Here's a list of friends and where they are. I'll update this regularly. Please feel free to post a response or email me to let me know where you've landed.
Staying
Mary and Tomio - Bywater
Karen and John - Carrollton
Wade and Andrea - Warehouse District
Stef and Gerry - Uptown
Martha C. - downtown
Frank R. - Treme
Louis S. - French Quarter
David S. - French Quarter
Nick - citywide
Jeff - citywide
Evacuated
Whitney and Brett - Baton Rouge
Jackie and Hans - North Carolina
Dannal - Arkansas
Alex and Kourtney - Arkansas
Cousin John - Baton Rouge
Lori - beach
Tish and Steve - beach
Ian - Baton Rouge
Doris - Eglin AFB
Sarah L. - Pensacola
Sara O. and David - Canada
Ken - Alabama
Rob W. and kids - Montgomery
Alan - Greenville
Greg - Washington, D.C.
Nathan - Bastrop
Dennis - Baton Rouge
Michelle - Hammond
Jennifer F. - Tylertown, MS
Sunday, August 31, 2008
The Road to Hell I Mean Houston
Just got a call from the ever-generous Wade and Andrea, who are staying put in their Warehouse District condo. They want you all to know that anyone who didn't evacuate is welcome to stay in their loft (and they mean it). So if you're feeling a bit less enthusiastic about your home's structural integrity, let me know, and I'll put you all in touch.
Wade also reports that friends who left last night at 8 p.m. for Houston have still not arrived. Incredible. That's a whopping 15 hours, so far.
Even more glad to be here at the beach.
Wade also reports that friends who left last night at 8 p.m. for Houston have still not arrived. Incredible. That's a whopping 15 hours, so far.
Even more glad to be here at the beach.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
9 a.m. update
Just learned that contraflow means no one can go east on I-10 past Slidell. I'm so glad that we left yesterday. It woud've been near impossible to get here.
The water is now choppy, with small waves that are bigger than what you'd normally see at this hour. Gustav is making his presence known. However, Fay (remember Fay?) has left her mark - all that wind churned up lower levels of water, resulting in cooler surface temperatures (borne out by a brisk, brief swim last evening). Since hurricanes feed on warm water, this is good.
At least two sets of friends are staying: Mary and Tomio, down in Bywater, and Karen and John, over in Carrollton. I am concerned about all of them but selfishly glad that someone is still there. I don't like the idea of total abandonment of the city.
Karen says that Bob Breck says G is closer to a 2 than a 3. I wish Fox 8 had a live feed for their newscasts. Nagin has apparently claimed that no building in NOLA is wind rated above 150 mph. Anyone know where he got that stat?
This is what has me worried. Flippin' lake Pontchartrain and its crazy storm surge. We ought to just pave it.
The water is now choppy, with small waves that are bigger than what you'd normally see at this hour. Gustav is making his presence known. However, Fay (remember Fay?) has left her mark - all that wind churned up lower levels of water, resulting in cooler surface temperatures (borne out by a brisk, brief swim last evening). Since hurricanes feed on warm water, this is good.
At least two sets of friends are staying: Mary and Tomio, down in Bywater, and Karen and John, over in Carrollton. I am concerned about all of them but selfishly glad that someone is still there. I don't like the idea of total abandonment of the city.
Karen says that Bob Breck says G is closer to a 2 than a 3. I wish Fox 8 had a live feed for their newscasts. Nagin has apparently claimed that no building in NOLA is wind rated above 150 mph. Anyone know where he got that stat?
This is what has me worried. Flippin' lake Pontchartrain and its crazy storm surge. We ought to just pave it.
The Mother of all Comments
Mayor C. Ray Nagin has proclaimed Gustav "the Mother of all Hurricanes." Even for a man given to hyperbole, that is a serious statement. Wunderground says it will be a cat 4, slamming the central Louisiana coast and propelling huge amounts of water into Lake Pontchartrain.
My friends here at the beach are giving me grief for checking the internet so often, telling me that I need to relax - we're on vacation! Well, I just can't get there, mentally. Pretty much everything I know and love and have worked for is threatened with destruction.
Correction/Update: Nagin actually called it "the Mother of All Storms." And "the Storm of the Century." And, in classic, fearless leader-ly fashion, he urged everyone to "get your butts out of New Orleans right now." Nagin also made some bold statements about the size of the storm's footprint, as he called it, leading an actual hurricane expert questions the accuracy of those statements. I understand the need to motivate people to take this storm and evacuation seriously, but how about we all agree to leave the technical stuff to the experts, eh?
My friends here at the beach are giving me grief for checking the internet so often, telling me that I need to relax - we're on vacation! Well, I just can't get there, mentally. Pretty much everything I know and love and have worked for is threatened with destruction.
Correction/Update: Nagin actually called it "the Mother of All Storms." And "the Storm of the Century." And, in classic, fearless leader-ly fashion, he urged everyone to "get your butts out of New Orleans right now." Nagin also made some bold statements about the size of the storm's footprint, as he called it, leading an actual hurricane expert questions the accuracy of those statements. I understand the need to motivate people to take this storm and evacuation seriously, but how about we all agree to leave the technical stuff to the experts, eh?
My Life Fits in a Car
It is truly amazing what can fit in a Honda CR-V. Allow me to list the contents pictured below:
- two suitcases
- giant bin of dog food
- dog beds and bowls
- two iPod players
- printer/scanner
- laptop
- gas can
- small cooler
- basket of priceless photos (in the purple K&B carrier)
- two bags of work-related files
- 6 bags of food
- two file boxes
- paper goods
- fax machine
AND
- two enormous dogs
Aside from the fact that my car is paid for, this is what prevents me from downsizing to something like a Honda Fit.
- two suitcases
- giant bin of dog food
- dog beds and bowls
- two iPod players
- printer/scanner
- laptop
- gas can
- small cooler
- basket of priceless photos (in the purple K&B carrier)
- two bags of work-related files
- 6 bags of food
- two file boxes
- paper goods
- fax machine
AND
- two enormous dogs
Aside from the fact that my car is paid for, this is what prevents me from downsizing to something like a Honda Fit.
Obscene (Natural) Beauty
That's what we've got here at the beach right now. The water is the color of jade, and the sand, well, you know. Our house, Fountain Blue, is perfectly set up for dogs - there are two sets of doors from the driveway, so keeping the dogs from running into the street should be easy. All public areas are tiled, which is so dog friendly. The kitchen set-up would send any renovator into apoplexy, however - somehow, they managed to make a large space about as inefficient as possible (the refrigerator doesn't even open all the way because of an opposite bank of cabinets). The living room has been overrun by the decor equivalent of kudzu, only in this instance, it's pineapples and palm trees. Still, I've got no complaints. We're here, and we're safe.
And then I checked the news, and see that the pretentiously-named Gustav has become a cat 5. I think I'm inured to it because I just had no reaction. I am hoping that he's a poseur whose fraud will soon be uncovered.
And then I checked the news, and see that the pretentiously-named Gustav has become a cat 5. I think I'm inured to it because I just had no reaction. I am hoping that he's a poseur whose fraud will soon be uncovered.
An Orderly Process
Katrina, admittedly, caught me off guard. I wasn't planning on leaving. My motivation came at 3 a.m. on Sunday, August 30, when, through the haze of my sleep, I heard someone on the TV say that she had reached Category 5 strength. Between calling friends and family, retrieving an out-of-town friends' pets, making a quick video of my own house, and packing, I was on the road in two hours. Suffice it to say, I didn't bring enough stuff.
This time, I'm better prepared. Important docs were in a file box, ready to go. I'm taking my laptop, backup, fax machine, and printer/scanner, so I can work from anywhere. I've got a vacation suitcase (small), and a hope-I-don't-have-to-use-it suitcase with nice clothes (large). The dogs and their accoutrements - beds, medicines, bowls, and food - are stacked and ready. I've even relocated the new television in the hopes that looters won't find it.
And yet, through this calm, my stomach is more and more knotted. It's not the near-hysteria that accompanied last time; it's slower, and building. After my last walk-through, to make sure I'm not leaving anything, I think the enormity of leaving - again - will hit me.
This time, I'm better prepared. Important docs were in a file box, ready to go. I'm taking my laptop, backup, fax machine, and printer/scanner, so I can work from anywhere. I've got a vacation suitcase (small), and a hope-I-don't-have-to-use-it suitcase with nice clothes (large). The dogs and their accoutrements - beds, medicines, bowls, and food - are stacked and ready. I've even relocated the new television in the hopes that looters won't find it.
And yet, through this calm, my stomach is more and more knotted. It's not the near-hysteria that accompanied last time; it's slower, and building. After my last walk-through, to make sure I'm not leaving anything, I think the enormity of leaving - again - will hit me.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Evacu-Cation
For months, I've been planning the annual Friends Beach Trip. Looking forward to lounging, swimming, eating, reading, and perhaps drinking - nothing more - for several days. Then Gustav reared his ugly little head, and we thought all was lost.
My plan had been to go to Baton Rouge to stay with my mom, but since the beach house is paid for (and non-refundable!), and an easterly evacuation seems like the best bet, we've decided to go anyway.
The only glitch was the dogs. The rental company flat-out refused to waive their no-pets policy, despite the emergency situation and my plaintive begging. I spent several hours today trying to find kennels near the beach house, but they were all booked. Then, a minor miracle: the rental company called, said they'd talked to the owner, and for a small fee, they'd let me bring the preciouses! Such relief.
Who could say no to us???
My plan had been to go to Baton Rouge to stay with my mom, but since the beach house is paid for (and non-refundable!), and an easterly evacuation seems like the best bet, we've decided to go anyway.
The only glitch was the dogs. The rental company flat-out refused to waive their no-pets policy, despite the emergency situation and my plaintive begging. I spent several hours today trying to find kennels near the beach house, but they were all booked. Then, a minor miracle: the rental company called, said they'd talked to the owner, and for a small fee, they'd let me bring the preciouses! Such relief.
Who could say no to us???The Post I Didn't Want to Make
This is the post I didn't want to make. But I've just heard Council president Jackie Clarkson say that the city will likely call for a mandatory evacuation tomorrow. So I'm making this blog public in the hopes that it will help us all stay in touch and share news and information.
Whether you're evacuating, staying, or on the fence, please stay safe.
Whether you're evacuating, staying, or on the fence, please stay safe.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Shot Glass of Uncertainty
If thoughts of sitting in a hot, unventilated Baton Rouge house, listening to a hand-crank radio for news of your hurricane-ravaged city drives you to drink, why not try one of these refreshing and topical beverages!
Rumors, Routes, and Recipes
The future right now is clear as mud. Many of us take comfort in the fact that NOLA is still the bulls eye, because we all know that projections this far out are never, ever correct. Bob Breck concurs.
Just stumbled across a great website that would help you find the best route out of town. Not that anyone will need it. But just in case.
And here are some more excellent food tips, whether you're staying put or hitting the road. No sense buying stuff that will go to waste. Not on the list is the most slap-your-forehead advice I ever heard: rather than tossing everything in your refrigerator/freezer, put everything in well-sealed plastic bags. That way, if the power goes out, you just toss the (critter-free) bags, and if it doesn't, you haven't wasted all that food.
Just stumbled across a great website that would help you find the best route out of town. Not that anyone will need it. But just in case.
And here are some more excellent food tips, whether you're staying put or hitting the road. No sense buying stuff that will go to waste. Not on the list is the most slap-your-forehead advice I ever heard: rather than tossing everything in your refrigerator/freezer, put everything in well-sealed plastic bags. That way, if the power goes out, you just toss the (critter-free) bags, and if it doesn't, you haven't wasted all that food.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
This is NOT happening..... but just in case
As we all know, an evil tempest named Gustav is swirling around Jamaica at this very moment. He's predicted to enter the Gulf tomorrow, and by evening we should have a much clearer idea as to where he's headed.
Last time this happened, a mere 3 years ago, there were lots of issues about communications and wondering about who was safe, where they were, etc. I don't want that to happen again. And I sure as hell don't want this to happen at all:
If I evacuate, it will be to my mom's house in Baton Rouge, along with the precious Iggy and Dulle. The number there is 225-926-5788. A bunch of us evacuated there last time, and the power and phones went out, so there's no guarantee you'd be able to get through. Email and/or texting would be the best bet.
Last time this happened, a mere 3 years ago, there were lots of issues about communications and wondering about who was safe, where they were, etc. I don't want that to happen again. And I sure as hell don't want this to happen at all:
If I evacuate, it will be to my mom's house in Baton Rouge, along with the precious Iggy and Dulle. The number there is 225-926-5788. A bunch of us evacuated there last time, and the power and phones went out, so there's no guarantee you'd be able to get through. Email and/or texting would be the best bet.
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