Hello ,my dear friends from across the pond.Hurricane gustav is barreling down on americas gulf coast states. Needless to say it is very frightning to those folks who are in its path.Today is saturday and the storm is only 5 miles per hour away from being a cat . 5 hurricane (the strongest there is ).They are evacuating new orleans as I write this .Hopefully this time it will be handled better than katrina was. I will be praying for all in its dangerous path. This time thanks to doris people will be able to take their doggies and pets with them. Once again dodo , we love you for all you do .
You're right, Suzie. It's so scary. Here's an email from my nephew, who's a meterologist with the National Weather Service. I underlined the most worrisome lines...
* Gustav on the verge of Cat 5 --> currently crossing the western tip of Cuba with 150 mph winds
* Hurricane Watch issued from Beaumont/Port Arthur area eastward to Mobile
* Landfall projected near Vermillion Bay, Louisiana (just south of Lafayette) Monday afternoon
* Mandatory evacuations issued for parts of Lake Charles, Lafayette, New Orleans --> mandatory evacuation for Beaumont/Port Arthur will begin at 6AM Sunday
* Confidence very high that Houston/Galveston area will see minimal impact
Track Forecast:
The track forecast for Gustav is now a very high confidence one for several reasons. New research info went into this morning's model runs and the tracks are all squarely pointed at the central Louisiana coast. The storm is moving quickly - a big hurricane with lots of momentum is unlikely to change track. Its like throwing a bowling ball into a pot of water - the hurricane knocks every other weather feature out of the way.
Landfall is expected to take place Monday afternoon, with only a slow movement northwestward towards northeast Texas.
The storm may stall over east Texas and northern Louisiana producing torrential rains for several days.
Intensity: The Hurricane Hunter plane reported a "stadium effect" while flying into the eye of Gustav - (a completely clear eye with huge walls on the outside) - along with winds of over 140 mph. This is seen only in the most intense hurricanes.
Gustav is expected to peak in intensity at Category 5 with winds of 160-165 mph on Sunday over the central Gulf. The storm will begin weakening over the northern Gulf as it approaches Louisiana, but will still make landfall as a Cat 3 or Cat 4.
As I mentioned earlier, both Katrina and Rita were Cat 5's at one point but weakened to Cat 3 intensity prior to landfall. Both of these storms produced tremendous surge and extreme damage despite weakening before landfall.
Impact:
The greatest storm surge threat will be from the Vermillion Bay area past Morgan City and Buras towards New Orleans. A storm surge of 15 to 25 feet is likely in this area. Flooding will extend many miles inland with small communities likely to be cut off by flooding. The surge could push into Lake Ponchartrain, and depending on the strength of the surge the levees in New Orleans could be threatened. In some ways this storm could be a bigger threat for New Orleans than Katrina as they will be on the east, or more severe side of the storm this time.
Hurricane force winds are likely in Lafayette, New Iberia, Houma, and Baton Rouge. Wind gusts in excess of 100 mph will be possible in these areas.
The Houston/Galveston area will see minimal impact - only some gusty winds and scattered showers. Tides will only be slightly above normal, but not enough to cause flooding. Heavier rain will be possible beginning Wednesday if the remnants of Gustav drift toward our area.
Evacuations:
Mandatory evacuations will be ordered for the Beaumont-Port Arthur-Orange area at 6AM Sunday. Similar evacuations are in place all along the Louisiana coast including Lake Charles, Lafayette, and New Orleans. Many evacuees are driving up into East Texas, with a lot of them reported heading through Lufkin and up towards Dallas.
Evacuations are not expected for the Houston/Galveston area.
Tropical Storm Hanna:
Could be a threat for Florida or the U.S. East Coast between September 4th and 8th.
"I wouldn't bring up Paris if I were you. It's poor salesmanship."
- Rick Blaine, Casablanca
I happen to live in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area years ago and still have family down there. They were pretty much devastated by Hurricane Rita in 2005. It came up the Neches River over a 100 miles inland and leveled huge tracks of forest and homes. Know one ever expected it to go that far inland. I once asked an older lady who had live there all of her life, do I need to buy flood insurance? She told me that the hurricanes never make it this far north. My relatives live in Orange, Texas which is right along the Texas/ Louisiana border near Lake Charles, LA. had their roof blown off of their house. If the flooding doesn't get you, the wind will. I am praying for them all. Last time, during the evacuation, they had to spend over ten hours trying to drive to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, which is normally a four hour drive. They call that region the Piney Woods, because it is mostly dense pine trees and most roads in and out of those towns are only two lanes. Please say a prayer for these people, because it really is a part of Texas where the people don't have much money, but they have hearts of gold. I know they look very "hillbillie" when you hear them speak, but they are good people. Same with the folks in Louisiana. Also, once you lose power in this part of the state, it is very hot and humid. So, the misery will just be starting for the people and the animals.
"Wrinkles are hereditary. Parents get them from their children.”- Doris Day
We sure should carol. Doris and her organization worked hard to help those in katrina and doris and the ddal worked tirelessly so that people in catistropic situations like hurricanes are able to take their pets to safety along with them. In katrina some people had to choose between being rescued themselves and leaving their beloved pets behind. NOT A GOOD THING !!! Most of us like our doris, love our pets and consider them members of our familys. I know even if my life depended on it I could not leave my two darling dogs behind . So thanks to our girl, that does not have to be the case now. People can bring their loved ones with them when they evacuate now , ALL of their loved ones.
I will never forget the young lady sitting on a bridge waiting to be rescued ,and she had her dog with her,when asked to leave her dog behind and get in the bus, she stated that she desperatly wanted to be rescued, but could not leave her german sheppard behind. Her only FAMILY member.I beleive it was fox news who took her and her dog to safty in their helicopter. I agree with doris no person should ever have to make that choice. God bless you doris mary anne.
I knew that Doris' organisation helped in the rescue of the animals after the last devastating hurricane, I did not realise that she had managed to get the rescue policy changed. That is such an amazing achievement!!!that will certainly bring a lot of comfort to many people...I can't imagine having to make a choice between being rescued and leaving a much loved pet behind.
Just to send everyone my best wishes...hope that Gustav isn't as devastating as the reports suggest it will be.
Here is an article on how they are helping people with their pets during the storm. Thank god, it has been downsized to a Category 2 status now. Shows you how prayer really does work.
Prayer sure does work laurie. Thanks for posting the story about the pets being rescued. Can you imagine leaving your dog tied up outside during a hurricane ??? What are people thinking ? Doris is more than likely having a fit over that. Did these owners actually think these dogs would be alive when they returned ? Makes me mad . Doris calls that irresponsible dog ownership .Lets put it this way im sure glad im not one of their pets.
Needless to say it is very frightning to those folks who are in its path.Today is saturday and the storm is only 5 miles per hour away from being a cat . 5 hurricane (the strongest there is ).They are evacuating new orleans as I write this .Hopefully this time it will be handled better than katrina was. I will be praying for all in its dangerous path. This time thanks to doris people will be able to take their doggies and pets with them. 
Once again dodo , we love you for all you do .
So thanks to our girl, that does not have to be the case now. People can bring their loved ones with them when they evacuate now , ALL of their loved ones. 
. Doris calls that irresponsible dog ownership .Lets put it this way im sure glad im not one of their pets. 
