Someone on another site (GasBuddy ;) ) posted this list of helpful internet sites, passing it on:

[Rhiannon12866]

Anyone in the path of Hurricane Harvey
Internet sites -- For anyone who might need this info: --->>>>>

** Hurricane Harvey ~ Texas and Louisiana
* The Weather Channel
https://weather.com

* DHS Department of Homeland Security
https://www.dhs.gov

FEMA Encourages Residents To Follow Directions
https://www.dhs.gov/…/fema-encourages-residents-follow-dire…

* Disaster Assistance
Access To Disaster Help And Resources
https://www.disasterassistance.gov

* FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
https://www.fema.gov

Hurricane Harvey
https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey

* Ready
https://www.ready.gov

Ready ~ Hurricanes
https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes

Ready ~ Pets
https://www.ready.gov/animals

* SSA Social Security Administration
https://www.ssa.gov

Office Closings And Emergencies
https://www.ssa.gov/agency/emergency/

* USA Five Tips To Be Ready For Hurricane Harvey
https://www.usa.gov/features/five-tips-to-be-ready-for-hurricane-harvey

[TexasTowelie]

1. Thanks for posting.

For highway closure information:

http://conditions.drivetexas.org/current/conditions.asp

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Another extremely helpful site!

I don't know how much help this list of sites will be if people don't have power, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to post it. Here in New York, we're thinking of you all in Texas tonight. It was exactly six years ago last night that we got hit by Hurricane Irene. I know that Sandy got all the publicity, but it was Irene that devastated my area, especially up North and well into Vermont. There was not just loss of power, trees down all over, but unprecedented flooding and where I went to camp on Lake Champlain, buildings near the beach just vanished.

At the meeting I went to tonight, we included those in the path of Harvey among those we were thinking of. Stay safe, my friend - and check in to let us know how you - and the cats - are...

[TexasTowelie]

3. I'm in a lull between two rain bands now.

I estimate the top winds made it up to about 40 mph and we have had about 1.5 - 2 inches of rain. There is another band of showers about 20-25 miles from here that is heading this way.

My brother is here and he is showing his compulsive-obsessive disorder watching way too much news coverage, inserting batteries into everything, hand-cranking other tech gear, etc. I don't freak out about the weather nearly as much. The lights haven't even dimmed here and we've had conditions that were more dangerous during cold fronts than what we experienced thus far.

We are the only people on the second story of my apartment building so I can roam along the breezeway outside without disturbing anyone. My biggest concern is regarding tornadoes followed by loss of power or Internet. The cats are doing well--the Siamese is in my lap while one of the kittens is sitting on the top of my chair behind me. Another cat is chilling on the window sill.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Thanks for letting me know!

The guy who led the meeting tonight apparently was glued to The Weather Channel today - so he had a lot of facts and filled us in. I'm glad to hear that you haven't lost power. That's the most dangerous in my experience - and it does happen frequently in these parts, too. What he said was that the hurricane was supposed to stall and hover which did not sound good at all.

But he also said that people were evacuating inland - probably close to you if I have my geography right. At least you're not getting the worst of it, but any hurricane effects are not something to take for granted. We learned that here six years ago - and Harvey sounds much worse, more like Katrina if you're anywhere near the coast.

And I've been listening/watching, too - since Harvey is breaking news tonight wherever you look - including GasBuddy, the other site I frequent, which encompasses the entire U.S. and Canada.

They were just talking about the threat of tornadoes - winds are what bring trees down and are the most unpredictable.

And your brother sounds much like mine - he checks in with The Weather Channel before any news, that's how he starts his day. He and my mother were unaware of 9/11 until my mother went out and had contact with other humans.

Thanks for letting me know that you and the cats are safe. That's all that's important. Being stuck with your brother is certainly no picnic, but at least you have DU for a refuge - and the cats for company, too...