Wake Up Call

Those of us not on duty talked, ate, and watched the news. We still had power and air conditioning. As it turns out, there were plenty of pets here. Bear could have come here after all I suppose, but I am glad they are in Baton Rouge. That gives me less to worry about and keep up with.

I began to fade at 12:30 am or so and the storm was still quite mild. Fortunately, I brought a blanket and pillow. I pulled up a spot thinly carpeted concrete slab and tried for sleep. My bed at home is considerably softer, but I went to sleep straight away. Lying there looking up at the ceiling in the business office, thoughts were circulating in my head like the hurricane outside. What will this day bring?

3:37 am: I awoke to the sound of wind above me. Sheets of rain were been driven into the roof. I could tell the power was lost, but the generator was running and some lights are working. Generator power gives us lights, some outlets, but no AC. I am in my office right now using my computer hooked up to one of the powered outlets. I had to dial in because our DSL line is out.

I was wide awake, so I put my shoes on and walked out to the lobby. The wind and rain were pulsating like a lawn sprinkler on steroids. A few moments of hard, sideways, wind driven rain, followed by lesser wind and vertical rain. It sounds pretty ominous, but this is only the tropical storm force winds, up to 50 mph. Before Katrina let's us go, the winds will be three times this strong.

Still, it is a fascination and me and some of the other men stood out under the over hang to watch and feel this phenomenon. As I type this, I can hear the wind howling and rain hitting the roof like the soundtrack of an old B movie, but this is real.

Standing in the lobby, we noticed lights on across the street. We discussed why they had power, and why we did not. About that time, the echoing, arcing sound of a transformer occurred and the lights went out. In the next two minutes we heard three more transformers blow. That put an end to the "Why do they have lights conversation."

It is 4:45 am now and I suppose I am up for the duration. My next task is to couple my coffee pot with a powered outlet and begin a caffeine transfusion.

We are hanging in there, but the worst is yet to come.

Until the next time
John Strain

Waiting out Katrina

I finished shoring things up at home. I had to rid the yard of potential missiles. Then inside, I videoed the house so I can remember what I had, if I have to recall it for an insurance agent.

I took pictures and photo albums and put them in containers. Rats, I just remembered a bunch of photos I missed. Anyway, it was strange. What would you take with you? What would you try to protect? It is overwhelming, but not emotional in my case. At this time there are other things to do and higher priorities to observe. If things are lost, I am sure I will be sad and at some point, the weight of it will hit me. For now though, I do what I can and move on.

Right now, I am at the hospital. This is where I will wait out whatever Katrina does. The forecasters say things will begin to erode about 11 PM or so. As the night wears on the winds and rain will intensify.

I lost power at home for awhile, but it returned. At present, we have power here at the hospital. Ther are a lot of employees and their family memberes here. Coolers and bags hold our provisions and if it were not for the reason all of this is happening, it would be a big party. Still, I have had a few cokes, chips, and a hot roast beef sandwich. No sense in going to the grave on an empty stomach. Just kidding, a little gallows humor.

The mood is jovial now, but I am sure the sounds of Katrina's fury will replace that with fear and silent concern.

So that's it from here. The first rain bands are starting to come through. It is blustery, but nothing to suggest a major storm yet. It will all be here soon enough.

Until the next time
John Strain

Safe in Baton Rouge

New Orleans residents driving north across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway ahead of hurricane Katrina (click photo to view latest image)

Barbara and Bear just made it to Baton Rouge. They will weather the storm with John at his apartment near LSU.

To put this hurricane in perspective, think about the F-scale for rating tornadoes. An F3 tornadoe has winds of 158 to 206 mph. A tornadoe lasts a few seconds or minutes and is a relatively small area of wind. In contrast, Katrina currently has sustained winds of 175 with higher gusts. Those winds are said to collapse walls, tear off roofs, and even turn over trains. The eye of Katrina is 25 miles across right now, the size of Lake Pontchartrain. So, Katrina is like a giant F3 tornadoe, 25 miles across that will stay in the city 5 to 8 hours.

I don't think our minds will allow us to understand this. When it is over and we see the damage, we will know then. One thing at a time though, the first order of business is to survive the storm.

Until the next time
John Strain

Where Am I?

A few of you have asked where I am located. This link will show you where I live, Covington, LA. The hurricane is forecast to come right over us. That's bad.

Read this article for a description of what will happen to New Orleans.

Until the next time
John Strain

Katrina and Me

It looks like fate has placed me in a spot to experience the most devastating hurricane this region has ever seen. As the talking heads drone on about the bad news it all seems surreal. My head tells me it is true and it is going to happen, but I have no frame of reference to fathom the impending doom that spins toward us from the south.

Presently the Katrina is a category five hurricane with sustained winds of 160 mph. It is still strengthening and warmer water is ahead of it to help this process. The forecast track has Covington, LA directly in the path. I have read some of the worst-case scenario articles and they predict somewhere between 25,000 and 100,000 people could die in the city of New Orleans. This death toll is the result of many poor people who do not have the means to get out. Survivors will be on housetops competing for dry land with fire ants, rats, and poisonous snakes.

Imagine the Lake Pontchartrain, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico on a normal day. Now add 2 feet for high tide, add another 20 - 25 feet for the storm surge, on top of that will be 20 - 25 foot waves. I do not think the 15 foot levee system will be of much use in this situation. Once the water gets in the city, it will be days before it gets out.

We are trying to imagine a devastation that has not occurred around here. It could end the city of New Orleans and possibly the region. The economy would be so disrupted in the aftermath that it may never recover.

I can only hope this will not happen, but Katrina continues to spin and grow more ominous in the Gulf of Mexico.

These are my thoughts and I want to record them throughout the process of this storm. I am not trying to be melodramatic. I walked Bear this morning in an eerie calm. Many folks have packed up and left, a cool breeze is blowing from the north. It is hard to imagine that on such a beautiful morning, the opposite is nearby.

Barbara and Bear are going to Baton Rouge to stay with John at his apartment. LSU classes have been cancelled for Monday.

I am going to weather the storm at the hospital. We have three days worth of emergency power there before we need more diesel fuel. I will have food, water, and hopefully Internet access. I can connect through dialup of the DSL is down and if that does not work, I will use my cell phone to audioblog. I will have my still camera and video camera as well.

I am worried about my marathon in Tupelo next Sunday. I know in the grand scheme of things, it is a small thing, but I would still like to run the darn thing since I have done all of the training.

I have to run 10 miles today, then I will finish getting the yard free of potential projectiles. I then plan to come inside and box up my photos and other things that cannot be replaced. Tonight or early tomorrow I will go to the hospital and ride out whatever Katrina throws our way. At that point, I will have to react to her, because I haven't figured out how to control this situation yet. That last sentence was supposed to be funny.

So, ahead we go, whatever happens will be new for me; a real adventure. Thanks to those of you who are remembering us in prayer. I will keep posting throughout if at all possible.

Until the next time
John Strain