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Security contracts for Hurricane Gustav response

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:08:10 GMT

Security for Hurricane Gustav

Blackwater is compiling a list of qualified security personnel for possible deployment into areas affected by Hurricane Gustav. Applicants must meet all items listed under the respective Officer posting and be US citizens. Contract length is TBD.

Law Enforcement Officers (all criteria must apply)

1. Current sworn [may be full time, part time or reserve]
2. With arrest powers
3. Armed status (must indicate Armed and/or Semi Auto. Revolver only not accepted) expiration must be greater than 60 days out
4. Departmental credentials (not just a badge)
Armed Security Officers (all criteria must apply) Only from the following states: OR, WA, CA, NV, NM, AZ, TX, FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, MD, IL, OK

1. Current/active/licensed/registered armed security officer
2. All training verification [unarmed and armed certificates of completion]
3. Current state issued face card indicting armed status [expiration must be greater than 60 days out]

Applicants will be required to provide an electronic copy of the above required credentials/documents, recent photo within the last six months with response to this AD prior to consideration for deployment.

Personnel who meet the above qualifications and are interested, please send resumes and files to: 25505@blackwaterusa2.hrmdirect.com

http://retiredlawman.com/gustavresponse.html

August 31, 2008 – 0940hrs

HURRICANE RESPONSE HAS BEEN ACTIVATED

If you are planning on deploying to the area, please send an e-mail to info@retiredlawman.com or call

225-302-3198

225-288-6115

225-288-5987

225-288-6053

We can then plan for your arrival and make the necessary arrangements

The In-Processing Center will open until 2200hrs, August 31^st. It will then reopen after the storm has passed. The above lines will remain manned during this time.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (3x Copies of Each):

- Firearms certification w/i the last year
- Current POST Training w/i the last year
- Any training certificates (security training)
- DD-214 (if available)
- Social Security Card
- Unexpired Driver’s License or passport
- Immunization Records (if available)

UNIFORMS & FIREARMS

- 5.11 or Khaki’s

- You may bring your duty belt; we will be issuing them if needed

- Weapons will be issued as necessary, personal firearms are not allowed

- Firearms requalification will be provided, if necessary

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

- We are not reimbursing for travel to and from the In-Doc center at this time.

- You may leave your vehicle at the In-Doc location – but its at your own risk

- Please keep in mind that this is a hurricane response tasking, we will do our best to accommodate you as best we can whilst you are waiting to deploy but you may have to “rough it” – the state has ordered the closure of all hotels in most areas. Once deployed the client you are supporting will provide housing.<o:p></o:p>

- Pay rate is $30 per hour / 12 hour day.

The In-Processing staging area is at the reception hall located at Frank’s Restaurant, 17425 Airline Hwy, Prairieville, LA. 70769. Directions to this location from Baton Rouge, LA are southbound hwy 61Airline Hwy from Interstate 12, approximately 10 miles. The restaurant and reception hall are located on the west side of Hwy 61.

Update on Tropical Storm Josephine

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:47:57 GMT

TROPICAL STORM JOSEPHINE ADVISORY NUMBER 11
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL102008
500 PM AST THU SEP 04 2008

...JOSEPHINE WEAKENS A LITTLE MORE...

AT 500 PM AST...2100Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM JOSEPHINE WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 33.2 WEST OR ABOUT 590
MILES...945 KM...WEST OF THE SOUTHERNMOST CAPE VERDE ISLANDS.

JOSEPHINE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/HR
...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF
DAYS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH...75 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE CURRENTLY NOT FAVORABLE FOR
SIGNIFICANT STRENGTHENING...AND LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS
FORECAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES...165 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1002 MB...29.59 INCHES.

REPEATING THE 500 PM AST POSITION...14.6 N...33.2 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45
MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1002 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
1100 PM AST.

$$
FORECASTER BEVEN

Update on Tropical Storm Hannah

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:45:55 GMT

TROPICAL STORM HANNA ADVISORY NUMBER 32
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL082008
500 PM EDT THU SEP 04 2008

...NEW WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR HANNA...

AT 5 PM EDT...2100 UTC...A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED
FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER NORTHWARD TO THE NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA
BORDER...INCLUDING THE PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE SOUNDS. A TROPICAL
STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

AT 5 PM EDT...THE HURRICANE WATCH IS EXTENDED NORTHWARD AND IS NOW
IN EFFECT FROM NORTH OF EDISTO BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA TO CURRITUCK
BEACH LIGHT...INCLUDING PAMLICO SOUND.

AT 5 PM EDT...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM THE NORTH
CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER NORTHWARD TO GREAT EGG INLET NEW
JERSEY...INCLUDING THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE TIDAL POTOMAC...
WASHINGTON D.C...AND THE DELAWARE BAY. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS
THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH
AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER
SOUTHWARD TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GEORGIA.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL AND
NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 500 PM EDT...2100Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM HANNA WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 75.0 WEST OR ABOUT 155
MILES...250 KM...EAST-NORTHEAST OF NASSAU AND ABOUT 625 MILES...1005
KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA.

HANNA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MPH...22 KM/HR...AND
THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO WITH
A GRADUAL INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED. A TURN TO THE NORTH IS
EXPECTED BY LATE FRIDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF
HANNA WILL PASS JUST EAST OF THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS
TODAY...AND WILL BE NEAR THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES
BY LATE FRIDAY. HOWEVER...RAINS AND WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH HANNA
WILL REACH THE COAST WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE CENTER.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MPH...100 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. ONLY SLIGHT STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST PRIOR TO LANDFALL...
ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL POSSIBLE FOR HANNA TO BECOME A HURRICANE.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 315 MILES...510
KM...MAINLY TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE CENTER.

THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT WAS 988 MB...29.18 INCHES.

HANNA COULD PRODUCE RAINFALL TOTALS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES OVER THE
NORTHERN BAHAMAS AND THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH AND NORTH
CAROLINA...WITH MAXIMUM ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF 5 INCHES POSSIBLE.
RAINFALL TOTALS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THE GEORGIA
COAST SOUTHWARD TO THE CENTRAL FLORIDA COAST. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL
AMOUNTS ARE LIKELY TO SPREAD RAPIDLY NORTHWARD INTO THE MID
ATLANTIC STATES AND NEW ENGLAND FROM FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY AND
MAY RESULT IN FLOODING.

COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE
LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE
EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF THE PATH OF THE CENTER OF HANNA.

REPEATING THE 500 PM EDT POSITION...25.5 N...75.0 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...988 MB.

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 800 PM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 1100
PM EDT.

$$
FORECASTER FRANKLIN

Hurricane Ike is a Cat 4 MONSTER

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:37:38 GMT

This map outlines the projected path of Hurricane Ike - which at present time is a monster Category 4 storm. Looks like the Gulf Coast should brace for another punch. More on the this computer model - click the URL for additional details:

European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasting Integrated Forecast System

The European Medium Range Forecast Model is considered one of the premiere four-day global forecasting model for the mid-latitudes. In 2006, the ECMWF made improvements that resulted in accurate hurricane forecasting. The model is run twice a day at 0z and 12z.

The graphics to the right show the barometric pressure field. Lower pressures are indicated in dark blue. Higher pressures are indicated in red. Hurricanes and tropical storms, as well as non-tropical low-pressure areas are associated with low pressure (blue).

The white lines are isobars (lines of equal pressure). The closer the lines are to each other, the stronger the winds.

Remember that these are mathematical models with varying initial assumptions. Thus, different models produce different final results. They do not necessarily reflect the "official" hurricane track issued by the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters review all of the model data but use their own experience and scientific expertise to arrive at a final forecast.

Tropical Storm Ike update

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:14:25 GMT

TROPICAL STORM IKE ADVISORY NUMBER 2
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL092008
500 PM AST MON SEP 01 2008

...IKE...THE NINTH TROPICAL STORM OF THE SEASON...FORMS OVER THE
TROPICAL ATLANTIC...

AT 500 PM AST...2100Z...THE CENTER OF THE NEWLY FORMED TROPICAL
STORM IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 17.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 40.6
WEST OR ABOUT 1400 MILES...2250 KM...EAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.

IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 16 MPH...26 KM/HR...AND THIS
GENERAL MOTION BETWEEN THE WEST AND WEST-NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 24 TO 48 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/HR...
WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST AND IKE
COULD BECOME A HURRICANE IN DAY OR TWO.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1000 MB...29.53 INCHES.

REPEATING THE 500 PM AST POSITION...17.7 N...40.6 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST NEAR 16 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1000 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
1100 PM AST.

$$
FORECASTER AVILA

Update on Hurricane Hannah

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:07:52 GMT

HURRICANE HANNA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 20A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL082008
800 PM AST MON SEP 01 2008

...HANNA NEARLY STATIONARY...

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS...THE
SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS...AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.

INTERESTS IN EASTERN CUBA...THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS...AND THE FLORIDA
PENINSULA SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 800 PM AST...0000Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE HANNA WAS ESTIMATED
NEAR LATITUDE 22.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 72.3 WEST...OR JUST NORTHWEST
OF THE CAICOS ISLANDS.

HANNA HAS MOVED LITTLE OVER THE PAST FEW HOURS...AND LITTLE OVERALL
MOTION IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO. A NORTHWESTWARD MOTION
TOWARD THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN BY WEDNESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 80 MPH...130 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. HANNA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
SCALE. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM...TO
THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND
OUTWARD UP TO 160 MILES...260 KM.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 980 MB...28.94 INCHES.

HANNA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES OVER
THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS
ISLANDS...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF UP TO 12 INCHES POSSIBLE
THROUGH THURSDAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES WITH MAXIMUM
AMOUNTS OF UP TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED OVER THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN
OF EASTERN CUBA AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF HISPANIOLA...WHERE THESE
RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING MUDSLIDES AND FLASH FLOODING.

COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE
LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE
EXPECTED IN AREAS OF ONSHORE FLOW WITHIN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA.

SWELLS FROM HANNA ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE THE RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP
CURRENTS ALONG PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES COAST
DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

REPEATING THE 800 PM AST POSITION...22.1 N...72.3 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...STATIONARY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH. MINIMUM
CENTRAL PRESSURE...980 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
1100 PM AST.

$$
FORECASTER FRANKLIN

Hurricane Gustav update #7

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:06:26 GMT

HURRICANE GUSTAV INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 33A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL072008
700 PM CDT MON SEP 01 2008

...GUSTAV WEAKENS...BUT STILL A HURRICANE...

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM JUST EAST OF CAMERON
LOUISIANA EASTWARD TO THE MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA BORDER...INCLUDING
THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM CAMERON WESTWARD TO
JUST EAST OF HIGH ISLAND TEXAS...AND FROM THE MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA
BORDER TO THE FLORIDA-ALABAMA BORDER.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 700 PM CDT...0000Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE GUSTAV WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 30.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 92.2 WEST OR ABOUT 15 MILES...
25 KM...NORTH-NORTHWEST OF OPELOUSAS LOUISIANA. THIS POSITION IS
ALSO ABOUT 35 MILES...55 KM...NORTH-NORTHWEST OF LAFAYETTE
LOUISIANA.

GUSTAV IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MPH...22 KM/HR...AND
THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED
DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THIS MOTION SHOULD BRING THE
CENTER OF GUSTAV ACROSS SOUTHERN AND WESTERN LOUISIANA TONIGHT...
AND INTO NORTHEASTERN TEXAS ON TUESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 75 MPH...120 KM/HR...
WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GUSTAV IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 TO
48 HOURS...WITH GUSTAV EXPECTED TO BECOME A TROPICAL STORM TONIGHT
OR EARLY TUESDAY AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION LATE TUESDAY OR ON
WEDNESDAY.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES...55 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 200
MILES...325 KM.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 972 MB...28.70 INCHES.

STORM SURGE FLOODING WILL BEGIN TO SUBSIDE TONIGHT.

GUSTAV IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO
12 INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF LOUISIANA...SOUTHERN AND WESTERN
MISSISSIPPI...ARKANSAS...SOUTHERN MISSOURI...SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...
AND NORTHEASTERN TEXAS...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF UP TO 20
INCHES POSSIBLE THROUGH THURSDAY.

A FEW TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND
THE CENTRAL GULF COAST TONIGHT.

REPEATING THE 700 PM CDT POSITION...30.7 N...92.2 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...972 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
1000 PM CDT.

$$
FORECASTER BROWN/FRANKLIN

Breakdown of tropical cyclone threats active in the western Atlantic and Gulf region

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:04:32 GMT

Take a look at this line up:

1. Gustav is pounding Louisiana - and about to cause havoc to Texas and maybe Oklahoma and Arkansas in the days to come.

2. Hannah is about to pound the far east coast, likely between Savannah and Charleston.

3. Ike may very well come up in to the Gulf (which is it's expected path), adding insult to injury, much like the Katrina / Rita one - two punches of 2005.

4. Look at the next tropical wave, just off the west coast of Africa now, which has a high probability of also becoming a tropical cyclone.

In short, it looks like this is a VERY active year for tropical cyclones in the Atlantic, which could make for some very interesting times to come.

New concerns over levee breaks outlined by Governer of Louisiana

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:56:05 GMT

Flood Threatens Plaquemines Parish Residents

Plaquemines Parish Residents Asked To Leave

POSTED: 4:20 pm CDT September 1, 2008

UPDATED: 6:40 pm CDT September 1, 2008

BRAITHWAITE, La. -- Water overtopped the Caernarvon Diversion Levee at Braithwaite Monday afternoon in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. The levee is near the St. Bernard Parish line and is a private levee -- not part of the federal levee system.

Gov. Bobby Jindal said it is possible that water could breach a section of the eastbank levee. He said the levee protects about 300 to 400 homes. But, Jindal said if the levee were to breach, it would not be near the same magnitude as the breaches seen in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Around 4:30 p.m., authorities told Plaquemines Parish residents to evacuate and police sealed roads into the parish. Deputies went door-to-door in Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes asking residents to leave.

"We have police going through the neighborhoods urging everyone to get out because this levee could give way at any minute," Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser told CNN.

A Plaquemines Parish official said workers were trying to corral the water with sandbags. Jindal said the Army Corps of Engineers are using siphons and pumps to try to alleviate the pressure on the fragile structure.

Gustav made landfall early Monday morning in nearby Terrebonne Parish.

Karen Boudrie of Plaquemines Parish stressed that the levee has not been breached, and nomes have been flooded. Although she had not seen the overtopping, but she said it did not sound as dramatic as the overtopping seen earlier in the day at the Industrial Canal.

According to a statement from the parish, the levee was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Earlier this year, officials said parish workers raised the levee to about eight feet. According to the parish, no federal dollars were forthcoming to fix the levee after local residents took 10 feet of water in their homes during Hurricane Katrina.

Gustav Coverage:
· Live Coverage | Interactive Radar | Tracker
· Share: Photos | Comments
· New Orleans Traffic Cams | Slideshow

New Developments:
· Evacuations After Caernarvon Diversion Levee Overtopped
· Waters Top Ind. Canal Floodwall | Video
· Restrained RNC Begins In St. Paul
· Flooding In Lafitte
· Nonessential State Workers Told To Stay Home Tuesday
· City Damage Assessments Under Way

Levees around metro New Orleans begin to fail or are failing already

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:53:01 GMT

Quick links to stories about levee breaches in the greater New Orleans area:

http://www.beloblog.com/WWLTV_Blogs/breakingnews/2008/09/murphy-montegut-levee-overtopp.html

http://www.beloblog.com/WWLTV_Blogs/breakingnews/2008/09/corps-closing-london-avenue-ca.html

http://www.beloblog.com/WWLTV_Blogs/breakingnews/2008/09/lower-lafitte-levee-in-danger.html

http://www.beloblog.com/WWLTV_Blogs/breakingnews/2008/09/levee-failing-near-st-bernard.html

http://www.beloblog.com/WWLTV_Blogs/breakingnews/2008/09/braithwaite-levee-is-overtoppi.html

Possible security contract opportunities related to hurricane Gustav

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:12:13 GMT

Check out our employment opportunities listings on The Regulator Room Group on MSN:

http://groups.msn.com/TheRegulatorRoom/regulatorlounge.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=10795&all_topics=0

Gustav effects markets and services before it even makes landfall

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:07:11 GMT

FACTBOX - Gustav cuts U.S. oil and gas and threatens commods

Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:25pm EDT

(Reuters) - Gustav is first big threat to U.S. Gulf of Mexico energy and port infrastructure since Katrina and Rita in 2005.

The Gulf is the source of 25 percent of domestic oil and 15 percent of the natural gas. More than a third of U.S. refining capacity is on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Near expected landfall is New Orleans, a big port handling raw material and foodstuff. The Port of South Louisiana is the largest U.S. port in tonnes handled.

On the western edge of the possible target zone is Houston, a major port, oil refining and crude oil and natural gas hub.

Katrina and Rita were Category 5 storms, the top of the hurricane intensity scale. Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005. Rita hit near the Texas-Louisiana line that September.

Gustav was expected to come ashore as early as Monday on the Gulf Coast as at least a Category 3, though it was weaker Sunday than when it crossed Cuba Saturday.

---- GENERAL IMPACTS ----

- The U.S. Minerals Management Service said Sunday 1.25 million of 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil production (96.3 percent) and 6.1 billion of 7.4 billion cubic feet per day of gas (Bcfd) production (82.3) had been shut in anticipation of Gustav. Up from 76.8 percent of oil and 37.2 percent of gas Saturday.

- MMS said personnel evacuated from 518 of 717 manned production platforms (72.3 percent), up from 223, and 86 of 121 drilling rigs (71.1 percent) in the Gulf, up from 45.

- NYMEX crude oil surged more than $2 a barrel to more than $117 a barrel in early electronic trading Sunday. Products also rose.

---- FUEL RELIEF ----

- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency waived summer blend requirements in Louisiana to ease gasoline supply as refineries shut down.

---- OIL IMPORTS THREATENED ----

- Louisiana Offshore Oil Port stopped unloading ships Saturday and shut flows from storage Sunday.

- Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will be tapped, if necessary, the U.S. Department of Energy said.

---- SPECIFIC CUTS OFFSHORE OIL, GAS OUTPUT ----

- Apache Corp 52,550 bpd oil, 276 mmcfd gas.

- Shell Oil Co 510,000 bpd oil equivalent.

- Exxon Mobil 28,000 bpd oil, 180 mmcfd gas.

- Anadarko 150,000 bpdoes.

- Marathon Oil 11,500 bpd oil, 10.5 mmcfd gas.

- BP Plc and Chevron most production.

- BHP Billiton 50,000 bpd OIL.

- Others including, Petrobras, cut output.

---- OFFSHORE DRILLING IMPACTED ----

- Transocean moved eight semisubmersibles and drill ships out of Gustav's path, three others fully evacuated.

- Noble Corp moored all eight rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, evacuated personnel by Saturday.

---- REFINERIES SHUT ----

- Exxon Mobil's 193,000 bpd Chalmette.

- Murphy's 120,000 bpd Meraux.

- ConocoPhillips' West Lake and Alliance, total 485,000 bpd.

- Motiva's 236,000 bpd Norco.

- Marathon's 250,000 bpd Garyville.

- Citgo's 430,000 bpd Lake Charles.

- Calcasieu 80,000 bpd Lake Charles

- Alon 80,000 bpd Krotz Springs

- Valero 250,000 bpd St. Charles

---- REFINERIES CUT BACK ----

- Motiva's 235,000 bpd Convent plant on standby. Its 285,000 bpd Port Arthur plant at minimum rates.

- Three other Valero Energy Corp refineries on reduced runs, contemplating Port Arthur shut down.

---- PIPELINES AFFECTED ----

- Kinder Morgan said its Plantation products pipeline would keep operating long as possible, restart ASAP.

- Operator of Henry Hub, the major south Louisiana pipeline junction for natural gas, shut down Sunday.

- Gas pipeline operator Enbridge stopped taking production Saturday on systems with 6.7 Bcfd capacity.

- El Paso Corp said its Tennessee and Southern Natural gas pipelines saw throughput cuts totalling 637 mmcfd.

---- SHIPPING IMPACTS ---

- Port of Houston closed to inbound traffic at midnight Sunday (0500 Monday GMT); Texas City, Galveston remained open.

- River pilots said Mississippi River traffic at New Orleans halted inbound at noon (1700 GMT) Saturday, outbound as of 6 p.m. central U.S. time (2300 GMT).

- Pilots halt traffic at Lake Charles Sunday.

- Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas, shut inbound Saturday and to halt outbound Sunday afternoon.

- Bracing for risk of storm winds at ports as far east as Mobile, Alabama.

---- KATRINA AND RITA IN 2005 ----

- There was near total shutdown of Gulf oil and gas output at that time, 1.5 million bpd of oil and 10 Bcfd of gas.

- Twenty-nine percent of U.S. refining was shut at peak.

- Winds and waves destroyed 124 platforms and damaged about 50 others, damaged or wrecked 535 pipeline segments and sank or set adrift 28 drilling rigs, MMS said.

(Reporting by Bruce Nichols, Erwin Seba, Chris Kelly and Marcy Nicholson; Editing by Anthony Boadle)

Mandatory evacuation of NOLA ordered

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:02:53 GMT

New Orleans ordered evacuated ahead of Gustav

Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:19pm EDT

By Tim Gaynor and Kathy Finn

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered the city's more than 239,000 residents to evacuate on Sunday in the face of powerful Hurricane Gustav, which he called "the mother of all storms."

The evacuation order issued on Saturday was the first in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina devastated the historic Southern city in August 2005.

"This is the mother of all storms," Nagin said of Gustav, a monstrous Category 4 storm that could approach the central Louisiana coast just west of New Orleans on Monday.

"You need to be concerned and you need to get your butts moving and out of New Orleans right now," Nagin said at City Hall. "This is the storm of the century."

The evacuation order, which will not be physically enforced by officials, will start with the city's low-lying West Bank starting at 8 a.m. CDT (9 a.m. EDT) on Sunday, followed by the East Bank at noon CDT (1 p.m. EDT), Nagin told reporters.

Residents have the choice to remain behind and weather the storm, but "that would be one of the biggest mistakes that you could make in your life," Nagin said.

He said people might have to chop through the roofs of their houses to escape rising waters if they stay.

"Make sure you have an ax," he said.

But one day after the third anniversary of Katrina, many had already decided to abandon the city, much of which lies below sea level.

Thousands of people fled New Orleans earlier on Saturday. Hoping to avoid the 2005 spectacle of desperate city residents crammed into the New Orleans Superdome, the government lined up hundreds of buses and trains to evacuate 30,000 people who cannot leave on their own.

About 10,000 people left the city by bus or train on Saturday, Nagin said. The rest of the 20,000 people that had requested evacuation assistance would leave on Sunday, he added.

Many evacuees were issued wrist bands with bar codes that will allow city officials to track them.

Gustav crashed across the Cuban mainland on Saturday and could hit the U.S. Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm, the second-highest on the five-stage Saffir-Simpson scale, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

SIGNIFICANT FLOODING EXPECTED

In the Lower Ninth Ward, plunged under water by Katrina's floodwaters, hundreds of residents packed belongings into cars and trucks and left. Some had returned home only a few months ago after fleeing Katrina.

"After Katrina, you've got to leave," said Ruby Hall, a longtime resident, pointing to the place on the timber frame of the porch where Katrina's waters rose. "I'm not going to chance it, not with my grandchild."

The city's West Bank was largely spared by Katrina but could see "significant flooding" because its 10-foot (3-metre) levees are no match for Gustav's storm surge, which could top 20 feet, Nagin said.

Katrina's massive storm surge broke through protective levees on August 29, 2005, and flooded 80 percent of the city. New Orleans degenerated into chaos as stranded storm victims waited days for rescue.

The hurricane killed about 1,500 people along the U.S. Gulf Coast and caused $80 billion in damages, making it the costliest U.S. natural disaster.

There was bumper-to-bumper traffic on highways leading out of the city on Saturday, and six low-lying parishes -- the Louisiana equivalent of U.S. counties -- issued evacuation orders.

All major Louisiana interstates will allow only one-way traffic away from the coast starting at 4 a.m. CDT (5 a.m. EDT) on Sunday. The last flight out of the New Orleans airport is scheduled to depart at 6 p.m. CDT (7 p.m.) on Sunday.

In all, 11.5 million people are in the path of Gustav, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Walter Parker, a security guard who was trapped for eight days in his apartment during the Katrina flooding, lined up outside the Union Passenger Terminal as families with bags packed and children in tow waited for transportation.

"I don't want to see another Katrina, with dead bodies floating in the water," Parker said.

(Additional reporting by Jane Sutton in Miami)

(Editing by Chris Baltimore and Peter Cooney)

Gustav bigger and stronger than Katrina

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:02:39 GMT

Thousands Flee 'Storm Of The Century'

Officials: Gustav Twice As Large As Katrina

Veronica Haynes, WDSU.com

POSTED: 8:03 pm CDT August 30, 2008

UPDATED: 11:47 am CDT August 31, 2008

NEW ORLEANS -- Headlights streamed away from New Orleans and surrounding communities all Saturday night as Hurricane Gustav lumbered across the Gulf of Mexico. Evacuees left empty homes and boarded up storefronts in their wake.

The mass migration, which lasted all morning and into the day, was inspired by strong warnings from officials who feared the worst. The mantra from officials across southeastern Louisiana became: residents must leave, those ignoring mandatory evacuation orders would not receive emergency services and anyone caught looting would be dealt with harshly.

"Anybody who is caught looting in the city of New Orleans will go directly to Angola, directly to Angola -- directly to the big house, in the general population and God bless you if you're there," Nagin said, threatening would-be looters with a quick trip to one of the most notorious prisons in the country.

Nagin's threats were not constrained to those caught looting, but anyone caught in the street in violation of the curfew laid down with the mandatory evacuation.

"Once the curfew kicks in, anyone who is on the street will be arrested," Nagin said.

Soldiers and policemen seemed omnipresent in the city's empty streets Sunday. Nearly 2,000 guardsmen based at the New Orleans Convention Center blocked streets in a two-block radius around that facility. Soldiers toting assault rifles blocked intersections with armored vehicles.

On Sunday morning, patrolcars across the city guarded intersections with lights flashing to make passersby aware of their presence.

The heightened police presence, vacant streets and a weekend of stern warnings from Nagin created a sober atmosphere in a city usually known for its jubilation.

Nagin Warns Of 'Storm Of Century'

"You need to be scared. You need to be concerned. You need to get your butts moving out of New Orleans right now. This is the storm of the century," Nagin said Saturday when announcing the city's mandatory evacuation plans.

Mandatory evacuations began on the Westbank starting at 8 a.m. Sunday, and mandatory evacuations of the Eastbank were scheduled for noon.

"Riding it out would be the biggest mistake you could make in your life," Nagin said.

He told residents who want to stay to make sure they have an ax, as they will be cutting through their attics to get out of their flooded homes.

Nagin said 2005's Hurricane Katrina came ashore as a Category 3 storm. Gustav is expected to hit as either a Category 4 or 5.

On Saturday, Gustav stretched 900 miles across and it continued to grow. In contrast, the footprint of Katrina was about 400 miles in diameter when it hit.

"This storm could be just as bad -- if not worse -- than Katrina," WDSU 6 WeatherPlus meteorologist Ron Smiley said.

The announcement came as officials continued to evacuate the elderly, disabled, poor and others without means ahead of Gustav's march toward the Gulf Coast. The city estimates that 30,000 residents will need help leaving New Orleans.

"Between the buses, train and aircraft, there is no reason for anyone to ride out the storm in New Orleans. This is simply too dangerous of a storm," the Federal Emergency Management Agency's David Paulison said.

Earlier on Saturday, the National Hurricane Center called Gustav an "extremely dangerous" storm. President George W. Bush declared a state of emergency and promised full federal support to the Gulf Coast states.

What to put in a disaster readiness pack

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:15:35 GMT

Hey there. This is your best resource for determining what to put in a disaster pack:

http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html - but if the HTML works right, you'll be able to see if below as well. TRM / The Regulator Room founder:

When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it's best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth.

Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
Flashlight and extra batteries
First aid kit
Whistle to signal for help
Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
Local maps

Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit:

Prescription medications and glasses
Infant formula and diapers
Pet food and extra water for your pet
Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
Cash or traveler's checks and change
Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
Fire Extinguisher
Matches in a waterproof container
Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
Paper and pencil
Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Hurricane Gustav Update #4

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:13:08 GMT

HURRICANE GUSTAV INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 25A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL072008
800 PM EDT SAT AUG 30 2008

...GUSTAV MAKES LANDFALL IN WESTERN MAINLAND CUBA...

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST FROM
EAST OF HIGH ISLAND TEXAS EASTWARD TO THE ALABAMA-FLORIDA BORDER...
INCLUDING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN. A
HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN
THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT ALONG THE PANHANDLE COAST
OF FLORIDA FROM EAST OF THE ALABAMA-FLORIDA BORDER EASTWARD TO THE
OCHLOCKONEE RIVER. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL
STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY
WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CUBAN PROVINCES OF
PINAR DEL RIO...LA HABANA...CIUDAD DE LA HABANA...ISLA DE
JUVENTUD...MATANZAS...AND CIENFUEGOS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE
AND PROPERTY IN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN
COMPLETED.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL CUBAN PROVINCE
OF VILLA CLARA.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL CUBAN
PROVINCES OF VILLA CLARA...SANCTI SPIRITUS...CIEGO DE AVILA...AND
CAMAGUEY...AND FOR THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS WEST OF THE SEVEN MILE
BRIDGE TO DRY TORTUGAS.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 800 PM EDT...0000Z...THE EYE OF HURRICANE GUSTAV WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 22.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 83.4 WEST. THIS POSITION IS
OVER WESTERN CUBA NEAR LOS PALACIOS AND ABOUT 65 MILES...105 KM...
WEST-SOUTHWEST OF HAVANA. DO NOT VENTURE OUTSIDE DURING THE
PASSAGE OF THE EYE...SINCE WINDS WILL SOON RAPIDLY INCREASE AS
EYEWALL AGAIN PASSES. THE EYE IS ALSO CURRENTLY CENTERED ABOUT 570
MILES...915 KM...SOUTHEAST OF THE NORTH-CENTRAL
GULF OF MEXICO COAST.

GUSTAV IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH...24 KM/HR...AND
THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE
OF DAYS. ON THIS TRACK...THE CENTER OF GUSTAV WILL EMERGE INTO THE
SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS...AND REACH
THE NORTHERN GULF ON MONDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 150 MPH...240 KM/HR...WITH
HIGHER GUSTS. GUSTAV IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR
HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. THERE ARE
UNOFFICIAL REPORTS FROM PINAR DEL RIO PROVINCE OF WINDS NEAR THESE
ESTIMATES. SOME FLUCTUATIONS WITH AN OVERALL SLIGHT STRENGTHENING
IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND GUSTAV COULD REACH
CATEGORY FIVE INTENSITY DURING THIS PERIOD. GUSTAV IS FORECAST TO
REMAIN A MAJOR HURRICANE THROUGH LANDFALL ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF
COAST.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175
MILES...280 KM.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE RESERVE
HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT AS GUSTAV WAS MAKING LANDFALL WAS 941
MB...27.79 INCHES.

COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 18 TO 23 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE
LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...IS
POSSIBLE NEAR WHERE THE CENTER OF GUSTAV CROSSES WESTERN
CUBA...INCLUDING THE ISLE OF YOUTH. STORM SURGE OF 1 TO 3 FEET
ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS IS POSSIBLE IN THE DRY TORTUGAS AS GUSTAV
PASSES TO ITS WEST.

GUSTAV IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO
12 INCHES ACROSS CENTRAL AND WESTERN CUBA...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM
AMOUNTS OF UP TO 20 INCHES POSSIBLE. THESE RAINS WILL LIKELY
PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES. RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER FLORIDA KEYS AND EXTREME
SOUTHERN FLORIDA. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE
POSSIBLE OVER THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.

ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT OVER THE FLORIDA KEYS AND
THE SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA.

REPEATING THE 800 PM EDT POSITION...22.7 N...83.4 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...150 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...941 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL
HURRICANE CENTER AT 1100 PM EDT.

$$
FORECASTER BEVEN

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How Hurricane Gustav may impact the RNC

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:06:11 GMT

McCain: I may postpone convention By: Mike Allen August 30, 2008 07:52 PM EST
John McCain said the Republican National Convention may be postponed as federal officials said Hurricane Gustav was gathering to a devastating Category 5 as it headed toward star-crossed New Orleans. “It just wouldn't be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near-tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster,” McCain told Chris Wallace of “Fox News Sunday” in an interview taped for Sunday. “So we're monitoring it from day to day and I'm saying a few prayers, too.” McCain also said: “I'm afraid, Chris, that we may have to look at that situation and we'll try to monitor it. I've been talking to Govs. Jindal, Barbour, Riley. Chris, I've been talking to all of them.” Officials at the convention, which is to open Monday in St. Paul, Minn., tell Politico they are figuring out how to handle the formal business of nominating McCain even if some delegations are not able to attend. The officials also are preparing program contingencies in case speakers such as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal have to cancel. Maria Cino, the convention’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement to Politico: "Like all Americans, our prayers are with those who will be affected by Hurricane Gustav. We continue to closely monitor the movement of the storm and are considering necessary contingencies. “We are in communication with the Gulf state governors to make sure the convention is taking all the appropriate steps as the hurricane progresses. The safety of our affected delegations is our first priority, and preparing for Gustav comes before anything else." On Friday, Cino vowed on C-SPAN, in a quote picked up by the Drudge Report, that the gavel will come down. President Bush, first lady Laura Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney are scheduled to speak Monday. The government’s botched response to Hurricane Katrina still stings, and Republicans said they doubt the president would come to a political bash if New Orleans were facing a threat. White House officials were considering a range of alternatives, including a Bush satellite appearance from the Gulf, according to Republican officials. They would not say what the other possibilities are. Press Secretary Dana Perino told reporters on a conference call Saturday that the government is preparing for a devastating storm of historic proportions. "We are making contingency plans should the president decide against traveling to Minnesota for the RNC convention," Perino said on the call. New Orleans officials said they might begin a full evacuation Monday.
© 2008 Capitol News Company, LLC

Discussions of evacuations in NOLA area

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:04:37 GMT

No shelter for those that stay in New Orleans as Gustav approaches

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Saturday, August 30th 2008, 12:55 AM

Morton/Getty

Louisiana National Guardsmen, among nearly 2,000 expected, arrive at New Orleans Convention Center Friday. Gustav's likely path could make storm worse than Katrina.

JR/News

NEW ORLEANS — Police with bullhorns plan to go street to street this weekend with a tough message about getting out ahead of Hurricane Gustav: This time there will be no shelter of last resort. The doors to the Superdome will be locked. Those who stay will be on their own.

New forecasts Friday made it increasingly clear that New Orleans will get some kind of hit — direct or indirect — by early next week. That raised the likelihood people would have to flee, and the city suggested a full-scale evacuation call could come as soon as Sunday.

READ HELEN KENNEDY'S BLOG FROM NEW ORLEANS

Those among New Orleans’ estimated 310,000 to 340,000 residents who ignore orders to leave accept “all responsibility for themselves and their loved ones,” the city’s emergency preparedness director, Jerry Sneed, has warned.

As Katrina approached in 2005, as many as 30,000 people who either could not or would not evacuate jammed the Louisiana Superdome and the riverfront convention center. They spent days waiting for rescue in squalid conditions. Some died.

Stung by the images that flashed across the world, including the photo of an elderly woman dead in her wheelchair, her bodied covered with a blanket, officials promised to find a better way.

This time, the city has taken steps to ensure no one has an excuse not to leave. The state has a $7 million contract to provide 700 buses to evacuate the elderly, the sick and anyone around the region without transportation.

LIVE: FOLLOW TROPICAL STORM GUSTAV'S PATH

Officials also plan to announce a curfew that will mean the arrest of anyone still on the streets after a mandatory evacuation order goes out. Police and National Guardsman will patrol after the storm’s arrival, and Gov. Bobby Jindal has said he requested additional urban search and rescue teams.

On Saturday police planned to roam neighborhoods, directing residents-in-need to pick up points. The city also planned to reach out to churches, hoping to spread the word about where the buses will pick up evacuees.

PHOTOS: NEW ORLEANS PREPARES FOR GUSTAV

But many weren’t waiting to be told to leave: Northbound traffic was heavy Friday on Interstate 55 — a major route out of the city — and backseats of some cars were stacked with clothes, boxes and bags. Gas stations around the city hummed with activity. Meanwhile, hospitals and nursing homes also began moving patients further inland.

In an effort to keep track of where people go after they leave the city, officials planned to give evacuees who provided authorities their information ahead of time bar-coded bracelets containing their ID.

Still, advocates for the poor worried that the message would not get to the city’s most marginalized residents — and that could spell disaster.

“It’s an enormous concern, an extraordinary concern” for day laborers, the homeless, renters and public-housing residents, said Saket Soni, director of the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice. “Hundreds if not thousands will fall through the cracks of an evacuation plan, and they will be left in the city, not out of choice but out of necessity.”

Gustav strengthened into a hurricane Friday and appeared to stay on track to hit the Cayman Islands, then western Cuba before moving into the warm waters of the Gulf bound for the U.S. coastline early next week. At 11 p.m. EDT, Gustav’s center was about 55 miles east-northeast of Grand Cayman Island, and its top sustained winds were near 80 mph.

FEMA Deputy Administrator Harvey Johnson said Friday he anticipated a “huge number” of Gulf Coast residents will be told to leave the region this weekend.

Those in most need of help — the elderly, sick, and those without transportation — will be moved first. Mayor Ray Nagin said buses and trains would begin to evacuate those people beginning early Saturday morning. Those on buses will go to shelters farther north, Sneed said. Those on trains will go to Memphis, Tenn. Neighboring states already were making offers to house evacuees, remembering how many people fled Katrina.

Several parishes announced plans for evacuations beginning Saturday. By early Sunday, Nagin said officials would look at the potential for a mandatory evacuation.

In Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour had already called for the evacuation of residents along the Katrina-scarred coast, many of whom still live in temporary housing. And in Louisiana, residents of low-lying Grande Isle were under a voluntary evacuation order beginning Friday. The community is traditionally one of the first to vacate when tropical weather threatens.

Making the decision about exactly when and where to evacuate was tough. Gustav confounded emergency preparedness officials as its forecast track shifted through the day, confronting them with the possibility of ordering evacuations not only in the New Orleans area but across more than 200 miles of vulnerable coastline. Johnson said officials in four states — Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas — planned evacuations.

Authorities also wanted to avoid creating any unnecessary panic.

In New Orleans, the locations of the evacuation buses were not made public because people who need a ride are supposed to go to designated pickup points, not to the staging area.

But that approach worried some residents. Elouise Williams, 68, said she called the city’s 311 hot line Thursday until she was “blue in the face.”

She was concerned about getting a ride to the pickup point and about what would happen to those who left. As of late Friday afternoon, she planned to remain in the Algiers neighborhood and look in on any other residents who stayed behind.

“My thing is, my fright is, if we have somebody in these houses and they’re not able to get out, they’re going to perish,” she said, “And we had enough of that in Katrina.”

Critics said New Orleans was waiting too long. Bob Wheelersburg, a former Army Reserve major and liaison officer for emergency preparedness, said National Guard units are suffering from equipment and manpower shortages.

“If I was the governor of Louisiana, I’d give the evacuation order as soon as possible,” Wheelersburg said. “I think it’s going to be a huge disaster.”

But authorities have emphasized that New Orleans can’t just up and leave — there is a phased order to evacuations, and coastal communities or those outside of levee protections get first crack and moving residents out.

Some residents weren’t waiting for a formal call — they left Friday, long before the storm was even close to the shoreline.

“I’m getting out of here. I can’t take another hurricane,” said Ramona Summers, 59, whose house flooded during Katrina. She hurried to help friends gather their belongings. Her car was already packed for Gonzales, nearly 60 miles away.

Previous Page Next Page 1 2 3

Gustav could be worse than Katrina

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:03:06 GMT

Jindal: Hurricane Center says Gustav could be 'As Bad As It Gets'

05:21 PM CDT on Saturday, August 30, 2008

Governor Bobby Jindal said the National Weather Service is fairly confident that Hurricane Gustav will strike along the Louisiana coastline and could be “as bad as it gets.”

Jindal said that the Hurricane Center predicts that there could be tidal surges of 15 to 20 feet could be expected and that flooding could be ‘worse than Katrina,’ though Jindal said it could not be pinpointed where the flooding would occur.

Jindal also said that since Gustav is coming on an angle toward the city, that a move to the right could delay its strike time by as much as six hours, while a move to the left could delay it by 12 hours.

The State has mobilized 7,000 National Guardsmen and has an additional 700 support personnel coming in.

Jindal issued an executive order closing schools in 30 districts on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

Hurricane Gustav is dangerous category 4 storm

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:57:41 GMT

Hurricane Gustav - Update 3

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCVAT2+shtml/302049.shtml - US Hurricane Watches / Warnings

Hurricane Gustav is an extremely dangerous Category 4 Hurricane at this time, expected to strengthen in to a Category 5 storm.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/index_hls2.shtml

Note the track of the storm continues to track between Terrebone and Orleans Parish, as previously supported by 4 separate computer models:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at2+shtml/204714.shtml?5day?large#contents

Hurricane Gustav Update 2

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:53:26 GMT

Gustav Update 2

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a7jhdGv2GjxI&refer=worldwide - Evacuations likely - Federal Emergency declared

Hurricane Gustav Update 1

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:07:42 GMT

Gustav is now a category 1 hurricane. The track on this storm for the last four days puts it between Terrebone Parish and Orleans Parish in southern Louisiana. Preparations for landfall on Tuesday are in the works, including potential evacuation of New Orleans and the outlying Parishes. See below for more information:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCUAT2+shtml/291915.shtml

http://www.wdsu.com/wxmap/4224660/detail.html - Track of the storm

http://www.wdsu.com/news/17331376/detail.html - Mandatory evacuations being ordered

http://www.wdsu.com/news/17335295/detail.html - Preparations underway with influx of 1500 additional National Guard troops

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT2+shtml/292051.shtml - National Weather Service storm update

http://media.myfoxtampabay.com/myfoxhurricane/ - Excellent hurricane / tropical storm information outlet

Subject to recall... TRM/205

3 DAYS LEFT - BAIL ME OUT!

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:10:23 GMT

As many of you know, my wife gave birth to twins last year that were premature. My daughter spent several weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit, only to be sent home for 24 hours and then stop breathing several times, resulting in our spending time in Children's Hospital here in the Seattle. Our daughter remains 6-7 weeks behind her brother in physical development, but is doing much better overall. My son still suffers from persistent GERD (acid reflux) because of diminished development in the womb.

So when the March of Dimes called me again this year to help out with their annual Jail and Bail event, I jumped right on the opportunity. 76% of all funds donated go directly to the outreach, care and education programs. Please log in to my special web site at http://jailandbail.marchofdimes.com/TRMyhre to help me reach my bail goal, and help the March of Dimes provide critical care and services to families and premature infants in Washington State. Will you help with any size of donation?

This is a completely tax deductible charitable donation, so if you haven't expended your charitable budget for the year, please consider helping bail me out! http://jailandbail.marchofdimes.com/TRMyhre.

Please forward this to your friends, family or anyone you know who may be willing and able to help keep me out of jail by helping premature babies and their families! My bail amount is $1000 dollars – which we can do! Thanks everyone... TRM

Let's help a retired Seattle K9 get surgery!

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:41:28 GMT

Folks - this broke my heart. The City of Seattle retired this dog and now the handler is stuck with the medical bills! This is an outrage! Let's help this K9 and handler get this dog fixed so he can continue to walk and feel his legs. He may be retired, but given how screwed up this system is, I think the public owes it to this dog to help him get his back healed up. Go to https://paytrace.com/cart/donate.pay?ID=1528&MID=27250021602801&PID=Donation to make your donation today... Thanks!

TRM / The Regulator Room founder