Gustav: Pictures From Central Louisiana

Here's one for all my friends who are from Central Louisiana who now live around the country.

Lamar White posted a few pictures from around Alexandria on his blog. City Park Players Theater burned down last night. That's a rough one.

Gustav was brutal on Cenla. They are still dealing with it all. Apparently my parents aren't telling me everything that's going on down there -- they don't want me to worry I guess.

City Park Players

Horseshoe Drive

Yes, this is really Horseshoe Drive.

More from my old station, KALB.

Outside KALB Studio

Juggling Hurricanes

It’s been a long day. I had a few computer issues today, thus the lack of update. Everything is taken care of now and I will be back on a regular posting schedule tomorrow.

I spent the day at the Charleston County Emergency Operations Center and that’s where I will reside for the next day or so while Hanna does its thing. There was a lot of down time today as the projected point of impact continually moved. The closer we get to Friday’s landfall, the busier we will get there.

Most of my down time was spent on the phone with Central Louisiana. Gustav has been stalled there for the last two days; dumping an ungodly amount of rain. They experienced what many are calling the worst flooding in the history of the region. We’re talking the Louisiana National Guard taking people from their flooded homes. That never happens to us. My parents are on day three of having no electricity.

I spent the day getting reports from home and juggling what’s going on around here. I have a job to do, so home had to take a back seat during press conferences and live shots. I must admit, it made me extremely irritable and short tempered – even more than usual.

My Mom and one of my best friends called and texted most of the day. Though I was worried, it did connect me to them while all that was going on.

Sorry it took me so long to update the blog today, but I needed a break. I came home, grabbed a quick bite to eat (low carb of course) and watched the two hours Top Model season premiere. Tyra, Jay and I forgot all about hurricanes for a little while. I needed that little vacation and now I’m back. Game on!

I will post updates from the EOC to the blog all day tomorrow. We will know more about a possible voluntary evacuation then. I don’t know that it will come to that, but the city leaders and officials keep bringing it up. I’m set up with a lap top, so I can instantly blog all the latest information.

My biggest challenge this week: Saying “E-O-C” during my live shots. It’s called the “O-E-P” in Rapides Parish, Louisiana and I’ve said that for years. Watch closely and you will actually see me think about it before every mention.

Gustav: Updates From Louisiana

Gustav is fading away – thankfully.

It looks like the worst is over for most parts of Central Louisiana. I just got off the phone with my parents, who would be mortified if they knew I was writing a blog with their accounts of the hurricane. My Mom tells me the wind has died down considerably and there is just a light rain lingering. There are no street lights so she can’t really assess any damage -- if there is any. She does know that a basketball goal from somewhere has blown into the front yard as they can see it from the bedroom window. There is a mandatory curfew tonight and a water conservation order, but all is well.

It’s about 10:30 in Louisiana and they are already going to bed. They have no power and they probably won’t for a while. They decided to not use the generator for now. During Hurricane Rita, some places didn’t get power back for a week. So, they’ll save the generator for just such an emergency.

My buddies, who also live in Alexandria, had some damage that they noticed early on.

I got this text message update:

Huge tree in the back yard just came down. Our shed is totally destroyed. We saved a lot of the contents. Front yard has a tree down too. We're very wet, but OK.

That seems to be the case all over Louisiana. The doom and gloom of Hurricane Gustav didn’t pan out and that’s a good thing. It’s better to be prepared. Expect the worst and hope for the best.

And what about our friends who rode out the storm in New Orleans? Well Craig says they made it through just fine.

….so New Orleans and its close ‘burbs were a bit oversold on this storm. Not that it was difficult to do, of course. The warnings were honest and, given the timing of them, based on very, very real concerns. And nearly everything worked this time around — from local government facilitating evacuation to the state sending in the Guard to the national folks having what was needed on the ground. Lessons learned and thank you.

As Craig reminds us, not everyone was as lucky as Central Louisiana and New Orleans Proper.

I can tell you the best story most of the nation will never see. It’s what is happening this evening to the folks in Lafitte and other small communities directly south of New Orleans and to the southwest. Some are heavily flooded for the second time in three years — with many just-rebuilt lives, homes and businesses again in tatters. The problem is they are too few in number for most folks to care. And they’re still assessing damage in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. God bless those folks tonight, as well as others still facing what’s left of this weather system. Those of us who stayed in New Orleans know how creeply lucky we are this time around.

As Gustav weakens to a tropical storm and slowly moves from Central Louisiana and into Natchitoches and Texas, it continues to be a rainmaker... dumping upwards of 20 inches in some places. The threat now moves to flooding which is also very dangerous.

I will keep an eye out for damage reports, but this will likely be my last big update on Gustav as we here in South Carolina start watching our backs with Hanna.

Gustav: Updates From Louisiana

I just spoke with my parents in Alexandria and a few friends who say all is well there for now. The rain and wind increase hourly. They have been without power for about an hour. They are expecting to get the worst tonight around 6:00 Central Standard Time and then Gustav will supposedly stall over the area for a while dumping gallons of rain. But, with Gustav weakening a bit, it shouldn't get too bad!

Ed in Leesville is keeping a great Video Blog as Gustav creeps closer to them. I’ve been in contact with him and I’ll post his videos as they come in. It’s really starting to come down in Vernon Parish, but nothing too bad at this point.

There is also another update from New Orleans Metblogs. They have an interesting take on the media coverage of the weather in New Orleans. Keep in mind, the writers are still in the city and are watching it all unfold. They seem to feel the storm is being misrepresented.

Richard at New Orleans Metblogs says,

I really wish CNN would stop running the headline “FLOODWATERS OVERTOP INDUSTRIAL CANAL LEVEE IN NEW ORLEANS”. The water is very high in the canal, and some water is blowing over the top, so maybe it’s semantic, but “overtop” sounds a little more dire and hysteria-inducing than necessary at the moment. Attention, CNN: we are already hysterical enough,
thankyouverymuch. Also, CNN: I am within five blocks of your offices right now. Do not make me come down there.

And more…

Fellow Gustav-watchers: if you haven’t already done so, may I suggest ditching Anderson Cooper for a while (we’ll be back, sweetie!) and getting your news from WWL TV instead? Dennis and Angela are smart, sanguine, and storm-savvy. Also, they know full well how to pronounce “New Orleans”, which you’d have thought everyone on Planet Earth learned a couple of years ago, but
apparently not.

My college bud and former ABC26 co-worker, Joni, is working for WWL now. Good work Jones!

That’s it for now. It’s been a super busy day at work and we're starting to move into Hurricane Hanna mode. I’ll have more when I get home.

Gustav: Update From Louisiana

I'm about to leave for work, but I wanted to give you guys a quick update from Louisiana.

I got an e-mail late last night at around 12:30 that the first feeder band was causing a bit of rain and the power had already started flickering in Downtown New Orleans. Looks to be the same case with Craig over at News Orleans Metblogs who is riding it out there.

I talked to my parents up in Alexandria and they are just getting a slight rain right now. My parents, being my parents, were more worried about me and less about the monster storm headed their way. They wanted to make sure that I was prepared for Tropical Storm Hanna which is inching toward the East Coast.

In the world of blogs, New Orleans Metblogs is the place for updates -- while they are able to keep updating. Here is the latest update that Craig filed a couple of hours ago.

Here is Tommy K.'s Weathercast from yesterday.

Gustav: Not Evacuating?

Ever wonder why people in New Orleans stay and ride out a hurricane? Here is an interesting blog from a Big Easy restaurant owner who will stay and ride out Gustav.

Even after Hurricane Katrina, there are people who are willing to face Gustav head-on. In the media, we are forced to stick around when everyone else is seeking shelter. One reason we don’t’ leave is that people who stay around need to remain informed and that’s what we do. You see reporters getting blown around in the wind, but beyond that spectacle, we also give vital information to those who remain in the viewing area.

I know you are wondering about that mandatory evacuation. How can they stay if there is a mandatory evac? Well, that simply means that it is no longer a voluntary evacuation. You are ordered and strongly encouraged to leave, but technically they can’t force you to leave your own property.

Craig explains:

This “mandatory” thing means, essentially, you’re on your own if you stay. No one is going to come drag you out of your house at gunpoint and throw you on a bus to Boise. What it means is, in the most serious parental tones, “don’t come crying to us when your walls collapse, your roof flies off to Alexandria and you’re climbing a phone pole to get away from the rapidly rising Gulf of Mexico. We warned you, you freaking idiot.” Some officials also back this up by telling people to leave the names of their next of kin with police so they can be contacted.

So why stay in the first place? Who knows really. I guess every individual has their own personal reasons. For some, what they encountered during and after Katrina is reason enough I guess.

Just ask Craig:

We have put too much into what we have (personally, professionally, physically) to simply sit in a motel room someplace and watch it all get washed away again. We wouldn’t be “in our own home.” I agree that to stay is a type of madness. But it’s preferable to the madness we felt in our Being Away the last time.

Gustav: Bourbon Street Pictures

Here are a few new pictures from a soon-to-be deserted Bourbon Street. If you have ever been to New Orleans, you know that Bourbon is a 24/7 party. There are always people on it and most times it's packed. It's a sight to behold when it's empty.

The pictures are from a blogger that I know who was visiting New Orleans for a festival and was forced to evacuate with no car, flight or hotel. He found one of the last rental cars in the city and drove to Biloxi, Mississippi where he hopped a flight back home to Boston. My barber was in New Orleans this weekend too... I'm not sure if he was able to find a flight out just yet. He has my cell phone number and I'm sure he will call if he needs some suggestions.

Gustav Updates From Louisiana

Hurricane Gustav is the real deal and as Mayor Ray Nagin says, it’s "the mother of all storms.” I am very fearful that this will be ugly.

The blogs from across the Bayou State are doing a great job keeping up with everything going on and they must be commended.

Some of my readers are friends from back home who now live elsewhere and I wanted to keep you all up to date with what’s going on. I’ll post some online news clips from one of my old stations, KALB, and from around the state. I hope that makes it a little easier to find information in the days to come. If you’re like me, and I know you guys are, it’s beyond frustrating to watch this all unfold hundreds of miles away.

Mayor Jacques Roy stopped by the station to talk about how Alexandria is preparing. I’m glad Michele addressed the issues with water outages. This was a major problem during Hurricane Rita and it looks like they may have a proactive plan in place this time. But, I still reminded my parents to have lots of bottled water just in case.

Here’s Nick Mickulas’ weather report from last night.

I found these videos from a fleeing Louisiana resident who is sending video updates to his family via the Internet. He puts things into great perspective.

I got a heartbreaking e-mail from a friend who will be staying in the Greater New Orleans area for Hurricane coverage. She just purchased her first house with her fiancée and she’s afraid that it will be gone when she finally gets to leave work after this is all over. Unfortunately, that is not an unfounded fear. My heart is with them!

My friends from across the country… please pray for the people of Louisiana.

Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude is a German word that means "pleasure at the misfortune of others." You know, finding enjoyment when your rival team's quarterback gets injured or your ex gets dumped -- or apparently when a monster hurricane threatens thousands of lives. It's a laugh riot -- right?

Friday, I interviewed a group of women going to the GOP Convention in Minnesota. After we wrapped up, I asked them what they thought about Hurricane Gustav making landfall and postponing the convention. They said quickly that it wouldn't happen and then went on to laugh and joke about how people in Louisiana are a bunch of whiners. They kept going on and on about how Tropical Storm Fay hit Florida four times and Florida citizens didn't whine like people in New Orleans. They actually called them whiners. My photographer looked at me and shook his head. I swallowed my pride and remained professional and respectful.

They had no idea that I'm from Louisiana -- with friends who lost their homes to Katrina. But, that should make absolutely no difference. The one-two punch of Katrina and Rita is a little different than a tropical storm hitting four times. But, I chose to let that go.

Then today a video surfaces with former Democratic party chair Don Fowler and who the poster of the video identifies as Congressman John Spratt from here in South Carolina. They're sitting on a plane coming back from the DNC in Denver and Fowler starts joking about Hurricane Gustav forcing the postponement of the Republican Convention.

Schadenfreude?

A lot of people, including myself, are reliving a nightmare. I just got off the phone with a friend from home who is now living in Tennessee and, like me, he can't stand not being there. We are worried about our families and our home-state. We covered Katrina together and Gustav has filled us both with a sense of dread. He's watching The Weather Channel non-stop. I can't bring myself to watch it just yet. But, that will change the closer Gustav gets.

Mayor Ray Nagin just ordered the 100% mandatory evacuation of my old neighborhood, Algiers, in New Orleans. All I can think is "here we go again."

Here is just a taste of the messages my friends in Louisiana are leaving on their Facebook accounts.

"Joni N. has on her gameface. Ready for Gustav coverage."

"Lance W.: Gustav has got to go...somewhere else!"

"Alisa M. is hoping and praying Gustav weakens and heads another direction."

"Catherine K. is evacuating today. Please pray for New Orleans."

Those are neither funny nor whining.

That Damn Gustav

The latest models for Hurricane Gustav have literally formed knots in my stomach. The National Hurrricane Center has moved the path further west and right over my home town. That thin purple line is running right through the place where my parents, 95% of my family and most of my friends live.

We had a lengthy discussion about Hurricane Katrina today because of the anniversary. I don’t usually talk about those days – it’s all still a little raw even three years later.

I learned things in those days that I never wanted to know and never needed to know… that the smell of death sticks in your nostrils long after you’ve walked away and even the happiest people have their breaking points in tragedy. I learned that last lesson when my old Public Information Officer committed suicide after he lost hope – stuck and forgotten down there.

I learned that two things happen to people when they are faced with such dire situations. Some people rise to the occasion and band together while others revert to savagery and desperation. Both are instincts of survival and given the situation, I can’t really blame anyone for choosing either. Maybe the circumstance chooses for you.

I’d lie if I said I’m not worried about all those I left behind in Louisiana. If it hits the coast as a nasty category 4 monster, by the time it reaches my family, it could still be a vengeful category 2 storm. I wish I was there, just to not feel so powerless.

To my friends and former co-workers in New Orleans – my heart is with you. And to my family and closest friends in Central Louisiana – you know I would be there if I could.

Gustav Eyes New Orleans

I called my parents up for our nightly conversation. I’m a momma’s boy – sue me. They were busy making a list of what they needed in their hurricane kit, because Hurricane Gustav is on the way.

My dad was getting ready to make sure there was enough gas in the emergency generator and my mom was taking inventory of the non-perishable food in the pantry. That’s just what you do in Louisiana when a storm is coming.

Here we are on the eve of Hurricane Katrina’s anniversary and Louisiana is in a state of emergency with the National Guard activated for another storm. Mayor Ray Nagin and Sen. Mary Landrieu planned on leaving the Democratic Convention early to head home. It’s eerie – it stirs up a bit of sadness.

My hometown is further inland and usually hurricanes drop to a Cat 1 or so by the time they reach us, but that's still a major storm. The hotel rooms there are already booked in advance from people getting ready to evacuate from the southern Parishes. It brings back memories that I’m not interested in recalling.

In the days to follow, I’ll blog more about my experiences living through and covering Katrina, but my prayers are with my friends and family in Louisiana as Gustav continues growing. I honestly get a sick feeling in my stomach every time I walk by the Weather Center and see the projected track going right to the mouth of the Mississippi.

Those of us who covered Katrina have an unspoken bond. When we meet each other, even today, we know that we share something special – something tragic. You didn’t walk into New Orleans those first few days and not walk away changed.

It’s hard for me being all the way over here in Charleston while plywood is going on windows and families are making evacuation plans back at home. When that storm finally hits, I will undoubtedly want to be in the mouth of the madness with those I love who are hunkered down riding it out. Though there is nothing I could do to help there… I feel helpless here.