Gustav (The Mad Russian) and you!!

Hurricane Halen · 08.31.08, 11:27 AM

Ok peeps, here's the scope from Cajun Land.

For our area....North Louisiana (Shreveport/Bossier City) area.

Currently we have slightly over 80,000 evac in town RIGHT NOW. The EMS system has collasped because of the influx of people getting here and elsewhere around North La. All hospitals are full.......every Evac Center is Full. Had 4 C-130 military transport planes land at Shreveport Regional Airport with 50-60 critical patients on each plane. Landed here only to find out that there was no hospitals open to take them...(We have 8 Large Hospitals here). So, they get fuel, take off and head out west to Dallas and north to Arkanasas.

15 Shreveport Fire Dept personal went down to N.O. with a few medic units to assist hospital evac of patients......they were told this morning at 1am by Gov. Bobby Jindal staff to leave New Orleans/Baton Rouge ASAP to come back to Shreveport to take care of our own people. Thinking is......according to Gov. Staff and the NWS is that Shreveport and other parts of NorthWest Louisiana are gonna get 20 plus inches of rain, and they expect Gustav to still be a weak Cat 2 or a strong Cat 1 by the time it gets this far north...(which is about 250 miles inland). Also.....Gustav is suppose to slow its foward speed and pretty much PARK ITSELF on top of East Texas and Northern Louisiana. Forcast models expect winds and heavy rains for this part of the country at least until friday.

As for me.........we have been stood down to responed to N.O. because as of now, N.O. should be a ghost town. Even the N.O.F.D. has been asked to leave the city. Weather or not they will/are is another question. I can't expect that key city personal would leave the city totally open without FIRE/EMS protection. Now, tomorrow morning....all 3 shifts on the Shreveport Fire Dept are expected to head into the stations and work until God knows when. So, our Fire Dept staffing for this week will be roughly 700 plus members. So, with the threat that we have here, I'm sure all hell will break loose starting monday night and most of the day tuesday and wensday. Plus, to add that our population has increased 80,000 plus with more on the way....there are many unknowns to what might happen. I just think it's a shame that so many people are trying to get out of the way of this storm, only to come here to have to ride the storm out anyways. Just because the storm will not be the same strength as it will be on the coast, this part of Louisiana does lie lower and major flash flooding will happen with a lot of damage because of the wind. Dodging Tornado's is one thing, but when you have a storm this large.........it makes a new ball game. The difference from South La. and North La. is that they are more prepaired for this type of storm than we are. So......the next few days here will be intersting to say the least.

Now, when I got the call this morning from D.B (S.F.D. EMS Supervisor that was in N.O. last night) he stated that things are so fucked up right now, even more so than when Katrina hit. FEMA is running the show right now, and not doing a very good job. There are things happening down there that you guys aren't seeing on the news. To put it in a nut shell.....TO MANY CHIEF'S and not enough INDIANS. There are to many wanting to run things and alot of people stepping on each other toes. D.B. told me that getting all these patients out of there is a total cluster, but they are making progress. I'm not gonna go into all the details, but just know it's a mess down there and the storm hasn't even hit yet. But, D.B. and everyone else Shreveport Fire is on the way home and South Louisiana is gonna have to ride this one out on their own. Also.........just a side note about N.O., the WestBank levees are not in good shape, so there's a real chance there might be some failues and flooding inside the city. But, at least the Convention Center and Superdome are NOT shelters this time around, which is good.

So, as of now, that's the scoop. Stand by and when I can, will keep you guys updated from this side of the world. I will more than likey report to work in the morning and as long as we have power here, if I can't report, I'll get TST to give you guys updates.

Oh, and those of you on the east coast......Hanna!!!

HH<-----Talk to ya soon---------------------

VanHalenRules · 08.31.08, 11:32 AM

HH, glad to get more of the full story. I could literally hear the frustration when we spoke earlier.

Sorry I missed your call back, went next door to move a tree that had fallen during Fay and mow what wasn't underwater, which wasn't much.

I'll be here for the remainder of the day, so feel free man. Know you're likely busier than a one armed paper hanger as the day goes on, just be sure to keep in touch.

And Hanna, you little bitch.....GO AWAY!

VanHalenRules · 08.31.08, 11:57 AM

Good news! Latest RECON reports that the eyewall has a broken area in it!

nicholas_kudochop · 08.31.08, 01:34 PM

Thanks for the update...In all honesty, yeah we have our political differences, but I really wish the best for ya!

fuddman5150 · 08.31.08, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanHalenRules

Good news! Latest RECON reports that the eyewall has a broken area in it!

Could you explain to the nice people what that is?

Hurricane Halen · 08.31.08, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicholas_kudochop

Thanks for the update...In all honesty, yeah we have our political differences, but I really wish the best for ya!

It's all good man.

HH<-----Rent this space-------------------

VanHalenRules · 08.31.08, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuddman5150

Could you explain to the nice people what that is?

A well organized hurricane needs a circlular eyewall to stay organized. If you picture a perfect circle, that's the way that a major hurricane's eyewall will look like, while Gustav's eyewall has a broken area in it, and is "open" because of drier air being drawn in from the surrounding airmass. The biggest factor that usually factors into this is the "dry" air. Hurricanes are essentially heat engines, and draw their power from warm tropical waters. Add in some dry air getting sucked into the hurricane, and it will weaken. You could almost make the anaology of putting water into a gas tank of a car, it just ain't gonna run.

VanHalenRules · 09.01.08, 07:46 AM

Hearing that there is a minor breach in the lower 9th ward levee? Anyone else hearing that?

VanHalenRules · 09.01.08, 07:55 AM

Impressive radar shot of Gustav a little more than an hour after landfall.

HH, TST, check in when you can.

Tropical Storm Tracey · 09.01.08, 08:14 AM

We're here-just hanging out. Not much happening yet-probably about 7pm they say. We might have us a little hurricane party later-LOL!! Damn, Louisianians we are!

Saw the breach. Looks pretty nasty-they will probably get a lot of water but hopefully not as much as Katrina. Some guy in the water trying to get a fuel tank or something out. He has a safety line on though so he should be ok. Of course the news is totally freaking out about him.

We'll be ready when it happens. Hopefully it won't be too bad.

TST& HH <----------sleeping in-------------

Eddymon · 09.01.08, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tropical Storm Tracey

TST& HH <----------sleeping in-------------

They call "IT" sleeping in these days.

Tropical Storm Tracey · 09.01.08, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddymon

They call "IT" sleeping in these days.

Nah, "IT" was already done-we just went back to sleep-LOL!!

TST<--------

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VanHalenRules · 09.01.08, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tropical Storm Tracey

Nah, "IT" was already done-we just went back to sleep-LOL!!

TST<--------

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You can blame "IT" for the reason I didn't get to the phone in time last night when HH called.

chefcraig · 09.01.08, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanHalenRules

You can blame "IT" for the reason I didn't get to the phone in time last night when HH called.

Now I do not regret the decision not to call anyone back last night. Seems everybody is getting IT except me.

Swell, nine months from now there just may be a rash of children introduced to the planet named Gus and Hanna.

VanHalenRules · 09.01.08, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chefcraig

Now I do not regret the decision not to call anyone back last night. Seems everybody is getting IT except me.

Swell, nine months from now there just may be a rash of children introduced to the planet named Gus and Hanna.

Well, the last I had heard from HH last night, he was going to mow the lawn. Now I know when he says that, what he really means is....