HOUSTON – Every evacuee has a story. Whether by force or choice, many fleeing from the path of Hurricane Isaac are calling area hotels home for the foreseeable future.
"I had to do what I had to do to save myself plus the kids," said Ursula Shelton. "A voluntary evacuee who along with herself, brought 9 of her family members to a Baytown La Quinta Inn as a precaution. Shelton survived Hurricane Katrina and said she didn't want t take any chances.
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Shelton loaded her family into two cars and made the trip west, out of Isaac's path.
Unfortunately for Shelton, her funds will soon run out, as she's paid for her family to stay at the hotel since Monday.
"I don't have much more funds. I did pay up, the room, up until Tuesday, from that point I don't know what I will do but I'm just going to trust in God and see what happens," said Shelton.
She's not the only one hurting in the wallet.
Shelton's son-in-law has been in Baytown since Sunday, he had to leave behind his construction business and needs to get back to work soon. Unfortunately for Johnson, he is at the mercy of what Isaac does next, though he hopes to be home by Sunday.
"If things are shut down we'll be here for another week so that'll be a total of two weeks being here. Indeed financially it's going to be tough," said Johnson.
Other evacuees were a little more lucky.
Christopher Aiken and his family also left willingly. They didn't want to chance electricity going out in Baton Rouge, especially with a newborn.
"My wife gave birth to our first child a few days ago, we brought the baby home and then left the next day," said Aiken.
He and his family were displaced for three days but left for Baton Rouge early Thursday morning, calling it an impromptu first vacation for their baby girl.