The picture above shows where Gustav is now. The picture below is where Gustav is projected to be in five days. It's waaaay too early to project five days ahead. The storm could move east or west of the projected position, but the Weather Bureau must do its best to get information out.
I live about 60 miles SW of New Orleans. However, we are planning what to take and when to leave, should we need to go. If it comes our way, we are told we must go. We are fortunate that we have a farm NW of Baton Rouge with two smallish houses on it. We don't need to search for a place to stay, although we will be crowded in the two houses. If we get to the farm, and the hurricane seems to be heading there, it's easier to move further north from there than from here in Thibodaux or from New Orleans, where my daughter and her family live.
Images from Weather Underground.
UPDATE: The images have been updated to the latest position and forecast as of Thursday, August 28, 2008, 2:00 PM EDT.
GM when I caught wind (Pardon the pun) of this on the morning news, my heart and prayers immediately went to you and the nice lady from Thibodaux I met while in NC ... as well as all the people in Louisiana and the Gulf and especially New Orleans....
ReplyDeleteI lit a candle for y'all on the way in to work today.
Let us know if you can, Mimi. We'll all be pulling for you (and hoping Gustav peters out before he gets there)
ReplyDeleteIT
IT and RB, thank you. I will keep you posted as long as I have electricity and the cable company is in operation. I have a desktop, so I won't have a computer with me at the farm. I've been meaning to buy a laptop, and I wish I had.
ReplyDeleteRB, I love the thought of a candle burning.
I set the keeping of Christ about you; I send the guarding of God with you to possess you, to protect you, to accompany you on all your paths, through trouble, through danger, through loss. And I set the dancing of the Spirit around you to comfort and gladden and inspire you, each day, each night, each night, each day.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you and all those you love, and keep you safe Mimi. Amen
I've been without television since the lightning zapped it a couple of weeks ago, so these are the first images I have seen of the projected path. Oh my, not again I hope. I'm with IT on praying that it just peters out. And I'm with everyone else in praying God's peace for you, grandmere (what a beautiful blessing that is, ostrich). There's still time to buy a laptop just in case. If your blog goes dark for a while, I will miss you very much!
ReplyDeleteOstrich, a beautiful blessing, indeed, one that brings great comfort.
ReplyDeleteScott, if I go dark, at least you will know that I probably did not suddenly drop dead. I have the phone numbers of several bloggers, and I will try to check in with them so they can let you all know that we are OK. Thanks for the prayers and kind words.
If we all pray in unison maybe we can send it up to Virginia Beach to bother Pat Robertson.
ReplyDeleteLapin, then it will get Margaret.
ReplyDeleteLook how well you have things thought out...good for you and I wish you well and great safety these next days.
ReplyDeleteLeonardo
My prayers to keep you safe Grandmere
ReplyDeleteMay he keep you in the shadow of his wings.
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are rising for you and your loved ones
ReplyDeleteSuch is the price to live in paradise, or so I'm told by others in NOLA. And always remember and never forget, Plano Texas is a great place to run north to... I have a laptop to loan you. A friend in NOLA has put the bad mojo on Gustav so you can expect him to either die back or else hit the Texas coast and bring me some rain. Y'all have all my prayers anyway, that bad mojo just made Katrina laugh.
ReplyDeleteI was listening to news of this this morning. Warm gulf waters, I'm worried, too.
ReplyDeleteGrandmere --I'm all for it hitting Pat Robertson! (Oh -I'm feeling bad now!) We are inland enough we would not have to evacuate.... the evacuees would be coming toward us.
ReplyDeleteI hope and pray that you and all those in anxious waiting and watching this storm will find peace and safety.
Mimi, if you need to head to Texas let me know. What ever you do stay safe.
ReplyDeleteI'm biting my nails and my knuckles are white.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the prayers and lovely words.
ReplyDeleteAiredale, thanks. I will. We should be OK in New Roads, where the farm is, unless the storm is a direct hit there. We won't drown there, but there are quite a few trees. What are the chances that it would hit both places?
The winds of Gustav have weakened over land, but as soon as it moves over the water, they will strengthen again.
You're wonderful people, you know.
Counterlight, relax.
Sigh. You know, if it were not for the meetings at work I would not even know storms gather as I do not watch TV, read the papers, or look for the weather when I am online. Now Mimi reminds me graphically. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteWe had another mandatory meeting at work today. As an outsider in NOLA I am less clear on where I should head but I do have water and food in the car and an emergency weather radio (with a crank for when batteries die) and filled the gas tank, again, this evening.
My one HUGE concern is that I not be prevented from flying home for my vacation. The road trip must go on. And there is a fair chance that flying out may be problematic even if we don't have to evacuate. Really too much excitement. I am much more comfortable in earthquake country.
Mimi, mind if I claim Ostrich's prayer for me and my coworkers too?
stay safe!
ReplyDeleteI think that, unless you're worried that the farm buildings can't stand up to high winds, or is low lying, you may be better off just staying there even if Gustav storms on through there.
The most important thing is making sure you have enough water, canned food, and batteries to last a few days.
So far, I've only had to deal with Faye this year, and that mostly an excuse to stay home from work for one extra day. Keeping my fingers crossed for you (and me!)
The projections keep moving to the east. Have you set a time to leave?
ReplyDeleteI keep remembering our friends in Houston who tried to come here when Rita was headed their way. They tried on 2 successive days, but just couldn't get through the traffic. Finally, while they were caught in traffic, Rita's path moved far enough to the east so they felt safe just to go back home. They live in a terrific mid-century modern with lots of floor-to-ceiling glass and didn't feel safe until Rita moved to the east of them. (I know you know about the "good"/"dry" side versus the
"bad"/"wet" side)
Paul, claim the prayer, love. I hope that your trip is not spoiled.
ReplyDeleteKishnevi, we're not worried about the buildings so much as all the trees and having a tree or a large branch fall on one of the houses.
Mike, when will we leave? That is a good question. Early, but what is early? My daughter was going to New Roads for the Labor Day weekend anyway, so she will leave Friday. I suppose we will, too, if we don't want to get caught in a major traffic jam. My nightmare is spending the hurricane in the car, trapped in traffic.
I've been thinking about this all day and am worried about you. Let us know what is going on. We will all be praying about this and worried about this with you.
ReplyDeleteDennis, I will keep you informed.
ReplyDeleteY'all be careful and know of my prayers. I am following the progress of the storm and reading NOLA.com to get more local news.
ReplyDeleteGrandmère, You and the entire Gulf Coast are in my prayers and those of my coworkers. My new job is Volunteer Administrator for our local chapter of the American Red Cross and we are watching Gustav, too. We are making plans to open our shelters for the evacuees of Louisiana and Mississippi, calling in our Disaster Action Teams and all the while praying for all we are worth that it will turn out to merely be a practice drill. I have really missed keeping up with all of you all in the Blogosphere since I began this job. When Hurricane Season 2008 finally comes to a close, I hope to catch up with all of you again.
ReplyDeleteHoly Schmoley, those maps look crappy.
ReplyDeletePraying hard for Grandmére and Paul and all the other dear folk down there.
Paul, you can evacuate to Plano Texas too. I called a few friends in the area inviting them last night so we can have us a real party! There's a hotel here in Plano called the Southfork Hotel (I kid you not) and they really comped down to the bone for hurricane evacuees during Katrina, like renting $250 rooms for $49. Then when FEMA money showed up for hotel expenses, they charged exactly what FEMA would cover and not a penny more. And a lotta lotta restaurants gave them free meals, plus took turns sending over party trays. I was really impressed with the people in my town.
ReplyDeleteOh Mimi- prayers prayers prayers.
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