Woke up a little while ago to the news that she'd strengthened to a CAT 5. It's sunny and breezy here, and surreal to know that a storm of that catastrophic size is bearing down on us. I've been on hold with the phramacy for almost thirty minutes, trying to get some medicine refilled. We've got extra gas for the two generators we own, and we've got big water coolers we'll fill up tonight for drinking water. Bathtubs will get filled so we have water in case the power to the water goes out (for toilets, etc.).
When Andrew made it inland to us, it wasn't nearly a CAT 5. I can't remember what it finally hit land as here in Louisiana -- maybe a CAT 3? By the time it reached Baton Rouge, it had seriously decreased in strength, and it still disrupted everything for weeks and weeks. Some people were without electricity for about three weeks, and there were so many downed trees, that some neighborhoods couldn't be navigated for a while.
I cannot fathom what this storm is going to do. And yes, for the first time for a hurricane, I'm actually nervous.
Posted by toni at August 28, 2005 09:44 AMTake care, Toni. I hope it isn't as bad as it looks now. My family all evacuated NO for Covington or Lafayette, but my little brother is still in Baton Rouge. And my grandparents refuse to leave NO because they've survived other hurricanes so it's no big deal, right? I hope they're right.
Posted by: jette at August 28, 2005 09:49 AMOh man. I'll be checking cnn.com and thinking of you. (packed the TV)
Posted by: Tamar at August 28, 2005 10:36 AM