Thursday, August 28, 2008

Gustav

Although Gustav is at current a tropical storm only, the coast is taking this one seriously. Xavier has already cancelled classes as of this Friday afternoon and only plans to reopen Thursday of next week, September 4. This seems a little bit of an overreaction to me. Since the storm is not going to even get close until Sunday at the earliest I'm not sure why Friday classes needed to be cancelled. And I guess it seems early to cancel classes next week when we are already off on Monday for Labor Day. However, all predictions are that Gustav will become a hurricane again, possibly a category 3. And that's nothing to sneeze at. Anyway, I'm not making the decisions, and I'm glad I'm not. I wouldn't want the responsibility.

I'll be posting again before the storm approaches, but if it comes close at all we'll surely loose our satellite internet connection. I may be out of touch for a few days next week. Let's hope it won't be longer than that. After Katrina it was months before the grid was back up.

As long as it's no more than a category 1, Lana and I will probably ride it out in our home. For a category 2 we'll have to strongly consider its direct track before making a decision. And if it's a 3 or better we're out of here.

44 comments:

Paul R. McNamee said...

Good luck and take care!

Hope you're not out of touch too long (if Gustav actually makes landfall near you.)

My sister is in Pensacola, FL, so she's done her share of bugouts.

Around here the worst we'd get is a blizzard. There was only one hurricane in my life so far - Gloria. She put out power for days but she really wasn't much of a storm.

My parents were kids during the Hurricane of '38, though. That was probably the strongest hurricane to hit New England. Pretty amazing it kept its power until it got this far north.

Heff said...

Charles - Keep us posted on Gustav if possible. I'm a little concerned about that bastard myself. Fay SOAKED us, now this. These Hurricanes are starting to become a regular summer event around here.

Sidney said...

I hope things go OK. This seems to be an active hurricane season, but I think they always are and post-Katrinia we are more aware.

Josephine Damian said...

Charles: We were in the Gustav cone, but now looks like we're way out of range. Still, after Fay and folks waiting till the last minute, I noticed people here are gassing up cars, shopping, just in case.

There's real bad flooding STILL in the next town over from Fay. Even if Gustav is just a TS, still could cause load of trouble, tornadoes too.

And now Hanna is coming hot on Gustav's heels... ah, paradise.

AvDB said...

Just be safe. If it looks anywhere near bad, beat it out of there. Losing Casa Gramlich would be horrible, but not anywhere near as unthinkable as something happening to one or both of you.

Bernita said...

Anxious times. Always thinking of you both during this season.

Charles Gramlich said...

Paul, a lot of us here were overconfident when Katrina came to town because we'd evacuated before and nothing had happened for years. We won't be so complacent again.

Heff, we only got some rain from Fay and it wasn't too much. But these bastards always worry me these days.

Sidney, this year is a lot more active already than last year.

Josephine, I know, and we live among a lot of trees, which will be our main concern.

Avery, oh we'll be careful. We definitely got out in plenty of time for Katrina. and we're closer now to the evacuation routes.

Bernita, thanks. We are definitely keeping out a weather eye.

Shauna Roberts said...

I volunteered to be a clearinghouse for SOLA members to report in to after Gustav, if it hits and things don't return to normal right away. You're welcome to send me your news too and I'll post that you're okay along with the SOLA members I hear from.

Shauna Roberts said...

P.S. The same offer goes for anyone else here in Gustav's path.

Lana Gramlich said...

If we have to evacuate again, this time remind me to take more than vodka & Pink Floyd CDs. <:(

Danette Haworth said...

Charles,

I just heard the landfall predictions on the radio and thought of you and Lana. Oh, I hope Gustav does not live up to expectations.

Leon said...

Good luck. . .and be safe. I'll be thinking of you as I follow news about Gustav.

Miladysa said...

I shall be following news of Gustav keenly.

Stay save - both of you!

laughingwolf said...

beware those germans, charles, gustav could easily become mercurial!

hope it's a cat. one by the time it reaches you

stay well, both of you

Sam said...

Oh dear! I just heard about this today. I do hope everything is all right - and will be all right!!

Steve Malley said...

This may be selfish of me, but...

be sure you make multiple backups of the new Talera book. :-)

Charles Gramlich said...

Shauna, thanks. I'll do that.

Lana, yes, good choices, but we could have added a couple of other good choices.

Danette, I have a feeling it won't be too bad. But one never knows. We're much safer here than we were before. Except for the trees.

Leon, thanks, we appreciate it.

Miladysa, thanks.

Laughingwolf, with a name like Gramlich, which means "Grief and sorrow," you better believe I'm wary of the Germans. Lol.

Sam, we're getting ready for it.

Steve Malley, I'll have copies on stick and on two laptops, if not also a desktop.

Rick said...

Take care of yourself, friend.

Barrie said...

Will be thinking of you and Lana. Stay safe and sound. xo

SQT said...

As good as Lana's last items-for-rescue were, I think I'd prefer to see you safe.

Here's hoping for a whole of worry over nothing.

the walking man said...

Seems to me Charles that because all of the entrances to NO become evacuation exits it would be wise to start early if there has to be a "get out of Dodge."

Lana...what more do you need than that?

Cath said...

Just catching up Charles. You and Lana take care. No amount of keepsakes, property or lifetime achievements are worth what YOU are worth.

Simply can't imagine it. And you are so cool and laid back! lol

Off to read more.

Merisi said...

Good luck to you and your loved ones and everyone in Gustav's path!

Josephine Damian said...

Charles: A dead tree up the street from me went down during Fay, and hit a power line. A transformer exploded and fried my computer, so yeah know well the many dangers of trees.

Am watching the news now. Not looking good for New Orleans. Stay safe.

Monique said...

Good luck. We know what happened if we don't hear from you for a while.

BernardL said...

Batten down the hatches, my friend.

Charles Gramlich said...

Vwriter, will do.

Barrie, thanks. We appreciate that.

SQT, we're hoping the track will shift further, although I hope nobody gets it bad.

Mark, fortunately, we're outside the primary population area where that is likely to cause us problems. My son is "in" that area, though, so we're urging him to come here or go to his mother's soon.

Crazycath, why thank you. :) We are taking it seriously, though.

Merisi, we hope the same.

Josephine, I'm looking out back now and seeing probably 30 trees that could hit our house if they came down. A bit scary.

Monique, yes indeed. We got in supplies today.

Bernardl, I bought another propane tank for the grill today in case we lose electricity.

Rachel V. Olivier said...

Take care of yourselves, you two!

Anonymous said...

Wow, I really hope Gustav behaves. We don't need another Katrina.

My thoughts are with you.

X. Dell said...

If this is new in your experience, I'm wondering if this was meant to encourage more people to leave the area. That way, if an evacuation becomes necessary, it won't cause the problems that KAtrina did.

Erik Donald France said...

Good luck, y'all!

I'm with you on cancelling Friday's classes, but hey, somebody may be trying to fight the last war a la Katrina and Rita, eh?

As for next week, may you be safe and with power.

Charles Gramlich said...

Rachel, will do.

Jason Evans, I'm sure the whole Gulf Coast would agree with you.

x-dell, I'm sure Xavier dismissed early to encourage students to get out before the traffic got too extreme, but leaving early Saturday morning would have accomplished the same thing.

Erik, well I'm glad I didn't have to make the decision. It's a thankless task for sure.

L.A. Mitchell said...

I hope you and your family stay safe :)

Greg said...

Charles, good luck out there!

JR's Thumbprints said...

I've been watching Gustav's path on the telly. Hopefully it will "peter out" before it gets to you.

Charles Gramlich said...

L.A. I'll particularly be concerned with my son. He's still in the city.

Greg, thanks. Have a good weekend.

JR, we'd sure like that.

laughingwolf said...

hope no 'grief and sorrow' befalls you and yours! :(

Anndi said...

Good thoughts for safety being sent your way.

ivan said...

That durn Corps of U.S. Army Engineers.

It is my opinion that they are trouhlemakers and incompetents.
I say bring in the Royal Dutch Army.
They know all about dikes and levees.

Hate the say it, but the Corps itself admits some sections of the levees near the canal are not completed.Just patchwork.
Wishing you all the best, but if Gustav does another Kartrina on Nawlins, this will really be the last time. And all the Yakees will preen, and and say "Well, that's what you get for living in a swamp."
I swear half of the Katrina thing was political.
So what if they drown. They're just grunts.
There are actually conspiracy theories going around about a deliberate spiking of the dikes.

And where was the Corps of Army Engineers, whose job was to look after things?

Karen Carter said...

Charles, I've read your comments on Lisa's blog for a while but only realized you and Lana are in LA with your comment today on Candy's blog. Stay safe. Karen in Denver

Charles Gramlich said...

Laughingwolf, me too.

Anndi, thanks.

Ivan, there was definitely some graft going on during the construction of the levees. Some folks got greased palms to not do such a great job. I'm hoping that has improved. But mainly that gustav won't come up the river like Katrina did.

Karen, thanks. We're not looking forward to it but are about as prepared as we can be.

Travis Cody said...

I just heard category 4 heading out of Cuba and on a path to NO.

Good luck.

Rachel V. Olivier said...

Yeah, I heard it was getting bigger. Thinking good thoughts for you and take care.

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Good luck to you and Lana! I'll say prayers that you both stay safe and secure through hurricane season!