Central Texas was spared the devastation of Hurricane Rita. The storm ran along the TX/LA border and is now a tropical storm raining down on the IL/OH/KY/TN quad-state area. However, she did manage to suck up all the air over Equador and deposit it over Austin, Texas, giving us triple digit temperatures for three days at the end of September.

Governor Perry and Mayor White did an exceptional job of ordering the evacuation from Houston, Galveston, and other parts of SE Texas. The response of the public was perhaps a little more than was expected, but they got out of there.

In Austin there was some panic buying of items which we ended up not really needing after all. The stores would do well to be better stocked next time, which may be in a few weeks as we are still in the season. I think people should maintain a ready stock of things like batteries, so they aren’t having to make a panicked grab for them in every Wal-Mart.

I spoke with my cousin who lives near Texas City last night. She and her family gassed up early and got out of the area. They were able to return home on Sunday. She said that the toll booths were clear, that is they were allowed to pass through without stopping to pay.

So much for asinine and inappropriate political snipes on the part of the Mrs. Strayhorn,