These words came to mind as I watched the mass exodus on Texas highways that lead nowhere fast. And then that bus exploded this morning, near Dallas, killing at least 25 elderly evacuees...it's a nightmare, it's a never ending nightmare for millions.

Evacuation plans must change. If we don't learn any lessons from what Nature is teaching us, God have mercy.

"ROADS TO NOWHERE"

The roads leading northbound
lead no where at all;
traffic is diverted
into a constant
battle with frustration
on roads to nowhere.

Hot, tired, and thirsty,
told that they MUST leave,
and running out of time,
people trying to
escape find themselves on
roads going nowhere.

For hours they sit, in
record setting heat,
while watching the dials
on dashboards wind down;
their tempers wind up
on roads to nowhere.

How can restaurants run
out of food?  People
run out of patience; they
could walk much faster
than they're moving on these
damn roads to nowhere.

Cars wheeze to a stop as
they run out of gas;
the evacuation
plans did not plan for
the mass exodus on
the roads to nowhere.

Families wait, wonder
about their loved ones,
did they all make it out?
Are they still stuck in
the unfolding horror
on roads to nowhere?

Is it better to stay
behind and face the
hurricane or face
the bumper-to-bumper
traffic travelling the
roads going nowhere?

A bus carrying a
full load of older
evacuees explodes,
more delays, delays,
who will get off of the
roads leading nowhere?

(c) 2005, Karla Dorman.