As of right now, Tropical Storm Rita is at the
tri-border of Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas and has
been downgraded to a tropical storm with maximum
sustained winds of 65 miles per hour at its center.

During last night's landfall, the communities most
heavily affected were to the east of Houston along the
Louisiana/Texas border: Beaumont and Port Arthur,
Texas and Lake Charles, LA. To the south, Galveston
withstood some structure fires and storm surges but
nothing too terribly "disastrous."

While I can't speak directly for my friends in the
business here, I can tell you that Houston-proper
didn't take a big direct hit. Near my house (about 5
miles from ADV business and studio addresses), there
were some high winds, but not much more than any other
thunderstorm I've experienced since I've been here.
Only the duration, some 7 hours worth, made things
interesting, but I actually slept through most of it.

Some trees have uprooted. About 250,000 residents who
live closer to the water are without power, and some
cable TV connections aren't too hot right now, but in
my neck of the woods, all utilities and most of the
"auto-pilot" luxuries (as I like to call them) are
still running.

Some of our fellows are out of town right now enjoying
Anime Weekend Atlanta. Some evacuated to the North or
the West, and some stayed here in Houston to ride the
storm out. I was halfways hoping to crank up a
hurricane party of sorts... but I didn't even find a
reason to crack open a 6-pack. =)

There will be some interesting logistical challenges
as the 2.5 - 3 million people who booked out of the
area get let back in.

To make this long story short: we're hale, we're
hearty and we're more or less happy. Also, I'm not
sending this out to steal anyone's thunder as much as
I wanted to address some of the concerns that are
still out there.

Thanks much for your thoughts, prayers and good will,

George Manley



__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
http://mail.yahoo.com