Rita Exodus -- Why We Fled

"It takes a lot to pierce the bravery — and the bravado — of a Gulf Coast culture inured to big weather."

We fled from Rita primarily because of images of Katrina.

We fled because, on Wednesday, she was headed straight for us.

We fled because my area was issuing a mandatory evacuation 6 a.m. Thursday.

It was the largest evacuation in U.S. history.

Even factoring in the spectacular traffic jams, Houston had a better plan than most cities. Better than Chicago, LA, or New York. "Houston's plan worked about as well as could be expected, despite the glitches that developed." Houston lacked pre-planned contra-flow lanes, and pre-positioned tankers for gas.

The biggest problem was that the majority of people evacuated on Wednesday. We all left at the same time.

Politics played into it -- officials were determined to perform their leadership rolls better than Kathleen Blanco and Ray Nagin. Houston's Mayor Bill White did an excellent job.

Update: Fuel deliveries coming in around the clock.

--LynZee
Related:
Rita -- Shelter From The Storm That Missed Houston
Rita -- Evacuation Hell