Gustav

Theres a hurricane a brewing. Outside my window today the sun is shining, the birds are singing and all is well. No hint of the danger to come.

My exhusband is staying on the coast of Mississippi again as he did during Katrina. However this time he is going to stay and help the Red Cross hand out food and water after the storm. He is doing extremely well.

This time I am stocking up on batteries and water and candles and actually preparing for the storm this time. What was really striking after Katrina was the sense of isolation we felt. We were cut off from the outside world with the phones not working. No one could call in and we couldn't get anyone in Laurel where we have family or on the coast. The power was off for 10 days so we couldn't follow the news and know what was going on. A full two weeks passed before we knew my exhusband and his family was safe. The whole world was glued to their tv sets watching New Orleans and the Gulf Coast and those of us in those areas could only wonder what was going on and pray for the electricity to come back on.

We are pretty far inland (Jackson) so that the problems we will have if it hits the MS or New Orleans will be spin off tornadoes and wind. I am praying for New Orleans and the Gulf Coast of MS. Neither location needs another major hurricane to undo what little progress that has been made after Katrina.