Hurricane info for freaking people
Cat 1 plywood the windows and hunker down, even my manufactured home can handle Cat 1. Unless you are close to the gulf,...like within 15 miles of shore or relatively close to the ship channel, flooding should be no different than any other tropical storm.
Cat 2 Ok, now I evac some place close to my home, first choice a friend's house which is brick, flooding still not a major issue beyond potential normal tropical storm.
Cat 3 to Cat 4 I head for my workplace. Concrete walls reinforced steel, and multi story in a area not prone to flooding. I will never again leave Houston, evacuation is just plain insane.
Cat 5, now you can seriously consider leaving Houston, but if you know of a sturdy building with multi stories, where you can shelter, that is still preferable. Make sure you have food. Before crazies shopping panics.
Evacuation considerations:
Week prior to a potential hurricane, keep your tank full. You get to a quarter tank...fill it up. Doesn't matter what the hurricane is doing keep your car tank filled. If you have two cars and one is not normally used...fill them both up. You have a gas can you can safely store gas in...fill that also.
Make sure friends and family know your evac plans and contact numbers.
Make sure you have telephone numbers with you.
Make alternate plans, hurricanes can turn, keep an eye on weather forecasts, they don't tend to turn fast. You will have a couple of days.
Leave early, or leave last minute. Hurricanes do not move fast, you have time, if the traffic is bad, wait. Don't kill yourself running from something you could practically walk away from. Wait for the stampedeing herd to get out of your way.
Plan an evac route on back roads if possible. Main evac routes will clog fast.
Don't leave if you have safe shelter that can withstand potential threat.
Preparation, is key to your sanity.