Baton Rouge Gustav Update....

[SacredCow]

Believe it or not, I still have power and internet- don't know how much longer that will last, though. I've downloaded a dial-up utility so I can possibly still be online once the power goes (assuming the phone line stays intact). Otherwise, all I have is my mobile web on my cell phone, and DU is a little too robust to work well on that. Wish there was a "lite" version...

Anyhoo... Things were pretty calm last night. No more feeder bands went through, but we're going to be getting into the meat of it very soon,and probably for the next 24 hours. Some areas are already without power, but so far we are still on. Baton Rouge is going to take a pretty good hit from this one....

Yesterday was a good reminder of Katrina, what with the Chinooks flying low and fast over the area (I think they were using them to evacuate the critically ill from New Orleans to hospitals here). But otherwise, the evacuations and just things in general were going smoothly here in Baton Rouge- not the panic and nowhere near as much of general asshattery that went on last time.

So that's it for now. Thanks for all of the vibes!

:hug:

[malta blue]

1. stay safe SacredCow

:hug:

[TZ]

2. Good luck.

It looks like its about to get pretty nasty down there as Gustav is about to move ashore....:hug:

[PeaceNikki]

3. Stay safe!

[DarkTirade]

4. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[SacredCow]

5. **** 10:45 am Update ****

The power is out- a tree fell on a line behind the house. As luck would have it, I still have my wireless access because whomever I'm stealing it from must be across the street and on a different circuit. :)

It's pretty nasty out. I've seen gusts up to probably 60 to 70 mph (probably what got the tree). Not all that much rain, though- at least not yet. I'll be able to keep my laptop charged with the inverter for my car- will just have to run out to the car to plug it in from time to time).

[Droopy]

6. Be careful about going outdoors, SC

As much as I'm interested in your posts here, I wouldn't want you to put yourself in harm's way to try to get them to me.

[SacredCow]

7. The car is in a carport, and right by the door, so it shouldn't be a problem.

:hi:

[auntAgonist]

8. Best wishes SacredCow .. stay safe! n/t

[Redstone]

9. Hang in there. Be safe.

Redstone

[KitchenWitch]

10. I am glad you are safe, please stay that way.

I am praying (in my own rather unorthodox way) for all of you.

[SacredCow]

11. **** 12:45 Update *******

continues to worsen- The winds are gusting to well over 75 mph. I've seen shingles flying through the air and heard a few trees snap. The street is littered with limbs.

Gotta run, though. My battery is about to die.

I'll go charge it and check back later (I hope)...

[Kali]

13. be careful - and make sure the garage is ventilated

if you are charging with the vehicle running (which is probably a good idea so you don't kill ITS battery)

[SacredCow]

16. It's a carport, but pretty safe...

enclosed on 2 sides with structure, 1 side with a SUPER sturdy lattice, and the open side faces another house.

[billyoc]

12. PLEASE tell me Brunet's restaurant is OK.

:scared:

[SacredCow]

15. I have no idea-

that's across town from me. But this is probably a worse storm than Andrew in 1993.

[Ava]

14. yikes, stay safe!

:pals:

[TZ]

17. I just saw radar showing the center of Gustav right over Baton Rouge!

Stay safe my friend, looks like a rough couple more hours....

[SacredCow]

18. ****** 2:15 pm update ********

Still very bad here. Winds have steadily been picking up. Spoke with my mom, and found out that a 75 year old pecan tree uprooted by their house, and missed it by a few feet.

The radio indicates that there have been tornado sightings, and some idiot is telling everybody to go to the basement... WTF? There are no Basements in South Louisiana!

I can't get in touch with my partner, which is worrying me... He stayed at home, and he isn't answering his wireless phone (but it's likely that the service is being overused right now). So I request prayers and vibes for him...

[bigwillq]

19. Stay safe.

:hug:

[SacredCow]

20. ***** 4:00 pm update *****

FINALLY starting to subside... I just heard on the radio that this storm rivals Betsy in 1965 for top windspeed (over 90 mph). There are trees down EVERYWHERE that I can see from here, and I hear the entire parish was hit hard. At this point, I'm not sure if I even have a job to go back to (but I should- the building is pretty strong).

Unfortunately, I still have not been heard from my partner... I'm sure it's the phones, but I'm still worried.