it took us over 24 hrs to get to dallas from beaumont tx

[prole_for_peace]

it was a nightmare. we took 69 north and there was NOTHING open until almost tyler. nowhere to get food or gas or go to the restroom. most of the road is just one lane each way and when they allowed contra-flow it didn't help at all. broken down and out of gas cars lined the road. wells tx, a small town after lufkin, wasn't even allowing people to stop in their town at all. the cops were waving everyone straight through. one car tried to pull in to an open convience store and they wouldn't let them. i guess they didn't want "our type"? in their town. the next one, don't remember the name, was extra nice and the gas stations were helping with orderly lines for gas.

some of the evacuees were nice and courteous but most people were impatient jerks. pulling on shoulders to pass 3 or 4 cars and then just pushing their way back in. when contraflowlanes were opened it still wasn't enough. they would drive on the shoulders on that side too. people had their car windows open to help avoid over-heating their cars and these "should-asses" (my bf's term)were throwing all kinds or dirt and dust in the air. by the time we got where we were going i was covered in dust and grit and ready to kill someone.

i just know that the higher powers in texas will go to press saying how smooth the evacuation is but they sure weren't in it. i will probably decided to ride it out next time if they don't fix things.

my dad stayed (he is an idiot) and has called my brother to report on damage to his apartment. i hope he can get to house so i can know and quit imagining the worst

on edit - this trip should have taken maybe 6 or 7 hours give or take a little (been a long time since i have driven this way)

[NMDemDist2]

1. 24 hours for how many miles? what a nightmare but glad you're safe n/t

[Infomaniac]

2. I'm waiting for the Busheviks to blame this one on Clinton

or Blanco or Naygin.

[beingthere]

3. that must have been such hell

God, that was a scary scene on that highway.

[karlrschneider]

4. Well at least you made it! Hope your house is okay too. Do you have

a place to stay there in Dallas? Glad you're safe anyhow...
:D

[Catherine Vincent]

5. I feel for you.

I'm in Houston and felt guilty for not leaving although I wanted to. I saw on the news all the bumper to bumper headaches and cars running out of gas. I can't imagine people that had kids in their cars whining asking are we there yet. My niece and her husband started on 59N and ended up in Longview, Texas. She called me this a.m. and said they were heading back because floods are expected there soon. I am afraid the next Cat 5 hurricane that heads this way, the people that did leave or attempted to leave won't next time because of the traffic jam.

p.s. I can't believe these small town folk were flagging everyone to keep going and not stop in their town. God bless America my ass!