TYLER (KYTX) - People who live along Isaac's path are calling East Texas their temporary home.
Kyrean Bowens and her niece, Blaine Reed have barely slept.
Monday night, they packed up along with their two small children and drove from New Orleans, Louisiana to Tyler.
"To avoid traffic, we got lost maybe 6 times. It took us 12 hours to make a 6 hour drive," said Kyrean Bowens.
The two women remember the images that filled television screens across the country when Hurricane Katrina hit "The Big Easy."
"I just remember watching the news and seeing everything get destroyed. People fighting for their lives," said Blaine Reed.
This time, they did not want to take any chances. They left behind family members who don't understand why they're so concerned.
"They think we're just leaving for no reason at all," said Bowens.
Tyler City Councilman and church pastor Ralph Caraway has opened up his church doors for hurricane evacuees.
St. Louis Baptist Church is a temporary refuge offering beds, hot showers and warm meals.
"We just want to be helpful as much as we can for those people who go through an unfortunate situation," said Ralph Caraway.
Kyrean and Blaine are hoping for the best and trying to keep a brave face.
"Some people are crying and some people are laughing at the people who are crying," said Bowens.
But, they know in their hearts, they did the right thing for them and the little ones they love the most.
"She was the main reason why I felt I had to leave. No if, ands, or buts about it," said Reed.
After Katrina, Louisiana and Texas made an agreement. Texas would take 10,000 evacuees from Louisiana. Most of those evacuees housed in North Texas.
