Saturday, August 30, 2008

Watching Gustav

Today I continue to watch the forecast for hurricane Gustav. The situation is looking more bleak with major concerns as to the strength of the winds and related storm surge and whether the levees will hold.

The dangerous storm is expected to make landfall sometime after midnight tues.


Voluntary evacuations of Orleans Parish began at 8 am today.

Looks like manditory evacuation is in effect for Orleans Parish Sunday. Traffic is already congested on I -10 west to Baton Rouge. Tomorrow will be the first usage of contraflow. That is the use of inbound traffic lanes for outgoing traffic.

I feel really bad that this is happening and cannot imagine what it must be like for the people living there.

New Orleans has only begun to move from recovery to renewal, and the prospect of having much of that wiped away is so sad.

This is the day that many thought they had escaped the worst of Katrina only to find that the city was to drown in water after the levees failed.

An official with the army corp of engineers stated that the hurricane protection is only 20% complete but is the best in its history.

The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MR-GO) slated to be closed, is a site of major concern as there are predictions of a 17 foot rise in water as it rushes into the city if the hurricane is a category 3. National Geographic report

Looking at this from the outside, up here in Maine, I would be very scared and would want to get out as soon as possible. I send all my love and hope for the best to the people of New Orleans. May you be comforted, may you be protected, and may you be safe.