If you believe, pray for New Orleans and the Gulf Coast tonight

[thatcrazycajun]

Tonight, my home city is in the crosshairs of a Category 4 hurricane again, three years almost to the day after the first blow of the one-two punch that was Hurricanes Katrina and Rita laid waste to coastal Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and flooded New Orleans. And the levees are still not fully rebuilt. Mayor Ray Nagin has issued a mandatory evacuation order for the city, and many have already left as Hurricane Gustav has broached the shores of Cuba on its way down Katrina's old path.

If you are reading this and among my friends there, please get yourselves to safety at once should you not already have done so. If you do not live on the Gulf Coast, please pray to whatever God or gods you believe in that history does not repeat itself next week. If you don't, send thoughts of hope and protection in that general direction.

Comments

[ici1011.livejournal.com]

I am living in Baton Rouge now and should be safer. We're prepared with food, water, generator and lots of candles and extension cords. :)
I heard the latest report and they feel that the levees should be able to deal with the storm surge. There are a couple of possible weak spots, but it is actually safer than it was back pre-Katrina. I'm keeping my fingers crossed especially for people like Neagle and others who just moved back into their homes. I hope they won't have to go through it again.
I'll keep you informed of anything I hear.

[gorgeousgary]

There's also the question of *where* Gustav hits. If it slides more towards the TX/LA border, the surge may stay away from the canals and waterways that apparently channeled and worsened the surge from Katrina.