If it's August there must be a storm brewing. The weather people are center stage; global warming is all over the weather channel. Jim Cantore's slicker is pressed and his head is shined.
Ready? Set? roll up your sleeves on-air weather guys, it's time for 5 day cones, and what's-happening-in-Hispanola, the "Loop Current" and the Bay of Campeche. Roll out the cone of uncertainty, and the cone of possibility, all the way down to the cone of hyperbole and the cone of exaggeration. Don't forget the cone of worst case scenarios. And throw in the Cone of utter cluelessness
But, all that said, cat 4 is Cat 4; Cat 3 can do some real damage, and even a cat 1 or 2 will leave a significant mark, so we pedestrian citizens must take heed.
And those down here are still suffering from Post Katrina Syndrome. Aside: I am referred to as a "lucky one," because We only lost a roof and had about 8 inches of water--mostly backed up water from the drainage canals--in our foyer and "basement" (in New Orleans a basement in on the ground floor of a "raised" house"). But, I digress. Post Katrina syndrome. So many people lost everything--diplomas, birth certificates. heirlooms, furniture, all family photos, all clothing. We're talking the entire household. And it wasn't just the poor, as the TV coverage would have you believe. There were middle class neighborhoods, upper class neighborhoods, that were devastated. The emotional scars run deep and though I was "lucky," I work with people and see patients everyday that had to start rebuilding lives in their 50's and 60's. And not a thousand people, but hundreds of thousands of people were devastated. Everyone, without exception, in this area was adversely affected at least--and I was a lucky one.
Katrina hit 8/29/2005. I didn't have electricity until mid November. Phone service came later. Cell service was non existent for months. I didn't start getting MAIL until JUNE. And I was a lucky one.
People are emotional, worried, wary, and have become very prudent.
They have also circled the wagons in support of our beautiful city. We have an idiot mayor, a do-nothing, we want him out. Unfortunately when he ran for his second term, the person he ran against had significant baggage. There was not a clear choice. We tend to get a little agitated when we hear the wise men of the media suggesting that this city should be surrendered to mother nature. Well, I am saying that the wrong way. It may well happen that the city, our home is doomed, but, as the New York Times put it: It is the worst spot in the world where a city must be. It is a hugely important area for many reasons; but that's not why we get so p*ssed when we hear the nonpareil intellect of Glenn Beck musing on our future and our priorities. We smell blood because this is our home. And we know it may be an untenable situation to maintain the city. We look at our children and our grandchildren and wonder what will they face if they stay here. We don't need the "just move" argument. Let Los Angeles move; let Miami move: let Sacramento move--all of those cities are threatened with very real natural disasters. After all it's just a matter of time for them also.
New Orleans and southeast Louisiana is a very provincial area. Families stay here for generations because they like it here; their family is here; their inlaws are here; because we have hundreds of years of history, because we love our food, because we can inhale the fragrances of lugustrum and sweet olive. Because we are ready to be called "dawlin" or "baby" by a cashier at the grocery. We have local color to spare. And we actually have culture. many cultures in fact, and a very rich history, something most American cities lack.
We have our problems, big ones, crime, schools (improving), racism (improving), political leaders (greatly improving), we know that. But don't suggest, Glenn Beck, that we are somehow with our heads in the sand when it comes to hurricane protection.
So....all that because Gustav is now in the gulf, or very near and it is a strong cat 4 right now. It may make it to cat 5 (SUSTAINED winds greater than 155 mph) and is supposed to weaken when it hits cooler waters off the coast .
The highways are pretty congested now getting out of town--most people head west, though heading east should be preferable for this storm--still early though to see which way is right. the streets on the city are getting empty. There are mandatory evacuations in the lower parishes (counties-we call them parishes because of the huge Catholic influence down here). There may be one coming for Orleans Parish which is the city proper, and Jefferson Parish which abuts Orleans. (NB As I was writing this the aforementioned idiot mayor did announce a mandatory evacuation for Orleans Parish for tomorrow morning.)
So, the common question asked is "what are you doing for the storm?" Most people have left already. No one who lived through the chaos post Katrina wants to repeat the experience. But there are a few that are waiting to see what develops. That's me.
My wife, daughter #1, her 4 (triplets 19 mos and a three year old going on 40) along with the damn dog are at our condo in Navarre Beach--18 miles east of Pensacola--out of harm's way for this one. Her husband is a general surgeon and will stay at the hospital for the duration. Daughter #2, her husband and their 2 are in Cleveland visiting his parents. My younger brother and I shipped our mother and our sister (another story) to our other brother outside of Tampa (Thanks, Jay). So here I am.
Sunny and hot here today, no wind, just anxiety and work to get ready for Gustav.
The cars. My car is at my mother's in her garage--she didn't flood with Katrina. My wife's car is at Daughter #1's house--she didn't flood either with Katrina. That leaves me with my RR for transport. And the tempting situation of the ride report running away from Gustav and getting back home. That may happen. And I probably have to decide by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. And then where to go. The simple answer is to go to Navarre Beach. But, sorry Glenn Beck, not simple. After Katrina, I envied those people who evacuated to New York and San Francisco and Chicago. We went from New Orleans to Birmingham to Cleveland to St Louis to College Station and then my wife and son went to Austin so he could start his senior year of high school. they were there for a semester and came home at Christmas, for good.
No, if I go I want to go somewhere neat and I have been thinking about this for a while. I think I want to go to Santa Fe when I evacuate. But will I evacuate.
Don't know yet....I'll let you know. I will keep posting until electricity fails--probably sometime Monday.
But what is a ride report without pictures!
Latest report tells me it is on the same track, but winds are 150mph and storm surge is somewhere between 12 -20 feet. Great. Still moving west of NO though, so maybe I won't lose my roof again? maybe I won't be as lucky?
this is what I saw Thursday am before work
On the way in, I rode that day, I looked at every vehicle on the road and knew what was on their mind, The Storm and please don't let it be another Katrina
So the nurses at the hospital are starting to get a bit excited. Many lost everything in Katrina. Some moved to the north shore because of losing everything, and you know, "everything" doesn't say it completely enough, so it will be "Everything" from here on out. It was still far enough away that hysteria was not appropriate yet. By Friday things were shaping up and the computers on the nurses' stations desks were tuned to NOAA for the latest track and coordinates. The TV in the lounge is on weather and people stare, but everyone is an expert on these things. I say that only half facetiously, because they are so common, that we are somewhat conversant in things tropical and cyclonic. It is very common to hear this conversation: Where do you think it's going to go? well, there is a high system that is nudging it to the west a bit, so maybe... Yeah, but it's over the Loop Current now so it is building strength and it may be too massive to be pushed by a high. Yeah, but, it's all fluid dynamics and....
That kind of conversation. And it is usually ended with, Well where are you going?
so Friday morning
and
WTF? another one? yes that will be Hannah, and you will be meeting her perhaps, or perhaps not
So, now we are in full hurricane swing. Plans are being finalized to leave or stay. What's the hospital going to do (not do anything but outpatient stuff until?)?
and my family has made plans for leaving, except for me...
I am on call Monday, and yes, we have no patients, and yes, we have no emergency room, and yes, we have no OB, so, Yes the likelihood of having a patient admitted is nil, in fact the parish has issued a mandatory evacuation order for that part of the parish where the hospital is located, BUT the CEO refuses to close. Why? I cannot say except that I firmly believe that hospital administrators--at least many that I have had contact with--are the world's second oldest profession.
so the paper this morning
and this (the cursor is pointing at my back yard)
so escape mode is in half swing to get things ready to go.
1) remove loose things from back yard--like potted plants-they are missiles
2)have water
3)have batteries and working flashlight/lantern
4) got generator
5) have stuff from katrina, duct tape, viskween, waterless hand soap
6) gas cans and cars filled
7)family safe and away
8 )board windows
9)two cars prob safe, now what about motorcycle--starting to get windy along gulf coast, rain tomorrow, maybe not a good idea to ride it??? will eval in am
so that's where things are now at 1045 pm sat night. more later
my house today, windows pre and post boarding, the living room, dining room--windows here boarded
and the foyer that had a few inches of water after katrina
oh, yeah, and pack, for 3 days or three weeks or forever, because it is quite possible, though unlikely, that I could lose Everything
John
