Some of our Southern Members are in the process of preparing for a possible hurricane early next week. Just remember us in your prayers, as we may not be here for a little while.
Local leadership in LA and here in Baton Rouge is refreshing. Locally, Mayor Holden is doing a great job keeping communication lines open, and making sure needed supplies are getting through. Gov. Jindal is also on the forefront, reminding people it's their OWN responsibility to plan and prepare. Hopefully we don't get affected by this storm, but it's out there.
Gustav in the Gulf
Started by
hcmv007
, Aug 27 2008 10:17 PM
9 replies to this topic
#1
hcmv007
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Posted 27 August 2008 - 10:17 PM
#2
hcmv007
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Posted 30 August 2008 - 07:07 PM
Now a Cat 4 storm. Landfall est. Tues Morning
#3
The Dove
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Posted 30 August 2008 - 08:31 PM
The evacuation has already begun... 
and I think that they've said Gustav could become a category 5 eventually?? In any case My thoughts and prayers are with everyone down there and hope they all get out safely.. hcmv, I hope you are not in the path..is Baton Rouge in any danger?
and I think that they've said Gustav could become a category 5 eventually?? In any case My thoughts and prayers are with everyone down there and hope they all get out safely.. hcmv, I hope you are not in the path..is Baton Rouge in any danger?
#4
Santa
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Posted 30 August 2008 - 09:04 PM
While I know those in the area have got enough to worry about, I hope they think about the safety of their pets at this time. Don't leave it until the last minute because if they have to force evacuate, you will not be able to take your animals with you. Please don't let them be left behind.
#5
hcmv007
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Posted 10 September 2008 - 10:41 PM
8 days later
Baton Rouge is a mess, as are several surrounding parishes. 87% of EBR Parish (Where I live) has power, and that is about the percentage of traffic lights working. Some neighborhoods will get power back by Oct 1, and of course I live in one of those neighborhoods so I am a nomad living out of a suitcase. Numerous homes have had trees or large limbs through them, destroying them. For a few days, it looked like Ike would hit, thankfully for us, it is going to Texas, and please do not misconstrue what I am saying, I don't wish a hurricane on anyone, but we could not handle another one. I was lucky enough to be able to leave town a few days after the storm, and when I ran out of supplies (Lines in open stores were 8 hours long, and we have a curfew in effect then from 8 PM to 6 AM; now it is 10 PM to 6 AM). I got back to work on Monday, and am now at a place where I can issue some updates. I even took a few pictures of the storm and will post them here as soon as I can. I tried to show the violence of this storm from my home, and surrounding areas. What I can't show is the stoplights that were tossed from the power lines onto the streets, or the posts they were on spun to the left, right or to face the wrong direction, or of roofs blown off homes, and buildings that just collapsed (not office buildings but sheds and the like). Here in LA, we have a pet evacuation, so pets can leave w/ their owners and not be separated. Personally, I was not ready for this to hit. Until Late Sat night, this was going to be a Tues morning storm, so my 4 day supply became a 3 day supply, and w/ all the traffic chaos, and the gas chaos, I chose to get the heck out of here, relax a few days and come back. In my back yard I have a LOT of debris, and that will get done this weekend, and that will be all (My back yard floods and I cannot walk in it yet, not lazy just don't like a lot of mud on me). RE: Gas, the average wait in a gas line in BR was 4-6 hours days after the storm, it was not a gas issue but a gas station with power issue, only a few had it, so most people who had generators would fill lots of tanks at a time (I didn't have that problem-filled up on Sat morning before the storm, natch), but the stations opened had enough to keep everyone happy until curfew. This for us was a major storm, but unlike Katrina the local govt acted quickly and efficiently to handle this. Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden once again did an excellent job in handling this crisis, and Gov Bobby Jindal took charge in every aspect, even letting the Directors of FEMA and Homeland Security who was running the show, which was a big difference than the leadership displayed last time. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin did a much better job preparing NO for the storm, forcing people to get out and arranging for those who could not leave on their own to get out. It is going to be a while for my city to get back on its feet, but with LSU playing a home game this weekend now that the damage to Tiger Stadium is fixed, this will help. We have survived storms here before, Betsy was way before my time, Andrew, Katrina, Rita and now Gustav. We will get back to normal, but it will take time.
I don't know when or where I will post on here from, but for the time being, only on this topic, I hope to post pics once I learn how to download from my camera to my computer, take care and God Bless,
hcmv007
Baton Rouge is a mess, as are several surrounding parishes. 87% of EBR Parish (Where I live) has power, and that is about the percentage of traffic lights working. Some neighborhoods will get power back by Oct 1, and of course I live in one of those neighborhoods so I am a nomad living out of a suitcase. Numerous homes have had trees or large limbs through them, destroying them. For a few days, it looked like Ike would hit, thankfully for us, it is going to Texas, and please do not misconstrue what I am saying, I don't wish a hurricane on anyone, but we could not handle another one. I was lucky enough to be able to leave town a few days after the storm, and when I ran out of supplies (Lines in open stores were 8 hours long, and we have a curfew in effect then from 8 PM to 6 AM; now it is 10 PM to 6 AM). I got back to work on Monday, and am now at a place where I can issue some updates. I even took a few pictures of the storm and will post them here as soon as I can. I tried to show the violence of this storm from my home, and surrounding areas. What I can't show is the stoplights that were tossed from the power lines onto the streets, or the posts they were on spun to the left, right or to face the wrong direction, or of roofs blown off homes, and buildings that just collapsed (not office buildings but sheds and the like). Here in LA, we have a pet evacuation, so pets can leave w/ their owners and not be separated. Personally, I was not ready for this to hit. Until Late Sat night, this was going to be a Tues morning storm, so my 4 day supply became a 3 day supply, and w/ all the traffic chaos, and the gas chaos, I chose to get the heck out of here, relax a few days and come back. In my back yard I have a LOT of debris, and that will get done this weekend, and that will be all (My back yard floods and I cannot walk in it yet, not lazy just don't like a lot of mud on me). RE: Gas, the average wait in a gas line in BR was 4-6 hours days after the storm, it was not a gas issue but a gas station with power issue, only a few had it, so most people who had generators would fill lots of tanks at a time (I didn't have that problem-filled up on Sat morning before the storm, natch), but the stations opened had enough to keep everyone happy until curfew. This for us was a major storm, but unlike Katrina the local govt acted quickly and efficiently to handle this. Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden once again did an excellent job in handling this crisis, and Gov Bobby Jindal took charge in every aspect, even letting the Directors of FEMA and Homeland Security who was running the show, which was a big difference than the leadership displayed last time. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin did a much better job preparing NO for the storm, forcing people to get out and arranging for those who could not leave on their own to get out. It is going to be a while for my city to get back on its feet, but with LSU playing a home game this weekend now that the damage to Tiger Stadium is fixed, this will help. We have survived storms here before, Betsy was way before my time, Andrew, Katrina, Rita and now Gustav. We will get back to normal, but it will take time.
I don't know when or where I will post on here from, but for the time being, only on this topic, I hope to post pics once I learn how to download from my camera to my computer, take care and God Bless,
hcmv007
#6
Bondian
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Posted 10 September 2008 - 11:25 PM
I'm extremely sorry, mate. Just don't know what to say or add. 
If you require any assistance in downloading images from your camera to your PC, please let me know. Would be my pleasure to assist you.
All the very best to you.
Cheers,
Ian
If you require any assistance in downloading images from your camera to your PC, please let me know. Would be my pleasure to assist you.
All the very best to you.
Cheers,
Ian
#7
hcmv007
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Posted 11 September 2008 - 12:11 AM
Many thanks, Bondian! I might take you up on it!
I can check e-mail from my cell, anytime, and can respond, but it will be in text language, just to let you know. My address is my screen name at yahoo (That I can check, I can't get onto my other one for some reason).
I can check e-mail from my cell, anytime, and can respond, but it will be in text language, just to let you know. My address is my screen name at yahoo (That I can check, I can't get onto my other one for some reason).
#8
Bondian
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Posted 11 September 2008 - 12:32 AM
Anytime. I would give you my mobile number but I have never text. Hate it as I'm useless at it. lolMany thanks, Bondian! I might take you up on it!
I can check e-mail from my cell, anytime, and can respond, but it will be in text language, just to let you know. My address is my screen name at yahoo (That I can check, I can't get onto my other one for some reason).
Email's would be easier for me. (if that's good for you)
All the best.
Cheers,
Ian
#9
OO4
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- Location:South Louisiana
Posted 11 September 2008 - 11:10 PM
Hey, thought I'd put my 2 cents in. I live and work as an EMT in the Lafayette area.
I gotta say the evacuations of coastal medical facilites was long work but very smooth. All the facilities I worked with had plans in place and followed them. I want to thank any of the out of state ambulance crews that came in for mutual aid, if any of them post here.
On a personal note we faired better than the Baton Rogue area. I'm keeping an eye on Ike.
Hang in there hcmv007. It's getting better all the time.
I gotta say the evacuations of coastal medical facilites was long work but very smooth. All the facilities I worked with had plans in place and followed them. I want to thank any of the out of state ambulance crews that came in for mutual aid, if any of them post here.
On a personal note we faired better than the Baton Rogue area. I'm keeping an eye on Ike.
Hang in there hcmv007. It's getting better all the time.
#10
hcmv007
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Posted 23 November 2008 - 03:00 PM
I haven't been able to post on here, or as often as I'd like, and here is why. As many of you know, I have had many issues not only with my own health, but that of my family as well. After Gustav hit, my grandmother, who had been in and out of hospital and nursing facility decided that she no longer wanted to rehab, and was tired of the pain that her treatments gave her. We put her in a hospice center, and after staying there for 3 weeks passed away. My own health has also been shaken, as I have experienced worsening tremors, and a near pneumonia case, not once but twice. Fortunately for me, those issues are over, for now anyway. There are other matters, that are in the legal variety that I cannot discuss at the moment as they are ongoing, but I just wanted to let my friends (and even those that don't consider me a friend) to let you all know what is going on and why I have been absent here and on my football blog. I am not saying goodbye by any means, but I just can't visit as often as I would like. I miss everyone on the boards, and look forward to when I can come back more often and chat.
hcmv007
hcmv007