Texas TS 6-13 Sep

[Kauai Kid]

Got a time share 30 miles north of Houston. Have a feeling the way Hurricane Gustav is headed that vacation is a wash.
Suppose RCI will do anything about it?

Sterling

 

[Sandy VDH]

Not unless you purchased insurance. RCI can barely manage their deposits, you expect them to manage the weather too? Good Luck

Wait and see, perhaps you can use the later part of the week depending on the path.

We actually were thinking of Galveston or Conroe for this weekend, but I found at last minute the the Wyndham LaCascada San Antonio instead but just for the weekend.

Hope the Hurricane does something else, like weakening.

 

[pianodinosaur]

We live near Houston and were thinking of going to Austin or San Antonio if there is some sort of evacuation like what happened with Rita. If so, I hope the traffic is handled better.

 

[Kauai Kid]

Got a time share 30 miles north of Houston. Have a feeling the way Hurricane Gustav is headed that vacation is a wash.
Suppose RCI will do anything about it?

Sterling

II banked our week we were going to use during Katrina and American Airlines gave us a credit for a year, all without doing anything. Time to dump RCI.

Sterling

 

[Happytravels]

RCI

We live in Houston, Just about two weeks ago.........We got evacuated from the Gulf. I called RCI as soon as we left the resort. They called us back before we got home. (about an hour) They gave me my week back and credit for the exchange.........RCI isn't so bad to me!!!!!!!!!

 

[lprstn]

Happy things worked out for you. They are pretty good to me too. It really just depends on who is helping you at the time...as with any customer service organization. Sometimes if I don't get the answer I want I will call back and the next person is more proactive.

 

[Kauai Kid]

I'm considering donating my week to a refugee family from Hurricane Gustav--anyone every done that?

Sterling

 

[Happytravels]

I'm considering donating my week to a refugee family from Hurricane Gustav--anyone every done that?

Sterling

I have never done that..........THAT IS SOOOOOOOOOOO SWEET OF YOU. Coming from that area you must know alot of people coming this way..

I know they will appreciate your giving ways.........

 

[Kauai Kid]

Some of the Red Cross evacuation centers in Texas don't have any cots so folks in the area are opening their homes to the homeless. Says a lot about Texans but I suspect there are many people in the country that would do the same thing.

Bo

 

[Texasbelle]

Wonder if you are now going to the timeshare. Houston has not had rain. We need it. We read in the paper that people trying to return to Louisiana are being turned back, so someone could use it if you are not.

 

[Carol C]

Wonder if you are now going to the timeshare. Houston has not had rain. We need it. We read in the paper that people trying to return to Louisiana are being turned back, so someone could use it if you are not.

I think Houston will get a lot of rain with Ike. "Be careful what you wish for" folks.

P.S. Marilyn A, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Chell also if you're reading this...take good care. Good luck to all our Texas TUG members.

 

[Sandy VDH]

I think Galveston is going to be completely underwater. It is still 14 hours before landfall and the Strand at the Seawall is already getting water over running it.

Even if Ike only stays a cat 2 or a mimimal cat 3, I don't think the winds will be the major story. Water water water will be the story. Ike is soooooooo big that the storm has push forward a huge quantity of water, and for a store that big to pass it will take some 14 more hours to get to the coast and another 10 hours to get past it.

It does not look good.

How many TUGgers are in Galveston/Houston area?

 

[Texasbelle]

Sandy, we are "sheltering in place" in Houston. Today the TV reporters say that 40% of the people in Galveston did not evacuate! Unbelievable to see water splashing over the seawall. Carol, yes, now we will get rain. [We still need it, but not too much, please.] I know there are other tuggers in this area--probably preparing for the storm. Next I'm filling every bucket and pitcher with water.

 

[Hophop4]

We are in Sugar Land and just got back from South Padre Island yesterday. We went to store today and was surprised we found some milk and bread and few other items. The gas stations were out of gas around here since HWY6 runs thru Sugar Land which is the evac route for Galveston so that didn't help the situation. Glad we gassed up my car just before we got home.

Everyone stay safe!!

 

[abbekit]

How are you Hop??

We're up in north Texas watching KHOU-TV news and seeing the photos of the damage.

Does anyone know how Hop is?

 

[sfwilshire]

They are talking about power outages in Houston lasting days if not weeks. Our friend called her mom at 7:30 and was fine, but I'm sure she's limiting phone calls. Once the cell battery runs down, who knows when she'll be able to charge it.

If the resort is still in good condition, you could probably check in a day or two late. Thankfully the storm moved on quickly.

Sheila

 

[Sandy VDH]

Any updates from TUGgers or TS in the region. Kind of early still, but wondering if anyone has personal news.

 

[chellej]

We're near Missouri City and sheltered in place. We got our power back last night. The storm seemed to last a long time when it was passing - started blowing in the early evening on Friday got bad around midnight and blew hard until 3 or 4 in the morning. It was still blowing at consideralble strength until mid day on Saturday. We are located ~30 miles from Freeport and lost quite a few trees, carport cover, fence etc - no major structural damage. Many of the stores in Missouri city were open today and beginning to restock. Gas lines are very long - I would guess 2-3 hour wait.

My guess is that the resorts in galveston - Peregrine, Silverleaf, Escapes, Inverness, and one or two more on the sea-wall in Galveston have sustained significant to major damage. There are some areas between surfside and bolivar that reports are 80% of the structures are gone with nothing left but the foundations.

I had heard that 20% of Galveston had not evacuated.

The good news is that the temps have dropped so the weather is much more bearable, water along the Bayous is receding, Stores where there is power are restocking - Taco Bell is open, Power is being restored and except in the hardest hit areas should be back up this week or next.

The coastal areas from High Island to surfside, it is going to be a long time until they recover - some areas may not. These areas are probably as bad or worse than some areas of New Orleans after Katrina.

The local officials did a much better job on the front end this time, evacuation routes were somewhat slow but nothing like when Rita hit. Now I think that the back end needs a little more planning - where to send supplies and how to get them to all the folks that heeded and sheltered in place.