We evacuated last night and my husband took 69 out of Beaumont and had major problems.

I took an alternate route and never slowed down.

I took Hwy 96 in Lumberton and headed toward Jasper.  I stayed on 96 til almost St Augustine.  I then took a left onto 103 towards Lufkin.  In Lufkin I got back on 69 and made record time.  I highly recommend this route. 

Also keep your gas tanks full.  Most of the towns are already out of gas.  Alto still had gas last night.  Rusk is most likely out by now and Jacksonville is getting low.  We also heard that Henderson is completely out.  Tyler should still have gas and is 25 miles from Jacksonville.