I don't know what these wildflowers are, but, when they start blooming in the backyard, it's a sure sign that Summer is winding down and Fall is not far away...they also signal the peak of the hurricane season in Louisiana and the Gulf States.
Gustov is not supposed to impact us until Monday, more than likely, I'll be out of touch for a while next week...{=P I'll spend the day tomorrow trying to secure the yard and house (a near impossible task), and buying plenty of gas for the generator. More than likely, it will just be a LOT of rain and some gusty winds. We're pretty far from the coast, where the brunt of the storm will be felt. I'm not really a religious person, but I pray that New Orleans is spared any further grief.
I hope that you all will understand that, after Katrina, we're a bit nervous down here...
Uploaded by Mr. Greenjeans on 29 Aug 08, 4.54PM PDT.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Nothing left to do but Sit and Wait...
I'm not looking for sympathy...just letting ya'll know what's happening down here. It's looking really bad, with Gustav at Cat 4 and heading more or less straight for my house. They're predicting landfall very close to New Orleans. I just can't believe that this is happening again so soon.
We have done everything that we can to prepare...all that's left is to wait for it. I have no doubt that we will be without power for the better part of a week, but at least we have a generator and plenty of propane to cook with. I've been wanting to clear out the freezer anyway...{=/
Well, OK...a tiny little bit of sympathy would be alright I guess...*+^
Uploaded by Mr. Greenjeans on 30 Aug 08, 11.46PM PDT.
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We have done everything that we can to prepare...all that's left is to wait for it. I have no doubt that we will be without power for the better part of a week, but at least we have a generator and plenty of propane to cook with. I've been wanting to clear out the freezer anyway...{=/
Well, OK...a tiny little bit of sympathy would be alright I guess...*+^
Uploaded by Mr. Greenjeans on 30 Aug 08, 11.46PM PDT.
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Tracking Gustav
CARIBBEAN SEA (Aug. 29, 2008) - A GOES-12 infrared satellite image provided by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, Calif., showing the status of Tropical Storm Gustav at approximately 11 am EST. Gustav is a tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph and higher gusts. The storm is currently in the Carribbean Sea. The storm is moving north by northwest at 8 mph with its track taking it across the western tip of Cuba into the Gulf of Mexico and making landfall somewhere on the U.S. Gulf Coast by Monday morning. U.S. Navy photo.
www.Army.mil
Uploaded by soldiersmediacenter on 30 Aug 08, 11.37AM PDT.
www.Army.mil
Uploaded by soldiersmediacenter on 30 Aug 08, 11.37AM PDT.
Preparing for Gustav
U.S. military vehicles are staged and ready, Aug. 28, 2008, to bring clean water in the event that water becomes scarce after Gustav, expected to be a Category 3 hurricane, makes landfall. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Nathaniel P. Orphey.
www.Army.mil
Uploaded by soldiersmediacenter on 30 Aug 08, 11.37AM PDT.
www.Army.mil
Uploaded by soldiersmediacenter on 30 Aug 08, 11.37AM PDT.
Preparing for Gustav
CAMP BEAUREGARD, La. – Spc. Joseph P. Gauthier of Natchitoches, La., member of Detachment 1, A Co., 199th Leadership Brigade Support Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, in Colfax, La., gives the thumbs up to Soldiers working to fill a Palletized Load System water hippo. U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Rebekah L. Malone, 225th Engineer Brigade Unit Public Affairs Representative.
www.Army.mil
Uploaded by soldiersmediacenter on 30 Aug 08, 11.37AM PDT.
www.Army.mil
Uploaded by soldiersmediacenter on 30 Aug 08, 11.37AM PDT.
Preparing for Gustav
Members of the Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team stage their vehicles next to the Ernest Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Aug. 29, 2008. The soldiers are activated for security missions in support of hurricane operations throughout the state. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael L. Owens, 241st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.
www.Army.mil
Uploaded by soldiersmediacenter on 30 Aug 08, 11.37AM PDT.
www.Army.mil
Uploaded by soldiersmediacenter on 30 Aug 08, 11.37AM PDT.
PRESS RELEASES | Sunday, August 31, 2008
Governor Jindal's 5:30PM Update on Hurricane Gustav Preparedness Efforts
Today, Governor Bobby Jindal held a press conference along with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to give an update on state and federal preparedness measures surrounding the impact of Hurricane Gustav on Louisiana.
Governor Jindal said, "Our most up to date information from the Hurricane Center shows that the storm did not reorganize as well as it could have, which is good news; but, again, we expect tropical storm force winds overnight tonight and as early as late this evening. St. Bernard, Plaquemines, and Terrebonne Parishes will get tropical storm force winds by midnight. Those areas at the mouth of the Mississippi River will get hurricane force winds early Monday morning. The Hurricane Center said hurricane wind warnings will stretch from Lake Charles to Baton Rouge.
East Jefferson Levee District Closes Northbound and Southbound Lanes of Causeway
The East Jefferson Levee District closed the Causeway Bridge over Lake Pontchartrain to both northbound and southbound traffic at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, Aug 31. The Causeway Bridge will remain closed until further notice.
DSS Announces Updated Shelter Information
The Department of Social Services announced the following information today: DSS has four state-run Critical Transportation Needs Shelters open right now with a capacity of approximately 10,000 people. They are full. The locations are: Shreveport (2), Bastrop and Monroe.
ULS Hurricane Gustav Campus Status Update
The eight University of Louisiana System campuses are vigilantly monitoring Hurricane Gustav. All have activated their campus emergency action teams. The four South Louisiana universities are making appropriate arrangements to secure the safety of their campus faculty, staff, and students, and the four North Louisiana universities are preparing to support and assist.
East Jefferson Levee District Closes Both Southbound Causeway Lanes
The East Jefferson Levee District has announced the closure of both southbound lanes of the Causeway on Sunday, August 31, 2008, at 5:00 p.m. The levee district is assessing the ability to close one northbound lane without impacting the evacuation process.
Governor Jindal's Afternoon Update on Hurricane Gustav Preparedness Efforts
Governor Bobby Jindal said during a press conference Sunday, "Hurricane Gustav is a Category 3 storm, but is only 15 miles-per-hour below Category 4 level. We will be experiencing tropical storm force winds to begin as early as late this evening. He also updated evacuation efforts, shelters, National Guard and military assistance and the expected search-and-rescue efforts.
State Announces Closures of State Parks
Most south Louisiana state park properties have been closed. All sites have been evacuated.
Louisiana Residents Still Have Time to Evacuate
The state of Louisiana wants coastal residents to know that it is not too late to evacuate their homes before Hurricane Gustav. Tropical storm force winds are expected to impact Louisiana Sunday evening. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for the following parishes: Allen, Vermillion, Lafourche, Assumption, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Cameron, St. Mary. St. Charles, Terrebonne, Iberia, St. John, Jeff Davis, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Orleans, and Jefferson. Citizens should take evacuation orders seriously.
Ag Chief Says to Call Local OEP Offices for Pet Evacuation Information
Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said it's not too late for residents with pets and critical transportation needs (CTN) to evacuate. "Trucks and buses are ready at parish pick-up points to evacuate you and your pet if you have a critical need," Strain said. "We'll keep the trucks there as long as it's safe for our volunteers." Parish pick-up points for transportation to the CTN pet shelters are expected to close as storm conditions become unsafe for volunteer and OEP personnel.
Pointe Coupee Parish Issues Voluntary Evacuation Order for Mobile Home Residents
A voluntary evacuation order has been issued by Sheriff Beauregard "Bud" Torres III to all Pointe Coupee residents who inhabit mobile home trailers, effectively immediately. Temporary shelters for these residents are being established at the public schools at Upper Pointe Coupee, Morganza, Rosenwald, Rougon, Livonia and Valerda. All shelters will open at 6:00 pm Sunday, August 31.
Large Sandbags Block LA 1 at the Leon-Theriot Floodgate in Golden Meadow
Large sandbags have been placed on LA 1 at the peak of the LeonTheriot Floodgate in Golden Meadow, LA. The Lafourche Levee District has placed these large sandbags in an attempt to raise the roadway to the actual levee height.
University of Louisiana Lafayette Closed Wednesday
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette announced today that, due to Hurricane Gustave, it will extend its closure to include Wednesday, September 3, 2008.
State Issues Updated List of Evacuations by Parish
The state has issued an updated list of parish-by-parish evacuations from Louisiana. The following parishes have full or partial mandatory evacuations: Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron,Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche,Orleans,Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermillion and Washington.
GOHSEP Situational Report
To prepare for Gustav, GOHSEP activated its EOC at Level 3 at 1800 hours, 27 August 2008 with select ESF’s and GOHSEP personnel. GOHSEP increased its level of activation to Level 2 at 0600 hours, 28 August 2008 and again up to Level 1 at 0600 hours, 31 August 2008.
South Lafourche Levee District Director Urges Lafourche Residents to Evacuate Immediately
The director of the South Lafourche Levee District is urging all Lafourche Parish residents to evacuate the area in advance of landfall of Hurricane Gustav. Windell Curole, who is also the interim director of the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District, says the parish hurricane protection levees in South Lafourche are not capable of withstanding the storm surge force of a Category 3 or stronger hurricane.
BRCC Closed Through Wednesday, September 3
Due to the immediate threat of Hurricane Gustav, Baton Rouge Community College has announced it will close thru Wednesday, September 3, 2008, weather permitting. Classes will resume as scheduled on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 7:00 a.m.
LSU Closed Through Wednesday, September 3
Due to Hurricane Gustav, LSU will remain closed through Wednesday, Sept. 3. The LSU Child Care Center, the LSU Laboratory School, the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and the LSU Agricultural Center Baton Rouge offices will also be closed. LSU AgCenter research stations and extension offices off-campus are to follow the procedures of their local parish governments.
Tangipahoa Parish Updates Gustav Preparations
The parish of Tangipahoa is under a mandatory evacuation for of all residents living in mobile homes and travel trailers, as well as all residents living south of Highway 22. There are currently six shelters open in the parish. Anyone planning to evacuate to a shelter should bring food, water, medication, bedding, and any other items needed. The shelters are able to provide housing only. A curfew is in place in parts of the parish.
Bonnabel and Williams Boulevard Boat Launch Flood Gates Closed
The East Jefferson Levee Board closed the floodgates at Bonnabel and Williams Boulevard Boat Launch at 10:00 a.m. Sunday. The closure also prohibits vehicular traffic at those sites.
City of New Orleans Begins Mandatory Evcautions
New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin has announced a mandatory evacuation for the City of New Orleans beginning today, Sunday, August 31, 2008. Mayor Nagin has ordered a mandatory evacuation on the West Bank of New Orleans beginning at 8 a.m. today. The mandatory evacuation is set to begin at noon on the East Bank.
Contraflow Plan Active in Both Southeast and Southwest Louisiana
The Louisiana contraflow traffic plan has been activated as the state prepares for the likely landfall of Hurricane Gustav. As of 4 a.m. Sunday, the southeast Louisiana contraflow plan has been fully activated. In southwest Louisiana, the Lafayette contraflow plan on I-49 North has been activated. Contraflow will not be in effect in the Lake Charles area, where residents are urged to head north on Highway 171.
Red Cross Offering "Safe and Well" Internet Registry for Storm Evacuees
The American Red Cross encourages all Hurricane Gustav evacuees to register online to post a "Safe and Well" message at https://disastersafe.redcross.org.
How we handle these things in the south...
Ms. Susan's expression and stance say everything you can about the Southern attitude. You wait, you tough it out, you do what ya gotta, and you curse it!! :) In a very polite, southerly-hospitable way, of course.
Uploaded by i mei on 29 Aug 08, 5.44PM PDT.
Uploaded by i mei on 29 Aug 08, 5.44PM PDT.
Be as ready as you can!
Don't be stupid!
This is a major storm and we should treat it as such! Take the time to make sure your house and your loved ones are safe.
I am from Baton Rouge but currently live in Lafayette. I was in Baton Rouge at my parents house when Gustav started forming and I decided to just stay in BR to ride it out. However, I decided late one night to drive to my house in Lafayette to get my external hard drive (all of my pictures!!!) and my photo printer (how I make my greeting cards) and several other things that I can't replace!
I feel so much better having these items with me! especially now that the storm seems to be headed right for Lafayette!
This is a major storm and we should treat it as such! Take the time to make sure your house and your loved ones are safe.
I am from Baton Rouge but currently live in Lafayette. I was in Baton Rouge at my parents house when Gustav started forming and I decided to just stay in BR to ride it out. However, I decided late one night to drive to my house in Lafayette to get my external hard drive (all of my pictures!!!) and my photo printer (how I make my greeting cards) and several other things that I can't replace!
I feel so much better having these items with me! especially now that the storm seems to be headed right for Lafayette!
Jindal on Hurricane Gustav
* Advocate Capitol News Bureau
* Published: Aug 31, 2008 - UPDATED: 5:30 p.m.
Gov. Bobby Jindal on Sunday afternoon renewed his pleas for residents of coastal Louisiana to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Gustav.
“I know I sound like a broken record,” Jindal told reporters. “I want everybody in coastal Louisiana to take this seriously.”
The governor said the storm remains a “very strong Category 3” hurricane that is close to becoming Category 4.
If tracking predictions are totally accurate, he said, it could produce storm surges of up to 12 feet on the West Bank of New Orleans and various spots around Lafourche Parish.
A slight change in the predicted course, Jindal said, could produce major problems in the Houma area.
“You would have flooding in many densely populated areas,” he said.
State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson estimated that roughly 95 percent of 1.2 million residents of 19 coastal parish residents under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders have left. He said about 200,000 people have left New Orleans.
“The cameras we are looking at shows very little movement in New Orleans,” said Edmonson.
However, Jindal said there is urgency for holdouts to leave ahead of tropical storm winds, which could begin in coastal parishes on Sunday evening. When those winds begin, he said, it will make driving conditions dangerous.
“Don’t just look at landfall,” the governor said. “Look at the first onset of those tropical winds.”
Jindal said that, while the vast majority of coastal residents have left, there continues to be “a small number of people we will still have to encourage to evacuate.”
He added, “We know it is not going to be a false alarm for Louisiana’s coast.”
Forecasts say that the storm could lose half of its power 12 hours after reaching land. But Jindal noted that even central Louisiana parishes could face prolonged periods of heavy rain, possibly 12 inches.
* Published: Aug 31, 2008 - UPDATED: 5:30 p.m.
Gov. Bobby Jindal on Sunday afternoon renewed his pleas for residents of coastal Louisiana to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Gustav.
“I know I sound like a broken record,” Jindal told reporters. “I want everybody in coastal Louisiana to take this seriously.”
The governor said the storm remains a “very strong Category 3” hurricane that is close to becoming Category 4.
If tracking predictions are totally accurate, he said, it could produce storm surges of up to 12 feet on the West Bank of New Orleans and various spots around Lafourche Parish.
A slight change in the predicted course, Jindal said, could produce major problems in the Houma area.
“You would have flooding in many densely populated areas,” he said.
State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson estimated that roughly 95 percent of 1.2 million residents of 19 coastal parish residents under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders have left. He said about 200,000 people have left New Orleans.
“The cameras we are looking at shows very little movement in New Orleans,” said Edmonson.
However, Jindal said there is urgency for holdouts to leave ahead of tropical storm winds, which could begin in coastal parishes on Sunday evening. When those winds begin, he said, it will make driving conditions dangerous.
“Don’t just look at landfall,” the governor said. “Look at the first onset of those tropical winds.”
Jindal said that, while the vast majority of coastal residents have left, there continues to be “a small number of people we will still have to encourage to evacuate.”
He added, “We know it is not going to be a false alarm for Louisiana’s coast.”
Forecasts say that the storm could lose half of its power 12 hours after reaching land. But Jindal noted that even central Louisiana parishes could face prolonged periods of heavy rain, possibly 12 inches.
Jindal also said that, despite a last-minute glitch with buses set to haul evacuees, the state has ample resources to aid those seeking higher ground.
The state originally had a contract to use 700 coach buses to transport residents who need assistance. Jindal said the contractor only produced 200 buses.
But the governor said state education officials helped line up hundreds of school buses as replacements, with about 1,000 available at one point.
“We have more capacity than demand,” Jindal said.
Jindal also said that:
--All 64 parishes in Louisiana have declared states of emergency.
--About 8,400 inmates have been moved to higher ground.
--Contraflow may end by midnight on Sunday after beginning at 4 a.m.
Hurricane Gustav (Satellite map)
Time is running out for New Orleans residents to flee the approach of deadly Hurricane Gustav, which will gain power before slamming into the US coast.
Hurricane Gustav is coming
While Gustav is coming....people are still enjoying the beach and getting a little more sun before all the rain comes!
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