According to news reports, it appears Hurricane Gustav is posing a major threat to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Looking at the latest map, it appears to be headed so closely to where I was (Slidell, LA) in 2005. It’s so eerie to think of what may happen again. I have heard it is a category 3 but it has the ability to strengthen overnight. They expect Gustav to make landfall tomorrow.
All the images and memories are flashing back in my mind. I’ve seen the maps where Lake Pontchartrain is being shown and talking about the storm surge. Check out this video of the Lake after Katrina http://www.youtube.com/v/RqkJ1euabZQ&hl=en&fs=1. I can’t help but remember what happened. I can remember standing on the edge of the Lake and seeing the destruction trying to imagine that huge storm surge wiping out the area where I was. I remember seeing the bridge that collapsed over the Lake. I had been staying at a condemned motel where the workers who were fixing that bridge were staying as well. I can remember standing there in silence. It was a sobering and overwhelming moment for the people that were there with me and myself.
But as I watch the news reports there is a difference in what the people are doing this time. Many people stayed home last time because of their pets. This time, I saw crate after crate being handed out to pet owners so they can safely take them with them.
A woman with her dog wanted to leave on a bus but wasn’t allowed. Social services stepped in and made arrangements for her to leave another bus WITH her dog. Times have changed! It’s about time we realize to many of us, pets are more than just animals to be discarded. I read that almost everyone has evacuated.
I had been in touch with St. Bernard’s Parish Animal Shelter after Katrina and their shelter had been devastated. It was so sad when I had talked with the Executive Director nearly a year after Katrina and the staff was down to a couple of people. They were taking in animals but very few ever got adopted. There were barely any volunteers to help with the animals. Basically it seemed like the shelter was a place to hold animals until they were euthanized. Very sad and disheartened ~ that’s how I would describe the Exective Director at the time. She was overwhelmed and overworked but still dedicated to the job. The Louisiana SPCA is helping with St. Bernard’s to move all of their animals this time. I wish them all the best.
Everyone bears responsibility for what happened with Hurricane Katrina from the people who didn’t leave, to the local ,state and federal government officials. Everyone was quick to pounce on the federal government last time. We need to be responsible for ourselves ~ we live in a society that blames others when things go wrong. I’m so sick of it.
People have been leaving the area in an orderly manner. I think all of us have learned from that catastrophic storm. My thoughts and prayers go out to the people being affected by this monster of a storm.