Gustav and Hanna

I am from the Palm Beaches, I agree with you but the problem is that they do not all open and sometimes they are at different locations. Some would open and not others, depending on the strength of the storm and also a facility may not be available at that time.

In addition, this information is available all over the media when a storm is coming and they advertise to check before going to a particular shelter to make sure it is open. Also, at some point, they would say that a particular shelter is full.

So if you have a POI you may drive in circle, trying to find a shelter.

BELLE CHASE, Louisiana (CNN) -- A hurricane watch was issued Saturday afternoon for southeastern Texas to the Alabama-Florida border as Hurricane Gustav's sustained winds reached 150 mph on its expected path to the U.S. Gulf Coast.
People line up at an evacuation point in New Orleans Saturday, as Gustav approaches the Gulf Coast.

People line up at an evacuation point in New Orleans Saturday, as Gustav approaches the Gulf

The watch means hurricane conditions are possible within about 36 hours, the National Hurricane Center said.

Thousands fled as Gustav strengthened to a strong Category 4 hurricane.

At 5 p.m. ET, the eye of the storm was about 130 miles (210 km) east-northeast of Cuba's western tip and moving northwest about 15 mph.

http://tinyurl.com/5gu49a
http://tinyurl.com/5gu49a

After posting it I saw the flaws that could be possible with such file, we have the same problem here in Tampa with not all shelters available for each storm, anyway it was just a thought.

The National Hurricane site can be found here: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

May God protect all those in it's path. My prayers are with you all.

If the shelter locations are announced in the media and the building/structure types used as shelters are always the same, i.e., school buildings, hospitals, office buildings, etc. then make the POI!

It's better to have a list of all the possible shelter locations on hand and know how to get there so when told which one to use you can find it easily, then try and figure how to get to one when the wind starts blowing.

Stay safe and be careful down there people!

Mike

Governor Bobby Jindal held a press conference to give an update on state preparedness measures surrounding the impact of Hurricane Gustav on Louisiana. The Governor announced that contraflow would begin along south Louisiana at 4 AM Sunday morning. Additionally, the Governor issued an executive order closing schools in central and north Louisiana Tuesday and Wednesday to free up shelter space and bus resources for local residents and residents in south Louisiana.

it would help to have a POI on shelters. Even if they're not open anyone watching the news or listening to the radio for shelter openings can touch the GPSr screens rather than looking for it in a map or tying up the emergency phone centers asking for directions. Having such file is not a risky one. It's part of prepardness, something we all should do.

Well let me tell you all that the Gulf Coast is a mess. I manage a fleet of trucks from Lake Charles to Pascagoula, MS. Our company delivers fuel.

Shelter POI's are a good idea but you never know which one will be open.

It is gridlock on the interstate system and it is 0145. Contra Flow starts in 15 minutes and that should help.

Let's hope this thing will fizz out but it does not look like it will and we are going to get beat up real good. Have a great day and keep thinking about us down here!

Information & Updates on Gustav Preps & Evacuations

Red Cross:

http://www.redccross.org
1-800-RED-CROSS

To find a Shelter:

1-866-GET-INFO

Louisiana Residents
Use the 311 system:
they will tell you where to find a bus, train or whatever is needed to help you, your family and pet evacuate.

http://www.emergency.la.gov
1-866-288-2484

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS & CURFEW ISSUED

No shelters will be open in New Orleans, Mayor Ray Nagin has ordered a mandatory evacuation, if you do not evacuate, your absolutely on your own with no State or Parish services. You will also be under home incarceration and will be treated as a suspicious person if you leave your home, Your Home could be with out water and electricity for a long period of time.

Orleans Parish Update
8/31/2008

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has called for a dusk to dawn curfew starting Sunday night.

He also announced that the New Orleans City Council will evacuate to Baton Rouge along with other key city personel will also leave. Nagin says he feels it would be best to have them in baton Rouge to make sure city government business can continue after Hurricane Gustav passes.

Lafourche Parish Update; curfew ordered
8/31/2008

As Hurricane Gustav approaches the coast, Lafourche Parish residents who have decided not to evacuate should be prepared to deal with a potentially catastrophic event. If you are a resident living south of U.S. Highway 90 and you have decided to stay for the storm, please contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office Command Post at 532-4337 or 532-4338 to inform them of your intentions.The Lafourche Parish Sheriff Office along with Lafourche Parish Government will be sweeping the Parish until 12 Noon for anyone needing assistance evacuating. We estimate around 70% of the Parish has been evacuated said Parish President Charlotte Randolph. We are hoping that number will be closer to 85% by the end of the day. Windell Curole, overseeing levees in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, is warning that South Lafourche residents that there is a concern about the levees being overtopped. These levees were built to withstand a Category 3 or lower storm, Curole said.There is definitely the possibility that the storm surge and rain will cause the levees in South Lafourche to be overtopped. Anyone who is currently south of the floodgates in Golden Meadow must be on the north side by today. At that time, the road will be completely blocked off to prepare for the storm, and you will be unable to cross back into the levee system. A curfew has been set for 6:00 P.M. today (Sunday) in Lafourche Parish. Any residents left in Lafourche Parish must stay in their homes after that time. Any travelers after that time will be stopped and questioned by law enforcement officials.

http://tinyurl.com/6dlsdd

Storm Shelters aren't always in the same place and tend to fill up quickly the closer to the time of the storm.

Here's a KMZ file that I've created from the National Hurricane Center data. Looks like it's heading to New Orleans, LA. Damn...

http://members.shaw.ca/cgy_guy/files/Gustav_track.kmz

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

After a day of "network busy" and "all circuits busy" recordings, we finally heard from my wife's sister & her husband in New Orleans (Kenner). They came through the storm just fine.

They tried to drive from Kenner into New Orleans to check on their houses, but were turned back by police.

At least we know they are OK - and the 3 dogs, too, and the pet turtles in the bathtub. The turtle is a story in itself. They named it Kat because my wife & I found it loose in the back yard where we were working after Katrina.

Well it has been a long week. We just had the power turned back on last night. 5 days of no A/C with 100% humidity. WOW! My city is pretty. Power lines all over the place and the high school will take 3 months to repair.

Anyway what would help people out would be routes around the contra flow. We had the interstate system tied up but the state highway system was smooth sailing.

Well have to go move some more fuel. IKE is coming right around the bend!