With a busy 2-year-old buzzing around First Baptist Church’s evacuee shelter, as well, Ms. Fuse was almost as busy as if she’d stayed home in Freeport.

“I have my hands full,” said Ms. Fuse, 23. “I never have to worry about how to pass my time. The kids are keeping me busy.”

Among 76 temporary residents at the church gymnasium, the children’s daddy remained on the Gulf Coast while Ms. Fuse arrived Wednesday night with her children and 67-year-old mother, a double amputee. Her sister went into labor en route, arriving in Bell County two days later with her newborn daughter.

“We found out about the evacuation at 6 a.m. Wednesday, and we were ready to go at 10 a.m.,” she said. “I made sure we had five days’ worth of clothes, but it’s probably more than that.”

Having lived in Freeport her whole life, it’s not the first time that Ms. Fuse has fled a monster sea storm. However, she said she doesn’t feel as isolated this time since evacuees are grouped according to their home county. Bell County hosts hurricane victims from Brazoria County.

“Most everybody here is from one area,” she said. “We know each other, even if by friend of a friend or just by family members. Knowing everybody else here helps you get through it.”

Though they kept up with the weather via cell phone and television, Ms. Fuse and her mother, Earnestine Boozy, held out hope that their apartment buildings near the beach will be spared. Ms. Boozy said she’s praying her angel collection will receive some special protection.

“That’s the only thing that I really would miss,” said Ms. Boozy, who lives on the ground floor. “But I know some people are going to lose a lot of stuff.”

When asked if there’s anything she needs, Ms. Fuse said “understanding.”

“Not everybody who evacuates wants money or needs things,” she said. “We had four hours to get our things together and get out. There are things that people will forget and need. I understand that after Katrina, it’s easy to say that (evacuees) try to get things from people or want money, but it’s not always like that. Half of everybody here will put off asking for stuff until they direly need it.”

Fortunately, aside from needing to replace her 2-year-old’s lost shoes, Ms. Fuse said they couldn’t ask for more hospitable hosts.

“We’re blessed that we’re here and we made it,” she said. “The town has been very gracious. The people are very nice. I can’t complain at all.”

Lending a hand - or two

One way or another, Charlotte Walters was going to be spending a lot of time with a lot of people this weekend.

When ordered to leave her Lake Jackson home, Mrs. Walters weighed two options: Live in a gym with strangers who needed her, or meet up with four generations of family members in East Texas who also were evacuating.

Bus driver Walters chose the road less traveled.

In her 31st year of driving for the Brazosport school district, Mrs. Walters knows how to operate a “yellow dog” and has the 30-year-anniversary watch to prove it. So when she answered the call to drive evacuees to Angleton, she knew there was a chance she would be asked to make the trip all the way to Belton. Sure enough, state-promised charter buses didn’t materialize and she rolled into town about 10 p.m. Wednesday.

“These people need help and I feel like somebody has to do it,” said Mrs. Walters, 63. “A couple of my family members think I should be with them, but I feel like somebody needs to help these people.

“Some people say, ‘I don’t want to get involved. I have my family.’ I think that’s just sad.”

After escorting refugees from harm’s path during previous hurricanes, Mrs. Walters understands the unique relationship that develops.

“When people are on your bus they get to where they trust you,” she said while sitting on her thin cot. “They all asked me, ‘You are going to stay with us, aren’t you?’ They look to me like a security blanket, I guess.”

New Cru members

When Pastor Andy Davis offered hurricane victims the opportunity to go to the Crusader’s Friday night football game at UMHB, James Andreas’ hand was the first in the air.

He also was the first to sign up to help do laundry when residents were asked to pitch in on chores.

Andreas, 64, of Freeport, said all he could say was “Wow” when he heard the offer of free tickets.

“Just the opportunity to get to do something uplifting, something everyone will remember and enjoy,” Andreas said. “We have so many people here that can’t get by the fact that they might not have a home when they get back.”

Andreas, who said his town floods like a water-filled bowl, said this evacuation experience has surpassed expectations following his 26-hour ordeal in 2005 during Hurricane Rita.

“It took 26 hours to go from Freeport to Brenham,” he said. “We were on a bus the whole time, other than two bathroom stops, because the road was solid vehicles. It was pure goof up.

“This was planned so much better this time. And this place is fantastic. We’ve been taken care of like little lambs.”