People line up trying to get into a gas station to buy fuel during the evacuation from Hurricane Rita in Huntsville, Texas. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Brett Coomer)

A Letter from Houston Just Before Hurricane Rita

Ron Scott, the author of this email to The Key Editor was written when Rita was expected to hit the city of Houston, Texas, as a Category 4 or 5 Hurricane. Scott and his wife Sandra are former residents of Racine, Wisconsin. They have lived in Houston for the past 23 years.

You can “hear” the concern in Scott's letter. The couple decided to stay in their home to protect their beloved pets. We are happy to report that Hurricane Rita lost much of its force before hitting land and missed the City of Houston. The Scotts only lost a few tree branches in their backyard.

Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 10:09 AM

Subject: hurricane

We are sixty or some miles from the Gulf, but only a mile from one of the major bayous on one side of our subdivision and a creek that overflows its banks often in heavy rain on the other side. They began widening the creek bed after the last major storm hit us four years ago. But, of course, they haven't finished the project yet.

It's getting tense down here. Schools have closed in the coastal towns and counties, and they are evacuating people. People are still at work here, and Houston schools are still open today. We have gathered all the flashlights, camp lanterns, and batteries we could find. (We're) putting important papers and such in waterproof plastic boxes.

We are debating whether to ride it out or take off farther inland, but don't want to get stuck on a highway, out of gas, with the storm still raging around us.

We also have two cats to try to take with us. So we are hoping we won't get hit by major wind or tornados that often follow the hurricanes.

We got through (Hurricane) Alison 23 years ago right after we moved to Houston, but that was a Category 3. Rita could be much worse. Weather is still calm and hot here. No sign of anything coming, but Friday-Saturday will be the bad days, they expect.

Just in case the worst happens, it's been fun knowing you. Pray for Rita to go a lot farther west.

Regards to all,

Ron and Sandra

PS: I feel like I'm rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.