and refuels after bashing the crap out of the Key's I'm sure it'll be bigger and badder as it hits the south coast...again http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/sigh.gif

By the time it's a hurricane and who knows how big (predictions are 3+) it will probably pack a storm surge much higher than 8 feet. The weather channel was talking about a storm that went from a tropical storm to a cat 5 in 36 hours (can't remember the name) - this one has more time to grow...

It might all fizzle out (unlikely) and making a dash for safety might seem like a waste but I'm sure those that rode out Katrina thinking it was just another empty promise of a big storm, if still alive, are wishing this was the one they ran from. Please get to safety even you have even the slightest incling you might be in danger.

I do not own a farm and the two where I keep my horses are full (besides the fact that I'm pretty far away) but I'm willing to help if I can-be a contact with a working phone #, mail valuables to me for storage for as long as necessary, whatever I can do. To be honest, being so far from hurricane land I didn't pay much attention to the approach of Katrina until the evening prior to landfall and then watched the stories all that morning...if I had paid attention sooner I would've offered what I could then as well. PM me if you have any favor to ask...

[Aggie4Bar]

My primary concern for the Cypress area is flooding. I board right off Cypress-Rosehill, and I suspect that if we have water like we did in Tropical Storm Alison, there won't be any way to get to and from the barn. Area development has also increased significantly in the short time since then, which means we'll probably have even worse flooding problems. Cypress Creek can be a real beast.

[fancypants]

I will be going out to the barn today to find my horse a ride, but in case we stay here I was wondering how strong/safe the barn is where my horse is at. It's basically a covered area roof with permanent stalls built underneath. The stalls (not connected to the roof structure in any way) are solid on 3 sides with bars on the front wall, facing the inside aisle. Is this a good or bad thing?

[SGray]

when Alicia was heading our way I had my horse in Alvin - the entire barn was evacuated to the GSWEC

[SimplySarah]

Rita has been upgraded to a Cat 1.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT3+shtml/201146.shtml?

[Bethe Mounce]

I am far more concerned about tornadoes than electricity at this point. Traditionally the north east quadrant of a hurricane produces the roughest weather and if this thing hits the Galveston area, then east Texas will get the brunt of stuff...that is if this hurricane goes as predicted.

Cedar Trace already has evacuees, don't know if they are accepting anymore. I am about to call and offer help to care for the horses there so Carlos isn't overwhelmed.

[alabama]

Just an FYI: When Ivan and Katrina came through where I live (235 miles approx and 4 hours from the coast) both of them were still cat 1 storms. Just putting that out there in case it helps anyone figure out winds/distance from the coast.

Good thoughts to everyone worrying about this storm (I'm a major worrier about storms) and good thoughts to people who end up in it's path.

[inca]

I was afraid that Cedar Trace might fill up with horses from the Houston area. I am seriously worried about flying sheet metal from my roof and/or my barn collapsing if we do indeed get hurricane force winds.

[jilltx]

Most of my friends and barnmates are packing up and heading out. Several of them could find nothing closer than DALLAS, and many of the hotel rooms were full there.

Off to pack up feed and get things ready ...just in case. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif

Hang in there guys!

[Seahorsefarmtobe]

...and plan where you will take the animals before you hit the road...make sure there is room.

[MSP]

For those of you that feel you can safely ride out the storm this is what I experienced with Katrina. Katrina caused major power outages because it retained its hurricane status well inland. There was a lot of roof and tree damage. The wind was strong enough we had to brace our garage door and I had to brace the barn doors because they were bowing in from the pressure (Trop storm strength or cat1 in our area). We lost power in the Jackson ,ms area (that’s 3hrs inland) at the beginning of the storm and some people did not get their power back for a week in this area. All but a very few stores and gas stations were closed. Water and ice became the most important commodities. Food started to go bad in the refrigerator so to preserve as much as possible you spent 4 hrs a day hunting for ice. It was three days before the National Guard showed up with trucks of ice and water so I would advise stocking up as much as possible. Get oil lamps or stock up on batteries and if you can find one buy one of those cheap black and white battery powered 4" tvs, that will keep you informed and you will feel less cut off. We are on city water but still lost pressure after the storm as well as land phones and cell phones. I was told all theses services run on back up generators or batteries and they eventually run out of fuel or power and so they go off line with extended power outages. This was about the time we ran out of gas! As power was restored to critical areas such as hospitals and gas stations large lines formed and gas would be gone just after a station opened up. Grain for my old horse was alos hard to find. Some feed stores either were damaged or had no power so were not open. Other feed stores just ran out of feed very quickly and because of fuel shortages trucks were being delayed trying to deliver to our area. It was like nothing I have ever experienced and living in this heat with out air conditioning was just plain miserable. Of course we were the lucky ones! We still had a home, we were just inconvenienced. So don’t underestimate how bad it can get.

[Bethe Mounce]

Very good post msp. We have a generator here at the farm, plenty of gas for it. Plenty of canned food too. Am stocking up tomorrow on dog/cat/horse feed, gas and shavings. I think our area will be ok, but, I would rather over react and over plan than under, ya know? If nothing else, Katrina taught a big lesson....be prepared! I have two horses coming to my place and they will be as safe as mine are! All of mine will stay outside and one in the barn. We have some lovely old trees in the front yard which could topple if the winds get too high. We shall be prepared for every contingency. If necessary I can turn all my horses out into my hay patch and they'll just have to get along.

Hard to believe how hot it is now with the sun shining and what it might be like come late Friday into early Sat am.

If anyone in my area or the possible hurricane area is on these boards, I know Inca is nearby amongst others, and needs help, please email me or call me at home---yes, I am about to post my home #! 979-846-6081; leave a message; I am usually in my house around 8:30ish pm. Pointless to call my cell, it works when it feels like it. I can't take any more evacuees but I might be able to help someone find a place for their horses. I would think Dick Freeman arena at A&M would open up their barns....don't know. I can find out about that if someone needs me to.

[Sonesta]

I have a generator so we will be able to run the water pump. Am stockpiling feed in the top of the barn. Have 200 bales of hay in a container that is high. Have plans to bring all the horses inside during the winds. Hoping it goes well.

[2 tbs]

Well, latest reports are Rita is strengthening as she moves across the Keys. Weather.com has some photos of the newest projected path and some satellite shots that show how large this thing is and how it continues to grow http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

[Aggie4Bar]

She's now officially a Cat 2.

[Blinky]

At this time we are not relocating the horses.

[tirnanog]

Blinky - where in Houston are you that you feel safe? I'm in Cypress and though I'm not worried about flooding, I am worried about flying debris. The concensus seems to be to keep the horses out as opposed to their stalls. I think they are safer in their stalls from debris but although their barn has been there for 60 years how do I know that it will still be there when this is over?

[2 tbs]

Blinky-have you looked at the projected path on weather.com? Do you realize Rita was a TS for a few days and in a matter of hours went from a TS to a cat 1 and now within a couple more hours from there AS it crossed land is a now a cat 2 and it still has the warm gulf waters to pick up some steam with?

You might want to reconsider relocating the horses if you can. Even if it's not super far...just farther than the direct impact. This storm could be a 5 by the time it whomps on TX. If you truly decide to stay or leave the horses behind I wish you all well.

[RacetrackReject]

If anyone wants to head a bit east, I believe that Somerset Stables in Woodville, Texas, will take in evacuated horses. I believe they have about 10 stalls available. The # is 409-283-5034, ask for Kay.

[RAyers]

Having had a barn collapse for other reasons (51" of snow) and seeing how lucky we were to get the horses out in time (say about 2 minutes before total collapse to get 20 horses out), I would go with leaving horses out over leaving them in. When a building goes it seems to go with little or no warning.

[Blinky]

We are on the far north side of Houston. We are watching the weather but we have 35 horses that would need to be moved. No small feat in itself. Anyway, can't think of anywhere that can take taht many. I feel that the building is structurally sound. We have bought plywood, extra feed, and are moving all the jumps in.

[Aggie4Bar]

There's a place in Seguin that supposedly has room for up to 80. It's probably first come, first serve. Seguin Horse Center, 830-303-4323.

[CSSporthorses]

My prayers are with everyone in the area, direct or not direct. Please make sure there is waterproof labels on all your animals and have RECENT pics of all of them ... That way, if they do get loose, being re-united with them will be much easier.

[Dare to Dream]

THANK YOU to those of you posted possible evacuee locations for our ponies. I am like many, in a location where I will probably be fine, but if it comes in at the forces predicted, it is possible I won't. I am just worried and want my mare to be safe. I would never forgive myself if I had the chance to get her to safety and didn't and something happened to her.

Also, thank you to those sharing your concerns and plans. I know where many of you are in relation to myself and it is helping me tremendously as I was here for Allison, but I was living my own hurricanes in Florida at the time of Alicia. You have also assured me that I am not just overreacting like my co-workers think I am. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

[2 tbs]

In case folks haven't realized it yet...there is a thread stickied to the top with a place to post locations to evacuate for Rita...make sure you post there if you can help or check there if you need to leave.

[SGray]

a good synopsis on damage from

http://www.pcwp.com/rareport.html

Detailed description of Category 1 -5 wind damage.



Category One Hurricane:

Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage

Category Two Hurricane:

Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Storm surge generally 6-8 feet above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings. Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings

Category Three Hurricane:

Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtain wall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with several blocks of the shoreline may be required

Category Four Hurricane:

Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. More extensive curtain wall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km).

Category Five Hurricane:

Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required

[inca]

That makes me feel better! Won't be more than a Category 1 here if we stay in the direct path.

[ProzacPuppy]

I'd just like to say that I am not amused.

One of my horses has plans to evac with his barnmates. I can't get ahold of my other horse's trainer to see what, if any, plans they have.

Personally, I'm just going to stock up on lots of necessities (water, batteries, toilet paper, canned goods) and sit with my dogs. Unfortunately I live on what will undoubtedly be the "dirty" side if it hits Houston, and I've been warned that last time Houston got hit by a big hurricane (Alicia) it spawned many tornados.

[Kelly]

Well I'm truly unsettled, I found stalls for my horses in Wellborn and plan on taking them up there tomorrow evening. I know there are alot of people who live off of cypress rosehill. How did you fair in the past?

[Andrew]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Posted Sep. 20, 2005 04:05 PM
That makes me feel better! Won't be more than a Category 1 here if we stay in the direct path. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Won't be more than a Category 1 here if we stay in the direct path </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
HELLLOOO INCA.....
Is your head in the sand??? http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif I'm 10 min north of Key Largo,( we dodged the bullet this time http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif) and it's been a CAT 2 for several hours and expected to be a cat 3 possibly as early as this evening and will only inesify over the warm waters of the gulf!! They don't know exactly where she'll land anywhere from Brownsville, Tx to the West coast of LA.. Key West got spared the brunt however, a 6-9 ft storm suge is expected early this evening and will be flooded... THIS IS NO LONGER A CAT 1 HURRICANE....MAKE PLANS NOW AND GET SAFE http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif

[SGray]

Andrew - Inca is 150+ miles from the coast

[inca]

Hey Andrew. No, my head is NOT in the sand. Look at a map. I am about 150 miles inland. (My location is clearly listed at the bottom of my posts.) They are saying that if it makes landfall as a Cat. 3 and we stay in the direct path like is now forecasted that it will weaken to a category 1 by the time it gets here.

[inca]

Posted same time as SGray - thank you for pointing out that I am inland and not a total idiot! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[jilltx]

Say it with me now! Inca Inca fo finka... banana fana fo finka... me my mo minca...INNNNNCA. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Shall we do Chuck?

This moment of Zen brought to you by jilltx and courtesy of Hurricane Rita; where pressure really blows.

Thught we all could use a little senseless humor. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif

[inca]

Jilltx http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif

And Andrew quoted me TWICE to make sure everyone knew how delusional I was! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Most people here (in College Station) actually think I am crazy and that we will get nothing more than 30 mile an hour winds and some rain. Which will be true if it hits more towards Corpus Christi like some models are predicting. But, some models are predicting that we are in the direct path. Seems most people here are like I was before yesterday and just assume that we are far enough inland NOT to get a hurricane. But, I found out that is not the case. I am praying for a more southward turn towards Corpus. (Sorry, everyone that live in Corpus!)

[Aggie4Bar]

Jill, http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif

Actually, I'm sitting here looking at my co-working thinking, "I am so thankful I'm not enduring that!" By "that", I mean full-term pregnancy. She's scheduled to deliver at about the same time Rita makes landfall. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[jilltx]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Most people here (in College Station) actually think I am crazy and that we will get nothing more than 30 mile an hour winds and some rain. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


Then slap a sticker on your head and call you, "CRAZY!!", 'cause I'm heading your way (Bryan) tomorrow in the early afternoon. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[inca]

jilltx - are you bringing Luna with you? If so, where is she staying?

[SGray]

College Station is, in fact, an evacuation point for towns/cities close to the coast

College Station, Huntsville, Brenham, and, is it, Conroe? - I am sure about first three

[flshgordon]

now that they are predicting that Rita will be a CAT 4 by 2pm tomorrow I am definitely moving the horses to College Station if the course stays the same http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

these things move too damn fast!

[Dare to Dream]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by SGray:
College Station is, in fact, an evacuation point for towns/cities close to the coast

College Station, Huntsville, Brenham, and, is it, Conroe? - I am sure about first three </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think you are right about all but Conroe. My horse is on the south end of Conroe and we are planning to move somewhere else. Perhaps just as north as College Station.

[Sonesta]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Having had a barn collapse for other reasons (51" of snow) and seeing how lucky we were to get the horses out in time (say about 2 minutes before total collapse to get 20 horses out), I would go with leaving horses out over leaving them in. When a building goes it seems to go with little or no warning. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I hear you, Reed (and agree completely with regard to the weight of snow), but a building does not collapse in the wind. It blows away. And, having seen the sheets of tin that came off the sides and roofs of barns stuck 2 feet into the ground and buried 6 inches or more into the sides of huge trees after a hurricane and seeing the completely unharmed horses standing in stalls when the wind took the entire roof off in that same hurricane, I'd rather take the lesser risk of the building collapsing than the risk of the horses being cut to ribbons by flying tin.

[Bethe Mounce]

There are two places off of Highway 6, the racetrack and the Brazos Center, where they are accepting horses........email me Bethe57@cs.com and I will forward you the email I just got with all the information. If you need help getting to College Station, email me.......I'll see what I can do.

[Blinky]

Agree with Sonesta. Our's are staying in.

[inca]

Yep, the flying tin and/or tree branches is what is worrying me. My stalls are not totally enclosed. Which is usually great in Texas but not in this particular circumstance! But, I guess if the roof gets ripped off it will blow away from the barn. Just have to worry about tree branches blowing into the stalls.

I just got a call asking if I could take evacuated horses. All I would have to offer is a 1/2 acre pasture with no shelter and as of now we are still smack dab in the projected path. So, I had to say I didn't have room. I'm worried enough about keeping my own horses safe.

Hope everyone finds a safe place to evacuate!

[jilltx]

Yes inca, Luna and the fabulous and huge Arturo are headed to Bryan to hang with the lovely Bethe Mounce-Blasienz who has graciously agreed to put us up...or put up with us. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

I will be staying with my family near La Grange (Warda to be exact) but will be out as much as possible to help out Bethe and perhaps anyone else in that area who needs assistance during/after the storm.

[Home Again Farm]

I am in north Fl and am jingling like mad for all you folks. The last two years have been beyond frightening. Take care and those near the coast who can move I hope you get out safely.

Sonesta, I am with you. Mine stay in because of the blowing debris and falling trees — and then we pray that the barn stays up.

[ESG]

Does anyone know if the barns at the track are built to hurricane code? I can't imagine that they wouldn't be, but can't get any confirmation of that. Since I'm so close, I'll probably move mine there. I was going to go to Bellville, but now it looks like the storm is going to be further west than Galveston (according to WeatherUnderground and the latest NOAA tracking reports), so my beasties will probably be safer here.

So hard to know what to do. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/sigh.gif

[chai]

I pray everyone in the path of the storm will evacuate with their pets this time. If anyone else has read "Isaac's Storm" I'm sure you feel the same way I do, watching this storm roar toward Galveston. Terrifying. Please, all of you in that area, heed the evacuation schedule and get out.
Here's a helpful link to track the hurricane:
http://www.intellicast.com/Local/USNationalWide.asp?loc...rodnav=none&pid=none (http://www.intellicast.com/Local/USNationalWide.asp?loc=usa&amp;seg=StormCenter&amp;prodgrp =TrackingCharts&amp;product=HurTrack2&amp;prodnav=none&amp;pid =none)

[tirnanog]

Sam Houston Race Park in Houston is taking in 100 horses from Galveston and 22 horses from Ravensway Stables in Cypress. I don't know how many others they are taking in but they aren't guarenteeing the horses will be protected from barn roofs blowing off. But they won't flood. So if flooding is a concern for you, you should contact the track. They have 1200 stalls there but I doubt they want to fill it up. I think they are only taking in thoses that are in the most danger.

[flshgordon]

Inca do you have the number for Cedar Trace? My friend has room (barely) for my 3 but I need one more stall and I am coming to CStation....also do you know anything about Carousel Acres?

PM me if you want! THX

[inca]

I think Cedar Trace is 979-696-1143. If that's not right, PM me. Carousel Acres should be okay. It's not the greatest set up to board at but should be okay for this situation.

[Rift]

O.K. so how do you guys feel about San Antonio???? I hqave 50 stall reserved for our farm at the Rose Palace but some people feel that it isn't far enough inland and it'd be just the same as staying in Cypress.

[copper bay farm]

I wish I was closer so I could offer more help than just jingles, but I will be hoping and praying this storm just fizzles out and that all in its path remain safe. Please evacuate yourselves and your animals if you can.

[tirnanog]

I am not in any real danger of flooding but my concern is the wind. Some people say leave the horses out and some say leave them in.
What should I do? I'm in Cypress, NW Houston, about 75 miles inland. I don't know how bad the winds are expected to be. My 2 horses are in a 6 acre pasture with a few large shade trees. I can put them in their stalls (small 3 stall barn which the front of their stalls open up to their pasture) which has some trees right against the back of the barn or keep them out.
Desperately seeking advice.

[tirnanog]

Rift - I heard San Antonio is NOT a place for refuge from this.

[Rift]

well, that's what i was thinking. we may be able to offer you two stalls if you need them in a very sound barn. at this point we aren't moving.

[alabama]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by tirnanog:
I am not in any real danger of flooding but my concern is the wind. Some people say leave the horses out and some say leave them in.
What should I do? I'm in Cypress, NW Houston, about 75 miles inland. I don't know how bad the winds are expected to be. My 2 horses are in a 6 acre pasture with a few large shade trees. I can put them in their stalls (small 3 stall barn which the front of their stalls open up to their pasture) which has some trees right against the back of the barn or keep them out.
Desperately seeking advice. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I'm not trying to be an ass, I swear. Did you see my post that I got cat. 1 winds 235 miles inland with two storms (Ivan and Katrina)? If it was me, I'd go. Hell, come here if you want. I have pasture for horses. It'd take a while to get here and it's not the Ritz but it's better than a hurricane.

[tirnanog]

Believe me alabama, if it was simply a matter of hooking up the trailer and putting my horses on it, I'd be gone. But, I don't have a trailer and my mare is a very bad loader. (if she loads at all) The only trailer she MAY get on would be an open stock, at least 7 ft. high with no partitions so she could travel loose and I don't know anyone with one now.

[tirnanog]

Rift - thanks for the offer, but like I said in my above post, if I could get a trailer that my mare would get on and travel fine, with room for my 2 yr. old, I would be heading faaaaar away. Good luck to you and yours.

[Rift]

So put a shank over her nose tiranog and get someone to follow behind you in a truck with the hazards on. If you are in Cypress there has got to be a sturdy barn within walking distance.

[tirnanog]

The funny thing is, Rift, it wouldn't be the first time I had to do that with this particular mare. I had to hand walk her 1 1/2 miles down a 6 lane hwy once. I was shipping her from the track to a farm and when we pulled up to the farm to unload, they didn't have a loading dock (like at all racetracks) and she wouldn't go down the van ramp. After 4 hrs., ace, blindfolds, backwards pushing (the backwards pushing caused her to fall halfway off the side of the ramp only to scramble back up into the van and very bad hock injury) 102 degrees, we decided to take her to a farm with a loading dock 1 1/2 miles from my farm which she walked right off. So here we go down the 6 lane hwy, van with flashers following, sweat pouring, blood pouring from hock, semis blowing by, knees shaking - we made it to the farm. It was after this that I had a hard time loading her.

So, anyway, the barn mine are in has been there for 60 yrs. It's a wood barn with a tin roof but the roof is rather low ( I hated that when I moved there) but the owner told me it was designed that way so the wind would pass over it rather that under it and lift it off. I think the barn is ok, it's the trees I worry about.
I just don't know anymore. My head is spinning with "what ifs".
And the closest barn to me is Sonesta and ESG. They are about 1 mile from me but ESG is leaving and Sonesta has plenty of her own there.

[alabama]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by tirnanog:
Believe me alabama, if it was simply a matter of hooking up the trailer and putting my horses on it, I'd be gone. But, I don't have a trailer and my mare is a very bad loader. (if she loads at all) The only trailer she MAY get on would be an open stock, at least 7 ft. high with no partitions so she could travel loose and I don't know anyone with one now. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I feel your pain. That's why I said I really wasn't trying to be an ass. My horse sulled up at a roping and layed down and wouldn't get up while we were trying to load him. I know exactly what it's like. It took years of me trying by myself (without my ex-cowboy boyfriend "helping") to get him to load easily.

If you find a trailer and can get her on it, email me at thrasher at hiwaay dot net. I'll keep both horses as long as you need me to.

[incentive]

Please, everyone, make plans before it's toolate to carry them out. My theory has always been better safe than sorry. Tons of jingles and hugs being sent from SE Virginia to all who could be in harm's way. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/sigh.gif

[Bethe Mounce]

I have a place nearby that can take 3-4 horses (that get along with each other)........email me for information. Bethe57@cs.com Pointless to call me at this time, I am not home! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif I am either at my barn or dealing with evacuees and their horses.....if what noaa says is right, we will get some high winds, so all of us will keep our caps on! My horses live outside 24/7 except for one and they will stay outside during this challenge that is coming....safer in my opinion. Vehicles and buildings are replaceable, my family and horses are not.

[Kelly]

tirnanog, I'm willing to help you. I have four stalls reserved at Carousel Acres. I will start moving mine tomorrow. Once I'm done I would be happy to help you. My trailer is an 8ft tall stock for three regular size horses or two huge ones. If Carousel is full ..(I don't know how to spell it or the lady's name who runs it but they have huge nice stalls) Loch a Nora..CS/Bryan people might know the number. I would hate for you to have to stay just because of no ride. I've loaded my share of hard horses and we could wait her out.

[Summershyne7]

If you have horses and it's a cat. 3, I'd get them out. When Katrina hit, we put them in the barn, and they rode it out okay (it's made of concrete block...), but the aftermath was what was the problem. If, as in Sonesta's case, one has water on a well pump, that can be a problem, and ended up being ours. They told us that they would have a generator hooked up to it should such an eventuality exist, but of course they didn't. So, mum had to carry water in coolers so our horses would have water. We couldn't possibly do that for the other 10 or so that were still there. And that was 2 days later, as there was a curfew in place until 48 hours after it was over. After the looting in N.O., I would expect that if I were in an area that was hit. It was a good thing we filled up big buckets of it in their stalls before-hand. Mobile wasn't the hardest hit area by far, but it was about 4 days before our power came back on, and we were not the last to get it back.

[ESG]

Jesus, I'm scared.

I'm not sure which direction to go. I have seven horses in my care, and only trailer space for six. I'm sure they shouldn't stay in my barn; we've opened up the walls and made it too vulnerable to the roof blowing off in our renovations. I was going to Pine Hill, but it looks like the storm is going to make landfall further west than what they originally anticipated, like maybe 80-100 miles further west. At least, that's what I get from the maps - others who know more and can read them better, feel free to correct me. If, however, I'm wrong, then we're still in danger and I want to head northeast, towards Tyler. I THINK I can put one horse in the middle of our 4-horse head-to-head to make up the extra space, but won't know until I try it. And even then, is that safe for a 4 hour drive?

Damn. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/no.gif

[tirnanog]

Kelly - Thank you so much. I would love to get them someplace that I don't have to worry about them. Let me know when you have yours settled. I'll see if I can find someplace safe to take them. College Station seems to be the place everyone is going. I heard Tyler is a good place to go also but I don't know anyone there.

Does Carousel Acres have room for 2 more? Can someone give me the ph #?

[Kate66]

I'm terrified and feel overwhelmed. Kelly, I have just driven up to Carousel Acres this evening with 3 of our guys and will be taking the other 3 up tomorrow morning....maybe I'll meet some of you guys there! I was so relieved when I saw it, it looks like a wonderful barn and the owner seemed fabulous. I have 3 stalls and the other 3 are going out in a pasture. I am having to leave my cows behind and am just praying that everything goes OK for them. I just couldn't find anywhere to take them and now I have run out of time. Tomorrow I have to completely board the place up, pack up my stuff and get the other 3 up to College Station. Worst thing is I had to borrow a 3 horse trailer as I only have a 2 horse, so will have to drive all the way back and then evacuate myself and the dogs somewhere. If anyone needs to borrow a v large 2 horse to get up to the College Station area...and leave it there...call me in the morning and I will have worked out what to do with the 2 horse trailer.

[Bethe Mounce]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Kelly:
tirnanog, I'm willing to help you. I have four stalls reserved at Carousel Acres. I will start moving mine tomorrow. Once I'm done I would be happy to help you. My trailer is an 8ft tall stock for three regular size horses or two huge ones. If Carousel is full ..(I don't know how to spell it or the lady's name who runs it but they have huge nice stalls) Loch a Nora..CS/Bryan people might know the number. I would hate for you to have to stay just because of no ride. I've loaded my share of hard horses and we could wait her out. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

And I have a place to put them in College Station. Carousel Acres is down the road from me about 5-8 miles. The place I have in mind is a shorter distance. Call me if you need to at 979-846-6081; leave message. Will call back later. Have lots to do today, but if Kelly can get them here, I will see that they are well cared for.........

[jilltx]

Trailer is packed, plans have been made...house is...well...the house will have to survive. We've secured all the outdoor stuff and packed what we need.

I'm heading to our farm just outside of La Grange and my horses will be weathering the storm near Bryan/College Station.

God bless us all in the path of this thing.

I will be posting and checking in from the farm late Wednesday.

[luvmytbs]

According to the Yahoo news section, Rita was just upgraded to a #4.

Please guys, get out of there if you can!

My prayers are with you!

[vineyridge]

I wouldn't be making bets on where she will come to land just yet.

She has just gotten into the open gulf after passing Cuba, and there is plenty of time for her to change direction, unfortunately. A few degrees one way or the other can make a huge difference in damage--witness the blown away devastation on the Mississippi Coast from Katrina, as opposed to the storm surge damage in NOLa.

This is not to say that y'all shouldn't evacuate, as you should, but it is to say that small changes in direction can make big differences in the results.

[onelanerode]

Folks, it's up to a Cat. 4 now.

You'll have hurricane-force winds well inland, plus a lot of rain. Unless you've got a cinder-block barn with a very sturdy, well-secured roof, they're probably better off outside, flying debris and all. Especially if you have trees that could fall on your barn. Put it this way: if they're outside, they have at least a chance to get away from rising water, falling trees, ripped-off roofs, etc. ... if they're inside, they're pretty much stuck unless you can get to them.

I lived 90+ miles inland from the coast of N.C., and even with a Cat. 2 we had 80-90 mph winds and incredible amounts of rain. I've never been through anything more than a Cat. 3, and damage-wise, that was bad enough. If any of you are downstream from a dam that could break, as we were, please find higher ground. You do not want a personal visit from the fire chief warning you about the possibility of the dam breaking, telling you to leave, and then asking for your next-of-kin if you choose to stay.

Please be careful everyone!

[tirnanog]

Is College Station far enough away?

[inca]

tirnanog - I seem to be the only person in Bryan/College Station who has had that same thought. No one else seems THAT concerned about what might happen here. This morning, they said if the storm follows the current projected path, we will have 60-80 mph SUSTAINED winds for most of the day on Saturday with gusts up to 100 mph. I am VERY concerned about keeping my horses safe in those conditions.

They also said that there has been little change in the projected path in the past 48 hours. Not that it can't or won't change but so far things are staying as expected. The current projected path has the eye passing over College Station Saturday afternoon.

But, I will tell you that we are taking a ton of evacuated horses here so hopefully it will be fine.

[ESG]

We really can't know until it hits. Yes, there was massive peripheral damage from Katrina, but even with a Cat. 4 storm, that isn't always the case.

When Andrew hit south Florida in '92, I was terrified. My parents live about 70 miles north of Miami, which was absolutely creamed. They, however, got a little wind, a sprinkle of rain, and never lost power. They were, however, to the north of a storm moving west, and out of the danger zone. There's no way to tell how far is "far enough" until we know where the storm will make landfall. Sucks, but there it is. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/sigh.gif

Right now, I'm waiting for a call back from Tractor Supply to see if I've won the generator lottery. If not, it'll be my mission for today to find one. I'm not weathering this storm without it. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/no.gif

[Layne Farm]

Since coth people are so great. Can i suggest that you guys that our in the storm area or close to it. Make a list of phone numbers and names, and where you will be and where your animals will be horses and other wise. Please please do this I will help if you need me too. After what i saw beeing in MS with heling those people out. You wil need to get help from people that are in the state before we can get any help to you. IF we have to go through what we did in Katrina god help us all. I am meeting 80 dogs and cats at the state line that are getting out of st benard parish and comming to fla just in case. TAG everything phone numbers of out of state friends or family please. This is the only way we can call and let you know your loved ones are ok. This is a huge storm. So you will be out of service for awile. Also have a paper that says if your horses need help medical needs or needs to evacuate from where you kept your horses roll it up put it in a zip log bag and duck tape it to the halter. That way someone can call your phone number listed and let you know where your animals are. Do this for dogs and cats too if you can. I have been through so meny of thease things i cant even tell you.

[tirnanog]

I can't remember the name of the storm, but do you remember the storm in FLA., last year, that created mandatory evacuation from certain areas and at the last minute, the storm turned, only to go directely to the sites that people evacuated to?
So many people are taking their horses to College Station and Im just not sure that it's going to be much better than Cypress.

[ProzacPuppy]

Well, it appears that my mare's trainer is going to stand his ground. He's in Cypress. Certainly hoping he is right about this. I'd feel better if he'd panic around like the rest of Houston appears to be doing ("If you can keep your head while those about you are losing theirs, perhaps you don't fully understand the situation").

I suppose tho that with 25-30 horses, evac is the last thing you want to do.

[2 tbs]

Houston Tx - if this storm stays a 4 or becomes a 5 which I said it would probably by landfall and assuming it stays the most recent path as well - how screwed would you be?

A co-worker of mine has a nephew there. The nephews mother is best friends with another co-worker. The BF co-worker says they will be fine...I think otherwise. The aunt co-worker is worried-very worried because apparently they are not leaving their house. They say it's because they don't have friends, their relatives are here and they don't get along so they aren't coming here.

Should they leave? Or better yet, would a wiser choice be to leave but if not hope they have a very sturdy house and lots of stocked up necessities?

[inca]

I think College Station WILL be better than Cypress. But, I know I didn't build my barn with a hurricane in mind. I hope that College Station is prepared if we do get sustained 60-80 mph winds and gusts of 100 mph. Personally, if I were evacuating, I'd head on to Austin or Dallas.

[Jo]

You guys are making ME freak out! I wish I had land or a barn to offer up but unfortunately I live in a little apartment. If someone needs a place to stay, send me an E-mail and I'll see what I can do - lots of friends and family in the area with houses.

Here in Dallas, we are being told that we will have 60 mph sustained winds on Sunday with some flooding - upwards of 5 inches. Normally I think Dallas would be fine with this - but we are in such a bad drought right now I don't think the land will be able to soak it up very quickly! I am thankful, however, the our barn is up on a hill and I no longer have to worry about living through another flood.

[Layne Farm]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I can't remember the name of the storm, but do you remember the storm in FLA., last year, that created mandatory evacuation from certain areas and at the last minute, the storm turned, only to go directely to the sites that people evacuated to?
So many people are taking their horses to College Station and Im just not sure that it's going to be much better than Cypress </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

That would be CHARlIE. Yep went through that one too and fracence, and irenne, oh and lets not forget Ivan. Fla was slammed last year. We know how and when to run. this one is a runner. trust me on thishttp://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Layne Farm]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Well, it appears that my mare's trainer is going to stand his ground. He's in Cypress. Certainly hoping he is right about this. I'd feel better if he'd panic around like the rest of Houston appears to be doing ("If you can keep your head while those about you are losing theirs, perhaps you don't fully understand the situation").

Prozac is your mare with him? If so i would get her out. People crack me up. Last year we had to get that meny horses out. mares foals layups you name. We did it and they were safe. We called friends that had friends with trailers and did it. I really do not think that people understand about getting out. At least here in Fla were getting slamed on a yearly bases we know when to get out. I would say umm people this is get out time. Why risk trying to ride it out if this bitch is so big. I just dont get it http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/no.gif

I suppose tho that with 25-30 horses, evac is the last thing you want to do. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[horsesourcetexas]

I have seen a few posters mention the Tyler area. I am in that general area so if you are thinking of heading this way, you can call 903-245-4982 and I will be glad to act as a concierge of sorts. I know quite a few farm owners and can try to make arrangements as needed. I have a pasture open here and know of many more in the area, some with stalls.

Shannon

[Ridgetop Ghost]

Oh my GOD--please get out if you are in the path. This thing is a monster. It is moving at 14mph--the faster forward they go, the less likely to turn north. She's probably going to go straight ahead like a freight train. Those of you who are mobile can head around over to Florida--we have plenty of space here.

Even if everyone is OK after the storm passes, the aftermath is HORRIBLE!!!! You have no idea! BEEN THERE! NO WATER, NO GAS, NO FOOD (other than what you have stashed), horrible heat and bugs, boredom enough to make you lose your mind. Don't do it to yourself--go someplace where you and your animals will be comfortable.

Come to West Palm--we have lots of doggie daycare places for your pets. There is a huge concrete barn with over a 100 empty stalls (former trotting training center), lots of other people here will be happy to help out--we have a pretty good horse community here and can put you in touch with someone who can help you out. Lots of hotels, etc. to make you comfy. Please PM me if you are heading this way.

Best of luck to everyone in this thing's path.

[Sleepy]

I saw on the h/j forum that there is a horse show going on in Houston and they are still planning to continue this weekend. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif What are these people thinking? This show needs to be cancelled and these folks need to leave NOW!

Edited to add - it's up to a Cat 4 now.

[kb]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Kelly:
tirnanog, I'm willing to help you. I have four stalls reserved at Carousel Acres. I will start moving mine tomorrow. Once I'm done I would be happy to help you. My trailer is an 8ft tall stock for three regular size horses or two huge ones. If Carousel is full ..(I don't know how to spell it or the lady's name who runs it but they have huge nice stalls) Loch a Nora..CS/Bryan people might know the number. I would hate for you to have to stay just because of no ride. I've loaded my share of hard horses and we could wait her out. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Kelly - last night I spoke with someone and got at Carousel Acres. He said all he has available is a run-in shed and paddock area. Any chance you can tell me what this set up looks like. I am absolutely hysterical...this is not my horse. This is a horse that was evacuated from New Orleans...I talked to his owner yesterday. She said she would come get him but there is no place to put him. Flshgordon has agreed to trailer this guy up to College Station - but putting him in a run-in may not be a better option. Honestly, I have no idea what to do at this point.

[tirnanog]

I want to get out. I'm am very scared but don't want to be seperated from my horses. I also have 2 small children and 2 large dogs. Oh yeah, a husband and mother.
Where's my magic carpet?

[flshgordon]

SO YOU"RE THE ONE KELLY http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

We had to beg for the last spot at Carousel Acres last night and only got it because of a friend who knows them. I am taking one there and the other 3 down the road to a friend's house starting tonight

[ProzacPuppy]

Layne- My mare is with the trainer in Cypress. Trainer said he had made arrangements with facilities in Little Rock, Dallas, Waco (he knows EVERYONE http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif) but does not want to evac unless absolutely necessary. His email did say that owners were welcome to come take their own horses should they feel the need. Unfortunately I do not own a trailer, nor a vehicle to pull it with if I had it (I drive a MINI, other car is a Civic http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif- it will take multi loads to evac my dogs!!)

I am seriously getting worried about his choice to "wait and see" however. I am well aware that the Cypress area floods, even without the hurricane force winds.

Technically, isn't a trainer supposed to deal with this sort of situation rather than leave it up to the owners? As my husband said, isn't "managing the horse" what we pay him $$$ for?

[flshgordon]

PP--in this case I would have to say he is smart to leave it up to the owners, because after all it is your ultimate decision as to the safety of the horse.

I think in this situation the best we can hope for from our trainers is to ask what they are doing with their own horses. If theirs are staying then I would assume they think it is a small enough risk. But if you feel differently then by all means, try to get them out on your own or with others' help.

My trainer/BO sent out the same type of email...."here is the deal, mine are staying, yours can stay but if you want them out, you'll need to make those arrangements and I'll help if I can". I think that's the best anyone can do at this point.

I'm taking mine and leaving, many more are staying, it's a personal choice and hopefully this will all be just a drill for nothing.

[ProzacPuppy]

Wonder if I have time to raise the mare's insurance? http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Any Houston folks whose jobs are letting them off Friday (or before)? My boss has suggested we bring in inflatable mattresses and a generator for the computers. I'm hoping he's kidding but it is tax time http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/uhoh.gif

[Kelly]

tiranog , i will be moving my first load within the hour, I will do two loads. here's my cell phone..sommetimes it works and sometimes it does not 281-300-2577. I called the place where mine are going too and he's out of room. Please see if anyone knows the number to Loch 'Nora. This one place has great stalls. Huge foaling stalls.

[Kelly]

Oh...don't feed. I think a little hunger will help her get in the trailer. If she's really really really bad. You might gettting a little cocktail from your vet.

[Jo]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Sleepy:
I saw on the h/j forum that there is a horse show going on in Houston and they are still planning to continue this weekend. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif What are these people thinking? This show needs to be cancelled and these folks need to leave NOW!

Edited to add - it's up to a Cat 4 now. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sleepy, FWIW I do believe that the location where the show is going on IS one of the safest places you can be in Houston. I personally have never been there - I'll check the thread again but I think that is one of the "safe" places to go even if a horse show isn't going on.

[Sleepy]

Jo, I'm not doubting that it may be one of the safest places in Houston, at least the arena. But we have cancelled more than one horse show here because of hurricanes. And one of them was in the middle of a rather large A ASB show. And we are 150 miles inland. No matter how you cut it, it is NOT SAFE to have a horse show going on when a cat 4 (& maybe 5) storm is headed at you.

[Aggie4Bar]

I consider the GSWEC to be safe for tropical storms and flood disasters. A Cat 4 or 5 hurricane is a bit different. What would happen to the "mansion" if it took a direct hit from a tornado? What could happen in sustained 100+ mph winds? It's not a closed structure. I would not be comfortable at all with my horses in the show stalls trying to weather out this storm.

[Dare to Dream]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by flshgordon:
"here is the deal, mine are staying, yours can stay but if you want them out, you'll need to make those arrangements and I'll help if I can". </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think that is the standard response for all barns. I received the same email from my BO.

[ProzacPuppy]

So, what is the general concensus from most owners who've received the "take 'em if you want 'em" email? Are you staying with the barn/trainer or moving your horses yourself?

I seriously am worried about my horses but have never moved my own horses nor do I know what to do to move my own horses.

[Arado]

I am not sure of everyones geographics but, please keep in mind that the north east side of this storm will produce a large amount of tornado's and the need to be as prepared as possible [if thats possible] for debris from those nasty buggers.
tiranog I dont know if you have already done this but , contact your vet and ask for good drugs http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif for your girl it maybe enough to get the edge off both of you and her easier to get evac'd.I know this is scary and I am to far away to offer much assistance but I will be thinking of you all. I think if you have any doubt .. get out.. oh and tiranog is there a place where you can rent a trailer for say a few hours or a day??? Some trailer sales places may would consider it being you are evac'ing[just a thought]Good luck to all.

she is still a cat 4 w/ 138 mph and about 238 miles across http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/no.gif

[SGray]

per NOAA NOAA 10am Wed projection (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3%2Bshtml/144728.shtml?3day?large) it looks like it's gonna come in near Matagorda Bay and head for San Antonio

[tirnanog]

Can anyone suggest a place for me to put my 2 horses?
I almost don't care where they go or how far they go. My 2 horses are the only 2 at the farm and the farm owners may not stay. My husband wants me to get the kids out no later than tomorrow am. So I need my horses to go someplace where others are to help look after them. Even if they stay in Cypress. I just can't leave them totally alone.
I just asked a friend, who is staying but moving her horses, to check on mine if they are able to, but, like they said,what can they do? Basically, I told them that they can at least call a vet or shoot them if they become seriously injured so that they aren't wandering around suffering.
Kelly has volunteered to help move them but I need someplace to take them.
Please, some suggestions.

[tirnanog]

SGray - what does that mean to Cypress? Do you know?

[Portia]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Aggie4Bar:
I consider the GSWEC to be safe for tropical storms and flood disasters. A Cat 4 or 5 hurricane is a bit different. What would happen to the "mansion" if it took a direct hit from a tornado? </div></BLOCKQUOTE> Having been in the Mansion while tornadoes swirled around us a few years ago -- you could see them cross the old polo field -- we felt much safer there than the horses were in their stalls. Thankfully, there seems to be something about the way the barns at GSWEC are constructed, with their long, flat roofs, that affects the air flow so they do not attract tornadoes. Hurricane winds are another thing, but at least these show stalls are all permanent construction and not temporary. And the good thing about GSWEC is that it is not near a water source and far from any storm surge.

Tex-Over in Conroe has 8 horses coming in today from Brazoria/Galveston. It has it's own well and a big generator to run the pumps if we lose power, so the horses will all have water. Wind is a worry, but current projections show Conroe as getting only tropical storm or Cat 1 force winds, which should not be devastating. It's the tornadoes that I worry about most for those areas like Conroe, Tomball, Brenham, College Station, etc.

[jetsmom]

tiranog-we are 850 miles from Houston, but have lots of barns with space here. If you think it would be worth it to move them this far away let me know. We don't get any disasters here. or as my mom likes to say "There's nothing in El Paso".

[SGray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by tirnanog:
SGray - what does that mean to Cypress? Do you know? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

give me a bit - my sister heard of an expected turn - I'm waiting for her to get back to me with more info

[Blinky]

Ours are staying put. We have generators for the water pump with enough gas on hand to run them for two weeks. We are filling up everything we can from trash cans to rubber maid containers with extra water. We have extra food on hand and our boarding up tomorrow night. We have few trees around the barn.

If you plan on moving your horses I would do so today. Traffic Thurs and Friday is going to be a nightmare and the last place you want to be is on the road hauling a horse.

[SGray]

I haven't heard back from her yet but I think she must be talking aboutIntellicast track Wed pm (http://www.intellicast.com/Local/USNationalWide.asp?loc=usa&seg=StormCenter&prodgrp=TrackingCharts&product=HurTrack2&prodnav=none&pid=none)

in which it hits at Matagorda Bay and then turns to the north....basically toward Dallas/Ft Worth

Channel 2 is giving the same info and stating that Dallas will have tropical storm force winds on Sunday

so for Cypress area it would not be a direct hit but we'd be on dirty side so lots of rain, possible tornados but we won't get the Eye so we won't have the highest winds (old timers have told me that tornados like open land and don't like trees - that they will lift when they get to a stand of trees - I don't know if there is ANY science behind that but I do know that that is exactly what happened when one came by one pasture over a few years back, took off the top of a tree at the edge of the stand)

I'm staying put - for my horses, etc I will probably leave the stall doors open so that they can choose whether to be in or out, they seem to me more relaxed that way

[acottongim]

Let me ask you guys.... I live in FL (panhandle) and have bought a mare (in foal) in TX. She is at a very good barn and the owner absolutly will do everything in her power to make sure that the mare is safe - that is not a concern at all. They are in Houston (or on outskirts - jilltx you prob know better exactly where she is!). My mother (who is the ultimate worry wart) is thinking that I need to leave FL, go to TX and get her. I will have to take a NORTHERLY route because I-10 is gone from here to there basically, and I'll be leaving in the next couple of hours if I go (will be in TX early am, load up and leave by noon tomorrow, will have to rest somewhere on the way back).

What to do??????? I'm thinking stay put, but would like someone from TX to tell me the same thing. The owner of the barn is on the fence, but feels that everything will be ok.

[Bethe Mounce]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by tirnanog:
Can anyone suggest a place for me to put my 2 horses? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I can find a place in College Station for you where they will be well taken care of.....if worse comes to worse, they can stay at my farm....I might be able to handle another 2; they would be outside in a pasture. Email me at Bethe57@cs.com You all start getting the trailer out and start loading the horses and get on the road now, it's almost 1:30 pm and you would get here by dark thirty with traffic and all. I'll check my email in an hour or so.........

[inca]

tiranog - you can call Cedar Trace at 979-696-1143 and see if they have any stalls left. I was there at lunch giving my horse her extra hay and Canaan Ranch was unloading a group of horses and there were 2 other trailers there.

You can also call Granada at 979-828-5167.

If that doesn't work out, contact Bethe Mounce-Blasienz (She has posted her contact info here and on the main Rita refuge thread) and see if she knows any place that has room.)

[tirnanog]

Cedar Trace and Granada are full http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/no.gif
I may go to Sam Houston Race Park - I have 2 stalls there and they will be dry and have water. Just don't know how much wind the barns can withstand.

[Andrew]

I'm totally baffeld and bewilterd that those of you in TX are waffeling what to do...ANYTHING above a Cat 2 is time to head out of dodge and get as far away as possible.. Andrew went "directly" over our house, we were very lucky our house is pure concred and bomb proof. We were the only house still standing....
It is what it is GET OUT....Today or tonight to beat the Traffice as those have said...If you are dumb enough to stay, Godspeed and make sure you fill every orfus that will hold water, the bath tub, washing machien everything.... get plenty of penut butter, crackers, batteries, DON'T GET FOODS THAT ARE SALTY, it will make you thirsty and use up the water ect.. Several flashlight with batteries.. if you have a battery operated TV/radio they will last about 12 hours so you;ll need enough for at leat 4 days... Try to get the 5 gal jugs of water. figure 1 per person per every 2 days, canned fruits/ veggies... MANUEL CAN OPENR! get baby wipes as bathing will be tough... also get as much cash out of the bank as possible the ATM will not be working nor the credit card machiens, if you are using a generator, PLEASE KEEP IT OUTSIDE!!! Also a gas grill if you have or buy a small one and get 2 tanks of gas or if you use the table size grill with propane get at least a case...

THIS IS GOING TO BE CATASROPHIC WHEREVER IT LANDS.......GODSPEED TO ALL IN HER PATH......

[inca]

Hey Andrew - some of us are INLAND and will not get the full force of things. I am concerned about my horses but guess what. We are an official evacuation destination. Horses are coming here by the hundreds. People are coming here by the thousands, as I understand it.

I'm going to prepare as much as I can and then pray. There is a little hope for us here in Bryan/College Station because the latest forecast has us out of the direct path, I believe.

[Aggie4Bar]

"...those of you in TX..."

Is this directed to all of Texas?

[inca]

Yes, apparently we should all evacuate to Oklahoma or New Mexico! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Jo]

Andrew, chill. Ever seen a map? Texas is a big state. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif

I don't plan on going anywhere but we do have our generator tested (we have already had 3 neighbors come to see if they can hook into it if needed) and our flashlights batteried.

Our biggest fears in Dallas right now are any potential tornadoes and high sustained winds... but that is still days away and aside from preparing for the worst and hoping for the best - what do you suggest, oh wise one? http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif

[Sleepy]

This is directed to all of you within 150 miles of the coast. Fran hit us as a cat 2. We are 150 miles inland. It ripped up trees like you wouldn't believe. Totally destroyed the power lines - not just feeder lines, but the big transmission lines. And I don't mean just down, but whipped, tangled and shredded. Think of two cats with a ball of yarn. Knocked down cell towers, TV towers, you name it. We were without power for 2 weeks. I was surprized it came back that fast. Roads were impassable because they had huge trees in them.

Andrew said a mouthful. If you insist on staying, lay in as much stuff as you can, including massive amounts of water, food, batteries and CASH - lots and lots of cash. Oh and one more thing. The last thing, fill every ice chest you can lay your hands on with as much ice as you can find.

[2 tbs]

Guys, do you have to so literal and jump down the throats of people who are trying to help? I mean, I'm sure Andrew didn't mean evacuate the whole state but this storm is big and mean and having been there/done that I think everyone can just say thanks for the tips and leave it at that. Jeez...some people are so nice and helpful but one comment can bring out the claws and cause a cat fight http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[inca]

Not just one comment. Earlier in this thread he called me out and said I had my head in the sand because I said it would be a Category 1 by the time it got to me. Which is what they are predicting because I am 150 miles inland. I have been CLOSELY watching this and think I know a bit better than Andrew does how they are predicting that my area will be affected. But, he felt it necessary to basically call me an idiot on this thread.

[tirnanog]

Carousel is full

[horsesourcetexas]

Also having weathered Andrew(the hurricane, not the poster) I have to tell you it makes a person rather jumpy. I came to TX thinking I had left the nasty stuff behind and it looks like it will follow. I am a little further inland than you Inca (Tyler area) and am still grateful for Andrew's reminders fo it looks like we too may sustain tropical storm force winds and 3-6 in of rain on our drought stricken fields possibly causing flooding and loss of power.

A ton of people are too trusting of the possible weather conditions and too unprepared for them in the long run. I don't think Andrew meant any offense, just trying in a not so subtle way to ask you to reconsider and go over your check list again. We in Miami were given a false sense of security in 1992, I will never make the mistake again of under estimating the power of these storms. If you feel safe, that's wonderful but please take into account the feelings of folks who have been there, done that and do a little more preparation than you think is necessary.

[inca]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Andrew:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Posted Sep. 20, 2005 04:05 PM
That makes me feel better! Won't be more than a Category 1 here if we stay in the direct path. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Won't be more than a Category 1 here if we stay in the direct path </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
HELLLOOO INCA.....
Is your head in the sand??? http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


This is not my idea of subtle and I took great offense to this! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif He is the one who didn't know what he was talking about saying it would be a Cat. 4 when it got to me!!!!

[Sleepy]

Ya know, inca, we are only trying to give you the benefit of our own experiences and save you the grief that we have personally experienced. If you want to get hung up on what you perceive to be an insult and thereby ignore what we say, I am sorry.

For the rest of you, remember what I said about money and ice. I was famous for never having cash and writing a check or using plastic for everything. Never again. And I would rather waste $30 worth of ice than be that miserable again.

btw, it's now a Cat 5.

[onelanerode]

It's now a Cat. 5 with 165 mph winds. Please, if you haven't already, it's time to pack up and go. This isn't one to ride out. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/no.gif

[findeight]

Indeed it has..dead on between Galveston and Corpus for landfall Saturday morning....looking more like Galveston every hour.

That's BAD for Houston so please, people, load them up and start driving west NOW.

We'll say a prayer for you...but GO.

[inca]

AARRGGH! Who said I am not prepared! I am preparing. No need to insult me and tell me it is going to be a Category 4 150 miles inland when it's not. I am monitoring the weather hourly and am taking this very seriously! MY HEAD IS NOT IN THE SAND AND I don't appreciate someone that didn't bother to look at a map to see that I am 150 miles inland telling me that I am an idiot! I am well aware that it could be a hurricane when it reaches here. If you would read my other posts, I clearly state that and that I AM concerned, taking it seriously and preparing. Geez o' Pete!

I am very stressed out because this is a highly unusual occurence here and my barn was not built with a hurricane in mind. (Sorry, didn't think to build it to withstand any thing that might happen in the next thousand years, like a nucelar attack, etc.) I'm doing all I can to protect my horses but horses are being evacuated TO OUR TOWN. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[Sleepy]

We understand that. And I'm not suggesting that you go anywhere. Now take a deep breath.

Go back and re-read Andrew post amd mine and make sure you have everything on that list. Don't forget the ice. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

And clean out all your muck buckets with clorox and rinse well. They make good receptacles for water for the horses.

[inca]

And the actual helpful posts with experiences that don't attack other posters ARE appreciated! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[inca]

I'm not cleaning out muck buckets - I'm buying an extra 100 gallon tank. Will have 2 hundred gallon tanks filled PLUS my 10 regular water buckets/tanks that hold 8-12 gallons each. My water works without electricity but I have heard if the electricity is out long enough, our water MAY run out.

My husband is from Miami and has been through 5 or 6 hurricanes so I am letting him handle getting the house ready. He was smart and went to the store yesterday. Almost all the stores are getting wiped out today! Doesn't help that we have several thousand extra people in town that evacuated from Galveston/Houston.

I actually heard that they moved the landfall prediction a bit farther south and it's now at Matagorda and not Galveston. Which would be good for us because that also takes us out of the direct path.

[Andrew]

I guess Inca wouldn't dare ride in a GM clinic http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif as she's wayyyy to sensitive to do so and a typical( not all) woymn who holds grudges http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/uhoh.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/uhoh.gif

Another note/tip to those going to weather the storm at home:
1)Set your refirg and freezer at the lowest settings. When you loose power be very sparing with opening it up!
2)fill liter bottles with water and freeze them. 2 fold keep in coolers they last longer than ice and when they melt you have even more water! http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif
3) put all perosal papers wills/ insurance/power of attorney photo's irreplacable dox.ect in zip lock bags

bottom line...PREPARE FOR THE ABSOLUTE WORST. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

You've all seen what Katrina did picture your house and valuables a shamble. If you are packing up to evacuate take all those things I've mentioned they will more than likely not be there or at best destroyed http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/sadsmile.gif

[MSP]

I am about that far inland (160 miles)from where Katrina came in and the worst of the storm is the trees falling. As long as the wind stays cat 1 or less the average building will be fine. Mileage makes a big difference but everyone was surprised how strong Katrina stayed so far inland. The affects of half the state being with out power was the worst part about it for the inland areas. Everything shuts down, for a longgggggg time!

[inca]

Oh, that's just great. Please, insult me some more! Wow, such a nice person. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

And I see you don't even admit that you were wrong to tell me that it would be a Category 4 when it reaches me! (Typical man. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif Ha, ha.)

[Arado]

Sleepy I was right there in that boat w/ you and I'm slightly further east of you. We managed water and the basic supplies but ice was gold.,our batteries and patience ran thin just before the calvary arrived .In our case it was the TVA.[GOD love'em ] . My point being if anyone can get those handy dandy laterns buy everyone you can.They give off ample light and IF have small children just put them up high ,it helps w/ battery usage.
p.s. don't forget t o mark horses and other pets, I know it goes kinda w/o saying but wanted to say it to make myself feel better.Our vet gave us animal "hospital "braclets.they work well w/ perm. markers.I know everyone here is taking this seriously but know that those of us that have dealt w/ this before are just thinking of you and wanting you to be safe.

[mairzeadoats]

Okay, I'm trying to organize the info:

cash: get it asap as local banks may run out at the last minute. store in waterproof container.

gas: fill tanks, get extra cans and fill them too. asap, as stations are running out.

water: fill every container, the bath tub, washing machine everything. if you can get those 50 gallon plastic garbage bins with lids, fill them. 5 gallon water jugs -- 3 per person/per week.

ice: fill plastic bottles with water and put in freezer. set fridge and freezer at lowest settings.

food: put in waterproof containers. manual can opener. crackers, peanut butter, canned goods, anything that will keep without refrigeration.

animal food: put in waterproof containers. wrap hay in plastic.

waterproof medical kit: topical antibiotics, betadine, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, salve, bandages, scissors, tape, wraps, babywipes, bute, banamine, ace, aspirin/advil, sunscreen, any meds you or critters take. also means of euthanasia, for worst case http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

personal hygiene: babywipes, toothpaste & brush, etc. in waterproof container, mosquito repellant


power: fill your gas tanks. get extra tanks and fill them. if you have a generator, protect it and get extra gas. Several flashlights with batteries..check date on batteries to make sure they are good. if you have a battery operated TV/radio they will last about 12 hours so you'll need enough for at leat 4 days...

Personal papers: zip lock bags/waterproof continer. wills/ insurance/power of attorney photo's irreplacable dox., ect

Clothes: store several changes of clothes in waterproof containers. Gloves & workboots for clearing debris.

Identification: cattle grease paint or hair dye/paint -- paint your # on your critters. Braid detail info into manes. Put i.d.s in kids' pockets in case you get separated. Also wouldn't hurt to i.d. yourself.

[tirnanog]

Does anyone know what kind of winds Cypress is expected to get?

[Andrew]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Okay, I'm trying to organize the info: </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
PERFECT!!! you are set! Good Luck

[Andrew]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">waterproof medical kit: topical antibiotics, betadine, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, salve, bandages, scissors, tape, wraps, babywipes, bute, banamine, ace, aspirin/advil, sunscreen, any meds you or critters take </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

MOSQUITO REPELANT!!!!!!

[mairzeadoats]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by tirnanog:
Does anyone know what kind of winds Cypress is expected to get? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

the national hurricane center advises people to check their local weather reports.

Rita has also nearly doubled in size since this morning -- hurricane strength is now 140 miles in diameter.

[OlmosHeaven]

Tirnanog -- If you check the link in the first post on this thread and scroll down to the graphics, there is a chart showing the wind predictions for the different areas. We're in the 34 knots/maybe 50 knots range where we are.

[Lori]

To anyone in the path/cone of this storm:

http://www.skeetobiteweather.com/index.asp

http://www.stormtracker.noaa.gov/stormtracker-rita.htm



noaa.com is the official government site for local warnings. It will show current wind speed, cone area to be hit and speeds in it, etc. It will also show estimated speeds of winds INLAND, which is also of importance, and issue flood/tornado warnings and watches.

I am kind of a storm tracker nut of a sort and have found these sites to be absolutely wonderful. Lori

[OlmosHeaven]

Jetsmom -- I grew up in El Paso; we used to say that the wind blew the tornadoes away. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Kelly]

Hay I just finished dropping off my first load in College Station. Traffic is on unreal anyone know any other routes back up there? I'm printing off the list here anyone know of a good place between here and there to start shopping. I'm going to admit I'm scared silly

[Kelly]

Oh I just wanted to say I've met Inca once, she mostly doesn't remember, but her and her husband are a very nice couple. She seems as sweet and warm as they come. I 'm sure they have it under control. By the way they have some really lovely animals.

[tirnanog]

kelly - I can't get signal on my cell. If we can move the horses tonight I think I would feel better and then I can get my family on the road early in the am. Please call me - 281 807 9413
Yvette

[LongLeaf]

No advice to offer here, as I've never had to be in such a situation.

Just LOTS of jingles and prayers that our COTH family stays safe through this storm!

[inca]

Aw, Kelly - thanks. That is so sweet. I'm sure I would remember meeting you! I hope you make it back up here safely. It WAS crazy just when I was driving around town getting feed and shavings!

When I got home, my truck wouldn't start! That added to my stress but luckily we have 4 vehicles so I was able to take the Yukon to get feed, shavings and a battery for my truck. I got my mare and foal stall all ready tonight and moved my hay so it HOPEFULLY won't get soaked.

Luckily my husband's meeting in Austin tomorrow got canceled so he just got home. I feel better that he will be here all day tomorrow to start getting ready and we won't have EVERYTHING to do on Friday.

I'm praying everyone makes through this okay!

[inca]

Kelly - where are you coming from - Houston on 290 or somewhere else? Maybe I can help figure out a back route to get here.

[pentiumJen]

tirnanog ,
I am posting this for Kelly. She is stuck in traffic and won't be able to pick up your horses tonight. She hasn't even made it to college station with her second load. She is sitting in traffic and can't even get off the road she is on. She says that gas stations are starting to sell out of fuel. She has been trying to call you but the system is busy. It took me over an hour of hitting redial to get ahold of her now. She will keep trying to call you. But if you can find another way to get your horses out please do so.

Jen
-kelly's worried friend in California-

[Cashela]

Unfortunately, I do not have anything to offer, I am so far away. But I would like to let everyone know that they are in my thoughts and prayers.

If we were closer, I have an extra stall and a mostly empty garage that we could put animals in.

[SGray]

it's just a bitch

I need a bigger truck/trailer to fit all (at least most of) my beasts on - but spent my $s on improving my house instead

with 2 horses, 1 pony, 2 goats, 2 dogs, (now) 4 cats (2 are feral kittens that I caught), 4 sheep, 8 chickens......and a 2 horse trailer I just cannot imagine how one goes about choosing....

plus my damn office is open tomorrow - yes, I know, I could (maybe should) not go in my MY entire department WILL be there - thus, more guilt if I don't (of course, the rest of my carpool has bugged out) and I have the whole PWE thing going really bad (that's why I have upteen sick days accumulated)

ah well - hoping my karma is good

[SGray]

anyway - as I said before, my dept will be there and letting them down just seems so wrong

stupid? sure.....blame my parents for raising me this way

[Irish Ei's]

NY Jingles here, gang...as tha song says
God Bless Texas!!!!

[SimplySarah]

Edited

[Wild Oaks Farm]

I am 45 miles southeast of Dallas and can offer room for a few horses if someone needs to move horses up to this area (although it should be pretty wet here, too!). PM me or even better email me at WildOaksFarm@gmail.com if your horses needs a place to go!

[ML]

Sgray all day this was on my mind, 3 horses and a 2 horse trailer. EKK figure unless you got out by Tue you cant just make 2 trips out. Of couse one horse does not like to load. But this is just a horrid situation for so many. For those of you in Fla please help with the suggestions. I feel so bad and would hate to be in these folks shoes no matter where on the Gulf coast they are on. Have had my horses on the coast line before and it is not a fun thing to worry about. Also have baled out a barn one winter with water comming in. I am not sure if any one can be super prepared for this.

[onelanerode]

Just thought of something else handy: GLOVES. You'll need to protect your hands when you start clearing away debris. A sturdy pair of shoes/boots would be good too.

[Aggie4Bar]

Our barn is a flurry of activity. The BO had a six-horse trailer reserved, but it fell through. They're scheduled to make about four trips Waco and Austin to relocate horses. I was going to leave with my two in a few hours, but has anyone checked out http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/layers/ ? Fruitbats! Fruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuit. Bats! Every outbound lane is at a standstill.

[Bethe Mounce]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Andrew:
I guess Inca wouldn't dare ride in a GM clinic http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif as she's wayyyy to sensitive to do so and a typical( not all) woymn who holds grudges http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/uhoh.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/uhoh.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oh dear, let us not get our knickers in a twist or be obnoxious. Now is not the time.....we're all pretty stressed out here; there has been a huge influx of horses in a very short time and when you have frantic owners coming with those horses, well, one has to be part shrink. We here are not only concerned with protecting our own but doing the best we can for others so stress is our middle name until this is over. This is simply not the time to be uncivilized to those of us who live here.

I spent most of my day on the phone coordinating places to put horses and calming down frantic owners that I would find a place for them and their horses, just would take a bit of time. So far so good but I know I have one nerve left and tomorrow isn't looking good!

By the way, Inca would do better than most in a George Morris clinic; she's a pretty savvy gal and her concern for her horses is genuine as well as the horses coming here.

We are all tired already, been an exhausting day trying to help others who are so happy to see their horses munching hay and being so relaxed in new surroundings.

It's not over till the fat lady sings and we are prepared for the worst and hoping for the least.......

[tirnanog]

Well, my horses ride to the track is stuck in serious traffic. Not that the track was going to be an ideal place but with people around, and me getting my children out of town, I thought it would be better than where their at. At least there someone could look after them.
Now their on there own. I put all pertinent info on their halters and I'll take down the stall fans in the am. I'm going to put a bale of hay in each stall and leave the stall doors open. They have plenty of water in their pasture and it's definately one of the higher areas in Cypress so flooding should not be a problem. I've been soooo frantic the last 2 days trying to find alternative stableing and transport I'm actually feeling somewhat calm now. Getting my children out is the most important thing I can do and as hard as I tried to get a better situation for my horses, it just didn't work out so, fingers crossed, I hope they do OK. The worse part of the storm, which will be the winds should only last about 12 hours. If my horses survive those 12 hours, they'll be ok.
Wish us luck.

[inca]

Bethe - it's so great that you are helping everyone find places to stash their horses! Can't say I got much done at work today - kept thinking about how to keep all mine safe and everything I need to do at home. Will be glad to have Friday off to finalize all the preparations.

Give me a holler if you need any help on Friday and/or Sunday. Won't be getting out in the worst of it on Saturday, however.

Totally agree with your last statement! I'm hoping all the worrying and preparing is for nothing!

Unfortunately, we know it's going to hit somewhere. So, if it isn't us, it will be someone else dealing with it. Going to keep praying for everyone in Rita's path.

[inca]

Aw, tirnanog. Good luck and I will keep you and your horses in my prayers. We just all HOPE that it won't be quite as bad as we fear.

Don't know how long you may be gone so you might want to put 2 or 3 bales of hay in each stall to be on the safe side.

Is there someone that is staying close by that can come check on them as soon as it is safe to do so?

[tirnanog]

I hope so. But everyone seems so caught up with their own familys and horses. I hope to get back on Sunday. I hope.

[mairzeadoats]

tirnanog, I'm so sorry. You may want to paint your number of their sides. Also fly masks to protect their eyes from blowing dust and shavings. And I agree with inca, put plenty of hay in each stall. You don't know when you'll be able to get back...it could be a few days.

[STF]

I am just West (20m) in San Antonio and have room for two horses. Call me (LaNet) at 830-931-3301 or 210-355-5670.

Also there is a old race horse farm in Seguin TX with 80 stalls. Seguin, Texas is just East of San Antonio about 20miles on I-H10E - Seguin Horse Center - Contact: Don & Leah Ford
Can accommodate: Horses - up to 80, Dogs
Accommodations: Stalls can be used for dogs if people don't mind them being in stalls. We have eighty 10x10 portable stall under the sale pavilion and maybe an additional 10-20 stalls available in the mare barn.
Please call ahead and give as much notice as possible.
Day pH: 830-303-4323 Evening & Evening pH: 512-757-1407
Directions: Located 1 block north of Interstate 10 in Seguin at 2700 N. Guadalupe Street. From IH-10 at Seguin take the Business 123/Austin Street" exit, get on the north access road heading west and then take a right onto Guadalupe Street. We are on the left side of the road across from the Guadalupe County Law Enforcement Center. From Interstate 35 go south to San Marcos, take Highway 123 south to Interstate 10. Turn right onto the north access road and continue west until you reach Guadalupe Street. Turn right onto Guadalupe Street and we are on the left side of the road.

[Jo]

How do you mark your horses? Stupid question I'm sure but depending on where this thing hits they are predicting 50-80 mph winds here and all those threats of tornados have me freaking out... Can I get a dog tag and attach it to her halter and ask our BM to leave it on?... just in case.

[inca]

Jo, I was just wondering the same thing!!!! They just showed the latest track which has it passing directly over us. Probably as a Category 1 (because we are 150 miles inland) but still I'm worried about tornadoes and my barn holding up to 80 mph sustained winds. If there are tornadoes, I'm going to have to turn everyone out and pray. I was thinking of braiding id into their manes but what can you use that holds up to hurricane conditions? If they stay in my neighborhood, people will figure out they are mine. But, can't tell them not to leave the neighborhood.

It's crazy because so many people have evacuated TO College Station. But, if I had a 4 horse trailer, I would be gone and just leave my 9.2hh pony here with my husband. (2 of my horses are boarded and hopefully those barns will hold up.)

I'm not worried about my house or about my husband and I. We will be fine. I am really scared for my horses.

[SGray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by tirnanog:
Well, my horses ride to the track is stuck in serious traffic. Not that the track was going to be an ideal place but with people around, and me getting my children out of town, I thought it would be better than where their at. At least there someone could look after them.
Now their on there own. I put all pertinent info on their halters and I'll take down the stall fans in the am. I'm going to put a bale of hay in each stall and leave the stall doors open. They have plenty of water in their pasture and it's definately one of the higher areas in Cypress so flooding should not be a problem. I've been soooo frantic the last 2 days trying to find alternative stableing and transport I'm actually feeling somewhat calm now. Getting my children out is the most important thing I can do and as hard as I tried to get a better situation for my horses, it just didn't work out so, fingers crossed, I hope they do OK. The worse part of the storm, which will be the winds should only last about 12 hours. If my horses survive those 12 hours, they'll be ok.
Wish us luck. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

T - if you pm me with an exact location/directions there (from FM 2920 at Mueschke) I can try to check on them - no promises as I don't know what will happen here but I can try

[RacetrackReject]

Do you guys in the Houston area have enough gas to leave? I'm just asking because I live in Jasper, Texas (southeast), and we are out of gas.

[SGray]

then there's my mother, who lives on my property - she's planning on staying even though her house is more at risk of flooding or getting hit by a tree - I argued with her this evening but have not doubt that she plans to stay

and my friend/neighbor who is in Mississippi caring for her dear friend who is very ill - she breeds DWBs, has 20+ horses at her place - her non-horsey son is there looking after things - I would feel like I let her down if I left them too

[inca]

RR - that worry is what is stopping me from taking 2 of my horses to someone I know in Goldthwaite tomorrow and the other 2 on Friday. Besides the 7 hour round trip drive, not sure I will find gas at this point.

Now, I am 150 miles inland so hopefully my horses will be okay. But, I have never been through a hurricane before and even the thought of a Category 1 (by the time it gets to us) is scary. We have never had anything even CLOSE to this in the 20 years I have lived here. So, never crossed my mind to build a hurricane-proof barn.

[kb]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RacetrackReject:
Do you guys in the Houston area have enough gas to leave? I'm just asking because I live in Jasper, Texas (southeast), and we are out of gas. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not really - it took me an hour to find gas and cash today...and the traffic jams are unbelieveable...I am here for the duration! I have a dog with me that survived Katrina - I figure she can give me pointers on how to make it through.

[hunt_jump]

Ok, forgive me if this has been posted on this thread already (I skipped from about page 6or7 to the current posts).

For those wondering how to mark horses:

This Link is Really good for preparing your horses (http://www.floridahorse.com/hurricane/hurricane.html)

I will also go find one of my posts from before Katrina that I posted that cover a lot of what we do in prep (we have been through this a number of times).

[hunt_jump]

Ok, here is my post from prep for Katrina advice

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Our horses stayed in the barn for Charley and Jeanne last year and were evacuated for Frances. However, our barn is 50 miles inland from the east coast (and probably 100 miles north of where Frances and Jeanne made landfall) and well over 100 (probably more like 200) miles inland from where Charley came aground. Given that we had part of the barn roof ripped off during Charley and enough trees down that the only way in/out of the farm was to walk/cut your way in/out - and that was from a CAT 1 or 2. During Andrew we knew people in Miami that lost horses to barn roofs falling in. A barn, if it is not hurricane code for 200mph winds, in a CAT 5 can be a death trap. I don't know that turning out is any safer, but I would consider it depending on the trees in the area and the setup of the property. I would also be concerned about flooding if you are low-lying.

Things to do in preparation are to take inside anything that could be picked up by tornados (and you will have tornados) and turned into missiles. We lost a solid stucco cement block wall around the pool at my condo not once, but twice in the hurricanes last year. Also, have meds on hand for the horses and cut down/out the grain (horses are prone to colic with this type of pressure change). Have Lots and Lots and Lots of water. Fill everything you have with drinking water for you and the horses and water for the toilets. Even if the water is restored quickly (assuming you are not on a well) it is often not safe to drink. Have bleach on hand and know how to use it to create clean drinking water. Clip your phone number into your horses if you can, if not (or in addition) paint it on their sides large enough to read from 50-100ft. Often if horses get out during the storm people cannot get close enough to them after the storm to read a number in the mane or on the hoof - these animals have been through a traumatic event if it comes to that and are scared. Also, put them in leather halters with waterproof information attached to the halter and braided in the mane to identify the horse.

Honestly, forget trying to heat food - go with can goods and dry foods (bread/peanut butter) that do not need refrigeration and heating - that is of course unless you are like most Floridians these days and have your own personal generator </div></BLOCKQUOTE><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> </pre>

Good Luck and stay safe!!!!

[SGray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by SimplySarah:

anyway - as I said before, my dept will be there and letting them down just seems so wrong

stupid? sure.....blame my parents for raising me this way </div></BLOCKQUOTE>



I'm the same way you are about letting people down in situations like this, but I think that this is one of those times when you have to look out for you above and beyond all else. Rita is headed your way, and she is currently the 3rd strongest storm to ever be recorded- her pressure was at 896mb's. This is a huge, seriously dangerous storm.
You need tomorrow to be able to prepare- or finish preparing.

Take the day off.

[/QUOTE]

.....I should think at the city site City of Housto (http://www.houstontx.gov/contactus/index.html) one could report - our mayor Bill White and our county judge (head of our county gov.) Robert Eckels Judge Eckels (http://www.judgeeckels.org/contact.asp) seem to be trying to do what is best by their citizens

I'm off to bed - much to do tomorrow - thanks for your good thoughts

[Drumbiggle]

The Travis County Expo Center (http://www.co.travis.tx.us/exposition_center/default.asp) just east of Austin (right off 290) is taking in horses and other livestock for anyone that still looking for a spot.

[RAyers]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> if not (or in addition) paint it on their sides large enough to read from 50-100ft... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

DO NOT USE SPRAY PAINT OR ANY HOUSEHOLD PAINTS! Use hair dye or any of the special hair coloring paints. Even better, use a wax based cattle marking crayon. They will not harm the horse's skin. The last thing you need is to have the number permanently burned into the animal.

Reed

[Velvet]

Just heard from someone who moved a horse from Houston to SA and said that they left at 5 AM and arrived in SA at 10:30 PM!!!

Wow, talk about a traffic jam. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[Dare to Dream]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Velvet:
Just heard from someone who moved a horse from Houston to SA and said that they left at 5 AM and arrived in SA at 10:30 PM!!!

Wow, talk about a traffic jam. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

It is almost 5 am, I just got home from retrieving my horse from a low lying area and moving her to higher, more sturdy ground. On a normal day, it takes me 15 mins to get to her, tonight it took over 2 hours! I just got back from getting gas and the freeway is nothing but headlights.

It is already so erie here. But people seem calm and as prepared as they can be. There is not a bunch of chaos YET!

I am praying for all who are in Rita's path like myself and thank you to those who are not in her path but who are keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

[SGray]

all the freeways in gridlock - watching news - one reports 18 miles in 6 hours, one 8 miles in 10 hours........there is a press conference at 7:00 at which time the news guys are guessing that the inbound lanes will be turned to outbound.....I'm not sure if they can do that all the way to the evac. points though so it would still back up at some stage.....it's just not easy to get several million people out of an area

[SGray]

Rita turned early - now going east of Galveston so you College Station folk should be slightly better off than you would have been if she had gone in at Matagorda

[SGray]

apparently it will be several hours before they can do the 'conversion' of inbound to outbound - they have to get manpower, traffic cones/barrels, and co-ordinate amoung multiple jurisdictions to make this happen - but as they are still planning more mandatory evacuations they will HAVE to get this done

[carosello]

Be safe all of you! Im sure many like me just feel helpless because of our distance.


I think in one of the Katrina threads they said that horses left outside faired better then those left in barns. Of course because of the flooding in a lot of cases.

[SGray]

thanks everyone - we all know how strong the COTH karma is so all your good wishes help

[SGray]

ya gotta wonder about mandatory evacuations that put people on highways just to sit in gridlock (many disabled cars on the sides of the roads now - having run out of gas or overheated or...)

[SGray]

damn - 11 hours from 610 to Mueschke reported - that's, what? about 20-25 miles?

[SGray]

I'm telling you - it's crazed that they are announcing more mandatory evacuations are about to start.....good idea people, shove more cars into the gridlock - they gotta clear some pavement if they want to put more vehicles on it

[mairzeadoats]

Hopefully they won't waste too much time switching the inbound lanes over. It should be a top priority now, if it isn't already. Otherwise they'll end up with people running out of gas, stuck on and blocking the outbound lanes...not a good scenario at all. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

[jilltx]

Nothing but bad news here. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/sigh.gif

http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/cry.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/cry.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/cry.gif

SGray...it took us 9 hours to go from 288/Beltway 8 to Mueske road yesterday afternoon, then another 2 hours from Mueske to Giddings/La Grange.

We have friends who were behind us by a couple of hours who are stuck and running out of gas on I-10. Last we heard from them was around 1 A.M. and they couldn't find gas anywhere.

The horses will not be making the trip up here unless something changes drastically in the next few hours. Gas is in very short supply here (even 120 miles away) We're making plans to secure them as best we can where they are. I just can't risk myself or my friend getting stuck on the freeway with no gas/rescue. The princess would not load yesterday for love or money after many hours of trying. I feel so guilty.

Anyone trying to reach friends via cellular service...most of them are completely overloaded and calls are sporadic at best.

JINGLES please...for all of us.

[SED]

SGray -- Did you end up going into Fayez Sarofim offices this am after all? I can't belileve that they didn't close. At first I thought my law firm was premature in doing it, but now that I see the traffic, I am happy they did. I planned to go in anyway, since I still have papers on my desk. But I can't risk not being able to get back out again.

Good luck to all. I think we will go to our farm in Navasota. Still hurricane force winds, but alot less windows. But we won't go unless they let all lanes of 290 go outbound.

My horse is at our boarding stable. We were undecided about whether to evacuate or not on Tuesday, but by Wed. it was clear that the traffic made it impossible since there are 40 horses, and only trailers for 10 at a time. So our barn owner has worked assiduously to "batten down the hatches." The worst thing about leaving is that I won't know how my girl is doing for so long. It makes me sick to my stomach.

We're not much worried about flooding, just wind damage. But the barn is supposed to be spec-ed for Cat 3, and since it is near Highway 6 I am hopeful that the winds will be less than that by the time they get there.

The storm turning north early is a huge relief (for me, at any rate, although I know not for all), since there should west and northwest Houstonas we likely slip out of the "dirty side". Still scary!

[Bethe Mounce]

Well, today is another day...winds supposed to start picking up late today, into the night and be around 20-30 mph tomorrow. We are bringing in our newly baled hay this morning; will be filling up all available water tanks/buckets tomorrow afternoon; I have two extra tanks that I will fill up and put in the pastures. Friday I will think about my family! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Haven't done a thing about supplies for my house. Horses have consumed me! If this thing hits more eastwardly we will probably weather this with less than tropical force winds. I have a big 1 ton truck 4x4 that can pull and go anywhere...it's jacked up too, so I can always get to and from where I need to go. Last night when I stopped for a drink (no, not that kind, but I sure was thinking about it!) at the Exxon station on Rock Prairie and Highway 6 people were lined up for gas.......the little store near my farm ran out of everything except for gas; but they are getting more ice today, so I have a few coolers I can fill up with ice; got to get food for kitties/dogs too. What a wild weekend this will be. I would imagine more horses will be arriving today. I may have an extra pasture if jilltx plans don't work out, people just need to email me.........I will be checking email every couple of hours, got to get that hay in first this morning. On Sunday if weather permits, I may be driving to each boarding facility and private facility that I know of and checking on horses and seeing if people need something. I can always provide hay/feed in a pinch.

[SGray]

I have been emailing updates to my boss/coworkers this morning - [I had already told them that I'd be late since I am going to feed store (hope it is still open/still has feed)] - my boss replied that I should stay home

mayor is now in news conference saying (again) that all non-essential workers should stay away from office

[SGray]

TxDot just announced that they will 'convert' 45N first, then 290, then I-10 (if they mentioned 59 then I missed it) -- didn't give a time frame as to when it would be accomplished