Ahhh, Hurricanes...Gotta Love the Chaos!

NOT!!!

Man, things are really a buzz here in Baton Rouge. I went to top off my tank and then get some last minute things from the store...it was CRAZY! No one is panicking, but it's a good sign to see so many people preparing. My motto is to prepare for the worst and pray for the best! There are so many things in our pantry loaded with carbs, but at a time like this I threw my IR diet out the window.

J has been working yesterday and today. He is part of the coordination group at Exx.on, and while management has been trying to make the decision to shut down the plant here in BR, or get it to minimal capacity, or keep it up and running at full capacity, Jon has had to come up with all the different scenarios to help them achieve whatever form of capacity they decide upon. He called about an hour ago to tell me that they are leaving the plant up. Apparently, we're only supposed to get 30-50 mph sustained winds with 70 mph gusts here in BR, and they think it will be safe to keep running at full capacity under those conditions. (umm, okay) But since then, he's gotten several frantic phone calls about possible problems, and he's having to deal with all that.

This will probably be my last post for a while. The news is reporting that we should be prepared in the BR area to be without power for up to a week. Fun times!!! With Katrina we had our power back at 7:00pm the day she hit, so I'm hoping we'll get the same great service from our energy provider this go around 'cuz this very hot natured person does NOT do well without AC.

I'm very impressed with our government officials. Our new governor started evacuating hospitals and nursing home days ago, shelters have been opened with provisions for pets (which was a HUGE reason many with transportation chose to stay during Katrina b/c they couldn't take their pets to the shelters), Jindal issued voluntary evacuation orders a few days ago, and all parishes on the coast are now under mandatory evacuation orders. There have been hundreds of busses ready for days to evacuate the people who are without transportation, and the national guard troops are down there helping with security. It's been amazing to see how all the branches (local, state and national) of government working together this time. With Katrina our then governor, Blanco, shrugged off help until it was too late. By the time she realized she was in over her head, there wasn't much anyone could do. And afterwards it was mass chaos b/c no one knew where to start b/c the damage was so bad. I'm go glad she's no longer our governor!!!

Please say a prayer for all who are on the gulf coast. This storm could cause massive devastation if it comes on as a Cat 4 or large Cat 3!! And some people are just now getting back into their houses after Katrina only to have to leave again.