Mimi called when I was away from my phone and left a message. I tried her back, but did not get her directly. She had called at about 8:15pm eastern.
Her voicemail said that things were calm so far where they all are. She was VERY happy to report that her daughter had made it safely to Pensacola. The traffic was bad, but apparently her son-in-law found a different route and they made it.
She may do some posting from that other computer, but did not have immediate access tonight, so here I am with this update.
Prayers for one and all as this storm approaches.
Fran
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Hi All
Hi all. I am using my daughter-in-law's computer here in New Roads. Thanks for all the kind messages. As of now, the storm seems to be headed very near to Thibodaux. My son and two grandchildren will ride it out in Thibodaux. I'm sorry about that, but all I can do now is pray for them. My daughter is on her way to Pensacola with her three boys, but I believe she will be a long time getting there. Traffic is horrendous. Her husband is in NOLA with the animals. During Katrina, we were all together here, but now everyone is scattered. Lord, have mercy.
I went to church here this morning, which was a comfort. The stores here are stripped bare. I'm not sure why. Maybe there are other evacuees here, or maybe the locals are getting nervous, because winds here could be as strong as 85 mph.
The only good news for now is that the Gustav's winds are now at 115 mph instead of 140 as they were previously. No matter where the storm makes landfall, the coastal areas of Louisiana will be flooded.
I'll post when I can.
PS: Bush/Cheney will not be at the Republican Convention. John McCain is very likely pleased.
I went to church here this morning, which was a comfort. The stores here are stripped bare. I'm not sure why. Maybe there are other evacuees here, or maybe the locals are getting nervous, because winds here could be as strong as 85 mph.
The only good news for now is that the Gustav's winds are now at 115 mph instead of 140 as they were previously. No matter where the storm makes landfall, the coastal areas of Louisiana will be flooded.
I'll post when I can.
PS: Bush/Cheney will not be at the Republican Convention. John McCain is very likely pleased.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
So Far, So Good Says Grandmere Mimi!
It is Saturday night, 8.25pm Eastern Time and I just got off the phone with our beautiful and beloved Grandmere.
They have arrived at their destination safe and sound and encountered no bad traffic.
I will update you all periodically as I hear from Grandmere. Prayers for the people of the Gulf Coast.
Gustav- lose your speed and fury!
FranIam
They have arrived at their destination safe and sound and encountered no bad traffic.
I will update you all periodically as I hear from Grandmere. Prayers for the people of the Gulf Coast.
Gustav- lose your speed and fury!
FranIam
Thank You!
We are evacuating in a few minutes. Yes, we changed our minds.
Thanks to all of you. I'm quite touched by the kind response of all of you whom I have come to know in real life and virtual life. That so many of you care and are concerned and are holding us in the light and in prayer is quite moving and means more to me than you can ever know. I cry when I read over the many lovely words.
I'll be in touch as soon as I can. God bless you all!
Much love,
Mimi
Thanks to all of you. I'm quite touched by the kind response of all of you whom I have come to know in real life and virtual life. That so many of you care and are concerned and are holding us in the light and in prayer is quite moving and means more to me than you can ever know. I cry when I read over the many lovely words.
I'll be in touch as soon as I can. God bless you all!
Much love,
Mimi
Crybaby Diary Post
Hi everyone. I would have preferred to leave today, but with all we had to do, along with an overflowed sink in the utility room that went into the bathroom, it would not have been an early start, so maybe it's for the best. Who am I to argue against the disaster manager. Of course, he did not tell us we couldn't leave today.
You may ask how the sink overflowed. Grandpère called me to help him with some damned boards to cover the front door, and I left the faucet running. Can you tell that I'm not being much of a good sport about all of this?
Plus, my grandchildren are not coming with us, because they won't go without their parents, and neither one will insist that they go. I'm not making the argument either, because the storm could make its way to New Roads, our place of refuge, too.
My daughter in New Orleans doesn't know what she's going to do. She's may go east to Pensacola or meet us in New Roads. Her husband is not leaving, so, at least, she will not have to take the pets with her.
Thanks again, everyone, for the prayers, thoughts and good wishes. They mean more than you can ever know. Such an outpouring of love is overwhelming. I cry each time I read them.
You may ask how the sink overflowed. Grandpère called me to help him with some damned boards to cover the front door, and I left the faucet running. Can you tell that I'm not being much of a good sport about all of this?
Plus, my grandchildren are not coming with us, because they won't go without their parents, and neither one will insist that they go. I'm not making the argument either, because the storm could make its way to New Roads, our place of refuge, too.
My daughter in New Orleans doesn't know what she's going to do. She's may go east to Pensacola or meet us in New Roads. Her husband is not leaving, so, at least, she will not have to take the pets with her.
Thanks again, everyone, for the prayers, thoughts and good wishes. They mean more than you can ever know. Such an outpouring of love is overwhelming. I cry each time I read them.
"Not One Drop Of Oil Spilled" During Katrina
CBS News:
Gee, if so many people believe it, it must be true - except it isn’t.
In May 2006, the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) issued a report stating that as a result of both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the number of pipelines damaged was 457, and the number of offshore platforms destroyed was 113, with a total of 146 oil spills recorded.
A study of environmental impacts written for MMS by Det Norske Veritas and Company and published March 22, 2007 told an even more detailed story.
As a result of both storms, a total volume of 17,652 barrels (or roughly three-quarters of a million gallons) of total petroleum products, of which 13,137 barrels were crude oil and condensate, was spilled from platforms, rigs and pipelines. 4,514 barrels were refined products from platforms and rigs.
There were 542 reports related to offshore pipelines that were damaged or displaced, of which 72 resulted in spills that had a volume of one barrel or more of crude oil or condensate. These pipelines were reported to be dented, kinked, pulled up, twisted or bent, pinhole or valve leaks or other damages.
The 72 pipeline spills were accountable for about 7,300 barrels of crude oil and condensate spilled into the Gulf.
The report noted that response and recovery efforts kept the environmental impacts to a minimum, with no onshore impacts from these specific spill events.
However, MMS also noted that an estimated 8 million gallons (or 191,000 barrels) of oil was spilled from nine onshore facilities in the Louisiana Delta, where large holding tanks were breached by Katrina.
Gee, if so many people believe it, it must be true - except it isn’t.
In May 2006, the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) issued a report stating that as a result of both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the number of pipelines damaged was 457, and the number of offshore platforms destroyed was 113, with a total of 146 oil spills recorded.
A study of environmental impacts written for MMS by Det Norske Veritas and Company and published March 22, 2007 told an even more detailed story.
As a result of both storms, a total volume of 17,652 barrels (or roughly three-quarters of a million gallons) of total petroleum products, of which 13,137 barrels were crude oil and condensate, was spilled from platforms, rigs and pipelines. 4,514 barrels were refined products from platforms and rigs.
There were 542 reports related to offshore pipelines that were damaged or displaced, of which 72 resulted in spills that had a volume of one barrel or more of crude oil or condensate. These pipelines were reported to be dented, kinked, pulled up, twisted or bent, pinhole or valve leaks or other damages.
The 72 pipeline spills were accountable for about 7,300 barrels of crude oil and condensate spilled into the Gulf.
The report noted that response and recovery efforts kept the environmental impacts to a minimum, with no onshore impacts from these specific spill events.
However, MMS also noted that an estimated 8 million gallons (or 191,000 barrels) of oil was spilled from nine onshore facilities in the Louisiana Delta, where large holding tanks were breached by Katrina.
Gustav Preparation Update
We will be leaving tomorrow morning instead of today, because manly wisdom has decided that the traffic will not be as bad tomorrow. That will still give us more than enough time to get out of the way of the storm. We will have my two grandchildren with us, because both parents are staying here in Thibodaux. The disaster manager told Grandpère that Sunday was soon enough, and my son concurs, so that's how it is to be.
Friday, August 29, 2008
"Fox News: Still Shameless"
Fran kindly sent me an email with a link to Jen at Little Country Lost. The picture is from Fox News. See what Jen has to say. Translation: Feck the people. Take care of the oil.
Gustav - The Local Scene
Lafourche Parish (where I live) president, Charlotte Randolph, has issued a "mandatory evacuation order". The order does not mean that you must go or they will drag you out of your house. You may stay, but no emergency services will be provided for you. Of course, everyone should evacuate, but this is part "cover our asses" coming from the powers, because I know, and they know, that a number of folks are staying, including my two sons, and the parish authorities will be forced to provide emergency services to those who remain here.
I don't think my sons are wise, but one has three basset hounds, and the other has four cats, so you can see their reasons. Their families won't be with them, just the pets, which I assure you they will not leave behind if they decide to evacuate after all. My son who lives in Houma will come to stay at our house in Thibodaux, which is further away from the Gulf of Mexico. We live in the higher part of Lafourche Parish
In lower Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, there will be flooding from the storm surge, no matter where Gustav lands, so those folks have already or will soon move out - I hope.
I don't think my sons are wise, but one has three basset hounds, and the other has four cats, so you can see their reasons. Their families won't be with them, just the pets, which I assure you they will not leave behind if they decide to evacuate after all. My son who lives in Houma will come to stay at our house in Thibodaux, which is further away from the Gulf of Mexico. We live in the higher part of Lafourche Parish
In lower Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, there will be flooding from the storm surge, no matter where Gustav lands, so those folks have already or will soon move out - I hope.
About Gustav
We know little more today than we knew yesterday about where Gustav will make landfall. It's still way out there, and it's moving quite slowly. Yesterday I was a wreck, but today I feel better. The storm will either come our way, or it won't. The prayers, the candles, the votives, the bonfires, and the encouraging words are helping me. I have all of you to thank for that. Thank you, thank you, thank you, my friends out there in Blogland and spread all through the intertubes.
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