Hurricane Gustav

[Debbi V]

OK all -

Just letting you know that I'll be out of town for a few days. Gustav is moving in and the family is heading for Alabama sometime Sunday.

Yeah, I've been mostly lurking lately but I've been here keeping track of you lucky folks attending concerts during the latest tour.

Goodness knows it can't be worse than Katrina was!!

Be back soon - Debbi

[mszee]

OK all -

Just letting you know that I'll be out of town for a few days. Gustav is moving in and the family is heading for Alabama sometime Sunday.

Yeah, I've been mostly lurking lately but I've been here keeping track of you lucky folks attending concerts during the latest tour.

Goodness knows it can't be worse than Katrina was!!

Be back soon - Debbi

I hope you and yours are ok!

[Ankie]

Take care!

[Battybarb]

Hope everything is ok...keep safe..

Take care..

[Cpl Mickey]

Take care and be safe. xx

[Blackkat13]

Take care

[Debbi V]

Thanks all.

Heading to Alabama sometime in the afternoon.

In case you're curious where we live in relation to the storm, we are directly across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans - about 35 miles from the city.

Since Gustav is coming in to the west of us, we'll be on the "bad" side. Stronger winds and more rain. But, we're a bit inland off the lake so HOPEFULLY we won't be effected by the storm surge.

I'll have my laptop so I'll try to check in.

[AndrewG]

That's terrible. On the BBC it says thousands have already fled and it is heading straight towards New Orleans. At least there are more warnings this time I guess. Hope the response by that sorry excuse of a government is better now if it is needed!

Take care Debbi, hope you won't be affected by this.

[mszee]

That's terrible. On the BBC it says thousands have already fled and it is heading straight towards New Orleans. At least there are more warnings this time I guess. Hope the response by that sorry excuse of a government is better now if it is needed!

Take care Debbi, hope you won't be affected by this.

Andrew...there was plenty of notice on Katrina...in fact, it was predicted even WORSE than it was...but I guess government people were listening and reading something of "more importance" at the time...

Debbi, stay safe, be cool and hopefully there will be not much of a damage!!!

[Betty]

Take care Debbi!

[MeatGrl1]

Watching the news it says that's it's the storm of the century.
Keeps changing between 4 and 5 on the ricta scale, and that is stronger than Katrina :shock:. My thoughts are with those making a pilgramiage out of New Orleans and it must be devastating knowing that you may not have a home when you return.

Good luck Debbie and stay safe.

[mszee]

Well, let's just hope for the best!!!

[Hypnobabe]

Well according to my friend Google, Katrina was a Category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane scale, (Richter was used for earthquakes, Mercalli measures the intensity of shaking) so if Gustav is a category 4-5, it could be as bad as Katrina... Keeping my fingers crossed that all our American friends in the area are safe, and their loved ones too x

[djfierce]

The news reckons it didnt do too much but i guess Debbi is best placed to tell us when she gets home.

Good luck Debbi hope all is ok and your home hasnt suffered too much :pray:

[vrg]

She may be back soon, as the residents are returning to New Orleans and the surrounding areas as we speak.
Gustav entered Louisiana as a cat. 2, and that was the main prevention of a similar disaster like Katrina. This kept the storm surge down to 9 feet, which had it lapped at the top of the levies, compared to around 15-20 feet from Katrina, where the water went over the levies by several feet. Everyone was hoping for such a miracle and they got it.
The power is still out in that entire area, and might continue to be for some time, and that seems to be the main problem to be solved, along with the levies, for now and in the future, as a very P'Od Louisiana Governor recently expressed.
Except for a leak in one of the parishes, the levies held, which wouldn't have if Gustav had been more than a cat. 2. Going into this hurricane, the Army Corps. of Engineers had about another year or more work to do to finish renewing and rebuilding the levies. Now that nature has provided them with a test, they have a much better idea as to what needs to be added or continued to make that whole area much safer during future hurricanes.
Why the interest where I live in NY, way away from Louisiana? I grew up in SE Massachusetts, which used to be hurricane country, and I lived through several hurricanes, including one that is now listed as a cat. 3. You don't forget this kind of experience. And I'm a frustrated amateur weather nut.

[mszee]

And I'm a frustrated amateur weather nut.

And that's a fact!!!

But we're all relieved although now it's heading for SC and citizens are urged to evacuate...

[Battybarb]

Its good news that it wasnt as bad as first thought..just hope not too much damage and all ok..

[Debbi V]

I'm home!! Came back Wednesday to no power but no major damage.

Power is back as of last night and internet came back this morning! Yeah!

Thanks for all the good thoughts - you're all the best!

[mszee]

Thank god!!! Have a great weekend!!!

[vrg]

I second that motion! You are one of the lucky ones down there. Good to have you back.