New Orleans Is Scared Of Hurricanes

[Sean in New Orleans]

...We really are scared. The reaction to Gus, as well as any other blob of moisture that pops up stirs all kinds of emotions within citizens of this area. I'm scared of them too, I find. Everyone knows about Katrina, but, until you talk to people that live in this area when situations such as Gus arises, you really don't understand how emotional we are and how bad Katrina really did scar us. It's sad. It makes me sad to see people around here so emotionally fragile. Of course we're in recovery, are moving on and recovery is going well, but, unless you live here it's hard to describe the fear that visibly arises in people when situations arise in the tropics. Yes, people on this board from other areas and all other people know about Katrina and how bad it was---my goodness, around 1,800 people DIED with Katrina. Sometimes I think people forget even that and focus on the lost homes. It's hard to describe, but, it really kinda breaks my heart, if you will, when I see different reactions around here when it comes to storms. It's sad. We're here, we're rebuilding, and we are doing a great thing---94% of Metro New Orleans is back. But, we're scared. I mean, we are REALLY scared of hurricanes, now. It is very sad. But, it is the truth. New Orleans is scared of hurricanes. And not only do you see true fear, you also see pain and raw emotions well up in people. You'd have to see it to understand, but, I really don't think there are many, if any, areas around the SE US that have a clue as to how bad it is. But, we do deal with it--I guess it will just take some more time. But, we aren't ready for a storm. The levees would likely hold, but, would the people? Probably, but, we could only do it together.

[TSmith274]

Even the news anchors seem shell-shocked. Weird to see.

But as far as the levees... I'm confident they will hold IF NEED BE. Not sure I can say the same for St. Bernard and the lower 9th. But I really dont see Katrina type flooding ever again.

[Weatherfreak000]

I worry a direct hit would usher the same result as Katrina...although I hope not. Wind damage may be alot more severe if it hits us...overall a horrible situation regardless of where it goes.

At least Bob Breck is around always proclaiming the storm ain't coming. A pick me up if you need it.

[MisUndrstd]

I can understand the fear that residents of New Orleans and the surrounding areas have. I live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Katrina still provokes strong emotion in those who have suffered through it. Watching Gustav I keep saying to myself "I can't go through this again, I just can't". Even though it has not hit here and may not, I feel defeated already. Right now Insurance rates are so high people can barely afford them, what happens if another hurricane hits? Will insurance even be available and if it is available it will be through the roof. Of course, I also have a lot of anxiety about the loss of life. There are a lot of people, even after Katrina, that I know will not evacuate and in a recessed economy a lot people will not be able to afford to evacuate. Another hit will absolutely destroy the economy here as well as, cause death. I don't want Gustav to hit New Orleans or the Mississippi Gulf Coast, it's too soon, the healing process has just started. Although I don't wish it on anyone else either, I know in the event that it does hit here I will have to consider leaving this hurricane prone area for good for my own safety and sanity. May God be with those wherever this hurricane ends up! Also, continuing to pray for those who are in the path in the Island countries.

[DanKellFla]

You have every right to feel the way you do.
(Remember, 2 glasses of red wine is good for you.) After my experiences with Hurricane, where were NOTHING like the NOLA experience, I still get nervous. It drives my wife crazy. For a few years after Frances/Jean I would be coming home with "hurricane supply" stuff all the time. It would drive my wife crazy. Once I filled the second bin with "toys" she got really mad at me and I stopped.

[Frank2]

The good news is that every storm is different from the next - know that unlike Katrina, when many didn't know what to expect or didn't expect very much, this time many are praying that the same outcome does not happen, and, prayer is far more powerful than even a hurricane...

[WhoDatNation]

I can't even sleep at night when we have a storm this close to us now. I'm very paranoid . Katrina really took a toll on me that I can't overcome for some reason. I booked my hotel room last week when I first saw the models come out. I pray it don't destroy our lives. Geaux Saints and Hornets. All we can do is PRAY.

[MBryant]

I have this to say to New Orleans residents.

ELEVATE or RELOCATE.

Follow the 100 year old example of Galveston, which elevated the entire Island using dredges for fill material. In the alternative, find sites well above sea level on which to rebuild.

Katrina was primarily an ENGINEERING disaster, not a natural disaster.

[smw1981]

The Katrina disaster was just that...a disaster. I kind of agree that it was more of an engineering disaster than a natural disaster, but nonetheless, it WAS a disaster. Not to take anything away from NO, but do remember that the MGC and even some of the Alabama GC took a beating from Katrina. Pensacola took a beating from Ivan (as did Mobile). The panhandle (really the whole state of Florida) and pretty much the whole state of Alabama was already flooded by Fay...this past weekend. My point is, NO ONE wants this hurricane (especially if it pans out to a Cat. 3). Pretty much the whole gulf coast has been affected in the past 5 years, and no matter where it goes, it is going to be terrible! Soooo, Sean, I think everyone is feeling the way you feel right now...at least you're not alone!

PS - Sean...I asked about you after Katrina. There was a while I didn't see your name at all on S2k, and asked several times if anyone had heard from you. (I was under a different screen name then.) Just wanted you to know that I was thinking about you...not in a creepy way, just hoping you were ok!

[DanKellFla]

I have this to say to New Orleans residents.

ELEVATE or RELOCATE.

Follow the 100 year old example of Galveston, which elevated the entire Island using dredges for fill material. In the alternative, find sites well above sea level on which to rebuild.

Katrina was primarily an ENGINEERING disaster, not a natural disaster.

Galveston is geographically much smaller and was less developed. For NOLA to do that would be a huge undertaking. But, not impossible. Personally, I think as time passes people will naturally elevate. But, that may take decades.

[TSmith274]

Elevate... good advice. Thousands of homes ARE being elevated. There aren't enough contractors to meet the demand. Relocate? Never. Period.

[DanKellFla]

Elevate... good advice. Thousands of homes ARE being elevated. There aren't enough contractors to meet the demand. Relocate? Never. Period.

It is sentiments like that that make me want to visit.

[Sean in New Orleans]

The LEVEES are being ELEVATED. That is what needs to be done and is being done. The LEVEES right now are ELEVATED 3 feet higher than before Katrina. As far as elevate or relocate...are you, at all saying New Orleans should relocate? That's dumb.

[Sirius LeWindy]

You have every right to feel the way you do.
(Remember, 2 glasses of red wine is good for you.) After my experiences with Hurricane, where were NOTHING like the NOLA experience, I still get nervous. It drives my wife crazy. For a few years after Frances/Jean I would be coming home with "hurricane supply" stuff all the time. It would drive my wife crazy. Once I filled the second bin with "toys" she got really mad at me and I stopped.

Ha! Spoken like an alcholic wine salesman! Anywho, I lived in Rocky Mount NC when Floyd hit. The flood was indescriable and some still get kinda post-tramatic stress syndrome-ish when they talk about or hear of a storm that might come towards NC. If it really bothers anyone and if you are having trouble sleeping or can not stop thinking about what might happen, there is help. There is no shame in seeking or asking for help. In fact, it is the sign of a mature mind and the first step towards any kind of recovery.

[Jake8898]

I have this to say to New Orleans residents.

ELEVATE or RELOCATE.

Follow the 100 year old example of Galveston, which elevated the entire Island using dredges for fill material. In tause I've never heard that anything realistically could hold back a record surge.he alternative, find sites well above sea level on which to rebuild.

Katrina was primarily an ENGINEERING disaster, not a natural disaster.

I've wondered about the engineering failure. Katrina was a cat. 4-5 for quite awhile as it approached LA. Therefore it was also moving a cat 4-5 storm surge. As we saw in Katrina and Dennis the winds can die down rather rapidly. But, the moving water of a storm surge has momentum and therefore can't diminish as quickly as the winds. So, the storm hits LA as a cat 2/3 as far as winds but the surge is still cat. 5. In fact the surge set records. The levees were only designed to protect NO from up to a cat 3 surge. It seems the breaks were inevitable.

So, is there a disconnect in the ratings for a hurricane? Should there be a separate rating for wind versus surge?

[Sihara]

...We really are scared. The reaction to Gus, as well as any other blob of moisture that pops up stirs all kinds of emotions within citizens of this area. I'm scared of them too, I find. Everyone knows about Katrina, but, until you talk to people that live in this area when situations such as Gus arises, you really don't understand how emotional we are and how bad Katrina really did scar us. It's sad. It makes me sad to see people around here so emotionally fragile. Of course we're in recovery, are moving on and recovery is going well, but, unless you live here it's hard to describe the fear that visibly arises in people when situations arise in the tropics. Yes, people on this board from other areas and all other people know about Katrina and how bad it was---my goodness, around 1,800 people DIED with Katrina. Sometimes I think people forget even that and focus on the lost homes. It's hard to describe, but, it really kinda breaks my heart, if you will, when I see different reactions around here when it comes to storms. It's sad. We're here, we're rebuilding, and we are doing a great thing---94% of Metro New Orleans is back. But, we're scared. I mean, we are REALLY scared of hurricanes, now. It is very sad. But, it is the truth. New Orleans is scared of hurricanes. And not only do you see true fear, you also see pain and raw emotions well up in people. You'd have to see it to understand, but, I really don't think there are many, if any, areas around the SE US that have a clue as to how bad it is. But, we do deal with it--I guess it will just take some more time. But, we aren't ready for a storm. The levees would likely hold, but, would the people? Probably, but, we could only do it together.

It sounds like a city-wide case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - what used to be called (and referred to by a previous poster as) shell-shock, the emotional burden borne by soldiers in particularly savage battles. Or by people who have been hit by one of the worst forces in nature - a major hurricane. Survivors of Andrew had the same thing, PTSD, and described that it was like being in a war zone. Katrina was another case. The pictures that came back after that nightmare were horrific, to think that those people going through that hell, worse were the pictures that didn't get shown. I don't see how people can really totally heal after something like that, especially if the threat can return any summer. And 1,800+ people dead, shuddering to think of it.

I did see something disturbing on tv tonight - something about how the repairs to the levees won't be complete until I think it was a year or two. All we can do is hope and pray that Gustav, or any other system, will spare a city that has had Too Much.

[Storm Contractor]

EVERYONE should be scared of hurricanes. I have seen as much destruction as anyone, including my home. That being said, a big problem is with the media hype and lack of public understanding of the associated government terminology that tends to add to the panic. There was a time when the media did not report early activation status for emergency operations personnel. In the age of the internet and the over anxious media (remember Don Hensley's "Dirty Laundry"? "See the bubble headed bleach blonde… she comes on at 5 … she can tell 'bout the plane crash with a gleam in her eye...") the media knows disaster fear and anxiety equals viewers and ratings!

Understand that it takes several days to setup phone centers, staff EOC offices, prepare public facilities, and on and on! Think of how many park trash cans must be picked up and stored. That is a small thing I know, but that is one of 1000 things that the public works dept has to do to prep for a storm. That is one reason why there is a five day cone! Another reason is to let the private sector know to begin ER prep I.E. the insurance carriers will put CAT teams on standby, make hotel and rental car reservation etc, etc, etc. These advance forecasts give many behind the scenes operations public and private a chance to preliminarily stage and prepare to respond to an event.

The issue of state governor’s issuing early Declarations of Disaster is to activate the process of requesting and receiving the federal funding which will pay for all of the EOC overtime and "special services" contracts that go into a storm prep operation and the possible execution of post storm operations. The Fed's reimburse the municipal governments for all of those hours and contracts! The local payroll services keep separate time sheets and track all storm related activities so the FEMA will pay the tab.

The same thing can be said for State of Emergency Declarations, which will set public hospitals, utilities services, and public safety officials into their ramp mode. IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT A STORM IS ABSOLUTE! It simply is the first step in preparing for an event THAT MIGHT OCCUR! Unfortunately, the media does not clarify this and thus the resulting panic and anxiety that NOLA has right now!

I hope that helps ease a few nerves. I wish the media would do a better job of explaining these things instead cultivating the anxiety by flashing the BIG STORY TEASER "STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED BY GOVERNER SO AND SO! TONIGHT AT 11”

Be safe everyone! AND PLEASE IF YOU ARE EVEN CLOSE TO AN EVACUATION AREA…..LEAVE!

Rich

[kometes]

Relocate? Never. Period.

Temporary relocation is a good thing. Be safe.

[Dionne]

We have everything we need to ride out another storm. Bottled water, MRE's, fuel, generator, chainsaws. We keep what I call "run bags" in the event we need to leave immediately. Even with all the preparation....once Gustav reaches the middle GOM.....we will decide. If there is even a remote chance of getting slammed again.....I'll be at my daughters new home in Memphis.

As far as the possibility of NOLA flooding again.....nothing would surprise me. I flew into MSY last Sunday during stormy weather......I can remember looking down and seeing canals near the airport with a lot of water in them already.

I'm prepared but I'm not ready for this again. This is one time I hope the pro-mets have completely blown the forecast. Which is unlikely.

Yeah, we're spooked.