ARE WE READY?

LaBreeze · #21 Postby **LaBreeze** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 10:25 am

"Watching my kit float away" - I couldn't even find mine. Rita took it along with the house. Things are progressing slowly as far as recovery is concerned, but I don't think that I'll have a kit again either. Take the valuables, leave early and head inland - far inland!! That's the plan for me in 2006.

cajungal · #22 Postby **cajungal** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 10:26 am

I don't think we will ever be ready. For Katrina, we made our neccessary preparations. And we do have batteries left over from last year. We boarded up every inch of our home. My dad even put rope on our doorhandles to keep them from flying open. And we left. I made sure I filled up my tank and grabbed extra cash. But, never do that until the last minute because my job is always the very last one in the mall to close. For Rita, they kept the store open for most of the storm. If it got to the point between my job and my life, I would not be so stupid. Last year, I did not have any pets since my yorkie died June 30th. Before any of the storms hit. Now I got a brand new 8-week old yorkie puppy. So, now we have to make plans with her if we leave. There is no way I would ever leave her behind.

#23 Postby **canetracker** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 10:38 pm

We left with 7 days worth of food, water and clothing. We also brought all pictures, important documents, batteries, flashlights, a portable TV and our computers.
This turned out to be a very wise move as the first hotel that we were in lost power. Further, restaurants and businesses all closed due to loss of power and unsafe travelling conditions. Noone counted on the effects of Katrina being so widespread, so we ended up feeding many people in the hotel that were not prepared. We also loaned out a few flashlights and batteries. As far as clothing, we did not lend that out, but do make sure you bring enough.
Am I ready this year?? You bet. However, I never want to have to actually use my preperations again.

#24 Postby **GeneratorPower** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 10:59 pm

I think gasoline will top the list for preparedness items this year. Up here in North Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee, we were completely out of gas off and on for three weeks. It was terrible. I can't imagine what it was like for those of you closer to the coast.

LaPlaceFF · #25 Postby **LaPlaceFF** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:03 pm

canetracker, what part of surburbia New Orleans are you at?

#26 Postby **skysummit** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:20 am

LaPlaceFF wrote:canetracker, what part of surburbia New Orleans are you at?

Yea...I second that question

KatDaddy · #27 Postby **KatDaddy** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:41 am

No I am not mentally prepared for the upcoming 2006 season. I feel for eveyone who had to live through Katrina and Rita. A friend told me life goes through seasons and this last hurricane season turned the page to It was fun tracking hurricanes ever Summer but now its is scary. We were so very very luckly that Rita missed the Houston-Galveson Areas but saddened deeply at what we saw just to our E and across SE LA and MISS. Ixolib it was heartbreaking to hear your experince and see the photos of the destruction. I cannot even imagine what you experienced. Having a 1 1/2 year old girl it really puts life into perspective. I fear this hurricane season may not be so luckly for us. I am sure we all feel this way after the last two years.

#28 Postby **gatorcane** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:43 am

I think we may have a strong Bermuda High this summer. We are already seeing hints of a fairly strong E wind pattern settup up for the summer.

Of course this is mere speculation.

#29 Postby **skysummit** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:59 am

boca_chris wrote:I think we may have a strong Bermuda High this summer. We are already seeing hints of a fairly strong E wind pattern settup up for the summer.

Of course this is mere speculation.

So are you thinking everything may ride westward and not recurve in time?

Ixolib · #30 Postby **Ixolib** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:26 am

KatDaddy wrote:No I am not mentally prepared for the upcoming 2006 season. I feel for eveyone who had to live through Katrina and Rita. A friend told me life goes through seasons and this last hurricane season turned the page to It was fun tracking hurricanes ever Summer but now its is scary. We were so very very luckly that Rita missed the Houston-Galveson Areas but saddened deeply at what we saw just to our E and across SE LA and MISS. Ixolib it was heartbreaking to hear your experince and see the photos of the destruction. I cannot even imagine what you experienced. Having a 1 1/2 year old girl it really puts life into perspective. I fear this hurricane season may not be so luckly for us. I am sure we all feel this way after the last two years.

Thanks, KD, it has been an experience to say the least. But, we're keeping hope alive and optimism now rules the day...

Actually, that 1 1/2 year old is what should help keep you sane when it comes to making decisions on evacuation, etc. Thinking back, the ONLY storm I ever left my house in was Elena in '85, and that was because my kids were then only 4 and 5 years old.

Then, with Katrina, our now-grown daughter decided - at the last minute - to come to our house with her 2 year-old in tow. By then, it was too late to leave the area. As the water started coming in our house (mind you, we're at 20 feet above sea level here), I looked at my grandson and thought "what a terrible mistake we had all made" in staying here at the house. Thankfully, it stopped at about 2 feet.

It brings chills to me to think what we would have had to do if it kept rising. For those families with little children who had to actually endure that reality, I just can't imagine what they were going through.

Looking back, our grandson was actually having a great time "wading" through the water and splashing around in the living room. In his little world, he was thinking a huge water park had just been delivered to the house solely for his enjoyment. Seems kind of weirdly amusing now, but in the moment, it was the most surreal event I've ever experienced in all of my 49 years, and one now that I truly regret.

It is for these reasons that I say pooh pooh to the winds of a 'cane. It's the surge that brings all the destruction and death.

No doubts now - in '06 and beyond, we will ALWAYS be somewhere well north (and west!!) of the coast when the next storm graces our shoreline...

cajungal · #31 Postby **cajungal** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 10:21 am

We got hit by Katrina 50 miles to our east escaping the brunt. Rita hit 200 miles to our west, yet southern Terrebonne Parish was under water from the surge. I shruder to see what would happen if a storm of Katrina's strength or greather came in around Morgan City or Cocodrie. Terrebonne Parish would be wiped out. Even the northern part of the parish would be under water. It is just a matter of time before Terrebonne Parish gets hit directly by a major storm. We got hit by the east, then a few weeks later hit from the west. Next time, we may not be so lucky.

mike815 · #32 Postby **mike815** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 11:22 am

can we ever really be ready im sure not im prepared the best i can be i also believe that the bermunda high will be strong again

#33 Postby **vbhoutex** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 11:33 am

cajungal wrote:We got hit by Katrina 50 miles to our east escaping the brunt. Rita hit 200 miles to our west, yet southern Terrebonne Parish was under water from the surge. I shruder to see what would happen if a storm of Katrina's strength or greather came in around Morgan City or Cocodrie. Terrebonne Parish would be wiped out. Even the northern part of the parish would be under water. It is just a matter of time before Terrebonne Parish gets hit directly by a major storm. We got hit by the east, then a few weeks later hit from the west. Next time, we may not be so lucky.

This what EVERYONE anywhere near the coast or any waterway close to the coast must RREMEMBER!!!! GET OUT and GET OUT WELL IN ADVANCE of any storm. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!!!!!

#34 Postby **skysummit** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:32 pm

cajungal wrote:We got hit by Katrina 50 miles to our east escaping the brunt. Rita hit 200 miles to our west, yet southern Terrebonne Parish was under water from the surge. I shruder to see what would happen if a storm of Katrina's strength or greather came in around Morgan City or Cocodrie. Terrebonne Parish would be wiped out. Even the northern part of the parish would be under water. It is just a matter of time before Terrebonne Parish gets hit directly by a major storm. We got hit by the east, then a few weeks later hit from the west. Next time, we may not be so lucky.

Yea...remember when Katrina was offshore, if she would've come into Terrebonne Bay, local officials were talking about 10 feet of water in Downtown Houma! I just cannot picture that.

Ixolib · #35 Postby **Ixolib** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:42 pm

skysummit wrote:
cajungal wrote:We got hit by Katrina 50 miles to our east escaping the brunt. Rita hit 200 miles to our west, yet southern Terrebonne Parish was under water from the surge. I shruder to see what would happen if a storm of Katrina's strength or greather came in around Morgan City or Cocodrie. Terrebonne Parish would be wiped out. Even the northern part of the parish would be under water. It is just a matter of time before Terrebonne Parish gets hit directly by a major storm. We got hit by the east, then a few weeks later hit from the west. Next time, we may not be so lucky.

Yea...remember when Katrina was offshore, if she would've come into Terrebonne Bay, local officials were talking about 10 feet of water in Downtown Houma! I just cannot picture that.

I know the feeling - "Biloxi Officials" also said the same thing, but thought it would never happen. Then the unthinkable happened and virtually the entire peninsula of East Biloxi went under. Can't imagine what would have happened if Katrina would have stayed a CAT 5 all the way to landfall - maintaining the same diameter and forward motion... :eek:

#36 Postby **canetracker** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 8:27 am

LaPlaceFF wrote:canetracker, what part of surburbia New Orleans are you at?

Sorry about the late response but have been busy working and going to parades. I am located in Harahan, Louisiana (Jefferson Parish).

#37 Postby **skysummit** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 12:51 pm

canetracker wrote:
LaPlaceFF wrote:canetracker, what part of surburbia New Orleans are you at?

Sorry about the late response but have been busy working and going to parades. I am located in Harahan, Louisiana (Jefferson Parish).

Ok, just curious...always passing that way

#38 Postby **Frank P** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 2:47 pm

I honestly believe if Katrina would have come in as a 175 mph Cat 5 with her very large size the entire peninsular of Biloxi would have been underwater... the surge would probably been in the 35-45 foot range, maybe even higher.. and this city would pretty much have been entirely wiped off the map, along with Ocean Springs, Gulfport, Long Beach, Pass and Bay St. Louis... The I-10 bridges at Pascagoula and Bay St. Louis would also have been wiped out...we are quite lucky from that perspective that she weakened to only a Cat 3...

Now the question at hand "am I ready for a storm"... I don't think so..... but I don't have much more to lose since Katrina took everything... what bothers me the most is what will happen if even a weak Cat 2 hits the areas... it will most likely destroy all the RVs and trailers... most of the evacuation centers are not really available nor prepared to house thousands of evacuees... so where will all the people go and eventually live???? Hell, where will I live??? I don't have a clue what I would do.... and I'm probably better off than most of the people in this area.... it took me months to get a FEMA trailer... if every there was a year for the MS/SE LA coast NOT to get a hit with a strong hurricane it certainly is this summer... I hope we don't even get a threat... but I seriously doubt that scenario pans out... one can hope though...

MiamiensisWx · #39 Postby **MiamiensisWx** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:07 pm

Frank P wrote:I honestly believe if Katrina would have come in as a 175 mph Cat 5 with her very large size the entire peninsular of Biloxi would have been underwater... the surge would probably been in the 35-45 foot range, maybe even higher.. and this city would pretty much have been entirely wiped off the map, along with Ocean Springs, Gulfport, Long Beach, Pass and Bay St. Louis... The I-10 bridges at Pascagoula and Bay St. Louis would also have been wiped out...we are quite lucky from that perspective that she weakened to only a Cat 3...

Now the question at hand "am I ready for a storm"... I don't think so..... but I don't have much more to lose since Katrina took everything... what bothers me the most is what will happen if even a weak Cat 2 hits the areas... it will most likely destroy all the RVs and trailers... most of the evacuation centers are not really available nor prepared to house thousands of evacuees... so where will all the people go and eventually live???? Hell, where will I live??? I don't have a clue what I would do.... and I'm probably better off than most of the people in this area.... it took me months to get a FEMA trailer... if every there was a year for the MS/SE LA coast NOT to get a hit with a strong hurricane it certainly is this summer... I hope we don't even get a threat... but I seriously doubt that scenario pans out... one can hope though...

What's "only a Category Three" and "a weak Category Two"? May you explain what makes a Category Two or Category Three "only" or "weak"?

By the way, it's nice to see you back!

Ixolib · #40 Postby **Ixolib** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:08 pm

Frank P wrote:I honestly believe if Katrina would have come in as a 175 mph Cat 5 with her very large size the entire peninsular of Biloxi would have been underwater... the surge would probably been in the 35-45 foot range, maybe even higher.. and this city would pretty much have been entirely wiped off the map, along with Ocean Springs, Gulfport, Long Beach, Pass and Bay St. Louis... The I-10 bridges at Pascagoula and Bay St. Louis would also have been wiped out...we are quite lucky from that perspective that she weakened to only a Cat 3...

Now the question at hand "am I ready for a storm"... I don't think so..... but I don't have much more to lose since Katrina took everything... what bothers me the most is what will happen if even a weak Cat 2 hits the areas... it will most likely destroy all the RVs and trailers... most of the evacuation centers are not really available nor prepared to house thousands of evacuees... so where will all the people go and eventually live???? Hell, where will I live??? I don't have a clue what I would do.... and I'm probably better off than most of the people in this area.... it took me months to get a FEMA trailer... if every there was a year for the MS/SE LA coast NOT to get a hit with a strong hurricane it certainly is this summer... I hope we don't even get a threat... but I seriously doubt that scenario pans out... one can hope though...

Hey Frank - good to see you on the board again... Hope all is heading in a positive direction for you and yours...

IF that 35' to 45' surge would have come to pass, you on Binachi and me on Lafayette would be no more, I do believe. I'm at 19.5' here, and we took ~3 feet in the house. Another 20+ feet is unimaginable.

My history is just like yours - stayed through every storm since Betsy. No doubt now, I'll never stay for another. Dem days is behind me!!

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