It's veeeeeery strange in Louisiana, right now.

I'm in Baton Rouge, about 75 miles NW of New Orleans.

It very much has a feel of a "doomsday", type of event.

Every one is very somber, very quiet, and although many won't say it, they're scared.

Honestly, we don't know what will happen. The hurricane is currently projected to almost directly hit New Orleans. If so, it could potentially drown the city in 15-20 feet of water. This is without damage from 170+ mph winds and flooding caused by the rain itself. It's currently gridlock getting out of New Orleans, and traffic is pretty thick around here, as several hundred thousand flow through here to places west. There is still a chance that it may not hit directly.....but honestly, we're all preparing for the worst. And we really don't know what that means.

Things shouldn't be too bad here. I'm expecting about 12 hours of rain, and wind around 50-60 mph. My mom is coming to stay with me. She lives in a small house surrounded by big trees about halfway between here and New Orleans. In the event Katrina lands any further west than New Orleans, it's realistic to expect her house to NOT be there after this is over. So that part is pretty intimidating.

It's not bad right now. Wind is picking up a little (15-20 mph at times) and it's starting to cloud up some. But it's only going to go downhill tonight.

Say a prayer.

Ethan

Praying for you that God gives peace during this stormy time and for your mom who may lose her home.
S

My prayers are with you. Stay safe

Prayers coming your way..... Have never experienced a hurricane - though have been in a typhoon and experienced tornados. Do you have supplies - and water stashed away?

Take care and take cover!

My mom used to live in Florida....one year both Hurrican Erin and another hurricane came within miles of her home there. Both times, she and a friend got in a car and hightailed it out of there a day before the storm was to hit. Both times they were lucky and had only minor damage.

Tonight, before I even read this thread, my daughter and I prayed for everyone down there. For their homes and businesses and for their personal safety.

It's pretty scary right now.

It's kind of an eerie quiet right now. We've had some rain, but very little wind.

Tomorrow's gonna be the big day, as we'll see how much damage there is.

I found out this afternoon, one of my best friends is in the Superdome with the National Guard tonight, providing care of the people that were unable to evacuate. So if the worst hits, he's there.....

Just the thought of some of the worst case scenario stuff gives me chills....

I guess we'll see in the morning.

my prayers are with you,
Dawn

FurnitureMan - we do hope y'all made it OK - seems that for some strange reason Katrina moved a little to the East and pounded Mississippi & Alabama - looks like y'all dodged the bullet this time - please, do keep us posted - hoping you are not one of the many unfortunates who have no electricity - we're keeping our fingers crossed for you.
TDL

I personally dodged the bullet. My work is intact. My home is intact.

But 75 miles southeast of me?

It's like a movie, guys. I get chills when I think about, when I talk about it.

It's chaos in New Orleans. Levees have broken and they expect water to rise by 15 feet tonight. There are untold hundreds, thousands still trapped in thier attics, on thier roofs.

There are fires. There are dead bodies floating. There are sharks, snakes and alligators in the water. The local authorities have commandeered boats to do search and rescue. There are entire parishes (counties) that have not been heard from. 80% of New Orleans has flooded. There is widespread looting, and the societal conditions are falling quickly. One of my best friends is in the National Guard down there, and I am honest when I say I fear for his life.

Here in Baton Rouge, there are still 75,000 without power. Half of our traffic lights are out, and there are lines at the gas pumps that work. Trees and power lines are down. Military helicopters fly over pretty frequently. My city has twice as many people as it should, and there is no sign of them going home.

Our governor almost broke down a few times today during her press conference. They say it could be weeks or perhaps months before there is power. There could potentially be 1 million "refugees." Tonight, they have requested further evacuations, because the situation is "dangerous and untenable." I don't know how they'll get them out, though, because, so many bridges are out. New Orleans will need to be rebuilt from the ground up. Economically, socially, rebuilt.

Emotionally, I feel the same way I did after 9/11. I'm hurting for those less fortunate. I fear that there will be thousands dead. I left work early today. My church didn't have any volunteering efforts, but I found one that did. A church was giving food and water to the "refugees", and I went in and pitched in where I could. I met some of the people who were displaced, and it was so disheartening. These people had nothing in thier hands, nothing in thier cars and nothing to go home to.

So that's my struggle now. To help when, where and how much I can.

It's tough, guys......

I work in TN state government. We are already putting in place plans for helping LA residents who end in our state and need help with LA unemployment insurance. We will do all we can but we don't know when LA will be able to have their programs back in order.

Furniture Man, I hear you - we spend most of yesterday glued to the newscasts - I personally believe this is WORSE than 9-11 was. That was 2 buildings - this is a massive spread area with thousands of buildings! I would love to see Prez. Bush bring some of our Military home and take some of those BILLIONS of $$ in Iraq and use it right down on our Gulf Coast - those poor folks are hurting something bad. Especially folks like Mr. Jackson whose house split in half and he lost his wife. Man that sucks. It really sucks. My heart breaks for that poor man.
May God have mercy on the victims and the folks who are down there helping them.
TDL