Friday, September 12th, 2008 — Ronny Brown, a maintenance worker at a chemical plant in Brazoria, Texas, packed his Dodge pickup as if he knew what to expect when he eventually goes home. It was filled with firewood to cook on, a chain saw in case trees are down when he gets back, an air compressor, two jugs of gasoline, a doghouse and his dog. His wife drove a Chevrolet Suburban loaded with bedrolls, clothes, ice and food, their four sons, a daughter-in-law and a sister-in-law.