Bottled water, canned goods, and lines at the pump

We're in the midst of preparing for our first hurricane. It looks like Ike will make landfall early Saturday, and Houston is in the path of the storm. As of right now, we are not evacuating. Actually, our county has been asked to avoid the roads to allow for safe passage for those coming in from the coast. The biggest issue for us will be a loss of power, which affects water (think toilets being able to flush), cooking (even the gas cooktop won't work), refrigeration, A/C (it's currently 92), etc. I've learned some interesting survival tips from Texas and Louisiana vets, such as filling the bathtubs with water for flushing toilets and bathing, buying canned goods that can be heated through on a gas grill, and more. Our plan as of right now is to remain at home, with the option of heading to Austin if it looks like our power loss will last awhile. Luckily, we have some friends in Austin, so we have a place to stay. (All the hotels in Austin and San Antonio are booked).

So, that's the latest from Hurricane central. Let's hope Ike loses momentum and power as the day wears on and that he shifts further South.