Living in Galveston, Texas, the threat of a hurricane disaster is not a new one. We grow up under the spell of the \'1900 Storm\' and learn at an early age to accept and prepare.\r\n\r\nWhen Katrina came through, my best friend from New Orleans was distraught. Her sister in New Orleans lost everything and her brother in Baton Rouge was hosting multiple family members.\r\n\r\nAs Rita approached and her trajectory seemed dead on for Galveston, the authorities declared a mandatory evacuation. My family (husband and two small children) and I had few options. The disappointing realization that our marriage was near its end only contributed to my confusion and dismay. My best friend called and said her family had just made it to her brother’s in Baton Rouge and would be honored if we joined them.\r\n\r\nSo, one day before Rita was to land in Galveston – we headed the opposite direction of the entire state of Texas and drove east. When we arrived in Baton Rouge, we found a house full of eight ‘regular’ family members, two elderly Katrina evacuees, my friend’s family of five, and then my family of four….it was the most wonderful experience.\r\n\r\nThey welcomed us with typical Southern charm and grace. We had all brought our freezers with us so we enjoyed multiple cook outs, great family games, shared stories, watched the children run, play, dance, and argue.\r\n\r\nWe ended up being on the fringe of the storm – but no one was concerned. We were all together.\r\n\r\nGoing home was difficult – many areas on the road were nearly impassable due to trees down. Traffic was very heavy going west and no store had fuel. We were just lucky to find a station off the highway in Texas.\r\n\r\nI know I wouldn’t have survived the stress of evacuation, threat of losing everything, including my marriage, without the support of these wonderful people.