Hurricane Central

It's 7:25am on Friday morning. All is calm here on Downy Willow Circle - not a single leaf on any trees are moving, no breeze, no nothing! I can see our squirrel friends Hammy and Sandy (the kids named them, lol) running like maniacs through all the yards. You can see the humidity just hanging in the air like every morning - a gray haze. I was just out to collect my paper - everything else is closed but the paper is still delivered, along with the Sunday coupons should we have nothing else better to do Sunday, lol.

All of our neighbors are home. School is canceled everywhere. Nobody is working. Last night driving home every light in every house was on with people inside. It is a comfort to know that we aren't the only ones staying to ride out the storm. The folks here in The Woodlands have been advised not to evacuate as it's not necessary. Yes, the hurricane will be coming directly over top of us, but we are on the west side of it still, so we shouldn't take as much of a beating as those people across the I-45 in other communities. I have seen only one house boarded up and it's behind us. Everyone else has secured or moved their patio furniture and made sure nothing is left out that could potentially become a projectile.

Landfall in Galveston is expected sometime in the early hours of tomorrow morning. I suppose we'll likely see eye coming over top of us tomorrow night? Galveston is expected to have massive damage and loss of life. They've got a 15-foot seawall but forecasters are predicting 20-foot storm surge in the form of a tidal tsunami. So basically a wall of water 20-feet high PLUS the waves on top of it. Apparently this is the first time in 25 years that a hurricane will make a direct hit on the Greater Houston area.

They are predicting that our city of The Woodlands will see sustained winds of 50-75mph with up to 10" of rain, potential flooding in poor drainage areas and isolated tornadoes.

Tonight we plan on moving the kids into our bedroom - a fun family camp out!! Ben is very aware of what's going on as they went over it in school yesterday. It's got him freaked out a bit. I don't think Audra really understands it so much, other than a big storm is coming. Our bedroom is downstairs and the kids are up - I'd rather have them close by just in case. Jason and I were trying to figure out a way we could make a tent for the kids but I don't think it will happen, lol. The air mattress will have to do.

I plan on updating this throughout the days to come. So check back often :)

Tara