posted August 25, 2005 08:29 PM               

Although Im about 45 minutes north of the center of the eye coming ashore, its been pretty much a "non event" altogether thankfully. Although it reached weak Category 1 hurricane status about 15 minutes before landfall, it began weakening right away.

The state organization I belong to didnt even go on standby:
http://www.femors.org

and we generally do if for no other reason than training.

Fingers and toes crossed this is the worst we have to deal with this season.

posted August 26, 2005 11:28 AM               

"Well, well MIAMI had a gust of 90 mph!!" - note that was singular and a direct quote. Gusts are easily withstood, its sustained thats the problem.

Such as flooding. Yes we had copious amounts of rain but in FL it drains very quickly, so flooding is subjective.

Hearts out to the folks of Ft Lauderdale/Miami with no power - thats no fun, and the families of the 4. Sadly though those deaths could well have been prevented - as no one takes these seriously. The panhandle learned and prepared for the last storm, but apparently not south Florida.

We did get an email activate for the panhandle so fingers and toes crossed it lands with minimal damage there. Those poor folks!

Cheers!

posted August 26, 2005 05:36 PM               

I pray that all Florida resident cS members make it through this and any ensuing storms without any injury to life or property.

Thanks for putting a more accurate spin on the story being told by the media Al. My best friend Steve is heading to the Miami/Key West area next weekend for his honeymoon and the media reporting is driving him crazy!

posted August 27, 2005 12:18 AM               

------------------
Brian

posted August 27, 2005 09:30 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by collshubby:
So who here is in the firing line for round two? According to the projected path on weather.com, I am! :-(

---

posted August 27, 2005 09:33 AM               

Yes you guys are, PLEASE hunker down. With your lowlands lower than ours, plus the potential for this to be a Cat 4 by the time it arrives, it is not a thing to sneeze at.

posted August 27, 2005 09:50 AM               

------------------
Brian

posted August 27, 2005 12:21 PM               

The levees should help and I do hope they will.

posted August 27, 2005 03:44 PM               

Well, I have to pack up now. Just cross your fingures and I would appreciate any prayers for the people here. I'm sure I'll be able to stay online for awhile longer at my parent's place.

------------------
Brian

posted August 28, 2005 09:44 AM               

A Cat 5 is considered a catastrophic hurricane and all anyone need do is look at the aftermath of Andrew in 1992, and Camille in 1969 (please excuse if my dates are wrong).

Our rule of thumb is, a strong Cat 3 or higher, we evacuate and Im not on the coastline (about 8 miles inland as the crow flies). Since I am in an on call situation I cannot evacuate but will go to a shelter.

So please anyone in the projected areas, please, act accordingly. And our prayers are out to all affected.

posted August 28, 2005 10:17 AM            

Also to all the aerospace company workers in and around New Orleans including further out at Stennis ,the Computing Center and the Boeing plants.

posted August 28, 2005 11:16 AM               

"COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 18 TO 22 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE
LEVELS...LOCALLY AS HIGH AS 28 FEET ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS
BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE
CENTER MAKES LANDFALL."

posted August 28, 2005 07:47 PM               

The mayor of New Orleans has said that the worst is expected. This is the worst storm to hit New Orleans since they started keeping track of these things. They have evacuated the city, at least those who can go or are willing to. The New Orleans news have already started calling tomorrow "Black Monday."

As for myself, my family and I are safe. We are at my parent's house and the worst expected here are sustained winds of 80mph. This is the same strength we went through in the same house with Hurricane Andrew, so I know it can take it.

As for my personal residence, we have been living in a double-wide trailer while we saved money to build a house in a few years on an adjoining lot. They have reported that the town of Madisonville is expecting sustained winds of 130 to 150 mph. I, in my heart, have accepted the fact that on Tuesday morning my home will no longer be there. It will be a miracle if it is.

However, I also know in my heart that I am fortunate too. Must more fortunate than a lot of people will be. I had a lot of help from family and friends in evacuating, and I know that my family will not be homeless as I know we can live with my parents until we are back on our feet.

There is no doubt that sooner or later we are going to lose electricity here. They have been saying it will be days before power is restored. In the worst hit areas, it may be weeks. So if you don't here from me again for awhile, I am safe; it's just that I won't be able to access the internet.

I appreciate all prayers for my family and for everyone who will be affected by this monster storm. I am holding up okay, but barely. I am happy for the support my family is giving me.

God bless.

------------------
Brian

posted August 28, 2005 09:48 PM               

God bless you and everyone in the area. At Church tonight we held a short vigil in prayer for the area.

posted August 28, 2005 09:53 PM               

I can't even begin to imagine what you and the other people in that area are going through or about to experience. Stay safe, and know that right around the world our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this awful time.

posted August 28, 2005 10:59 PM              

I'm sure that most everyone is aware of the seriousness of this storm and it's potential impact on New Orleans. My wife and I evacuated the east coast in 1999 when Floyd came up and skimmed us..We are very familiar with Cat 5s and their potential.

I am asking everyone to make a donation of some kind to your local Red Cross, Food Bank, etc..whoever may be taking things up to deliver to Louisiana after this is over..I forwarded an email tonight to all our scout leaders to begin our Good Turn For America project for this year by gathering items to help those folks along the coast..My wife and I want to go and help them so bad but can't so this is the only way we can do anything..

posted August 29, 2005 10:59 PM               

This is already now the deadliest hurricane since Agnus in 1972 which killed 122.

posted September 01, 2005 07:44 AM               

My family and I are okay and our home is okay but it may be a month or so before we get power back, so we are staying in Baton Rouge until then. I am on a friend's computer so I will post more later. Later perhaps I can post some pictures I took of the area that I live in just so you can see what has happened.

------------------
Brian

posted September 01, 2005 08:13 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by collshubby:
...our home is okay...

---

The one in New Orleans? That is amazing, wonderful news, Brian.

posted September 02, 2005 08:04 AM               

------------------
Brian

posted September 02, 2005 03:17 PM               

Hang in there.
...back to space discussions before I start a political argument.

Tom
- Renton, WA
(No hurricanes, but we have volcanoes and earthquakes up here)

posted September 02, 2005 04:07 PM               

I did a mapquest search on the address you gave and he does not live too far from me. The soonest I can get there will be Monday, but I will go by there and check.

There is absolutly no communication of any kind coming into or out of St. Tammaney Parish. No cell phone, landlines, even police radios are not working there.

There are a lot of trees and powerlines down, and houses have been hit. For the most part, I have not seen any completely destroyed; only damaged. I would not worry either about lack of food or water because most of the roadways into Madisonville and Covington have been cleared, and FEMA has set up station in Covington.

I have a cousin who works in the St. Tammaney Parish Sheriff's Office and saw him yesterday. As far as the looting and such, there have only been isolated incidents. But they are expecting it to increase as more people come out of New Orleans, and people who live in the much more rural areas of the parish become desperate.

Please e-mail me at brianpeter79@yahoo.com so I can communicate further with you.

------------------
Brian

posted September 03, 2005 06:37 AM               

The Baton Rouge area suffered minimal damage from the storm, so I would not worry too much. It is possible that he just doesn't have electricity yet (my parents only got theirs back on Thurs.). Very few homes in the area suffered any damage.

posted September 06, 2005 03:13 PM               

I returned to work today full-time. I work next door to Hammond Airport, which is a small airport for private and corporate aircraft. The military has been using it to bring troops in and out of New Orleans, as well as those who have been evacuated. My workplace has been allowing the military (4th Inf. Div.) to come in and use our bathroom facilities, providing coffee and drinks, and giving them a place to come in out of the heat. These men are dead tired and have been working hard, but have been wonderful guests.

I'm just glad I have been able to thank so many of them personally for helping.

------------------
Brian

posted September 06, 2005 03:51 PM               

You bring up some good points in the help your area has been receiving.

While its easy to sit from afar and criticize (not you Brian), right now is not the time. Its time to pull together and after it settles, take some time to self critique and make things better.

posted September 07, 2005 02:01 PM               

In case you aren't familiar with how our government is SUPPOSED to work.
The chain of responsibility for the protection of the citizens in New
Orleans is:

1. The Mayor
2. The New Orleans director of Homeland Security (a political appointee
of the Governor who reports to the Governor)
3. The Governor
4. The Head of Homeland Security
5. The President

What did each do?

1. The mayor, with 5 days advance, waited until 2 days before he
announced a mandatory evacuation (at the behest of the President). The
he failed to provide transportation for those without transport even
though he had hundreds of buses at his disposal.

2. The New Orleans director of Homeland Security failed to have any plan
for a contingency that has been talked about for 50 years. Then he
blames the Feds for not doing what he should have done. (So much for
political appointees)

3. The Governor, despite a declaration of disaster by the President 2
DAYS BEFORE the storm hit, failed to take advantage of the offer of
Federal troops and aid. Until 2 DAYS AFTER the storm hit.

4. The Director of Homeland Security positioned assets in the area to be
ready when the Governor called for them

5. The President urged a mandatory evacuation, and even declared a
disaster State of Emergency, freeing up millions of dollars of federal
assistance, should the Governor decide to use it.

Oh and by the way, the levees that broke were the responsibility of the
local landowners and the local levee board to maintain, NOT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.

The disaster in New Orleans is what you get after decades of corrupt
(democrat) government going all the way back to Huey Long. Funds for
disaster protection and relief have been flowing into this city for
decades, and where has it gone, but into the pockets of the politicos
and their friends. Decades of socialist government in New Orleans has
sapped all self reliance from the community, and made them dependent
upon government for every little thing.

Political correctness and a lack of will to fight crime have created the
single most corrupt police force in the country, and has permitted gang
violence to flourish. The sad thing is that there are many poor folks
who have suffered and died needlessly because those that they voted into
office failed them.

Just sharing an email I received.

posted September 07, 2005 02:40 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Herkdriver:
In case you aren't familiar with how our government is SUPPOSED to work.
The chain of responsibility for the protection of the citizens in New
Orleans is:

1. The Mayor
2. The New Orleans director of Homeland Security (a political appointee
of the Governor who reports to the Governor)
3. The Governor
4. The Head of Homeland Security
5. The President

What did each do?

1. The mayor, with 5 days advance, waited until 2 days before he
announced a mandatory evacuation (at the behest of the President). The
he failed to provide transportation for those without transport even
though he had hundreds of buses at his disposal.

2. The New Orleans director of Homeland Security failed to have any plan
for a contingency that has been talked about for 50 years. Then he
blames the Feds for not doing what he should have done. (So much for
political appointees)

---

We knew this was coming sooner or later and should have had a plan. There were many of those who could not evacuate, mainly those who relied on public transport, those homebound by illness, etc., and those in nursing homes and hospitals. The fact that these people could not be evacuated should have been anticipated and plans to evacuate these people somehow should have been drawn up years ago.

There should have also been a plan to somehow keep the city and parish governments running, as well as maintain the integrity of the police command structure. It looks to me that the Mayor, councillors, and many of the police bugged out of town long before the storm hit, and were not on the front lines like they should have been.

quote:

---

3. The Governor, despite a declaration of disaster by the President 2
DAYS BEFORE the storm hit, failed to take advantage of the offer of
Federal troops and aid. Until 2 DAYS AFTER the storm hit.

---

This crisis has shown that Governor Blanco is a poor leader under pressure. She should have had the National Guard in position, ready to enter the city if required (and other places as well). She then should have immediatly asked the federal government for help. The feds cannot just come marching into a state - it is called state's rights. Remember the little tit-for-tat called the Civil War? It has to be requested by the governor.

quote:

---

4. The Director of Homeland Security positioned assets in the area to be
ready when the Governor called for them

5. The President urged a mandatory evacuation, and even declared a
disaster State of Emergency, freeing up millions of dollars of federal
assistance, should the Governor decide to use it.

---

People will argue how quickly federal aid flowed into New York after 9/11. Well, the Mayor and Governor requested the aid from the get-go, and the events of 9/11 involved a foreign indentity, therefore that involves the federal government. A hurricane does not involve foreign policy decesions.

I'm going to leave FEMA alone for now. The ground-pounders for them did the best they could with the resources they had. They were just overwhelmed. It is not their responsibility to run the show; they are to support the relief effort that should be led by the state. Maybe the director of FEMA buggered around for a little to long, but personally I've seen FEMA do nothing but good. It just seems that any shortcomings in FEMA lay in middle management somewhere.

quote:

---

Oh and by the way, the levees that broke were the responsibility of the
local landowners and the local levee board to maintain, NOT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.

---

quote:

---

The disaster in New Orleans is what you get after decades of corrupt
(democrat) government going all the way back to Huey Long. Funds for
disaster protection and relief have been flowing into this city for
decades, and where has it gone, but into the pockets of the politicos
and their friends. Decades of socialist government in New Orleans has
sapped all self reliance from the community, and made them dependent
upon government for every little thing.

---

Well, what can I say? Louisiana has made an art form out of corrupt politics.

quote:

---

Political correctness and a lack of will to fight crime have created the
single most corrupt police force in the country, and has permitted gang
violence to flourish. The sad thing is that there are many poor folks
who have suffered and died needlessly because those that they voted into
office failed them.

---

The influence by the mafia and other nefarious individuals has made the corruption in the NOPD so rampant it makes the LAPD look like childs play. Recent FBI investigations is also targeting former New Orleans politicians and political bosses who have been getting rich from the suffering of the poor for decades.

------------------
Brian

posted September 07, 2005 05:43 PM               

My apologies. I agree with you. This is not the place for partisan politics. And when Santa Clarita is reduced to rubble (again), I'll refrain from blaming Hillary for causing the earthquake.