Another Evacuation

Well, folks, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'm asking you to pray for the hurricane evacuees again. Late yesterday, when it became clear that Beaumont was not going to escape Hurricane Ike, my brother-in-law evacuated the children's home for the second time in two weeks. In doing so, he had to leave behind his own family: my sister and their three children. Marci decided late last night, when she learned that local officials would be having a 2am meeting to declare a mandatory evacuation today, that she would rather get on the road and get out before traffic got crazy this morning. She and the kids prepared and secured the house and drove to my parents' house. They arrived around 2:30am. Greg and his entourage arrived at Camp Buckner shortly thereafter. My aunt is safely in Northeast Texas in her childhood home, but her husband and children were not able to leave until after work today. They should be on the road now or very shortly, dealing with slow, heavy traffic and long gas lines. Please keep them all in your prayers. Other family members in the Houston area have decided not to heed the evacuation order and have chosen to stay. Although I admittedly question the wisdom of that decision, I also ask you to pray that they will be safe through the storm.

My heart has been particularly touched by the stories I've heard today of families who do not have the financial means to evacuate again, families who spent their small savings evacuating just two weeks ago and have no money to do so again. And there are those who have nowhere to go other than to try to find an open hotel room or shelter. I also pray that God will give them peace, comfort and shelter as Ike approaches.