Tyler is about 270 miles north of galveston.
Actually all of are hotels are full of people from the houston area. We have a couple of shelters already open for people, just as others finished closing from Katrina. The Salvation Army is pretty crazy right now too.
Gas is sold out at alot of stations in my neighborhood. Rita is supposed pack winds up to 50+ mph and huge amount of rain. possible tornadoes if we end up on the east side of the eye, but it doesn't look like it know. I wouldn't mind leaving but I have to work on Sun. night. and I doubt they will shut down operations at the grocery company I work for. I was planning on going to a 'going away' party in dallas but those plans are shot for now. The part that sucks for us is the fact that they expect it to stall over east and north east texas for a couple of days.
Also, I just so happened to run out of bottled water the other day. Had to wait for the truck to come in at the store I shop at to get any. They had no bread or tuna they were low on chips and canned goods. This is probably the worst I have seen this store at and I worked there for 8 years. The people I this city flip when the weather gets below freezing though. So I guess its to be expected.
Just I also went to about 4 buisnesses to buy D batteries for a flash light and they were all sold out. Had to buy a new flashlight from lowes that uses AAA instead.
http://www.tylerpaper.com/site/news.asp?brd=1994&pag=460&dept_id=517481