Gustav news here (New Orleans, Baton Rouge: apartment, condo, hotel)

[jdbflowers]

Hello All!

I've been trying to find out additional information so I thought I'd go straight to the horses mouth.

I'll be driving from Phoenix to BR next week, should be in BR on Thursday around 4pm. Has there been any other news about evacuations? I know LA is in a State of Emergency right now, but I just wanted to know if they are considering closing down all entry ways in to LA/BR as of yet. Haven't heard anything but wanted to make sure.

Thanks guys! And stay staff during the upcoming days!

James

[Drouzin]

Originally Posted by Petronilla

I will get stuck here I am a paramedic and I work a 24 hour shift on Saturday... I have no hope of getting out of here before then..

Ok, pretty much you're a first responder, and you may or may not be stuck. Assuming we're going to be hit on Monday, you're still going to be okay. Keep in mind that people were able to get out of here as late as Sun. afternoon for Katrina.

Ask your employer what is his plan for those who get off too late to get out. If he hasn't offered to let you ride it out with them, ask him to let you ride it out with them. It helps to be with other people during a storm.

Honestly if we have to evacuate and you get off Sunday morning you'll still be able to leave. You'll be in you're worst nightmare scenario for traffic, but you'll still get out. They, (TV and news radio), will tell you when it's too late to get in the car and drive out. They monitor the traffic flow so that no one gets stuck on the road when the storm hits.

[Mom21]

I feel for you all. I pray that this storm passes you all by.

Petronilla, I really feel for you. I have had that dilemma of being stuck in work during snow storms, and my life wasn't even at stake. How much more vulnerable you must feel! At the very least I hope you have food, and a place to go to be on dry land. Please remember to get food that needs no refrigeration or cooking! (tuna, fruit cups, Lunchables (those meat/cracker things that kids pack for lunch), cereal, milk drink boxes, plenty of water, wipes, batteries, and get your valuables ready and put them by the door. (phone chargers, hard drives from pc's, laptops, ss #'s, credit cards, valuable photos).

[darylwi]

This is what I've heard within state government today:
Unless the projected path shifts wildly in the next 24-48 hours, contraflow may begin Saturday along with the evacuation of NOLA. Of course, by next Thursday, this thing should have already come in and passed by. With that in mind, I would say watch the news. If the storm heads more towards southwest LA and the damage is catastrophic (sort of the level of Katrina/Rita or greater) you will not want to or maybe even be allowed to drive across I-10 in some areas. You may want to delay your trip to at least the weekend. If the storm putters out or changes course entirely, you should be fine. Like I said, this thing should have crossed the coastline and moved inland by Thursday.
Any particular reason why you're coming this way? If it's not family, friends or volunteer service; just be aware that if this thing does become catastrophic (especially for NOLA), you are not going to be able to move around in BTR anytime immediately after the storm. This place near about locked down the first week or two after Katrina. It was almost 24 hour gridlock here. You couldn't even move around in the grocery stores here.
We're all praying that doesn't happen again.

[alikat1205]

i left for katrina the sunday before, and while it did take me 16 hours to get to shreveport (typically 5 hours) i got there. plan to leave early.

[Eastender67]

Originally Posted by Icy Tea

They have absolutely no idea where this storm is headed until about 24 to 48 hours before it hits. Fay was tracked wrong and went all over Florida and stalled instead of heading north like they said it would. The Weather Channel camped reporters out in Key West and they had no story but then it flooded out the east central coast of the state.
I wouldn't panic for a few days until you have a good idea where it will hit, how fast its going, how much rain and wind its packing, etc.

The forecasters try and try to make the point that, using the data they currently have, the storm "should" make landfall somewhere in that forecast cone, not necessarily in the center. But, people ignore that and, right now, New Orleans is in the center of the current forecast cone and that's all they see. As you said, as recently as last week, Fay proved again that their forecasts, despite all the new technology, can be way off. About 24-hours before hurricane Rita was to make landfall she was forecast to make landfall at Rockport, Texas, about half-way down the Texas coast. Instead, she came in 150-miles up the coast on the Texas-Louisiana border. With those tropical storms (hurricanes, whatever) it's sort of like Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over till it's over". I wouldn't go bailing out of New Orleans just yet.

[buildings_and_bridges]

Originally Posted by Eastender67

The forecasters try and try to make the point that, using the data they currently have, the storm "should" make landfall somewhere in that forecast cone, not necessarily in the center. But, people ignore that and, right now, New Orleans is in the center of the current forecast cone and that's all they see. As you said, as recently as last week, Fay proved again that their forecasts, despite all the new technology, can be way off. About 24-hours before hurricane Rita was to make landfall she was forecast to make landfall at Rockport, Texas, about half-way down the Texas coast. Instead, she came in 150-miles up the coast on the Texas-Louisiana border. With those tropical storms (hurricanes, whatever) it's sort of like Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over till it's over". I wouldn't go bailing out of New Orleans just yet.

I know what you're saying, but if people don't evacuate soon enough, they'll have difficulties getting out if and when it turns out that they need to, am I right? I've never had to evacuate, but this is what I've been told by those who have.

[aiangel_writer]

I live near Tupelo MS, and there is to be a meeting in Tupelo tomorrow on evacuation routes from South to North. Seems they will open up roads 59 and Interstate 55 for people to evacuate on.

There were many people who could not find a room anywhere in North MS during Katrina. It might help for you to contact the town city halls and ask for any information on hotels.

Tupelo and surrounding areas are inundated with appx. 1400 construction workers who are working on Toyota at the moment, so there will be fewer hotels in a 30 mile radius or so and the vacant rooms will go fast.

This was posted on our local tv stations web site:



Gustav Planning Session Set
Local non-profit and relief agencies will gather Friday in Tupelo to talk about plans to help potential evacuees from the Gulf Coast in advance of Tropical Storm Gustav.

Churches, government agencies and first responders are among the groups asked to attend the meeting.

It will begin at 10 am at the McClean Center at 213 West Main Street.


So you might be able to contact the Red Cross for information, I know they housed many people after Katrina and have really been working on a plan if there were ever a need again.

hope this helps you guys, I know I live 6 hours inland, but our local weather says we could get some pretty hefty rain, tornadoes and such from G this far north...Remember, we went under our first ever Tropical Storm Warning with Katrina....and the damage was felt as far north as Hattisburg for Hurricane winds.

[buildings_and_bridges]

I've heard (from someone who works at one) that the gas stations around here are running out of gas. Sounds like it would be a good idea to go ahead and fill up if you can.

[darylwi]

Did it Wednesday night, when it was $3.44. I noticed yesterday afternoon the price had jumped to $3.64 at the same station. I've seen it as high as $3.79 now this morning. This kind of speculation should be gouging. But I guess if this thing hits SW-LA then gas will easily top $4 again.