Most of the computer models have the storm hitting the coast west of New Orleans now. This could still be bad for our city. If it hits along the central Louisiana coast, we will get slammed by the more powerful side of the storm. Basically what I take away from this latest report is that no one really knows, at this point, where the storm will hit. Also, that New Orleans is still within the cone of probability.
Yesterday afternoon, our Clinic Manager at work, called a meeting to discuss hurricane preparations. The head honchos in New Orleans plan to meet twice a day to review the situation and any decisions that are made will then trickle down the chain of command, until is finally reaches me. So, if I have to evacuate, I'm covered. I like that we're on top of things.
In a turn of events, today I feel somewhat calm compared to yesterday. But, people at work are noticeably unnerved. At least two people that I've spoken with, have booked hotels farther inland (Montgomery, AL and Jackson, MS) and they plan to evacuate this weekend regardless of where the storm hits. Yesterday, these same people were walking around the clinic as though they were blissfully unaware of the approaching storm. But, it's good to see that people are playing it safe.
12:45pm
We completed our weekly system-wide Medicine meeting and one statement that grabbed my attention is the following:
We tried to get rooms for our employees, but as of this morning, we found out that there are no hotel rooms available anywhere in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
I also saw a truck deliver palettes of bottled water to our clinic and what I presumed were boxes of non-perishable food. If there is a mandatory evacuation, our clinic will have three federal police officers guarding the facility. I assumed the supplies are for them.
From the Times-Picayune, I learned that the transit system in the city of New Orleans will cease operations "indefinately" starting tomorrow evening. Indefinately?It sounds like everyone is taking the threat of Gustav seriously. Yet, I still feel calm. Should I be more nervous than I am now?
To add more fuel to the fire, there is another threat on the horizon. Hanna, another storm, is in Atlantic right now, but the long-range forecast has the storm tracking across the state of Florida, which is sort of what Katrina did three years ago. Hanna is already a stronger storm than Gustav was at the same stage, so the chance that it will be more dangerous in the coming days is worrisome. We have a lot to watch out for over the next couple of weeks.
