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Hurricane Gustav

By Jeralyn, Section Off Topic
Posted on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:00:12 PM EST
Tags: Hurricane Gustav (all tags)
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Gustav is now a Hurricane. Is anyone reading in harm's way?

Do you think it will have an effect on the Republican convention?

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    Hurricane Gustav | 27 comments (27 topical)

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    My mom & dad are in NOLA (5.00 / 7) (#1)
    by angie on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:03:26 PM EST
    I decided not to go back after Katrina. They (and the pets) are heading up to stay with me tomorrow.

    so glad you can be there for them (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by Josey on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:22:14 PM EST


    Parent
    Amen. nt (5.00 / 3) (#25)
    by jpete on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 11:52:33 PM EST


    Parent
    There's been talk (5.00 / 4) (#2)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:09:07 PM EST
    of if they should move it back. But I wasn't paying close attention. And earlier this eve, someone posted they saw on MSNBC Bush was going to do a live feed convention feed from down there.

    Methinks they might be a tad worried about how this turn of events will effect voter perception and memories.

    For anyone in the area that needs to go to an evac center and has pets, they will take them. Check now on what you need to get your pets in the shelters with you and put it in your to go bag. Don't forget to bring their food so you don't have any upset pet tummies on top of everything else!! Al;so, a favorite blanket or bed. Something with your scent on it like a slept in t-shirt to put in the cages to help calm them. Also, don't forget any meds etc.

    Stay safe!

    that sounds like a terrible idea.... (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Maria Garcia on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:25:07 PM EST
    Bush should stay away from New Orleans. It's just wrong.

    Parent
    Pets also allowed on evac buses (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:55:31 PM EST
    just saw it on Nightline. I'm guessing small dogs and cats crated. Dogs on leash may need to be muzzled. You can pick up soft muzzles, but if it's hot and/or humid or the dog could be stressed, basket muzzles are better. Also, if you may be stuck on a bus for awhile, basket muzzles are also better (soft or groomers muzzles are only for short periods). You want your dog to be able to pant. Very important and be sure and bring a couple water bottles for the pets. Hydration is VERY important.

    Parent
    Best of fortune (5.00 / 6) (#4)
    by Steve M on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:11:56 PM EST
    to anyone who might be affected.  Stay safe.

    Agreed (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by DemForever on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:12:31 PM EST
    My brother along the gulf coast in MS got pretty wiped out last time, and he's getting ready to evacuate again.

    First of all... (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by Jerrymcl89 on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:21:59 PM EST
    ... best wishes for it to miss New Orleans, as that's far more important than any political implications.

    But as far as the politics, the Republicans have apparently talked about pushing back the convention if things are looking bad. And even moreso, I'm sure Bush will cancel his appearance in order to appear to be on the job.

    I hope the administration actually has achieved a measure of competence in hurricane preparedness that they clearly lacked before. There's obvious political gain if they haven't, but the cost to the people is way too high.

    Repub are very good (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by TomStewart on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:22:15 PM EST
    at ignoring hurricanes not happening in Florida.

    If we're all lucky, it'll turn away and not make land.

    That's pretty certainly not going to (none / 0) (#24)
    by jpete on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 11:51:51 PM EST
    happen.  We're all buying water, etc.

    I don't quite get the buying water bit.  I mean, is a major metropolitan center  going to lose electricity for that long?

    Well, I guess I might  find out next week.

    Parent

    Bottled water (5.00 / 3) (#27)
    by CoralGables on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 12:14:36 AM EST
    Having plenty of bottled water isn't an electricity issue. It's preventive medicine should the public water supply be compromised through contamination. The going rate suggested is a gallon per person per day. You can bottle your own though right from the tap prior to the storm (I stock ice tea. I have my priorities)

    Here's a little old time hurricane water advice. If you lose your water supply you also can't flush toilets. The old trick was to fill the bathtub and keep a bucket handy to dump water into the toilet when needed. The added water leads to instant flush even if you have no working water supply. Through several hurricanes growing up, not once did that tub water ever get used except for a kid's cold bath after the fact.

    Parent

    Water = Sanitation (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Fabian on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 07:16:37 AM EST
    You need some water to drink and prepare food.  (20 minutes of boiling makes water safe, but sucks fuel.)  You need much more for sanitation - personal hygiene, cleaning dishes, flushing.

    Having lived on well water, we had to ration water during droughts.  We used pond water to flush toilets when water got really tight.

    Parent

    Be safe and well (5.00 / 3) (#10)
    by Brookhaven on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:33:35 PM EST
    BlueDude said: It has nothing to do with the republican convention. I just don't want more suffering, destruction and pain... This has nothing to do with politics. It is a humanity story. These people need a break.

    Amen.

    Please be safe and well, NOLA peeps.  

    Doesn't look good (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:35:52 PM EST
    By all reports the only place it can turn is Texas. It looks like it will make landfall as a category 3 (110-130 mph winds) Monday evening to the west of New Orleans.

    For those that like to see computer models as to where it is headed look   here

    It looks like it will stall out (none / 0) (#29)
    by Fabian on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 07:11:13 AM EST
    just inland and west of landfall.

    I inquired in a daily kos diary about precipitation predictions and the meteorologist said that they don't have very good models for precip predictions.

    I think we'll see serious secondary flooding inland from precipitation.  I hope local authorities are preparing with all available resources.

    (DK may be useless for politics now, but they do have some good science and community diaries.  They'll probably have daily Gustav diaries.  Check for DarkSyde on the FP also.)

    Parent

    I'm going to second the sentiment that (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by Anne on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:48:11 PM EST
    the GOP convention should not even be part of the conversation, when the people potentially in the path of the hurricane face the loss of life and property and have already been to hell and back.

    I'm no fan of the GOP, but I would be happy for them to have their convention - like we had ours - if it means that Hurricane Gustav wimped out and spared those in its path.

    Honestly, I don't know what's come over people.

    And I seriously hope that if it does have an effect on the convention, that there won't be any rah-rah posts about the advantage that gives the Democrats in November.

    The media is connecting it in a big way (none / 0) (#19)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 11:29:21 PM EST
    delegates might not get there, Bush is speaking Monday night, but could have to speak by video if he decides to go down there and McCain may change his schedule.

    Also the media will be covering both stories if they happen simultaneously, giving shorter shrift to the Repub. convention.

    So it is a part of the conversation.

    Parent

    The media loves disaster and suffering, (none / 0) (#26)
    by Anne on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 11:54:09 PM EST
    so their legs must be tingling like crazy at the thought that not only might they get to cover another big storm and bring up Katrina at every opportunity, but they might be able to report on the political disaster of the GOP convention that wasn't.

    So, Bush might have to speak by video; how is this a big deal?

    Delegates can't get there?  How hard will it be to get them access to remote facilities in order to also participate via video?

    You might want to consider the political ramifications of John McCain looking presidential in the area expected to be hit, and all the simultaneous coverage that will get.

    I guess I am reacting to the tone of the previous posts and feeling like there might be some wishful thinking that the GOP might have some difficulty pulling off their convention.

    It's that kind of thinking, connecting a potential disaster to someone's political fortunes, that has me feeling a little queasy after multiple posts that reveled in rumor and innuendo and applauded remarks that, had they been made against Obama, would have caused outrage here.

    And just because the media covers something in a certain way, are we powerless to push back against it?  What the heck was in the food and drink CNN provided in Denver?

    Parent

    Seen the documentary Still Waiting? (5.00 / 3) (#15)
    by Cream City on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:57:04 PM EST
    The story of a family from NOLA and the impact of Katrina.  It's just marvelous.  I found it last year in time to assign it to students for the final week of the semester, on American history today.

    And it's online here. (Jeralyn, you may know of the filmmakers.  They're from Colorado State U.  More info at the link.)

    May all those in the flick not have to relive it again, even those no longer there.  This shows that they take NOLA with them, wherever they are.  And even these warnings must be very hard for those now in Houston to hear.

    Yes, in harm's way, possibly. (5.00 / 2) (#22)
    by jpete on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 11:46:30 PM EST
    I live in a large city near the Gulf Coast and spend most weekends at our place right on the coast.  The computer models seem to have it  now going east of us, but that's for now.  Earlier half of them put it  on top of us.  We've had a lot of experience of the hurricanes' changing at the last minute.

    I can't really wish it goes elsewhere, as in into New Orleans.  Hurricanes are great, terrifying statements from nature about our own significance; they are also horrifyingly destructive.

    We may stay in the city, rather than risk getting caught in an evacuation. We are very fortunate to have such an easy option.  Lots of others aren't.

    One thing one forgets is that the  hurricane brings with it lots of confusion.  People try to leave  early or develop their own plans, but they may not understand what's a wise course.  They may end up getting chased along the coast, or worse.

    Cute Link (none / 0) (#18)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 11:22:51 PM EST
    Two hours west of NOLA, if near the coast, may not be where you want to be Monday night. On a lighter note, as a resident of a hurricane state I do always enjoy a little hurricane gallows humor

    Hurricane Gustav + Hanna (none / 0) (#20)
    by rhiles2760 on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 11:33:37 PM EST
    Some of the Weather Forecasters are saying that there is a chance that Hanna may drop South of Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico later next week and up to New Orleans.

    It is hard to imagine it going worse than it did (none / 0) (#23)
    by jpete on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 11:48:22 PM EST
    before.  

    Parent
    Bush has already declared a state of emergency ... (none / 0) (#21)
    by santarita on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 11:35:46 PM EST
    for Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.  Gustav is not being taken lightly.  And Hanna is out there ready to create havoc.  Bush's luck has run out, I think.  I just hope that the evacuation and response goes much better this time around.

    See my comment on flooding (none / 0) (#31)
    by Fabian on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 07:19:50 AM EST
    the projections show Gustav stalling just inland.  Flooding will be a concern.

    It's a pretty storm (none / 0) (#32)
    by CoralGables on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:44:13 AM EST
    In an odd sort of way I have always found the formation of hurricanes rather pretty when they get a perfect eye as they gain in strength. Can't help but look at updated images when outer rain bands send showers at weird angles as it is doing right now in South Florida.

    For those that appreciate meteorological artwork, Here is Gustav as a well defined storm about to hit the west coast of Cuba this morning.
    Gustav

    That's Hanna to the right with no eye wall as of yet.

    Hurricane Gustav | 27 comments (27 topical)

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