Rita Watch: Advisory 13

A reporter for KHOU-TV, who is in Beaumont, spoke with a police officer there in one of the neighborhoods who said, "There's looting all over the place." The officer also said that they've arrested a few people, but there's no appropriate place to keep them. Maybe the jail is no longer operational.

Large areas around Houston are without electricity. Kingwood is without power, and has many downed trees.

The eye of the storm (or what's left of it) is near Lufkin in East Texas with 100 mph winds. Lufkin is in a part of East Texas that is almost all pine trees. When I was about 8 or 9 years old we used to visit some friends, the Boyds, in Lufkin. What I most remember is that I would sneeze the entire time. I'm allergic to Lufkin. In spite of that, it's beautiful over there.

The mayor of Houston says that it's not a good time to come back. Reports are that there's no gasoline available. They're afraid people will have the same problems they did on Thursday and Friday.

The six dogs and six people made it thru the night without serious incident. Mo the sheltie continues to pester Sandy the 15 year old cocker. He must have a learning disability, because he always gets in trouble but he won't stop.