Ivan Check-In - DUers in the path of the storm - where are you?

[Eye and Monkey]

Please note - to both Gulf Coasters and those far-away, let's remember that this is not about recklessness.

I'm on the Northshore of Lake Ponchartrain, near Ponchatoula, LA. Everyone's buttoned-up here and all the neighbors have checked-in with each other. Light winds, no rain yet.

My best to all Gulf Coasters.

[juajen]

1. I'm in Lafayette, LA

We're praying for New Orleans. My family there has evacuated to Alexandria

[TexasSissy]

25. I used to live in Lafayette ages ago. Absolutely beautiful there, and

great music all around, all the time.

[ewagner]

2. Good luck Gulf Coasters!

I saw the destruction of Camille in Biloxi less than a year after it went through. I hope you all stay safe.

[SidDithers]

3. Mobile and the panhandle - stay safe you DU'ers..

Here's hoping Ivan weakens before landfall.

Sid

[democrat in Tallahassee]

4. we were lucky; only tropical storm winds here if it stays the course

but I used to live in New Orleans and I love that city. I hope it makes it through, but a lot of those old buildings are fragile.

[cmd]

5. Best of luck to all of you.

Stay safe.

[Eloriel]

6. Well, way up here in North Georgia we're expecting

30 - 40 mph winds (gusts to 50) and flash flooding, from the current advisories. MSNBC just showed one computer model that has my area getting 7.5 inches of rain. That's a lot of rain for us, esp. with all the trees weakened by several years of drought. I have lots of trees, but fortunately am at high enough elevation out here in the foothills of the foothills of the Appalachians, that flash flooding shouldn't be a threat to us at all.

Stay safe, everyone, esp. those of you along the coast.

[Individualist]

7. Northeast TN

Flash flooding could definitely be a threat for this area, especially since there's been some discussion of Ivan stalling after it moves inland. Good luck to those of you on the Gulf Coast; stay safe.

[Ripley]

10. Near Tuscaloosa, AL.

And I hear you Eloriel! They're predicting 70+ mph winds in our area and I have huge trees near my home and we too are suffering a lack of rain - it's been over 2 weeks without any and I fear flash flooding. Thankfully we have underground utilities, but DAMN!

I started another thread about the people's reactions here a little while ago. I just moved the last of the "possible projectiles" in from the yard...pots, art, birdfeeders.

Take care all.

[AnnInLa]

8. Abbeville, LA here

Good luck everyone!

[finecraft]

15. Hi AnnInLa, New Iberia here!

Looks like we dodged a bullet this time!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

9. Stay safe everyone!

Sending good thoughts your way!

[Nocturnes]

11. Tuscaloosa AL

Should not be too bad here, something between tropical storm and low grade hurricane. But certainly not something people in this area are used to. We are closing the Dem HQ tomorrow to be on the safe side.

Sit back and hope the tornadoes it generates are not too bad

[Ripley]

13. Exactly. Tornadoes, we don't need.

I heard the eye was projected more toward Clanton, so that would put us on the west (safer) side, but it looks like Bham is gonna get it bad.

Opal was pretty damn severe here with flooding and power outages in 1995.

[EstimatedProphet]

12. Columbus GA

The current model has it missing us more now, but I still expect a lot of wind.

[bamademo]

14. Huntsville Alabama

In North Alabama...expecting flooding, high winds and tornadoes on Friday. I feel so bad for Mobile and Dauphin Island. Look at what this hurricane is gonna damage.

www.stampkeller.com
www.gulfinfo.com

This is the house I always rent.

[Individualist]

16. I have a niece in Huntsville

Hope you guys don't get hit too hard!!

[Skeet]

21. Mobile

I'm going to be fine, but my best friend's parents live in Mobile. They aren't going anywhere, though. I suppose they have been through enough of them that they don't worry much anymore.

[DemoTex]

17. "Trof" is near ground zero in south-east Alabama.

I hope he and his wife evacuated. The eastern shore of Mobile Bay and Gulf Shores could be hit very badly. I will be thinking of all you who are in Ivan's path. Stay safe.

[KoKo]

18. Be safe you all.....sending good ((((vibes)))) We've had our share here

in NC and relatives in FLA have just gone through this twice...so here's hoping the damn thing comes in as a 1 and you guys are all okay.

[jpak]

19. I evacuated from Pensacola to Tuscaloosa AL Monday night

I know people that are riding this out in Gulf Breeze - I don't think they made the right call on this one.

Tuscaloosa will experience tropical storm force winds Thursday.

Hope I have a home left when this is all over...

[Ripley]

22. Hey jpak...

If you are able to get to a computer and read this...where are you in Tuscaloosa? PM me.

I hope your home is spared too much damage, but I'm relieved to hear from someone who realized this is not something you "ride out" on the coast. Lots of Hurricane partiers have died on America's coastline.

[jdj]

42. jpak, my brother and sis in law and neice are Gulf Breeze too

I am scared shitless for them, since it is shifting east.

I don't think they made the right call either.

Fingers crossed and praying

[Eye and Monkey]

20. Mandatory curfew in New Orleans - Orleans Parish starts at 2pm.

1pm - Major surface roads closing in New Orleans area. All of Emergency managers have been advising those not already evacuated to stay since 11am. The Superdome is being used as an emergency medical shelter. Radio reports up to 12 ft surf on Alabama shore, high seas at mouth of Mississippi River.

I'll say it now, 'cause I haven't heard it yet, but it's bound to be the headlines tomorrow (let's hope we'll all be)...SURVIVIN' IVAN...

[LizW]

23. Birmingham, AL

Spent this morning at my son's school making arrangements for concessions at a football game that is now cancelled. Thank goodness -- it would have been miserable to play tonight in a downpour. Schools are cancelled for tomorrow and Friday.

Went to the store, bank and gas station. People are pretty busy everywhere. It was sort of overwhelming to see how much other people are buying. I hope we are over-preparing.

I talked with a woman whose family evacuated up from Mobile. It took them 8 hours to drive from Mobile to just south of Birmingham.

I talked to another friend whose mother-in-law is in Pensacola. She wouldn't leave because she has a big dog and couldn't take it to the shelter with her.

Everyone here is tense and worried, and I can only imagine how much worse it must be for the people further south.

[peacebuzzard]

28. Knoxville, TN. If you know anyone w/ pets looking for an escape,

I offer my home. I am in east Tennessee which will be getting the aftermath rain and storms and possibly high winds to 20+ knots but it is safer than the coast. PM me if I can be of help. I have animals myself and lots of fenced in areas, and a big room to shelter the pet guardians also. My prayers go out to all people, pets and other animals.

[TexasSissy]

24. I'm in TX now, but FROM Louisiana. Hey, ya'll!!!!! I sure do miss

that beautiful state, hurricanes and all! Ponchatoula? A pretty area of the state, you lucky dawg.

[Eye and Monkey]

26. Lucky Dog is my dachshund -

if you know the Quarter, you'll prob'ly understand...

Thanks, the area is pretty. The swamps start just south of here, basically right out my back door. There's a 300 year old live oak in my front yard.

Whereabout's in Texas? I know Austin a bit...

At 3:30pm, the winds are picking up a bit, still no rain. At the landing near here, the Tangipahoa River is starting to rise a bit - that probably means that Lake Ponchartrain is up maybe 2 feet.

on edit: Power starting to blink. Still on, but did a couple of blinks.

on second edit: Radio reports the NOPD arrest of the first looter in New Orleans.

[TexasSissy]

29. I'm in Dallas. I'm here because of the economy (it's great).

But it's not what you'd call an area that has a beautiful natural landscape. It is somewhat hilly (compared to south La.), but it is more prairie-like, like in the western movies, except it has skyscrapers & whatnot, since it's a big city. And man oh man, is it ever hot here! We have droughts occasionally. The grass dies in summer if you don't water it. The soil is hard clay with a layer of rock underneath. On the good side, the people are great, and there's lots to do, and it snows almost every winter at least once. That's beautiful, and worth the hot summers. I sure do miss the beauty of Louisiana, and the rain (ahhhhhhh, the rain), but I just couldn't make a living there.

I hope you guys stay safe there. Looters already? Shouldn't you have evacuated?

[Eye and Monkey]

30. I'm just high enough and just far enough away from the Lake.

I hope. Really though, I think it's just enough.

I sympathize with the "can't make a living here" perspective. That's a big part of what drove my sister to Austin. And I sympathize with the landscape - I've visited friends there. Once we went "camping" at one of the "lakes" outside of Dallas. I felt like I was in the middle of a vast parking lot.

[ewagner]

27. Former boss and good friend

in Gulf Shores............haven't heard from him.hope he evacuated.......hope he's safe....he's a good, "Jimmy Carter" type Dem...we can't lose those guys.........

[Eye and Monkey]

31. 7:15 in SE Louisiana - the sky is PINK

Incredible, true pink with purple edges on the clouds. The clouds are moving very fast, wheeling across the sky from the northeast. Winds steady, maybe 25 mph. In this light, everything glows.

Still have power. No rain.

[Misunderestimator]

32. My prayers are with all of you in the hurricane's path...

[Bake]

33. Jackson MS here -- my heart goes out to the people of Mobile, Biloxi,

and all along the Gulf Coast.

A year and a half ago Mississippi became my newly adoped state. All politics aside, I've met an awful lot of good people who welcomed me here. I was stuck on the roadside outside Natchez, MS a few months ago with a busted water hose and an overheated engine. Total strangers stopped and fixed me up and got me back on the road and wouldn't take one dime for their trouble (imagine THAT in New York City!). I said that day, "God bless the good people of southern Mississippi!" My heart goes out to those in Ivan's path. I work with a lot of folks who have family in Mobile, Gulfport, Biloxi, and other cities who are getting slammed by this monster. This one is personal for me. My heart and prayers go out to all those good people who are in the path of this storm.

Here in Jackson, we're fine; but the hotels are all filled and I saw a lot of LA license plates on I-55 on my way home from the office. I've seen people in my town, in my office, here opening their homes to strangers evacuating the coast, with no place to go. The nearest hotel rooms available are hours north of here, in Jackson TN. Because that's just how we do things here in the South. We take care of our own.

CNN is reporting that two deaths in FL are already attributable to Ivan, and he hasn't even hit hard yet. THis is going to be a bad one.

Bake

[Eye and Monkey]

35. that was on the radio here - folks in Jackson taking in a family of 12

Thank ya, Jackson.

[Bake]

37. I've got a bedroom if any DUers have folks still trying to evacuate

PM me if you know of someone who needs a place to stay.

Bake

[Eye and Monkey]

38. Ah, you're a peach, Bake. Thanks.

If I hear from someone in need, I'll let you know. And I'll remember your offer.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

34. Sending my best to all my LA , Bama and Miss DU pals

[Ilsa]

36. I've got family in Pensacola...they decided to stay and

ride it out in a high school/shelter. Hope they're okay.

[jdj]

43. At least they had sense enough to do that.

Just got an e-mail at 7:00 from my sis-in-law, they still had power at that pt., they were cooking, seemed to think everything was gonna be okay, I hope they are right, if it weren't for my three year old niece I wouldn't care, but I don't think it is fair that they decided to stay, but it is none of my business.

[Eloriel]

39. I've been watching the coverage on TV --

can't BELIEVE how hammered some of these areas are already with Ivan still about 8 hours -- EIGHT HOURS -- from landfall. Whooooeeee. it's also a massive storm.

Sending good thoughts to all in the path.

Here (NW GA but not up by Chattanooga), we're expected to have two solid days of real heavy rain. And winds. Kinda wish I'd gone to the grocery store.

[Bake]

40. Jackson will get some high winds, maybe power outages

A good bit of rain. But nothing remotely near what our friends on the coast will get.

The only thing I worry about it tornadoes spinning off the fringe of this monster. Jackson MS is tornado alley in the South.

Bake

[Bake]

41. Kick

Bake

[crickets]

44. Southwest Georgia

The wind has picked up a bit, so Ivan's almost here, but it's the possible tornadoes that have me concerned. Fingers crossed. My heart goes out to the people who get a direct hit. Everybody try to stay safe.