The Waiting Game orMaking The Most Of It

Steve drove to the house this morning. He reports that there are a few fallen tree branches in both the front and back yards, which is what we expected. The house itself is fine. There are no broken windows and the structure is intact. However, we don't have power. In fact, most of New Orleans does not have power.

Officials from Entergy, the power company that supplies our city, report damage to the transmission lines between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Until these lines are repaired, we will continue to be without power. Entergy estimates that it may take up to ten days to repair these lines and to restore power to the city. This means that unless buildings have been outfitted with generators, there is no refrigeration, not just in houses, but also in grocery stores and restaurants. Likewise, there will be no air conditioning. With high humidity and temperatures hovering in the 90s, conditions will be difficult for a lot of people.

The supply of gasoline is also limited at this time. On his drive between work and our house this morning, Steve saw only two gas stations open. Both were manned by police officers directing the flow of cars through the pumps. Tulane University was originally scheduled to reopen on Monday, September 8, but with no power, the administrators are considering delaying the reopening of the school by another week.

The roads leading into New Orleans and the rest of southeast Louisiana are now open, but we're going to stay in Pensacola for a few more days. With the house intact and secure, why return to a city with less than ideal conditions? Instead, the boys (Chip and Dale) and I will drive to Birmingham this weekend. Steve and I had planned to go to the Alabama-Tulane football game this weekend. So we'll meet him there and see if there is any progress in New Orleans before deciding our next course of action. By Sunday, we should have a better idea whether or not Ike, currently a tropical storm in the Atlantic, has plans to enter the Gulf of Mexico. Also, our clinic will be closed for the remainder of this week, so there is no rush to return home.

Making the most of our exile, the dogs and I have been taking walks along the beach. This morning I watched Chip prance along beside me, on a bike path lit with horizontal beams of light from the rising sun. With the wind blowing through the hair on top of his head, he looked content. My friends staying with me in Pensacola are still deciding what to do. Until we know more, we're going to make the most of our current situation.