Isaac

I've been watching this one since Thursday, out of the corner of my eye. Gradually the projected track has shifted westward. Now it's expected to come ashore along the Mississippi Gulf coast about 0200 Wednesday. We haven't had a good hit since Katrina (.....bitch.....) back in 2005.

So far we've put out a warning order for mandatory overtime and I just ran the generator for an hour this morning. I threw a case of MRE's in the Tahoe and have to go the the EOC for a National Weather Service briefing at 1400. Looks like we might get smacked again, hopefully it won't get worse than the 105-mph Cat 2 they are forecasting now.

I'll update this thread as I'm able, hopefully the next update will be "it missed us, nothing to see here." hope our MC members from Florida are safe and dry!

NWS briefing got pushed to 1600 local. I have 3 cases of water at home, and just threw my ready bag in the Tahoe - 3 sets of BDU pants, polo shirts, spare underwear and socks. I've already got a toiletries kit at work. Chargers for flashlights and cell phone are already in the truck.

After Katrina our local water tower got a Caterpillar diesel generator, so hopefully that will not be the issue it was in '05. Most campus facilities now have generators for at least part of the circuits. Including the all-important sewer lift stations.

We'll see........

We are feeling the affects now in Palm Beach County, but thankfully we're not getting the blunt of the storm...Hopefully is doesn't become too strong for the Gulf states.

WTF would make you think that?

OK, home from the conference call with NWS and NHC and the state. Still no firm track, but nothing changes the Cat 2 landfall late Tuesday. We should see tropical storm force winds Tuesday afternoon.

Shelters will be opening Monday to Tuesday here in Mississippi, depending on county. I hear Belle Chasse in Louisiana is already starting to evacuate... they are south of New Orleans, mostly below sea level. It's all swamp land with houses on 12-foot stilts already.

This morning I filled both our cars with gas, as well as two gas cans. That gives me about 15 gallons on hand for the generator, more than enough. Gas stations in the south part of our county are already running low, though resupply is on the way through normal commercial channels. Stores here are seeing a run on bread, milk, water, batteries.

So far it looks like the best models are for wind speeds around 40-70 mph here, along with somewhere between 10 and 12 inches of rain. That will likely lead to some trees down, and lots of road flooding. Looks like the bosses will be in meetings most of Monday morning to decide what classes to cancel. We have a state-wide emergency declaration, so that will help with reimbursement.

For now, its hurry up and wait. Actually a really nice day today. Sunny, not too humid, low 90's.

I bought a generator and had the house wired after last uears debacle. That means we will never get hit again in Metrowest.

That's the way to go... I still have to run extension cords through the window screens, seal the holes with masking tape to keep out the bugs, haul the refrigerator away from the wall to get to the cord, etc. etc.

One giant pain in the ass.

We thank you for that.

It's like the snow blower I bought last summer after the 10-11 winter of nonstop snow. You can all thank me for zero snow this past winter.

Gluck down there. Sounds like you're prepared.

I put sprinklers in too. It's rained 3 times a weeks since. You can all thank me for that too!

Just talked to my son in MS he is all set and waiting for the crap.

Whereabouts is he?

We're just about ready, track has shifted west again. Now thinking about getting the Mom-in-law out of the New Orleans metro area to here... track has it going over Mandeville where she lives.

He is in Lincoln County

Isaac is huge!! We are almost 300 miles from it and it dumped 12" of rain on us last night. Lost power for a while and it made for a long night...All schools were cancelled...Good luck to LA, MS with this one, hopefully the winds stay down.

Stay safe up there USM!!!

Hey! Brookhaven area! She Who Must Be Obeyed lived there for a while. Looks like they have a better chance for higher winds than us based on the latest track. Hope he comes through it well.

Thanks, brother... we are working our objectives today, getting everything ready. Looks like I'll go on 12-hour shifts starting tomorrow, at least for a few days. As long as I have cell service or wifi I'll post a bit once it hits unless we're up to our ass in alligators.

'Isaac' on Track to Make Eerie Landfall

As Tropical Storm Isaac gains strength in the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters predict it will cut a path that is eerily similar to the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans and the region seven years ago.

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