PALMER, Texas – Petrified at repeating the northbound odyssey that got them here, Texas Gulf Coast residents on Monday began carefully monitoring their tanks, strapping extra gas cans to the tops of their vehicles and hitting the highway.
Southbound Interstate 45 wasn't nearly as packed early Monday as the northbound lanes were late last week, when hundreds of thousands of families fled from Hurricane Rita's path. But drivers who said they had spent nearly a full day making the approximately 250-mile drive north weren't taking any chances.
Concerned by flashing message signs over Interstate 35 that read "Massive delays to Houston" and "Gasoline shortage" on Monday, Abid Yousef, 33, of Houston and his large family were employing the same strategy that got them to a relative's home in Carrollton, Texas.
"Each time it hits near half a tank we stop and fill up," he said during a stop at the Sunmart gas station and convenience store in Palmer, Texas, about 28 miles south of Dallas on I-45. "That seems to have worked for us."
Traffic was more robust than usual Monday morning but moving smoothly on the roads leading to Houston, said Dianah Ascencio, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Transportation. Drivers were able to go 70 to 75 mph, except in Corsicana, where construction slowed traffic to about 60 mph, she said.
Although an unprecedented contra-flow plan turned several Texas interstates into one-way roads out of the Houston area last week, no reverse arrangement was being put into place, she said.
To alleviate some of the congestion that drivers experienced last week, the state has implemented a rolling return plan after mandatory evacuations from Hurricane Rita. However, the Transportation Department has acknowledged that the segmented return is voluntary and unenforceable.
"Today is our designated day to go back," said Theresa Gallegos, 52, of Houston. "We were going to wait until tomorrow, but today is our day."
Traveling with her mother, daughter, two grandchildren and a Chihuahua in a four-door Lexus sedan, Gallegos and her crew arrived Wednesday after a 13-hour journey from Houston to Fort Worth. Her husband and son left Thursday in separate vehicles, but after 20 hours, they couldn't get past Huntsville. So they siphoned gas from one car, left it in Huntsville and returned home.
"We are praying everything goes smoothly on the way back," Gallegos said as she topped off her tank with $3 worth of gas. "We are worried about gas, and we have a 5-month-old."
Sunmart clerk Mary Eppler said the nonstop traffic – "both ways, coming and going" – has been similar to a holiday weekend. And it has been good for business.
"We haven't run out of gas and that's a good thing. We still have plenty," she said. "Maybe people will stop back here on their next trip to Dallas. I've gotten lots of compliments, like, 'Thank you for being so nice.' They are ready to be back home."
Adriana Penagos, 20, and her parents were so worried about conserving gas on the way to Dallas, they traveled 20 hours without running the air conditioner. In addition to filling their tank, her father strapped two loaded gas cans to the top of the SUV.
"We hope there is no traffic and no delays," Penagos said. "Hopefully, there is food in the stores when we get there."
In nearby Ennis, Wanda Harding Rhyne, 48, and about five carloads of family members were getting breakfast at Starbucks, Jack in the Box and Whataburger off I-45. She said she was terrified about a gas shortage, after waiting on a two-hour line as part of her 24-hour trek to North Texas.
"I can't wait to get home and I hope it won't be tomorrow," the Houston resident said. "I don't think my nerves can stand another traffic ordeal."
Sue Vaughn, 55, of Pasadena works at United Space Alliance, a NASA contractor in Clear Lake. She said she was expected back Tuesday.
"We're topping off, just to be sure. We're worried about the last 100 miles into Houston," she said during a stop in Ennis. "Normally, we stop at Woody's in Center (Texas) because the facilities are real nice. But this is a whole other ballgame. This is not a vacation."
State officials were continuing to discourage travel to the southeast corner of the state to allow crews to clean up the area bounded by U.S. 59 and Texas 103. Interstate 10 east of Houston is open, but the exits into Beaumont and portions of Southeast Texas are closed.
Monday was the designated day for Triston Jones, 23, and three family members to return to Houston. During a brief break at the Sunmart, he said he was optimistic.
"I don't think it will be packed because I was watching on the news that this was the best day to drive back," he said. "If no one has any wrecks, we will make it A-OK, safe and secure, I hope."
E-mail kdurnan@dallasnews.com
Texas has implemented a plan for residents returning to their homes after mandatory evacuations from Hurricane Rita:
Sunday – Tomball, The Woodlands, Waller, Hockley, Katy, Brookshire and surrounding communities.
Monday – Residents south of I-10 and east of I-45, including Richmond, Stafford, Rosenberg, Sugar Land, Pearland and surrounding communities. This also includes Houston residents who live inside I-610, as well as residents of Galveston County, Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula.
Tuesday – Residents in all remaining areas east of I-45 and north of I-10 extending to Liberty County and Chambers County.
Source: Texas Department of Transportation
