Gushing for Gustav

[YaKaMein]

Well my friends, am once again preparing to dodge another hurricane. Being a native New Orleanian, this ain't my first rodeo. It's quite a fun time [NOT] ... boarding up a house, packing what you need for a few days [fooled us last time] and worrying with and about loved ones. An old ritual with a new twist, making sure my meds are first to go in my bag, then everything else. Wish us well since today's the 3rd anniversary of Katrina's katastrophe. Unlike the last time, this one seems less ominous but you never know. Hasta - YaKa

[J.R.E.]

Hello,..


The main thing right now , is to take care yourself, and be prepared ! Unfortunately, once something like this gets into the Gulf, it's impact can affect tens of thousands. It will have to make landfall somewhere. I certanly hope New Orleans will be spared, and that if Gustav does make it that way, I hope those levees hold up ! Believe me, we're all watching this very carefully. Wishing everyone along the Gulf coast the best, and hopefully people will head the warnings.


It was this weekend(Labor day) in 1985, when Hurricane Elaina, spun offshore from Tampa bay, and caused the evacuation of the all the beaches along Pinellas county. It was also the first time of a total of 3 times, that our home was flooded , when we lived closer to the water.


Take care of yourself----Ray

[BT65]

Yaka, I'll be thinking about you (and all the other gulf residents).  Please take care of yourself and do what's necessary.

[atlq]

Get outta there...and stay safe...

[minismom]

A manditory evacuation has just been issued for New Orleans.  The west bank must be cleared by dawn tomorrow.  My husbands family is preparing to leave and head to TX.  My inlaws are still planning, although I don't see how, to fly from Honduras into Houston on Monday afternoon.  Where they'll go from there, I have no idea.  Hubby is trying to get them to stay put, but they're stubborn, what can i say?

Yaka, my darling, do be careful and let us know how you are doing as soon as you can.

Mum

[Texan38]

Holy Crap! Be safe and please take care!

[david25luvit]

The difference between Gustav and Katrina are staggering....never have I seen such preparations for a storm as I saw this time.  Thank God it wasn't as bad as they had previously thought.  There is a lot of damage though...even tonight millions are without power and can't get home.  What they find when they get home maybe another subject all together.

 I moved to Mobile after Katrina....  I lived in Gulfport Mississippi which was devastated by Katrina....  and even though I'm not completely safe from hurricanes...I feel a lot more protected by living in West Mobile high above the city and the bay.  A big difference from living on the beach.

My prayers and my thoughts are with those who were affected by Gustav....and those trying to get home.  I hope all is well when they finally return home. 

Unfortunately we have three more storms in the Atlantic that bare watching....although only one looks as if it MAY come into the gulf.  Poor Florida has had a time of it....  Fay dumped rain on them for eight straight days before Gustav came along and gave them another drenching. 

And now they may have to endure Hurricane Hanna wrath.    These days to live in Florida you've got to have nerves of steel, great insurance and or a whole lot of money.

[minismom]

My dad is in New Orleans right now flying air search and rescue.  He rode out the storm in Mississippi - 30 miles away from the TN border.  He went down to NO and registered his chopper on Tuesday so that he could fly into restricted air space.  He also filed for permits to not only fly air search and rescue, but also to work with the electric company flying workers and supplies in and out of NO and BR.

 He was there just after Katrina and said that Gustav was night and day compared to Katrina.  He'll leave NO on Saturday with my brother just in time to leave on vacation Sunday morning.

Yaka, honey, I hope you are safe and well.  As soon as you can, let us know how you are doing.

Mum

[YaKaMein]

Survived the Gustav! Chickened out on evacuation and stayed this time. I've left for less powerful, more powerful, stayed for less potential and more potential storms. I was prepared either way and chose to stay. Essentially, it was a non sequitur for all the possibilities except being without power for four days. Initially, it was a cool ghost town ending with a HOT humid time. No damage for me but plenty for surrounding parishes. Had plenty of food, candles, and water. Kept in communication with radio on news events and cell phone with loved ones. In the end I made the best choice given some of the drama many experienced. Emotionally, this was a whammy for post-Katrina psyches. Sadly, I did lose a relative who suffered a stroke a week before Gustavo and was evacuated in hospice care but died the evening Gus blew in. Been involved minimally for services tonight and tomorrow. Also, a friend who is more like a brother, had a medical crisis with his expectant wife ending in a sad decision to terminate their 22+ week pregnancy. So, I'm glad that many were safe and sad that so much loss can happen to those near and far so quickly.

I appreciate all the advice and good thoughts from many. I'll be catching up on the forums as I keep abreast of what may lurk in the Gulf over the next few weeks.

-YaKaMein

[Curtis]

Chiming in late to say my parents live above Baton Rouge between Jackson and St. Francisville.  They're not expected to have electricity until September 16th.  Running a big old house on two generators.

YakaMein, I lived at Causeway Blvd and I-10 from 1968-1973, and then again on Ursulines out toward Bayou St. John 1987-1988.  Hope all is good with you.

Curtis