I have friends who are sheltering in place (Houston) and a friend who evacuated (Corpus Christi). One of her cats refused to be caught so is will spend the next few days alone in a townhouse, okay, hopefully. Photos the Houston friend posted of the grocery store are amazing. On the chip aisle everything but a few of the absolutely worst flavors, but a whole row (they're about waist high in a rack in front running the length of the chip aisle) of untouched jars of dips. She was able to get what she wanted at a local gas station convenience store. I think she has been stocked for this kind of thing for a while anyway, so the beer and chips are just for the long evenings. She recently moved in with her mother after her father died. I hope they like double solitaire or pinochle, they may well lose power for a while.

We're a few hours north of the coast, but will be under one of the outer bands of the storm, bringing winds (not the kind to peel roofs off of houses) and rain (might cause flooding - we've already had a very wet summer, and the ground is saturated. This without a hurricane in the mix.) There are a few of us up in this area, and also a number of Mudcatters in the Austin area - all of you stay dry and safe. And everyone, remember, if there is water over the roadway, turn around, don't drown.

But wait, the story isn't finished here. This IS Texas, after all. The agency with a lot of clout and respect for helping people in the affected area isn't a state or federal agency at all. It's a home-grown grocery store called H-E-B. Say each letter, that's the name. I think the original founder was Howard E. Butts. But for now, find them on facebook or facebook messenger as H-E-B Preparedness. You have to love it.