All those in the south-east US, please stay safe and let us know when you can.

Wind and rain wind and rain. This storm is indeedy stronger than the last 3. I can tell already, though it hasn't made it to us with more than a couple of tornadoes, wind gusts, and rain so far. New Orleans may not have /dodged/ the bullet this time, but it still is only a flesh wound. The nudge to the east by 30 miles and reduction from category 5 to 4 (and now 3) at the last minute means I have high hopes that the city will still be standing at the end of the day for the most part. I've heard of a few casualties off and on, but so far, nothing like I was expecting. This far north, I'm getting pretty bla bla about hurricanes. This has been the most active 2 years I've seen in my entire life. Up until I was 30 I can name perhaps 5 or so hurricanes in my lifetime that were a serious threat to the gulf and Florida. In the last 4 years, I can already name at least 5. I don't have to go plundering the grocery store any more for survival supplies because we still have everything in stock from the LAST storm! LOL Singing in the rain...bla blabla bla blaaaaa.

My sister has some friends who are stuck in Biloxi, Mississippi. They apparently live a few blocks from the coast and couldn't get out of town before the bridges were raised. The nudge put them right in the blast of the storm. Hopefully they'll be all right. But as far as hurricanes go, the only place people hope they go is out to sea. The way the Gulf Streams are moving, though, it looks like the northern end of the Gulf of Mexico is going to be blasted for a while yet. They'll shift again, sending the storms to Texas, the eastern flank of the US, or out towards nowhere. Just have to wait for the streams to shift again.

The whole thing looks most unpleasant on the news footage. It's one of those things where I can picture insurance companies not paying out as well. Crazy weather....

It will most likely be declared a state or national emergency, meaning that the government will help cover costs (not all the way, mind you, but it will help with what insurance doesn't cover). Overall, though, most people aren't going to get near what they should. My sister's friends there are ok (relatively speaking). They found a safe place to wait out the storm. They've lost everything, but they're ok. Which, in the end, is what matters most.

Buffy crawls out from under her rock.... Holy Christ on a Crutch! That was a hell of a storm! Poor Mississippi! I'm glad your sis's friends are okay. I still haven't heard from a friend of mine in Houma La. I imagine he's okay though.

This is so awful....I keep hearing more and more as the day goes on....

I hope everyone I've known from the past that lives in the area are ok. Miya, Nikki, and everyone else--my thoughts and prayers are with you. Please make a donation to the Red Cross! Richie and I have made ours--it may not be much, but it will be a big help to all those in need. Katse

Hope you are all staying safe. My thoughts are with you

My thoughts are with the people in that area. Just when the storm seemed to let up, the levies broke in New Orleans and in flooded the water

The latest I've heard is that they can't block the levees and are talking about ABANDONING the city. Between that, looting, guns, snakes, alligators, floating bodies, and people STILL trapped on broiling rooftops without food or fresh water..... Worst Case Scenario. God. Oh my God. And that's just New Orleans...it isn't even addressing the devistation in surrounding communities, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Hope all you peeps are ok, and anything (if anything) we can do to help, just ask!

Well, people are being flown out of the Superdome in New Orleans to the Astrodome in Texas. I know several of the churches here where I am are also taking in refugees. The churches in my hometown have built facilities for refugees because hurricanes in Texas used to be pretty bad. Cities that were hit that are no longer flooded by the rains or broken levees have found immense destruction from flash floods/hurricane winds/tornados. But I honestly don't know if New Orleans will be rebuilt. Much of the city was on old wetlands that were drained. The ground there is below sea level. Seeing as how the levees are in such poor condition (who knows how long the structure itself will even last, with all this pressure), it's all returned to being wetlands. After this, I don't think the risk of losing it all again in a similar scenario is worth all the money it would take to (1 repair the levees, (2, drain the land again, and (3 rebuild the city. It's possible that the city will simply shift in the other direction. Who knows?

I suspect that many people will try to rebuild, but the insurance companies and the larger employers will look at what happened and not do it again. The land was borrowed from the sea and the marsh, and Mother Nature wanted it back. She will want it back again. My worry now is that the people will expect it to be rebuilt. They'll keep holding on to the hope that it will come back, and spend years in refugee camps waiting for the "promised land", rather than building new lives elsewhere. Building new lives elsewhere isn't easy, but it's better than the alternatives. But for now, I wish them peace and dignity and reassurance that loved ones are safe.

I was always told it was a most beautiful city.

It was!

Check out the list of headlines on CNN.com. Apparently, one of the hospitals that was being evacuated had to stop due to some nutjob taking potshots at the injured/sick/dying and those trying to help them. Bastard. A whole city has been literally wiped off the face of the earth; people are homeless, packed into every place possible, living without any sanitation whatsoever; people who need hospital care aren't getting it BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING STINKING POTSHOTS at them! The hell?! Looting? Semi-understandable. Loss like they've faced makes the temptation to take stuff from abandoned houses very strong. The only excuse he could use is that he's gone so far down that he's completely snapped. But it's still no excuse. HOSPITAL. PATIENTS. Stuck in a hospital that obviously isn't serving the patients' needs because of one homicidal maniac.

New Orleans has always been a stewpot of nutters and a volitile mix of haves and have nots, usually divided along a racial line. I know even the regugees right now are screaming about how 'they' are treating us like animals and such. It's sad, depressing, and deplorable. I know I'm generalizing here, but if those in authority hadn't been such corrupt racist bastards for so many generations, would we have so many poor folks with such a blind hatred for anything that represents power? That said, someone should ride shotgun on all helecoptor rides and pick off those nutjobs.

What disgusts me is that they had a few days warning, but did anyone think that maybe helping the have-nots evacuate would be good? No. If you don't have a car or money, you get to go to the stadium or stay put. Cherie Priest Making Light No, it's cheaper to stuff them in the stadium or rescue them later. Or not.

I won't even BEGIN my rant because I'll be here for days. Words can't express all that I'm feeling. But the following antecdote probably sums up the entire situation. After the hurricane hit--after it was known how terrible everything was--Bush went to a party for John McCain in Arizona, where he ate cake and played the guitar. He ate cake. Echoes of Marie Antoinette. Is it fair to say Bush really isn't terribly concerned with what's happening in a city full of poor people? That those who mattered--those with cash and cars that pay taxes and aren't a drag on the system--were the ones who evacuated and those that are left aren't really a concern. Survival of the richest--isn't that what Darwin said? Katse

Bush makes my teeth itch in sooooo many ways.....simplistic, gun-happy, oil-dealing bastard.....

Oh not all the trapped ones are the poor. Don't forget those tourists who are stuck there. You know. The ones who got mad because the buses were being commandeered to transport the injured out instead of taking them back. I know I'd hate to be in a situation like that, but still, I hope that I'd be understanding enough to know who should be moved out first. Meh. I think part (but only part) of Bush's reasoning might have been the whole "We'll show 'em we can move on" spiel. Course, I also hear that the cake was in fact chocolate. Who could miss out on chocolate? /endsarcasm Still, it's going to take a lot to recover. There are those who are there because they couldn't get out and those who are there because they wouldn't. I think part of the reason is that no one imagined it would be this bad. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say.

I caight the tailoend of something on CNN saying that Bush had apparently stated that the Goverment considered what had happened as a 'nuisance'. What's the betting that when he visits it'll only be to the wealthy part that's not too bad, and not to where the problems and real disaster are? Although I feel he really shouldn't fly in. All the rescue, patrol and aid choppers will be grounded whilst he's there so he has clear airspace. Whom knows how many lives that'll cost? H'mmm. Maybe there *is* a slight upside to the idiotic snipers... one could always get lucky...

Oh, I promise you, the snipers will probably be taken care of and forgotten before he flies in. Course, a deadline would mean they have to take care of the snipers faster. But as it is, they've moved in the National Guard and instilled Marshal law, which I think is a good idea. It's too chaotic there, and there's no room for dealing with rapists, murderers, snipers, etc. And actually, the wealthy part's going to have a lot of damage. Ten-to-one that the premium spots in New Orleans were just like those in Texas: on the water. For example, someone here in Texas built a two million dollar home right next to a river. 1998, it was destroyed. Rebuilt. 2000. Destroyed again. No clue if it's been rebuilt or not. I'm looking into information that the university is putting up. Apparently they're getting groups of students willing to go over fall break to New Orleans/other destroyed areas to help. I hope I can go.

For example, someone here in Texas built a two million dollar home right next to a river. 1998, it was destroyed. Rebuilt. 2000. Destroyed again. No clue if it's been rebuilt or not.

Try "Millionaire is clueless". Five years ago, a paper did a week-long series on the risks. Won awards. Did the officials take notice? Yes, New Orleans is a big city, very few access roads. It's not an easy thing to evacuate, but given the amount of warning, 80% just seems too low. And then there's Bush. "We're Americans. We're big. We don't need your help." Fortunately, CNN is making it quite clear that the rest of the world IS offering help, even if he's blocking it.

One of the best thibngs covering the situation I've found: http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/ Blog by a company inside NO covering what's actually happening.

I was just thinking but after 9/11 wasnt there some big government drive in the US to ensure that any type of homeland incedent. Such as a major terrorist attack using chemical/biological/nuclear weapons or in this case a huge natural catastrophy there was some huge incedent plan that would go straight into action and prevent just the kind of scenes we are seeing? Kind of like what we have in Britian (COBRA) which went into action during the London bombings?

Just saw that the Society for Creative Anachronism is mobilizing. A group of people who have nothing better to do in their free time than re-create the best parts of the middle ages, cook whole beasts over an open fire, make chain mail, dance round-dances and wear helmets made of propane tanks while bashing each other with bamboo sticks wrapped with duct tape are able to get moving and bring supplies and trained help faster than the folks who are paid to do it for a job. http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/006704.html I know a few members. From what they have to do before being allowed to run an event, I trust them to do things right.

Actually got kicked outta a chat because some teen F***ERS were making jokes about the situation in New Orleans and I lost my temper. What is it about disasters that brings out the 'Stupid' in people?

That blog is good Asakura, we are following it on Fortean Times

I spent yesterday evening watching Fox news with the O'rielly report. It seems the news teams have finally found a way to help by coordinating with the military, now that marital law has been imposed. They had live feed and were encouraging people to call in and tell the news folks where they needed help, and the military, watching, would immediately send support in. While I watched, a guy who worked with the relief efforts called in and said he'd lost contact with a hospital by phone, but had gotten a text message from the hospital staff saying that the patients had been all evacuated earlier, but the staff needed rescuing now. They were holed up on an upper floor and barracaded against druggie looters who were shooting each other over the best drugs, and the staff was being forced to give each other IV's to stay hydrated. As I watched, the military immediately dispatched and rescued the staff in several hospitals. The Convention Center, and the overpass nearby were being reported on live as well, with Geraldo begging folks for help. The military was responding accordlingly, though busses were still an issue. According to Fox, much of the blame was being assigned to the Goveror of La due to her lack of decisive leadership in calling in aide. There was talk of racial aspects to the problems, but they were dismissed and downplayed by O'rielly for lack of clear evedence as the official alligating racial bias was criticizing the news for racial bias, and not the governemental infrastructure. The one thing that got me furious to the point that my husband made me turn off the TV, was that the freaking MAYOR of N.O. commanded that a group of tourists be evacuated from the Hyatt hotel...incidentally BYPASSING the people laying on the side of the interstate where they'd been forced to live for 5 days without aide. I'm like WTF?? Tourists...who are staying in a HOTEL, should be, literally, jumped to the head of the bus, while folks who are sleeping on asphalt with no food, water, medication, or shelter, are forced to watch the busses drive into New Oreans past them, and then later drive by and leave them?????? "So sorry you're dying, but we've got a fucking reputation to uphold by protecting our income." What the hell?? Poor people don't fucking count, even in a disaster?? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!! I'm just...... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!

Its not the tourists who are going to rob the locals though. I have been reading our papers and its GB tourists who are a vunerable group at the moment.

I am still waiting to hear if Niiki, Miya and Lisya are ok. When I hear will let you know. There is also WTxC but dont have her email. Hope they are all ok

Originally posted by Ronin Its not the tourists who are going to rob the locals though. I have been reading our papers and its GB tourists who are a vunerable group at the moment.

The said tourists in the hotel were fine. The mayor and his crew was using that hotel for a base of operations so they had plenty of security. I will add, it was later explained that they were removed first because the mayor wanted to make room for houseing the national guard and/or other assorted military/help groups and to turn that hotel into command central in all ways. I'm still furious though....how dare they quantify the value of life in such a way.....Understand, I've BEEN a tourist to N.O. And in fact, had reservations to return in just a handful of weeks, so I'm hyperaware that that could have been me stuck in that hote, or in the Convention center, or worse. Knowing what I know, I would STILL be appalled that I might be bussed out ahead of folks in greater need. I wouldn't turn the ride DOWN mind you, but it still pisses me off. And Firebird, do keep us updated about our guys. I'm betting they are fine, just without attiquate communication. On the upside, my husband says Bellsouth is as we speak moving in to try to reestablish ground lines for phones throughout the tristate region. That will be key to getting things on the move to continue the rescue and salvage process.

On a side note, here's a little something. I remembered reading this article a while back, but couldn't remember where I'd read it from until now: National Geographic October 2004

I thought the mayor of NO was quite funny actually, I saw him taking an interview were he was screaming and swearing about the Bush administration and how pissed off he was about his city being left to fend for themselves. He is the black guy right?

Yeah, the bald guy. There's a lot of fingerpointing going on. The media is currently slamming the military machine and the Govorner of Louisiana for not acting fast enough seperately or collectively. The Govorner is slamming the President and Federal Govt. The President is accepting some blame on behalf of his folks, but is slamming people for turning it political yadda yadda yadda....

And here I thought that "Natural Disaster" meant "No One Person's Fault." If only people would realize that if they put half the energy into working through this as they do pointing fingers, they might not have to point fingers at all. Oh well.

You can be sure I'll be adding my two cents later on this week when I have a few minutes to write. My thoughts are with everyone down there what was affected by the hurricane. I saw this report on the news the day after it happened and they played the actual clip to it as well. I love when people speak their mind. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Rapper Kanye West blasts Bush on TV benefit show WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rapper Kanye West surprised viewers of an NBC benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina victims on Friday by accusing President George W. Bush of racism. "George Bush doesn't care about black people," West said from New York during the show aired live on the East Coast on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and Pax, just before cameras cut away to comedian Chris Tucker. West, who is black, suggested moments earlier that delays in providing relief to survivors of the hurricane that hit the U.S. Gulf Coast on Monday and flooded New Orleans were deliberate. He said America was set up "to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible." The Grammy award-winning singer, who was paired with comedian Mike Myers, also said in what NBC described as unscripted remarks, "We already realized a lot of the people that could help are at war right now, fighting another way, and they've given them permission to go down and shoot us." He was apparently referring to shoot-on-sight orders issued to National Guard troops to halt violence and looting in New Orleans. West also criticized the media's portrayal of blacks, saying: "I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they're looting. See a white family, it says they're looking for food." In a statement, NBC, a unit of General Electric Co.,said, "Kanye West departed from the scripted comments that were prepared for him, and his opinions in no way represent the views of the networks. "It would be most unfortunate," the statement continued, "if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person's opinion." The program, hosted by Matt Lauer of NBC News, urged viewers to donate to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. It included 18 presenters, and featured performances by New Orleans natives Harry Connick Jr. and Wynton Marsalis, as well as Louisiana native Tim McGraw and Faith Hill of Mississippi, which was also struck by Katrina. Reuters/VNU

They always seem to bring up this race issue, dont they? How are rich black people doing? probably as badly as rich white people. Its like in this country, black people saying they dont get as much attention as, say, the asiatics...Look around you, who runs the businesses in ths country these days?

I'm seeing a *bit* of sense in *some* of the delays now. Having a Canadian team go in and take out Canadians would cause the rest to cry "preferential treatment". And seeing how bad some of the evacuation centres were, I can't see anyone saying, "I'm fine, help the ones who need it." No one in those centres was fine. Now, if they'd let folks in to help, they'd have gotten people out before things got so bad. Or what about telling the Canadian team to do the search and rescue, or do infrastructure or deliveries -- keep them away from situations where they might rescue Canadians preferentially. Note: Not that there weren't other countries ready to help out quickly, but I watch the local station. Good to see that the media is being recruited. I know a lot of them were feeling helpless. When they do evacuations like of that hotel, they could do a better job of the PR. Move the people to a different hotel. Fill the buses half tourists, half people in greater need. Tell the people in need to line up at the hotel (those that can walk). Tell the media FAST why they're getting the tourists out. Right now, a bit of time spent on PR would be useful. Raised tempers get in the way of rational thought. Not saying the tempers aren't justified, but a bit of advance thought of the PR kind would help. Like the big blackout a few summers ago; yes, some blocks got power days before others. Hospital, radio station, and the central command post for the emergency services. Instead of being angry and confused that we were last on the list, we were impressed that they were so well organized. I hear you about the rich black people. I hear universities helping the students from the disaster area by going easy on tuition and such. Yes, it helps some -- those who don't need to earn money for their family or look after others who no longer have the infrastructure they relied on. It's a good gesture, but I hope they continue the gesture for the next few years, when those students will have the time to go, and the high school students of today who won't be able find jobs to earn tuition. Kudos to the teenagers who are starting a drive to get kids backpacks and school supplies!

Originally posted by Elvin Ruler And here I thought that "Natural Disaster" meant "No One Person's Fault." If only people would realize that if they put half the energy into working through this as they do pointing fingers, they might not have to point fingers at all. Oh well.

Well Said!!

This seems like a good place to put this. I am trying to develop some ideas for an essay I need to write for grad class and I am entertaining some views. The question we need to answer is "Is there a place for the poor?" (The prof. felt it was timely with Katrina) Also I am trying to find out (not start anything), were there buses going around to pick up people before Katrina hit? Thanks for letting me pick your brains on this. Katse and Tajiri, I expect to hear something interesting from you two.

As far as I know, no buses were going around before Katrina hit. People were asked to evacuate. Those who couldn't leave were to go to the Superdome. I don't think anyone really expected the levees to break. They expected the city to flood, because it's below sea-level. But no one was prepared for it to be as bad as it was. This does show some obvious problems concerning the poor. Obviously, they would be the ones who couldn't leave. They would also be assumed to be the ones taking the most damage (physically, at least - because sure, monetarially the rich are going to win the "look how much I lost" fight. They're rich.). If New Orleans is ANYTHING like Texas, the poor housing of a town near water is in the flood zone. Since, monetarially, the state won't have to pay as much to rebuild the housing there, that's where the poor housing goes. (Ignoring the rich idiots who put their 2 billion dollar houses in the middle of a ravine with only a couple of feet of concrete blocking millions of gallons of water from said house.) But as far as I know, no buses before Katrina hit. There are some people who say that the mayor refused it (being unnecessary) and there were others who say it was refused by different people (Bush, various officials, etc). I've been trying to track it down via CNN.com's search feature, but I'm having to go waaaaaaaaaaaay back in the logs. Of course, anything anyone might have said that might get fingers pointed at them has now been retracted, negated, erased from the memories via jedi mind tricks, etc. When chaos is involved, facts are easily obscured, and I believe it's safe to say that ALL sides are wanting to be the "good guys who saw it coming." Hindsight and all that, it's easy to point out where people went wrong. For information, what I would do is look at various news sources. Look waaaaaay back in the archives of them, when Katrina was first predicted to hit Louisiana. I'm interested in how many officials' responses beforehand contradict with what they say they said in later articles. As for their being a place for the poor, I'd look up various newspaper articles from Waco, San Antonio, Houston for responses to the refugees. I've seen them range from wishing there was more they could to to help to wishing that the refugees had never come (including worries about people *gasp* staying in the city, and taking jobs, and rebuilding their lives) and wondering why they had to come to *insert town name here*. This situation is allowing people to show their true colors. Some of them have hearts of gold. Too many of them don't have hearts at all.

Originally posted by Elvin Ruler This situation is allowing people to show their true colors. Some of them have hearts of gold. Too many of them don't have hearts at all.

So very true Chica! Pretty much sums it up, no matter what century, country, or people. Heard this the other day.... The donations to the American Red Cross for Katerina victems has officially exceeded all previous records in the entire history of the Red Cross. How's that for hearts of gold?

Or people recognising a Tax Deductable oppotunity when they see it.

Doh! Don't make me swim over there and smack you! Razzzzzzz!

*knock knock* Who's there? Federal. Federal who? Federal Aid. ...I don't get it. Nor did millions of others.

Ouch!

Very funny. I have a friend who managed to evacuate (with cat, which is more than could be said for many) She is now staying with her Mother in Arkansas; she has lost everything except a few clothes. If it wouldnt be too presumptutive, I could post her paypal address, so if you have a dollar (or any other currency) to spare, you can give it straight to her. She likes cats, art and Games workshop products. (I have sent her some art materials) Shall I?

Don't diss tax deductable. I consider it making the government give to the causes I do. As in, by the time you get your refund, you've given $83 and the govt has given $17. Now, I wonder if TPTB will compare the cost of maintaining the levies (which they had accepted responsibilty for by building them and allowing people to assume they were being maintained) to the cost of rebuilding? And the cost of running a proper FEMA in case the levies did fail? Nah, they'll probably be all gushie about the fact that they're giving humanitarian aide. Personally, I'd have prefered them to do it properly in the first place. Ronin, if your friend starts getting anonymous money in her paypal account, she's going to wonder what's going on. Also, I'm donating to the people who have lost everything, who don't have friends who can send her art materials and such. (I'm not knocking art materials -- dignity and distraction are important.) So, if you do post it and don't get a lot of activity, don't take it as lack of caring.

Oh, she doesnt mind that. It will get the aid where its needed, and as a friend I can vouch that she will spend it on neccesities, like catfood. (not that to my mind that is a neccesity, can owners may disagree) and then theres headlines like THIS --------------------------------- cant find the link 19 September 2005 EXCLUSIVE: UP IN FLAMES Tons of British aid donated to help Hurricane Katrina victims to be BURNED by Americans From Ryan Parry, US Correspondent in New York HUNDREDS of tons of British food aid shipped to America for starving Hurricane Katrina survivors is to be burned. US red tape is stopping it from reaching hungry evacuees. Instead tons of the badly needed Nato ration packs, the same as those eaten by British troops in Iraq, has been condemned as unfit for human consumption. This is a story in todays Daily Mirror.

Sorry it took a while to post this but Nikki, Lisya and Miya are all ok. Hopefully Rita wont hit them

>.> Hello Rita. It looks like I'll just get a glancing blow, assuming it goes as far east as it's predicted to. Hope it doesn't hit Louisiana though. I REALLY hope it doesn't hit Louisiana.

What appalling runs of weather you're getting over there at the moment.... Pics of the evacuations look like some people aren't going to get out in time. Those are mighty traffic jams.

100 miles of bumper to bumper. San Antonio and Austin sent trucks to the roads to give stranded people gas. People are pushing their cars/trucks/whatever to save gas, and some of them are moving faster than the vehicles that are being driven. Friend of my sister's is stuck in it somewhere between Houston and Dallas. Not sure where. He left Houston at 3 this morning. It's almost 6, and he hasn't made it in yet. The worst part, though, is waiting to see where it will actually go. I HATE waiting. Watching a crisis in slow motion is not my favorite past time.

No freaking kidding! Ugh! You guys hang in there Elvie!

Looks like it's pretty much going to miss my place now. Might rain and be a little windy. We're a center for the refugees from Houston/Corpus/Galveston now. I'm not sure how many are here, but many of the churches are full, and the student gym is packed. My sister's friend made it to his folk's home at 4 in the morning. 135 miles in 25 hours. They're still in the path a bit, but I think he'll probably sleep through it. Still watching and waiting. At this point, they know where it'll hit land. It's just kind of questionable as to what it will do after that. It will either: A. Follow the NHC path predicted B. Follow the path, hit the front, and stall out C. Follow the path, hit the front, and turn around and go to Mexico D. Push the pressure system out and move west instead of north Fortunately, it's been downgraded to a category 3 now, so once it hits land, it *will* weaken considerably. There are still people evacuating. One tragedy that has already occured is that a bus full of evacuees literally exploded. None survived. Other than that, we're all just waiting. At least the most dangerous zones have been evacuated. I'm glad that people are taking this seriously. We'd grown a bit complacent concerning hurricanes until Katrina. Hard, terrible lesson to learn, there.

I see you were on line this morning, Elvin, so I'm assuming you personally came through it okay. Hope things went as well for others!

Didn't even sprinkle here. One could say that the wind picked up a bit, so yes. Sorry. *is sheepish* Everyone I know has checked in. Some lost power for a while, but it was quickly restored. They're saying that people can return to the various areas, but they're asking people to do it slowly, so as to avoid the traffic jams of the evacuation. Those in Port Arthur having troubles are in the minority. Most people heeded the mandatory evacuation, and with the government providing as much gasoline as possible to evacuees with vehicles and providing buses for those without vehicles, there isn't much I can say about those who decided to stay. EVERYONE is having a gas shortage because it was used for the evacuation. Now that the power and water are gone (there are complaints that it's taking to long to come back up), they're impatient. That's the risk of deciding to stay. Everyone had plenty of warning and opportunity this time. That may sound callous, but there it is. Anyways, I'm safe, my family's safe, and my friends are safe. Sorry again for the lack of an update.

Thank you for the head's up Elvin, but don't sweat the lack of update! It's a busy time even withOUT mother nature kicking our butts. I'm glad everyone is well! Smooches, Buff.