Gas, Food, Freeways, and Airplanes

Three out of four gas stations are closed. The ones that are still open have lines of 12, 15, and 20 cars deep backed up to get what they think will be the last gasoline in town. I don't think any of these people are planning on leaving, but are concerned that they won't be able to get anything for days after the storm hits.

I think every store selling food in town is now closed. We were told that the Meyer Park Randall's would stay open until four today, but when I went with some friends at three, they wouldn't let any more shoppers in. I can, however, report that the liquor store on Holly Hall one block from the Astrodome is open, cheerfully greeting customers, and doing a brisk business.

Gas stations with gas as of one hour ago include:

-Stella Link at Loop 610 map
-Holly Hall at Knight Road map

The interior freeways are basically empty. The South Loop is about as busy as Sunday morning at 8 am. I am told that the West Loop, the world's busiest freeway, now has fewer than 50 cars per minute in both directions.

This morning, airport officials came on the radio and said that flights were being cancelled and the airport was overcrowded and understaffed. Many Transportation Safety Administration employees apparently did not show up today. This morning, the radio recommended showing up six hours before your flight was scheduled to leave. I can say from my own experience that Southwest airlines had no flights out of Houston, San Antonio, or Dallas as of 7 pm on Wednesday.