I live in the area that, as of now, is under great threat by Gustav. If the track stays as it is now my area is expected to get the wet side of the hurricane. Being between the Mississippi River, the Gulf of Mexico, and below sea level means we need to leave in case of a huge storm surge. We won't leave until the storm gets into the Gulf so we can get a better idea of where it is going. This is getting old...but New Orleans has been home my whole life. We have plenty of insurance but it's so difficult to decide what to take after the essentials are packed (which includes photos & home videos). Everything is replaceable but still the decision has to be made.

By Yjja123 on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 10:39 am:

You will be in my thoughts! Stay safe!

By Karen~admin on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 11:00 am:

Jeanne, we are too. St. Charles is expected to order mandatory evacs either Sat or Sun. We have reservations in AL, I went to the grocery @ 6:30 this morning for supplies/water/ice, etc., have cleaned the ice chest, am doing laundry, pulling our important papers and meds together, packing up my laptop and camera bags.......

I HATE this..............................

I had 70-80 injections in my neck/upper back yesterday, and am *supposed* to be taking it easey today.........Yeah, right!

Be safe!!!!!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 11:28 am:

Good luck and HUGS to all of you!

By Kaye on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 11:36 am:

LOL...houston is talking about the same thing. They will make the call on Sunday. Hurricanes are such a wild thing. We have time to prepare, but also time to panic and end all be all they can only guess what some storms are going to do.

I too was feeling that this is getting old fast!

By Karen~admin on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 11:37 am:

Kaye - that's just the thing - all the time to prepare means that much more time to stress and worry!

By Annie2 on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 11:43 am:

I hear you girls. We are watching the storm closely, too. I went out for gas, supplies, ice, water, paper plates/cups today. I still have to buy new flashlights and batteries but I'll do that over the weekend.
We'll have to ride it out since I have no funds to travel anywhere. We have many friends in the neighborhood though, so if it's going to be rough we can stay with them.
Karen, hope you feel better!

By Karen~admin on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 12:59 pm:

Well, it's official, we are to be under a mandatory evacuation as of noon tomorrow.

DH is now considering whether we should take both cars. UGH!

By Annie2 on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 01:13 pm:

Karen and Jeanne, uughhh what a hassle!
I went to NO in the spring for a field trip to the zoo/aquarium. So many places are still empty. NO can not take another hit.
I have cut plywood and 2x4s for the windows and my 13 year old said she would help board the windows if we have to
The kids are excited that we may be hit; kind of funny in a way. They want to miss school, almost like snow days up north! When Ivan hit, they were out of school for 3 weeks. The neighborhood kids had a blast.
Their dad and I were dealing with damages, insurance, roofing companies, etc but they had fun. The things they didn't like was no A/C, no water, no electricity and helping to pick up shingles the next day.
I hope we all stay safe.

By Yjja123 on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 01:13 pm:

Thinking of you.
Stay safe!
(((((((big time HUGS)))))))

By Conni on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 03:03 pm:

MY parents are leaving today with their RV and going to Destin... They seem to think they will be fine.

(((Hugs))) ladies!!!

By Dandjmom on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 03:07 pm:

This well be a long weekend for me , not because of the holiday, but because I have to wait until Tuesday to get back here at work and see how my friends are. You all will be in my thoughts and prayers. Wether your leaving or riding it out, please take care of your selves and family.

By Marcia on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 03:23 pm:

I'm so sorry you guys are going through this again! Stay safe!

By Cybermommyx4 on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 03:39 pm:

God Bless all of you! Keep us posted...

By Wandilu on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 06:38 pm:

I'll be praying for all of yall !

By Karen~admin on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 07:17 pm:

I just gave 10 lbs. of jumbo shrimp and all the chicken and meat in my freezer, as well as cheese, eggs, etc. to my neighbor to take with her in her RV. It was that or throw it out in the trash tonight.

By Marcia on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 07:56 pm:

Karen, how is Pam doing through all of this? We haven't heard from her in so long.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 08:03 pm:

Pam lives up in central Wisconsin now. She doesn't have to worry about the hurricane.

By Karen~admin on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 08:08 pm:

Marcia, I think Dawn is referring to Pamt, not Bubbels. Pam and her family just got back into their house from Katrina about 6 months ago.

I spoke with her 2 days ago, she and her family were all really sick with a virus or something. I know her DH doesn't want to evacuate, so I'm not sure what she's doing.

By Cat on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 08:26 pm:

What a pain! I hope you all stay safe and this storm doesn't do too much damage.

By Karen~admin on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 08:37 pm:

Marcia, I just spoke with Pam. They have 2 generators, stocked up and are going to stay in their house. She said her DH has 20 containers of fuel for the generators, they have 12 cases of water, and that the generators will run her fridge/freezer and a window A/C unit they just bought, when the power goes out. She did, however, get the information for where I am going, *just in case* she gets scared and decides to leave.

Also, she says they are feeling better now, too.

By Marcia on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 08:54 pm:

Wow, I'm kind of surprised they're staying, after losing their home last time!!!

By Karen~admin on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 09:09 pm:

Well, last time, Pam and the kids left - her DH would not leave - not until 12 hours before Katrina actually hit. He's determined to stay.

By Debbie on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 09:20 pm:

{{{HUGS}}}

I am so sorry you are having to go through this again! I will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

Karen, how are you feeling after your injections?

By Kernkate on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 09:36 pm:

Thoughts and Prayers to all of you who are in the path of this storm.

By Mom2three1968 on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 09:45 pm:

My kids are leaving at 5:30 tomorrow morning, my ds and his unit are all leaving together in the morning, a couple of days ago the Gunny and a few others were leaving a day or two before, now they are all leaving together tomorrow, my dil feels much better now.

Karen, I'm sorry that you had to give all your frozen meat away but I know you don't want a repeat of next time.

I can't wait till my son and his family are on the road, Please be safe all of you.

By Momofmax on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 09:58 pm:

Well, I'm all packed up and ready to go! DH will board up the windows tomorrow and put plants, patio furniture, etc. in the garage. We will make a decision about leaving after we get the morning report on the track from the National Hurricane Center. We grilled some of the "good stuff" from the freezer for dinner tonight. Shrimp and steak!

By Karen~admin on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 10:01 pm:

Debbie, I've done so much today, I haven't had a lot of time to think about it. LOL I AM definitely sore, but OK. I am obsessing over my ice packs.... I NEED them with me!

Kelly, are the kids driving in their own vehicles??

Pam's having 2nd thoughts about staying - she just called me- she's afraid to stay. I'm not sure what she's going to do. Anyone on the Gulf or the Atlantic knows that feeling of indecision - do I stay or do I go......

Because they NEVER can pinpoint where it's going, so it's a calculated risk if you stay, and if you go, it might end up being a total non-event. We have evacuated more than once when it was a non-event. For hurricane Georges, we did a vertical evacuation in downtown N.O. - we ended up being stuck there for a few days because there was a curfew in place and no one was allowed in OR out. Really, it was a stupid thing to do - they don't allow that now, after Katrina.

The expenses add up quickly when you go - you could take a nice vacation for the costs of evacuating! Motel, gas, meals, incidentals.....then you have to replace everything when you return home.........I am just too afraid to stay......my life is worth more than $1000............

I will just consider my food giveaway a *charitable donation*. LOL At least I feel better knowing someone is EATING it, rather than just tossing it in the garbage can. It was never an option after Katrina, there is no way I could clean that kind of mess up again.

By Mom2three1968 on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 10:19 pm:

Karen, yes they have one car that they will be driving out of there. They have their government credit card that they can use now that they have the offical word to go so they are good as far as money goes, because they don't have much.

Karen, that's a way to look at it as far as the food goes, at least it didn't get thrown out. The kids didn't have anything in their freezer to throw out they were lucky, they did have milk and eggs from Bryce's wic in the fridge, I told them to pour it down the drain and send the eggs down the disposal. Rinse the containers and put them in the trash, it is starting to get to her that they may lose all of their belongings but I told her that they are more important than their worldly belongings they can be replaced. I also told her that if it had to happen now at least they don't have years of belongings accumulated, they can replace their things. I don't blame Pam, I would NOT stay there, I would be scared to death. Please take care.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 10:22 pm:

I forgot there were two Pams! I was only thinking of Pam T.

By Yjja123 on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 10:48 pm:

Having gone through a few hurricanes and taking a direct hit by Wilma, I know your fear.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers!
I do not understand the man mentality to stay when you are told to evacuate. My hubby is the same way.
I know it is expensive to pick up and go (we have animals so looking for hotels that take animals is always a pain) BUT as Karen said, your life is worth more than the expense.
Stay safe and know that we are all thinking about you! I hope the hurricane veers off and no one is affected by it!

By Kaye on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 11:18 pm:

The other thing that is tough, is just when do you make that decision. I don't think the storm is set to make land fall until tuesday, but if you wait to find out more you won't ever get out. That is what houston learned. The westward shift seems to of slowed down, the wunderground shows 4 of the 6 models now in la. I think I would take it seriously.

By Nicki on Saturday, August 30, 2008 - 02:38 am:

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Please take care.

By Karen~admin on Saturday, August 30, 2008 - 05:01 am:

Kaye, that's SO true. There's been a LOT of local news coverage all week about how early the local governments AND the general population here have been making plans this time around. Almost everyone I know made reservations/plans to leave by Tuesday - a full week ahead of expected landfall. And on the one hand, you hate to pull the trigger prematurely, but on the other hand, you do NOT want to be stuck at home with no possible way out and no place to go to.

Yvonne, the pet thing is always a concern for us as well, we have a 70 lb. dog, and there is NO way we would leave here behind.

Kelly, do the kids have any kind of renters insurance for their personal property?

I slept all of 3 hours. :-0

Too stressed to sleep...so will be heading into the shower and finish packing the car and leaving soon.........

Thanks for all the well wishes. Not that I wish this on anyone else, but *maybe* it won't it LA?? LOL

I will have my laptop, so I'll be online soon.

By Colette on Saturday, August 30, 2008 - 07:25 am:

((hugs)) to all of you! How scary this must be! I hope you all stay safe.

By Mom2three1968 on Saturday, August 30, 2008 - 08:33 am:

Karen, they have 10,000 dollars on renters insurance, they did have it up to 15 but ds had heard that base housing had some sort of renters insurance, when they told me that I was thinking that it was probably for damage caused by tennants not for their benefit but I didn't say anything because it is too late to change their amount of insurance. At least they have something. Karen, sorry that you didn't get much sleep, that would've been me for sure. I called my kids and they left at 5:30 and are in Mississippi now headed for Albany. Hope to hear how everyone is doing really soon!!!

By Amecmom on Saturday, August 30, 2008 - 06:38 pm:

My thoughts and prayers are with you all! We were in Fl this week for vacation and I loved it there. My husband does, too. We'd move there, but I am just not mentally strong enough to live in a place that gets hit by so many dangerous storms. I could never deal with the stress you are. I admire your strength and pray you'll be safe.
Ame

By Bobbie~moderatr on Sunday, August 31, 2008 - 12:00 am:

In my thoughts..