HOUSTON -- Just about every hotel parking lot in Houston has cars with license plates from Louisiana. As mandatory evacuations were issued early Sunday morning, people fleeing the Crescent City set up their temporary home in Houston, KPRC Local 2 reported.

"This is just really too close to Katrina. We were thinking it won't happen again for many, many years, but it is happening," said Burt Faucheux.

Faucheux is in Houston with his granddaughters, daughter and son-in-law.

The families unpacked carloads of belongings from clothing and food to documents and photographs.

It's lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina three years ago.

"It's like déjà vu all over again. I just can't believe it. At least we're all together," said Doreium Conners.

Conners and the rest of his family spent 12 hours in the car. With the hurricane on a direct path for Louisiana, they had no choice but to pack up and leave.

"We're on the West Bank of the storm, which is the bad side. The bullseye is coming directly for our parish," said Conners.

For so many people escaping the path of the storm, this has been an emotional journey because they still have yet to heal from Hurricane Katrina.

"It's hard and very emotional. You're not only bringing yourself, but you're bringing your children up rooting them from their safe haven," said Santwaneka Conners.