The news is showing that all highways out of Houston are now gridlocked. Please check with local authorities before you try to enter that area as you may have trouble getting back out.

I just received this email from Lone Star Equine Rescue. WE HAVE 24 HOURS TO EVACUATE HORSES AROUND THE HOUSTON AND COASTAL AREAS...WE ARE WORKING THRU THE NIGHT TRYING TO GET STRANDED PEOPLE WITH HORSES OUT. WE HAVE PLENTY OF PLACES TO HOUSE THEM BUT WE QARE IN DESPERATED NEED FOR TRUCKS AND TRAILERS TO HAUL THEM OUT. IF YOU CAN HELP PLEQASE EMAIL ME.....THANK YOU Evelyn Bench Emergency Coordinator Region 9 Representative LSER/HfH www.lser.org

We have 2 empty stalls, 25 acres of pasture, plus another 6 acres across town....have room for as many folks as we can fit in the house LOL...also an rv park 1/2 mile up the road. Home (903) 469-3933 Bitsy cell (903) 520-5868 email..kozmo1968@aol.com Copper & Bitsy

Crap! I'm beginning to wonder if I need to leave this area! My townhouse IS going to flood if a trench is not dug before this hits! I've spoken to the owner of my TH - said he's working on it! If I don't see action today, I may be begging for help to dig one!!! PS ** Texas A&M is opening all parking garages to anyone needing to park vehicles in them during the storm, free of charge. The Large Animal Vet Clinic is NOT accepting any animals as it is now a hospital for burn patients that were brought in from Galveston yesterday.

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE from the National Weather Service: AUSTIN-BRAZORIA-BRAZOS-BURLESON-CHAMBERS-COLORADO-FORT BEND- GALVESTON-GRIMES-HARRIS-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MADISON-MATAGORDA- MONTGOMERY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON-WHARTON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ANAHUAC...ANGLETON...PEARLAND... BAY CITY...BRENHAM...BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION...CALDWELL...COLUMBUS... CONROE...EDNA...EL CAMPO...WHARTON...HEMPSTEAD...HOUSTON... PASADENA...HUNTSVILLE...LIBERTY...MADISONVILLE...NAVASOTA... RICHMOND...SUGARLAND...SEALY...BELLVILLE...TEXAS CITY...GALVESTON 635 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005 AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FOR AREAS MAINLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM MADISONVILLE TO HUNTSVILLE TO NEAR NEW CANEY TO LIBERTY. THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE INLAND HURRICANE WIND WATCH: AUSTIN...BRAZORIA...BRAZOS...BURLESON... CHAMBERS...COLORADO...FORT BEND...GALVESTON...GRIMES...HARRIS... JACKSON...LIBERTY...MADISON...MATAGORDA...MONTGOMERY...WALKER... WALLER...WASHINGTON...AND WHARTON. HURRICANE RITA IN THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE MOVING WEST AS A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE THEN TURN TO THE NORTHWEST AS A CATEGORY 4 MAKING LANDFALL ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS COAST FRIDAY NIGHT. AS THE HURRICANE NEARS THE COAST HURRICANE FORCE WINDS SHOULD BEGIN TO SPREAD INTO THE WATCH COUNTIES. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS SHOULD SPREAD INTO THE HIGHWAY 59 CORRIDOR AROUND 11 PM FRIDAY NIGHT AND INTO THE BRENHAM REGION AROUND 9 AM SATURDAY. GUSTS IN OF HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS WILL POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE WATCH AREA. THIS WATCH WILL LIKELY BE REISSUED THURSDAY MORNING OR UPGRADED TO A WARNING. MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUT DURING RITA'S PASSAGE. BE ALERT TO SUDDEN GUSTS OF WIND WHICH MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE TIPPING IT OVER. EXTRA ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO CROSS WINDS OR ELEVATED ROADS WHEN DRIVING. DRIVERS OF VANS...CAMPERS...TRAILERS...AND OTHER HIGH-PROFILE VEHICLES SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE DANGER OF THESE WINDS. PERSONS IN THE REGION SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO SECURE TRASH CANS...LAWN FURNITURE...AND OTHER LOOSE OR LIGHTWEIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS. HIGH WINDS CAN TOPPLE TREES...BLOW WEAKENED ROOFS OFF HOUSES...AND DOWN POWER LINES.

Jenilin has offered her place to one or two people and small animals that are housetrained or litterbox broke. She's not a full member yet, so you have to contact her by e-mail at jupiter69_us@yahoo.com or jenlski@msn.com. She also has day boarding available in her area. She's near Wichita Falls, TX. Breezy

I have a large holding pen if anyone needs help. I have a spare bedroom and could put up probably 4 people. I have just bales my field and would help on the expense of having to find hay. I can open my home and help as much as possible but hope that you furnish grain if you bring your horses. I'm not a member any longer as I have a fiancee but can be reached 24hours @(254)709-1465 cell# or email txrdhoss@hotmail.com. Stay safe, my heart goes out to people in need. Judy

Rita is now the 3rd most intense hurricane ever and has become a catagory 5. CNN also reported that it will still be a hurricane when it hits Austin. From previous posts it appears that LA and Miss are good on supplies, and the next load of hay and feed may be needed near the Texas coast. Tom is standing by, and we will know more after the weekend.

This is the message on the front page of the Lone Star Equine Rescue Website.... As of Wednesday 9/21/05 at 12:00 LSER/HfH will be suspending the KATRINA SUPPORT. It has been reported that Louisiana has all the items needed. We extend a sincere thank you to each of you who helped, donated, called and did, in fact, make a difference. As of Wednesday, September 21st, 2005, LSER/HfH members are working to remove our horses slated to be in the path of hurricane Rita. The ranch, located in Galveston County, is under a mandatory evacuation order. 40+ horses are being removed and temporarily relocated to the Travis County Expo Center in Austin to wait out the storm. Additional horses from foster care living in the coastal areas are also due to arrive there over the next few days. All told, we may have over 100 horses at the Expo Center for several days to a week. Until we know how properties fare in the storm, we are unsure of any ongoing or long-term needs. At this time, we need volunteers to help with general horse care duties at the Travis County Expo Center (http://www.co.travis.tx.us/exposition_center/default.asp). We are in need of shavings, buckets, mucking equipment and clipboards at this time. Bags of Purina Senior or Strategy are also most welcome since space was at a premium leaving the ranch and large amounts of feed could not be transferred. Horse owners still in need of a place to take their equines, should consult the Horse Gazette's listing of emergency holding facilities: http://www.horsegazette.com/emergency.htm If you need more information, please email info@lser.org or horses@lser.org or call our main number at 817-439-0412. Thank you in advance for any help and we especially thank the kind staff at the Travis County Expo Center for their willingness to help with both hurricane Katrina and Rita. Sincerely, The Officers, Staff and Members of LSER/HfH

I can take about 12 horses, mares and geldings, in my pasture. I have room in the house for a few folks, so y'all come on!! :) cloudryder@yahoo.com; or 940-627-1221 Roy