Watching Rita

As you may have already heard, Hurricane Rita has emerged out of the Florida straits into the open water of the Gulf where it is expected to strengthen to a Category 4 storm - the same level that Katrina was at when she decimated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region over three weeks ago.

The latest computer models show Rita heading towards Texas with Galveston in her sights. But the eastern side of the projection cone includes southwest Louisiana where my parents, grandparents and many cousins reside. The latest advisory from the local forecasters in Lafayette is to prepare for evacuation from the low-lying parishes south of Hwy. 10, which includes Abbeville and Henry.

The concern is that Rita could hit east of Galveston which puts southwest Louisiana on the eastern side of the storm, the most dangerous side. The comparison that locals are trying to draw is Hurricane Audrey which came ashore in June of 1957 as a Category 4 at Sabine Pass, just east of the Texas/Louisiana border. Audrey's storm surge was strong enough to flood the Intracoastal Waterway which subsequently overwhelmed the Vermilion River, and the various canals and coulees that course through the landscape of Vermilion Parish, thereby causing minor flooding in Henry. My great-grandparents and cousins had to make their way in nearly ankle-high water to the high school gymnasium where they waited until the following day on the highest risers to be possibly rescued by boats. Luckily the water never rose high enough to flood the houses.

My step-father Phil is planning to return from Leesville, where he is working his clinic rotation, on Thursday to help with possible evacuations and to secure the house. Plywood is cut and at the ready to be affixed to the front door. The windows are adorned with storm shutters. Phil will drive the travel trailer attached to the truck and will ferry the dogs, essentials, and mementos. My mother will drive my grandparents in their car. They will head to Leesville, three hours to the northwest, where Phil has an apartment.

So I'm safe in the knowledge that my family will get out, but I'm concerned about the emotional strain this will put on my grandparents, not to mention the Katrina evacuees in Lafayette where nearly 1,000 are still at the Cajundome and may need to be uprooted yet again.

I've attached two maps for reference. The first shows the general area which is under Rita's watch - Abbeville is where the red star is. The second is a more detailed map of Vermilion Parish - Henry is where the red star is - at the exact location of my grandparents' home. My parents' home is up Hwy. 330 at the "Rose Hill" label.

I'll keep you posted on the latest information, and we'll hope for the best.

.........BREAKING NEWS........

On The Move!

At 7:30am yesterday morning, family members received a call from our cousin Bart, the Louisiana State Trooper, informing everyone that mandatory evacuation orders would be going up for Vermilion Parish south of Hwy. 14 which crosses Abbeville to the east and west. Since they're all below that highway, way below, they're on the move!

Hurricane Rita began moving northwest and turning slightly to the east overnight into Thursday morning. Hurricane warnings are posted as far east as Morgan City, Louisiana - a ways east of Vermilion Parish. At this time the storm is projected to make landfall of center between Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas or perhaps east over the Louisiana border - it is still at Category 4.

The last communication I received from my mother yesterday was an email she sent a little after 3pm eastern time telling us that everyone felt it was best to leave Thursday evening as conditions will rapidly deteriorate on Friday with tropical force wind and rain. And after the harrowing scenes coming out of Houston yesterday, they didn't want to risk being stuck in traffic tomorrow. Phil was boarding up the windows and securing the shutters, then they were hooking up the trailer and heading over to my grandparents to pick them up. Other relatives are following in trailers and cars, including the Metairie evacuees.

A change of plans: my folks will be heading to Alexandria, about two hours to the north in central Louisiana, where a friend of theirs has offered the use of his two-bedroom apt. while he's on vacation in California. This will be much more comfortable for my grandparents as there will be no steps they have to try and climb. Phil will kennel the dogs in Leesville which is only an hour to the west, and will commute there to work if they'll need to stay for a spell in Alexandria.

So this is it! Hopefully they're on the road or at least there by now. They only have the use of a cell phone and communication is limited right now. They will be hit somewhat by the storm though they'll be far enough inland.

I'm sure they'll be safe but of course I worry about the prospect of them, and my grandparents, losing the house, though my mother says she has good insurance, as they only moved there a year and a half ago.

So think good thoughts for them as well as everybody in the affected areas. Barring a miracle that Rita will weaken before she hits land, this storm has the potential for catastrophe.

Hopefully I'll have news after the weekend, I'll be a nervous wreck until then.


.......LATEST DEVELOPMENTS......

Rita Comes Ashore!

My parents and grandparents arrived safely in Alexandria, Louisiana on Thursday night.

Rita came ashore early this morning between Sabine Pass and Johnson's Bayou just east of the Texas/Louisiana border.

The power is out in Abbeville and there are reports of flooding in lower Vermilion Parish and highways have been closed.

My mother told me they have to consider themselves lucky, they have a nice place to stay and ride out the storm. My parents went to a Wal-Mart earlier in the day to stock up on more supplies and the parking lot was filled with cars, campers and trailers. It appeared that many families were sleeping in their cars.

And we have to resign ourselves to the strong possibility that their house will be flooded. The Vermilion River winds through the parish, including on the side of where their housing tract is, and is expected to crest on Sunday morning. Hopefully Bart, our State Trooper cousin, will be able to survey the area this weekend.

We hope for the best but must prepare for the worst.

Until next week.....Rg