Xtabay, you are a Saint too. Bless your heart.

This storm is beyond imagination, and it is going to get worse before the rain stops later this week. My coastal state (mass) has sent coast guard personnel and equipment and I'll sure other states are doing same. Help is arriving and will continue but this is being called a once in 500 years storm......We all need to send lots of prayers and if doable donations to the Red Cross etc. Beyond words.

Sending thoughts and prayers to you Chris and all those affected.

I am in disbelief about how bad this hurricane is! Prayers for all affected. I also hope people get the help they need to get through this and recover.

Cindy, thank you for your update on your boss and his son. I wish them well in assisting and hope that all goes well for them and those that they are able to help.

Cindy, I think your boss is actually heroic. Evidently the Houston mayor told people not to evacuate beforehand.

My husband grew up in Corpus, and I lived in Port Arthur, and then after we were married we lived in Orange and then in Houston. My SIL lives in Cleveland TX. So even though I live in the desert now, this storm feels very personal to me, and truly unbelievable in its magnitude.

As angry as I am that these people are stranded, jaileen, I think Houston mayor made the right call. Remember the traffic jam during Rita evacuaction? Those highways that were jammed during that evacuaction were some of the first things to go underwater during Harvey. People would have died on those interstates. As bad as this is, evacuaction could have been so much worse; so I'll give him credit for saving lives this time around.

And y'all, I think my boss is a hero too. I'm just using sarcasm/humour to try and alleviate the worries. He's so much more than just a boss. He's a dear friend to both myself and my husband, and he's somebody that I look up to in my journey of recovery from addiction (he's so stinking wise sometimes). Thank you all for the well wishes for him!

I have been thinking of all our Fabbers in the area and hope that everyone continues to be safe. (I have a cousin who lives in Houston, so far the street he lives on and the garden were flooded, but the house is still dry).
Your boss and his son are awesome, Cindy! And so are you and everyone else who is trying to help.

Inge
xxx

Cindy, my deepest appreciation to you for enabling your boss to do what he's doing. It's people like you and him that keep hope alive in these situations. Thanks for staying strong and being there when it counts!

I grew up in Houston, and it's so weird to see my old neighborhoods sitting in a lake now. It's hard to wrap my brain around. I agree with you about the evacuation order. I'm sure the mayor saved lives by not issuing one.

We've taken in a total of 235 animals from other shelters, with more on the way. Everything is hectic, but running well. Everyone has stepped up, which is so heartening!

Oh wow, 235 animals from other shelters -- that's overwhelming and amazing! Darn it, I wish I could take in all of the animals that need help. Up in Tyler, it's hard enough just to get a stray dog into one of the no-kill shelters (my husband has saved a few dogs from our ranch who wander through looking for food -- most people around there just shoot them ). Please keep us posted. Thank you for all you're doing!

Your boss is doing an admirable deed! I would say if you've got a Hummer and boat, you might as well put them to good use. (Just being a little flip here, but really admiring what he and his son are doing.) Going into an area with heavy rain and flooding is quite different than going into the eye of a hurricane. Well-equipped individuals can do some real good in the former situation.

I just saw your update, Cindy! God bless your boss and his son! The people of Houston are lucky to live in a world where so many good people with the proper skills are willing to drop everything and go to help. And you are doing your bit by taking care of the business in his absence - I expect it would have been harder for him to make this decision if he didn't have you to count on.
Agree that mass evacuation was not an option. I saw an article recently about how the population in the affected area has grown substantially since Rita, while the road capacity has not. Of course, some of the problems with the Rita evacuation were poor execution. They did not change the southbound side of the interstate to northbound until things had gotten really bad. Also, no arrangements were made for extra gasoline supplies along the route.
A colleague of my husband who was here on business and now can't go home to Houston is going to stay with us. It is nice to have a way to do something tangible for someone.

Just a quick update for those following my "shelter saga." A group from our Austin shelter left this morning in a caravan (including boats!) to Houston to rescue stranded animals. If you can believe it, some people just left their animals chained up in the yard. I have a word for people like that, but I can't say it here. Others are stranded on roofs or wandering around injured and hungry. Meanwhile, we are readying the shelter for the next surge of furry rescues. Harvey, you SUCK.

Xtabay, I have a lot of words for those people and I can say them in 2 languages. However, I will not subject you wonderful people to Suhr filthy words because this site is a thing of beauty and filthy words have no place among such goodness. I'll make another donation Friday when I get paid to help care for the animals on their way to you

May all beings be safe!

Cindy, thank you so much!! Good thing the world has guardian angels like you! Keep me posted on how everything is going.

Cindy, I think I neglected to say that I think what your boss is doing is amazing. I've been watching a lot of coverage and am so impressed and heartened by how many civilians are stepping up and helping however they can. Your boss is a hero!

My husband's young business associate (sort of a mentee -- we've invested in helping him start an oil field service business that tests oil wells for leaks) is heading down to the affected areas today, loaded down with donations of blankets, socks, etc. Just one small example of people going out of their way to help.

Xtabay, I shared the link to your shelter on my FB page, and I notice a lot of my friends have re-shared it. May you receive plentiful donations! Thank you to all who are helping however you can.

Janet, you guys have done something right if someone your husband is mentoring has done something so generous!

So many people from out here have headed down with big rigs, trucks, boats and supplies - it's heartwarming to see and hear of their efforts. We've gotten feedback of one group from a coffee shop rescuing several people from flooded homes. Locally there are more than 170 people (more on the way) at a state park sleeping in their cars right now. There are very few hotels or available apartments in this region. Local churches, stores and others are feeding them, providing necessities and trying to locate temp. housing for them. The truth is that for many of these people it will be a permanent move.

Donating to Red Cross, Salvation Army, churches, shelters and others is one of the easiest ways to help. Some people have sent loads of clothing down but actually that is not the best thing for right now as they are in more dire need of specific necessities such as food, water, shelter, bedding, diapers, formula for babies and toiletries.

Texstyle, I have been in awe of the Texan people, with their level of resolve and ability to pull together. Reports of the fleets of small boats and kayaks and paddle boards, all helping people out is so heartwarming. The amount of damage is incredible. I wish all those affected well in the coming few days and then in the time ahead.

Our county sheriff's office is going to drive a big truck loaded with essential supplies (not clothing--items that are needed right away) to TX. They are taking donations now.

Reporting in from Houston - it's just a total mess here. Where I live, we received over 50" of rain since Friday. Very long and stressful days and nights lately. But today, the sun finally came out. Soon, we can begin recovering. Feeling bad for our neighbors to the east and hope they are doing ok.

Oh, Janet, that is wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing that link! And my hat is off to your husband's associate for going above and beyond to help those in need.

Yesterday, we set up a temporary shelter in a former furniture store to hold displaced animals. Three of us arrived to get things rolling, and then like magic, all these wonderful people showed up with supplies and rolled up their sleeves to help us. It truly restores your faith in humanity to see what people can achieve in times of crisis.

We checked in quite a few dogs, got them settled, and now we're waiting for the kitties. The dogs are surprisingly mellow and well-behaved, considering what they've been through. Or maybe they're just exhausted. But they're safe and have plenty to eat and plenty of attention, and that's a very good thing.

Jamie, I'm so sorry you're going through this.

I've always heard the line/joke about how everything is bigger in Texas. It's geographically one of the bigger US states, bigger steaks, the most humongous baked potato I've ever seen ( many years ago), etc. it's pretty clear that Texans have huge hearts too, as shown by all the people helping friends, neighbors, and total strangers through this nightmare.

My thoughts are with all those affected-kudos to the fabbers who are helping out.

Cindy, I hope your boss got back safe and sound. Manuel sounds like a truly amazing human being. I'm glad you're getting some time off to take a breather and enjoy your home. What a stressful time, but it's great how people are pulling together and helping one another. I guess it's Harvey's "silver lining."

Xtabay, he is taking my Friday at the shop. The gas shortages around here made him decide to tell me to save my gas for Sunday when he probably wants to go to the lake LOL (priorities, right?) So I am doing my best to catch up on household and homesteading chores while still getting some rest

There is definitely a very strong Texas spirit. We have had many people from out here drive down the 3.5 hours with their boats on trailers to help rescue efforts. The evacuees at the local state park are mostly heading back home now after having been clothed, fed, given gift certificates for HEB grocery, traveling cash and lots of hugs and attention from local groups. Really just wonderful support all around. Now they have to start focusing on rebuilding, which will be daunting for many of them to say the least. I know more people will head that way to help with the rebuilding as well.

I fared well, thankfully, but several family members, friends, and some of my employees did not. So much destruction. And for many, it is not over yet though this event will soon fade from the media. There are some areas still under water and under threat of flooding from rivers and reservoirs. Much is needed if anyone is inclined to help those most in need - both people and pets.