Who lives in the South / Preparing for Gustav?

Baton Rouge, Louisiana here!   With Katrina we didn't have any damage, but we were without power for seven full days.  And we were NOT prepared, as we had only lived in Louisiana for 6 six weeks (some welcome, huh?).  No generator, no extra food, nothing! 

So, we've been getting ready for a few days now.  Our camp trailer was already stocked with canned foods, so all I had to do was get the propane tanks filled, and get all the gas cans filled, which I did Tuesday.

I'm glad we were mostly already prepared, because I went to Walmart yesterday just to get a few extra batteries, and the store was already completely wiped out of canned foods, batteries, bread, lunchmeat, juice etc.   Looks like people are getting ready earlier this year, instead of waiting until last minute like with Katrina.

So, where do you live, and are you ready?

Good luck and god bless to everyone, hope it misses you! 

I'm not on the gulf coast but I wanted to applaud you for getting ready.

I hope Gustav fizzles out and everybody has to eat lots of sandwiches and drink lots of milk for a little while.

will be keeping all of the gulf coast in my prayers

Good for you for being ready.

I'm on the Atlantic coast.  Faye passed just South of us last week.  She had been predicted to go out into the Atlantic, strengthen to a hurricane, and make a direct hit into my city.  Thankfully, of course, that didn't happen.  The stores were pandemonium anyway.

We would be ready enough to leave town.  We have family North and South of here and my parents have a second home to the West, so we just need gas in the car.  We keep water, evaporated milk and MRE's at home anyway in case we are ever stranded there.  Cash is another good thing to have if you plan on riding it out.

Thanks Nomo.  I hope that's the least of our worries, having to eat a LOT of ham sandwiches the next couple of weeks!

Unfortunately it looks like someone gonna get hit hard.  So you almost feel guilty praying it's not you.  

Yes Julie, we have plenty of cash, I hope everyone else does too.  The first couple of days after Katrina, even the businesses in town had no power, so could only take cash.  

I live in Georgia (we just get the thunderstorms and rainfall) but my dad was down in Louisiana  for business a few days ago and he said it was just awful. People were boarding their homes up and Wal-mart parking lots were completely full, with people streaming out and carrying as many as two or three carts full of supplies. Congrats for being prepared!

Hope you guys keep safe and this Gustav just fizzles out! <3

I am in the Houston TX area....and I haven't even watched the news today (oops)!

*looks at local news/weather site*

It is still so far out, and so hard to tell where exactly it will make landfall.......

I have water and food and batteries.....

Am I ready? Ehhh. If I lose power, I will be in trouble because I don't have a 'plug-in' phone (only cordless)....and I could probably use a flashlight :\

My car is on full, though, that counts for something :) (in case of evacuation)

Near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, here! TOOOOOOOOOO CLOSE to Katrina.....!!!!

We are called the 'Hub City,' as we are close to 100 miles from the Gulf Coast, New Orleans and the Mississippi Capital in Jackson... and many folks re-located here after Katrina...

A BIG one can hurt us, as Camille and Katrina did... and we are presently on the worst 'side' of Gustav's projected path... and he's looking too big, lol!!!!

Tornado risk is high on this 'side' of it...

"She DON'T want any Tornado's!!!!!"

We're ready, too-- keep informed and safe, everybody! CC folks are Special, ya' know!

Anybody else down South? (I grew up in Picayune-- not too far from Baton Rouge-- and New Orleans, and Slidell... )

I wondered if there was anyone else concerned in CC, and found this thread! Thanks, Thmheh!

I am in the path of Gustav... Nothing major as far as damaging weather. But if we decide to leave I will be staying with my sister... I will be OK!

I live in the upper part of Mississippi, and when Katrina came thru, we lost power for 5 days. There wasnt any gas and none of the stores had much. I was awful, we had downed trees and lots of wind and rain damage. Our area has already opened shelters for those on the coast to come to, I am praying that this hurricane does not further destroy OUr beautiful state as well as any others. We all have worked so hard to recover from Katrina I do not believe the great people of our state can withstand another devasting hurricane

Kim

I am possibly leaving the area... not sure as of yet.  I am preparing to though just in case!

I'm in Gulf Shores, AL. Leaving monday. Hope it doesn't get too bad.

I'm originally from New Iberia, LA and my parents are under a mandatory evacuation. They're headed up to Baton Rouge to crash with my brother who is going to school at LSU. It's at least a little farther north than the coast, so BR usually doesn't get the worst of the worst when it comes to these storms. I hope everyone there, including my family, comes through OK.

I'm in Florida right now, so life isn't much safer for me :)

I'm near Houston, so I'm expecting so weather from it, but hopefully not enough to evacuate.

Shreveport here! Just expecting heavy rainfall with some streets flooding and HOPEFULLY the electricity doesnt' go out! It's supposed to be on us sometime tonight

RECOVERING from Gustav here!  I live in Baton Rouge as well, near the Garden District.  We just got power restored thankfully.  We have a branch through our roof, a tree down in the backyard, and a zillion limbs and branches.  Although we got damage, we were very lucky in comparison to those whose houses were ripped in half by trees.  Of course, I have an old water oak about 6 feet from my house that now scares me to death, I look at it like it's a weapon.  Unfortunately, I do not have $3500 to get it removed!

How did you fare the storm? (if you can read this yet).  I figure I gained a few pounds of hurricane weight from eating nothing but processed food for over a week, and not moving much.  I suppose that's the least of my worries though.  I'm also a teacher wondering when I go back to work and how we're going to make up the missed days...