Ivan Humor, and area 'panic' report

[HurryKane]

First, a little humor: http://tinyurl.com/6v5rf


Went shopping twice today here on the west MS Gulf Coast, most recently this evening. Not many indications at all from people's behavior that they were aware that a storm could be approaching. I passed one fellow who, like me, was stocking up on bungee cords and other camping sundries, and who was in the parking lot later informing some other folks about the relative danger of Ivan for us. But that was pretty much it.

No bread shortage, no milk shortage...definitely a gas can shortage though. And I did get clocked in the face by a large, falling box of rainsuits. Other than that a relatively calm experience at Wally World.

[Agua]

Same in OS; people are wholly unaware. No problems topping off gas for both cars.

[MSRobi911]

Folks in Pascagoula are evidently paying more attention. Wally World was packed and only had a little bit of bottled water left on the shevles, sure they had some in the back (?) But the Chevron station at Ingall's and Chico is out of gas......

Hwy. 90 Chevron has gas tho..

[tronbunny]

Very funny!
thanks for the link!
I hope folks over there wake up soon.
I've got my Mother-in-law in Hattiesburg, and I'm watching for her too.

[Ixolib]

D'Iberville Wal-Mart had plenty of everything - including water. The only thing they were out of that we were looking for was pet carriers. Also 6-V batteries were in short supply. But, people were definitely NOT "hurricane shopping"!! Pretty much, the GP is of the mindset that it's going to FL - so no worries. My boss (a Casino VP!!??) thought it had already made landfall somewhere... And the Lowes parking lot was virtually empty at 4pm today.

[HurryKane]

tronbunny, I kind of lied, my first stop was at Sam's in Hattiesburg (not really the coast, eh). Second stop was in Waveland for perishables and forgotten items. It appeared to be business as usual in Hattiesburg as well...in fact I would say it was tremendously light traffic for a Sunday afternoon.

[HurryKane]

My boss (a Casino VP!!??) thought it had already made landfall somewhere...

The sinnahs, they shall be PURGED from the face of the earth!

Just kidding. I am interested, if (heaven forbid) we do get hit, how the casinos will fare.

Also my head is really starting to hurt. I smell a rainsuit lawsuit. Ow.

[Us 2 cajuns]

Had to wait in line to buy gas in Slidell, La....around 4PM today. Also so a few people in Lowes and Home Depot buying plywood.

[Lindaloo]

Folks in Pascagoula are evidently paying more attention. Wally World was packed and only had a little bit of bottled water left on the shevles, sure they had some in the back (?) But the Chevron station at Ingall's and Chico is out of gas......

Hwy. 90 Chevron has gas tho..

Went in Wally World to get my usual three cases of water and the shelves were empty.

[HurryKane]

Forgot to add: got a report from a friend in Mobile and she said the lines are already long in stores, and people are already getting testy and rude.

[FritzPaul]

Quote:

Just kidding. I am interested, if (heaven forbid) we do get hit, how the casinos will fare.


They will all be land based casinos.

[MSRobi911]

Fritz,

Nope, they will be up the river without a paddle casinos.

[LSU2001]

There are cheap hotels in NO. At least thats what I hear.

I am originally from Pascagoula and talked with family today. they are definitly taking this thing seriously. but Praying

[Ixolib]

My boss (a Casino VP!!??) thought it had already made landfall somewhere...

The sinnahs, they shall be PURGED from the face of the earth!

Just kidding. I am interested, if (heaven forbid) we do get hit, how the casinos will fare.

Also my head is really starting to hurt. I smell a rainsuit lawsuit. Ow.

If a cat 3/4 comes in, those of us employeed by the casinos will be at the unemployment office for a long time to come. They could barely handle the few tropical storms we've had in recent years. And Georges put my casino (Grand Gulfport) out of business for about two weeks, and others for much longer. If it's a cat 5, the casinos will then be well north of HWY 90, in a pile of insulation and other debris - probably undistinguishible from everything else.

[LSU2001]

I also had a kind of interesting day. I went to Lowe's and home depot in two different locations in Baton Rouge and in denham springs and they only had a couple of gen. sets. I was told that they were bought up and brought to fla. for frances and charley. this is not good for some. I already have a 15kw gen. set though currently it is at my camp in lower Lafource parish where i will be going tomorrow to pick it up. just thought i would share

[LSU2001]

I thought that the casinos could move upriver for hurricanes.

[Ixolib]

I thought that the casinos could move upriver for hurricanes.

No time, exremely difficult process, would take about 72 hours just to get them ready to move - assuming they can even be floated out of their berth. Then, they'd have to go through bridges barely wide enough to handle them - and that would have to be done at least 12 hours before landfall. Also, remember, they've been in place ten years now - with no bottom maintenence at all. And the difficulties just go on and on.....

[HurryKane]

I thought that the casinos could move upriver for hurricanes.

I used to think that too, until I read recently that MS gaming requirements are that the casinos be permanently moored and able to withstand Cat 4 winds and I forget how high a storm surge. If I can find it online I'll post it.

eta: Here it is:
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs. ... 50327/1023

excerpt:

Coast regulations

# Mississippi gaming regulations require that a casino be permanently moored to withstand a Category 4 storm with winds of 155 mph and a storm surge of 17 feet.

# Each casino must have an evacuation plan for closing before a hurricane and a plan for re-opening after a hurricane.

# Should a hurricane be headed toward the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission issues a closure notice 12 to 72 hours in advance of the time the hurricane is expected to hit.

# Casinos are required to remove all money from machines and other sources and account for it and have an armored car pick it up and deliver it to a bank.

# All employees and patrons are to be evacuated.

Source: Mississippi Gaming Commission

[Ixolib]

I thought that the casinos could move upriver for hurricanes.

I used to think that too, until I read recently that MS gaming requirements are that the casinos be permanently moored and able to withstand Cat 4 winds and I forget how high a storm surge. If I can find it online I'll post it.

I realize what the documents say, but truth be known, a cat 4 would absolutely DESTROY these casinos. They can float up about 12 feet before they max out. So, with a cat 4 15-foot surge, and wind-driven waves on top of that, I'm sorry to say they would be toast. And unfortunately, about 15,000 direct jobs with them - not to mention the indirect impact.

EDIT: Oops... this was supposed to be a humor thread. Sorry -