Hurricane Laura

As if the Coronavirus thing wasn't bad enough, now Laura.

 

I saw on the news that the Paddle Wheel Casino boat in Lake Charles had broken loose from it's moorings and had lodged up under the I-10 high bridge there in Lake Charles. Might cause the clousure to last a bit longer. At least there is a loop around the south side, if it is not flooded.

 

So you obeying mask orders?

 

I'm hoping 210 will be open. I don't want to drive all the way up to I20 after my break.

 

Cool, that's exactly what an evacuation order is.

 

Ok, if you get corona that's your problem. Charge you with murder if you spread it.

 

I’ve been through several hurricanes. In 1995, we evacuated for Erin, but because it was no big deal, we stayed for Opal that same year. It was kind of cool. The eye passed over us. One hundred mph winds, then dead calm with beautiful blue skies. Then 100 mph in the opposite direction.

In 2004, we got out of town for Ivan, but I only lost a couple of shingle tabs and 400’ of privacy fence. I live on a narrow peninsula, and there is a barrier island to the south. Even so, the storm surge inundation off the sound made it to about 1500’ from our house. It was surreal seeing lawn furniture in the trees and boats sitting one or two hundred yards inland in the middle of a wooded lots.

In 2005, we stayed in place for Dennis. Evacuating with five dogs and two kids is just too hard, and Ivan literally proofed our house. It would take at least a Cat 4 direct hit before I’d even consider evacuating.

In 2018, Hurricane Micheal hit Panama City Beach, about 80 miles away. We watched it closely and decided it wasn’t a threat to us. We would have evacuated for that one too if it were 50 miles or more further west.

I’m not one to panic if there’s a hurricane in the Gulf, even if the first projected path has us in cross hairs. In fact, it’s always better to be in the crosshairs initially, like we were with Laura, because that guarantees you ain't gonna get hit.

Yeah, there’s always a tornado threat, but I don’t evacuate every time a line of intense thunderstorms rolls through either. You just take your chances.