Traffic on I-10 is definitely an easterly surge of first responders and returning evacuees. Hruska’s was packed, especially for a Monday. We’ve seen National Guard, a dozen-truck-deep ATT caravan, and lots of folks moving all their earthly possessions and kids in trucks with Labs in the cabs.
The Hwy 36 exit in Sealy is blocked off, and it’s where we are supposed to meet up with the rest of our crew.
The energy is palpable.
Road warrior Alan is large and in charge, navigating this huge Silverado, hauling a trailer full of ice while using words like “intel” and “trending” as his bluetooth buzzes. “You like how this is all coming together?” he jokes to me, as he talks to sources. There’s a real “We’ll figure out where we’re going when we get there” vibe. There’s so much need right now in the area, chances are we are pretty close to finding a population that we can get to who can use our help. For now, Alan’s back on the ‘tooth, searching for “Houston angles,” he says. “Trying to get us set up with any parish that might have an ad hoc relief site” that we can join.
UPDATE: We may being diverted. Perhaps. Perhaps not. “So much for organization,” jokes Alan. He then asks Keaton to begin a blog update: “Say we are plowing our way to the coast.”
This article appears in September 12 • 2008.