Hurricane Gustav

[LtCol White]

I would like to ask that all of you please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers as the hurricane approaches the TX/La areas.

[Eclipse]

You got it!

Its amazing how cyclical these things really are.  I want to come visit 'ya all, but would prefer not coming down on the Air Force's nickel!

Happy?  Anniversary...

[DC]

Hopefully it won't strengthen too much in the Gulf. My thoughts are with those in its path.

Stay dry...

[Teal 37]

LA is presently forecast to get the landfall of Gustav with some part of the state being in the right front quadrant. Also Gustav is forecast to be a Major Hurricane (Cat 3 or higher) at landfall... the Gulf waters are very warm.

Having been through afew storms myself, stay safe... property can be replaced.

God Bless all y'all

[Eclipse]

The Loop Current is the determining factor...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_Current

[JoeTomasone]

While I am glad to note that my hurricane shield over Tampa is holding (you'll note how well it worked with Fay), I am not happy to note that it's working so well that LA may be Gustav's victim.

Sadly, it appears that the only question for me is whether I will be revisiting the area as a CAP or ARES member.

To borrow a line:

"Hey - let's be careful out there..."

...And let's hope that everyone's evacuation, mitigation, and recovery plans have been dramatically improved in the past 3 years.


   - Joe

[MikeD]

I wish you all the best of luck out there.

Are the CAP units of the region gearing up for a relief effort? 

[DC]

I haven't heard anything 'official' yet, but my squadron CC mentioned a possibility last week.

[Teal 37]

We're right next door in MS and will finish our pre-Gustav preps & movements on Sat... wx forecasters and forecast models have been known to be wrong.

And the Gulf Loop temp is around 85-87 F with the central Gulf being around 87-90 F... that's all very warm to hot! Gustav is unfortunately going to spin up like a top and then lose alittle strength just before landfall.

And again, to all our LA brethern... take care and God Bless.

[stratoflyer]

Best of luck..

I am sure things will turn out better this time!

[fyrfitrmedic]

 Be safe.

[JoeTomasone]

Just made Cat2. 

[DNall]

My guard unit is on standby to get the standby call. Whatever, we're ready if you need us, whichever uniform I happen to be in at the time. Stay safe, and you got it on the prayers.

[DC]

Up to Cat 3. It was still a TS when I went to sleep last night, this thing is strengthening fast...

I saw that they are starting to evacuate parts of LA...

[Laplace]

Just spent 20 hours providing escort security for the transfer of over 6000 prisoners from Orleans Parish Prison and other local jails up to Angola State Penitentiary.  Some lessons were learned  :clap:   Much easier to do before the storm.  Hopefully I'll be able to prep my house today.  We are already stocked with supplies. 

Not sure if I'll be able to play with CAP after.  Hope everyone is safe and, as Lt. Col White asked, keep us in your thoughts/prayers.  Thanks in advance for anyone coming down in any capacity.  If you see a middle aged, salt & peppered hair guy with Attorney General on clothing; stop me and I'll buy you a MRE or luke warm water.

       

[Eclipse]

http://www.cap.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&nodeID=6192&newsID=4619

CAP emergency services teams prepare for storm's landfall
SE, SW Region wings alert as Gustav nears

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – As Hurricane Gustav moves closer to the Gulf Coast, Civil Air Patrol members are making preparations to safeguard CAP assets and preparing to respond to requests for assistance after the storm makes landfall.

Gustav is forecast to enter the Gulf of Mexico this weekend and could impact the gulf states by early next week. The storm is projected to move in a northwesterly direction, but it is too early to tell specifically where landfall will occur.

According to CAP's national commander, Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter, the all-volunteer organization is prepared. CAP's National Operations Center has issued an alert order for wings in the organization's Southeast and Southwest regions to update resource lists, aircraft lists and alert rosters, initiate communications checks and test specialized assets as the storm approaches.

On Friday, CAP's Texas and Mississippi wings were relocating assets, including planes, vehicles and equipment owned by the all-volunteer organization. The Alabama Wing was making preparations as well.

"Alabama Wing has activated a mission command staff and is identifying aircrew, ground team, urban direction finding (UDF) team and mission staff members who are available for a one- or two-week tour after the storm makes landfall," said Maj. John P. Neil, director of operations for the wing.

"In the meantime, members there are making sure all equipment, vehicles and aircraft are ready for a possible deployment," Neil said, adding this includes making sure that 24-hour packs and aircrew packs are stocked with fresh water, snacks and change of clothing, all batteries are charged or there are fresh ones for the radios, DFunits or GPS units, and the aircraft and vehicles are full.

Capt. Steven Solomon, director of public affairs for CAP's Southeast Region, said the organization's Florida Wing also is on the move, directing its Groups 1 and 2 RECON trained members to be ready, if needed.

The preparations along the Gulf Coast are being made as CAP encourages its 56,000 members nationwide to observe National Preparedness Month (NPM) in September. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security annually sponsors National Preparedness Month as a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. Throughout the month, the Department of Homeland Security will work with Civil Air Patrol and other organizations to highlight the importance of emergency preparedness planning.

According to Courter, CAP is a National Preparedness Month coalition member, encouraging members and their communities to participate in NPM's Ready Campaign, which emphasizes four main focus areas:

    *Get a kit.

    *Make a plan.

    *Be informed.

    *Get involved.

"There are many opportunities to participate in National Preparedness Month, and we encourage all members and their communities to check out all the tools and ideas available," said Courter, referring them to the Ready Campaign Web site, www.ready.gov.

[Eclipse]

3-Day track has it in LA on Tues morning.

[Shotgun]

I wish you all the best of luck out there.

Are the CAP units of the region gearing up for a relief effort? 

Mississippi Wing has been put on alert.

Several of my squadron's pilots have been tasked to relocate aircraft to our airport (KOLV) and we've and members have updated their availability status for ES needs. We've also tested our phone tree and communication systems.

[DC]

Just saw on TWC, a flight from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (aka the Hurricane Hunters) has reported winds of up to 145mph, Category 4.

[Eclipse]

NHC is now saying landfall Monday afternoon...(see above graphic, which should be updating)...

[JohnKachenmeister]

Here on the East Coast of Florida we are prayin' for y'all dealing with Gustav, and we are watching Hanna.

[SJFedor]

I wish you all the best of luck out there.

Are the CAP units of the region gearing up for a relief effort? 

Affirm. We're going through equipment checks and all now. SER published an alert order on tuesday or wednesday, and Tennessee's State EOC is already activated.

[DNall]

My guard unit is working now. It's not the part yet where I go in. They got motor pool in getting our vehicles ready to go. We're still on standby to standby.

[Pumbaa]

This will update automatically so you can follow the storms.

[Eclipse]

These guys are on the way in, and will have live video as long as their gear is working:
http://www.hurricanetrack.com

I gotta say, this is looking pretty scary, and Hanna is pulling up right behind...

[SJFedor]

Tennessee just started recieving evacuees today from NOLA and other areas.

http://www.wsmv.com/weather/17346496/detail.html


Looks like they're trying to get this one right.

[NHQ-OS-126 Frank]

We wish you all the best of luck out there in LA, TX and Mississippi.

Please keep us updated here in Europe..... we pray for you all out there.

[BillB]

The rain bands from Gustav are crossing south Florida now

[Eclipse]

I've been listening to 104.9FM via web stream:   http://www.newsradio1049fm.com/main.html

[DC]

Cuba made a slight dent, knocked it back down to a catagory 3 with winds of 120mph.

There are two more developing systems out in the Atlantic, in addition to Gustav and Hanna. I love Florida, but right now I feel like I live at the end of a bowling alley...

[Eclipse]

as soon as it hits the Loop Current it'll be back to at least a 4, apparently the current is not as long as it could be and that may help.

[Eclipse]

Big Brother Blue is already helping...

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123113091

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123113084

[PHall]

FEMA is staging four USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) teams from California in Houston.
I suspect they will probably have company from other teams too.
Nice to know that some lessons were actually learned from Katrina.

[DNall]

http://www.northcom.mil/News/2008/083008G.html

U.S. Northern Command's Preparations in Anticipation of Hurricane Gustav

Aug 30 2008

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command is coordinating defense support of civil authority's emergency response efforts in preparation for Hurricane Gustav's landfall in the Southern United States.

The following is a list of DoD assets and personnel that are part of U.S. Northern Command's support efforts:
NEW OPERATIONS:

    * Department of Defense aeromedical evacuation capabilities to support the evacuations for up to 1,000 patients for Louisiana and up to 500 patients for Texas. The operations are planned for today and Sunday (Aug. 30-31).
    * USNORTHCOM is working with U.S. Transportation Command to provide contracted airlift to move 16,000 general population passengers and cargo. The airlift is planned to move passengers from New Orleans to Dallas-Fort Worth.
    * Designated Ft. Rucker, Ala., and Ft. Benning, Ga., as additional FEMA National Logistics Staging Areas to support forward distribution of supplies and equipment to affected areas as required.
    * Department of Defense medium and heavy lift rotary wing aircraft to conduct movement of personnel and supplies in support of disaster operations.

ONGOING OPERATIONS:

    * Four Defense Coordinating Officers have been activated in support of Federal Emergency Management Regions IV and VI to provide assessment and coordination as required. DCOs work very closely with federal, state, tribal and local officials to determine what unique DoD capabilities can be brought to assist in mitigating the effects of a natural disaster.
    * Two Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers (Region VI and Region IV) were activated to the FEMA National Response Coordination Center.
    * Designated three military installations as FEMA National Logistics Staging Areas to support forward distribution of supplies and equipment to affected areas as required (Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.; Columbus Air Force Base, Miss; and Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss.).

USNORTHCOM is closely monitoring Hurricane Gustav's progress and continues to respond to requests for DoD support in preparation for landfall.

USNORTHCOM is the joint combatant command formed in the wake of the Sept.11, 2001 terrorist attacks to provide homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities.  USNORTHCOM anticipates requests, actions and requirements to support developing situations. Its subordinate commands are Joint Forces Headquarters National Capital Region, Joint Task Force Alaska, Joint Task Force Civil Support, Joint Task Force North, and Standing Joint Force Headquarters North.

The command is responsible for the operational control of all active-duty military responses to a disaster when requested by the state and ordered by the president and the secretary of defense.

FEMA Updates:
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/reports/2008/

NWS Flood Forecast:
http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/nationalfloodoutlook/

[SJFedor]

Us Ops type just got told to get a confirmed list of deployable aircrews for up to 96 hours by 8pm tonight. the balloon is going up.

[JoeTomasone]

Despite the quote from CAP.GOV's news story, I've heard zilch here in FLWG.  The Wing Web page even says "OPS NORMAL".

Looks like we're sitting this one out?   

[RiverAux]

Capt. Steven Solomon, director of public affairs for CAP's Southeast Region, said the organization's Florida Wing also is on the move, directing its Groups 1 and 2 RECON trained members to be ready, if needed.

Not sure where you're at, but it looks like only parts of FL Wing are gearing up at the moment. 

[SJFedor]

Capt. Steven Solomon, director of public affairs for CAP's Southeast Region, said the organization's Florida Wing also is on the move, directing its Groups 1 and 2 RECON trained members to be ready, if needed.

Not sure where you're at, but it looks like only parts of FL Wing are gearing up at the moment. 

They may be holding off on FL due to the fact that there's a 2nd storm coming in behind, and don't want you guys out somewhere else, and then be needed at home.

[Eclipse]

...and there's two more disturbances growing East of Hanna.  Its going to be a fun fall this year.

[JoeTomasone]

Capt. Steven Solomon, director of public affairs for CAP's Southeast Region, said the organization's Florida Wing also is on the move, directing its Groups 1 and 2 RECON trained members to be ready, if needed.

Not sure where you're at, but it looks like only parts of FL Wing are gearing up at the moment. 

Group 3.  What's odd is that RECON teams are usually drawn from outside the affected area, and Groups 1 and 2 (which encompass the panhandle) are in a TS warning.

Further, the FLWG web site (as I mentioned) says "Ops Normal", and there's been no emails from the WG/DOS concerning any involvement.


So I'm not sure if the good Capt. Solomon is mistaken, or if the rank and file are simply in the dark.

[RiverAux]

Given current projections it seems unlikely that NW Florida is going to be hit so hard that local units would be unable to function.  Since the worst appears to be going to hit in LA/TX, putting units in remote parts of Florida on alert probably wouldn't really be necessary since units from other Wings will be much closer to the affected areas.  That being said, I agree that some communication from the Wing to the general membership via web site or email lists would be appropriate.

[DC]

I'm in FLWG Group II and I haven't heard squat about Gustav or Hanna...

[RiverAux]

Are you a recon qualified person that would be notified as indicated in the press release?  If so, then your unit chain of command is obviously broken. 

[Eclipse]

I'm in FLWG Group II and I haven't heard squat about Gustav or Hanna...

Ones a hurricane, ones a tropical depression...

[DC]

Are you a recon qualified person that would be notified as indicated in the press release?  If so, then your unit chain of command is obviously broken. 

No I'm not RECON qualified, but usually when there is an alert info is placed on the email lists..

My squadron commander mentioned something last week, but it was more of a 'there is a possiblity this will happen' rather than a 'higher up said to get your gear ready' type thing...

Ones a hurricane, ones a tropical depression...

Soon to reverse.. Gustav will make landfall, and Hanna is expected to strenthen into a hurricane this week. And lets not forget 97L out in the mid Atlantic. On the bright side, 96L, the other developing storm seems to have dissapated, or at least NOAA doesn't see the need to report on it...

[JoeTomasone]

Just got a notice from the SER/DC requesting all stations to monitor HF and local VHF nets beginning tomorrow.

[fyrfitrmedic]

 Lt. General Honore weighs in on preparedness:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/09/01/honore.gustav/index.html

Why the hell don't people borrow some of this good clue?

[Eclipse]

I love that guy, but sadly the national sentiment is all about symbolism and less about actual sweat-equity service.

"Give me a magnetic ribbon sticker that says 'SAVE NOLA!', but don't bother me with actually helping."   

[maverik]

As of 11:00 (GTM -6) Hurricane Gustav is about to make landfall and is currently a Category 2 hurricane,winds are at 110 MPH, the storm is moving WNW at 15 MPH,Latitude:29.2 N - Longitude:90.8 W. Good luck and god bless.

[Laplace]

Baton Rouge checking in:  Steady rain all day and a lot of foliage and tree limbs down.  Power is out in many areas, but after a few dips, we still have power near the LSU area.  Eye wall will pass to our west in a few hours and we are being warned to get ready.  Neighbors' tree limb just took out part of my fence.  It needed to be replaced anyway  .   

I'll keep posting if possible.  Good Luck all.

[Eclipse]

I'm listening to LA talkradio (WWL) (while I work on getting our COV mission ready), and they had several Tornado warnings popping up all over the place.

[SSgt Rudin]

oh, this should make for a fun next two weeks...

[DC]

Indeed. Hurricane Hanna, what is bound to eventually be Hurricane Ike, with three possible systems out there...

Makes you start feeling like you have a big target on your back...

I grateful Gustav wasn't any worse than it was. For the next week, good luck to everyone in the Bahamas, the NE Florida Coast, Georgia and South Carolina..

[Major Carrales]

Every Hurricane from now on is going to have be treated in the same fashion as Gustav was.  Large scale evacuations and more than ample resources will need to be the order of the day.  Katrina gave us a lot to think about.

The true issues in the future will be apathy and complacence.

[BillB]

National Hurricane Center has Ike following the exact path as Hannah +/- 200 miles. Their 50 MPH wind cones match up and Ike's merges with Hannahs (5 days apart)

[Fifinella]

Barksdale Composite Squadron spent today at one of the shelters in Shreveport serving meals, passing out supplies, talking to folks, etc.  Going back tomorrow, weather permitting - Gustav is still working his way north.  The cadets really were excited to get the chance to help.

[JoeTomasone]

Barksdale Composite Squadron spent today at one of the shelters in Shreveport serving meals, passing out supplies, talking to folks, etc.  Going back tomorrow, weather permitting - Gustav is still working his way north.  The cadets really were excited to get the chance to help.

If you (or anyone else involved in DR work) wouldn't mind writing up a little something on the experience (or even better, getting one of your senior cadets to do so), I think it would certainly help a few of our Squadrons over here to realize why they should get motivated to pass GES and get some ES quals.   Many of them don't yet get it.   May I thusly impose?   

[DNall]

HOUSTON - Guard unit has had ppl in all wknd getting our trucks fixed (half of them wouldn't make it off the base before they broke down), so that's good regardless. I'm top of the list for the go team though & nothing. I'm sure some units are moving around, but we're not. Didn't get anything this far west.

CAP is set to start running assessment flights for the state in the morning, but I don't think there's anything to take pictures of on this side of the sabine.

[MikeD]

Barksdale Composite Squadron spent today at one of the shelters in Shreveport serving meals, passing out supplies, talking to folks, etc.  Going back tomorrow, weather permitting - Gustav is still working his way north.  The cadets really were excited to get the chance to help.

If you (or anyone else involved in DR work) wouldn't mind writing up a little something on the experience (or even better, getting one of your senior cadets to do so), I think it would certainly help a few of our Squadrons over here to realize why they should get motivated to pass GES and get some ES quals.   Many of them don't yet get it.   May I thusly impose?   

Please do!  I have the same issue with the cadets in my squadron. 

Back to the situation as a whole, who wants to bet that when Hannah, Ike or the next one hits, we'll have flooding in IA and an earthquake out in CA too?  Seems to be the way our luck is tending...

[SSgt Rudin]

Barksdale Composite Squadron spent today at one of the shelters in Shreveport serving meals, passing out supplies, talking to folks, etc.  Going back tomorrow, weather permitting - Gustav is still working his way north.  The cadets really were excited to get the chance to help.

If you (or anyone else involved in DR work) wouldn't mind writing up a little something on the experience (or even better, getting one of your senior cadets to do so), I think it would certainly help a few of our Squadrons over here to realize why they should get motivated to pass GES and get some ES quals.   Many of them don't yet get it.   May I thusly impose?   

WIWAC we worked at the shelters every time they opened up. When I took over as ES officer at my squadron I went to the Red Cross and attempted to get them to come out and hold a shelter operations course for the cadets, their parents and the seniors so we could start doing it again. They told me that they were told when they contacted our HQ (they didn't remember if it was wing or NHQ) a couple years ago they were told that they could not use us with out a MOU and pre-approval each time they opened a shelter. I understood this, but what I could not understand is why they had so much trouble getting this accomplished, they said ultimately it did not happen because of insurance and funding issues, however the ARC covers all the cost/funding and we would be covered on their insurance. Any one have any insight on this?

edit- I should specify we got their prior to the shelter opening to help set up and help get people in the shelter, get them registered, and make sure they set up where the ARC told them to. We also would roam the halls and "enforce" lights out. Lastly we would help with meals. So we were there the entire time the shelter was open, not just go in help out for the day and leave at night.

[JoeTomasone]

When I took over as ES officer at my squadron I went to the Red Cross and attempted to get them to come out and hold a shelter operations course for the cadets, their parents and the seniors so we could start doing it again. They told me that they were told when they contacted our HQ (they didn't remember if it was wing or NHQ) a couple years ago they were told that they could not use us with out a MOU and pre-approval each time they opened a shelter. I understood this, but what I could not understand is why they had so much trouble getting this accomplished, they said ultimately it did not happen because of insurance and funding issues, however the ARC covers all the cost/funding and we would be covered on their insurance. Any one have any insight on this?

Well, WIWAC (mid 80s), we actually had a Red Cross shelter management course.   I guess the world got sue-happy?   At any rate, the Red Cross has scores of volunteers that come out when the fecal matter hits the fan blades and work during the day, then go home at night.   They never seem to need an MOU or liability protection with the general public....    And as a Ham Radio operator, they never seem to care either, although they are on a kick to get all hams to go through a background check now as they say they do with all volunteers - just in case we have someone who's going to steal funds like they had happen after Katrina.   

All in all, I admire the Red Cross for what they do and abhor working with them (as an organization, the individuals are great people) for various reasons that I'll keep to myself.

[Eclipse]

An MOU may or may not be necessary, but likely already exists at the national or state level, if they are the requesting agency to the NOC (we've done several times that way this year alone in my state), there's no issue helping them with shelters ops disaster assessment, or whatever else they need that stays within our training.

As to "prior approval", other than a mission number, which is, of course, required, there's no prior approval necessary.
And if no one is asking for money, then a "A" isn't required and it can go as a "C".

Hearsay and the lack of making the proper connections well in advance of the disaster is what stops us in our tracks.

They just have to know who to call and how to ask, but they should not be learning about CAP when you roll up to the shelter and say "...we're from the government and we're here to help!"

One of the reasons that integrated ICS is important is so that resources are checked in at high levels, maybe the ARC doesn't know what CAP is, but if we are checked in properly and the shelter asks for "x", and we're "x", we can go, whether they know us or not.

My personal experience with the ARC has been very positive - they are a bureaucracy just like us, with rules and SOPs, one thing I really respect about them is that they "expect what they expect", you either deliver or you go home, no matter what level you are helping.

[Sleepwalker]

   In Atlanta yesterday (monday) several dozen Fairfax County SAR people were "loaded for bear" at their rally point, including having several service dogs.  There were also a few FEMA and Border Patrol folks thrown in for good measure.  Of course they were headed to New Orleans.  I wished them all well.     

[Al Sayre]

I've been sitting in the MS EOC for the last 3 days (still here) the weather is finally breaking enough to launch our 1st damage assessment sortie.  Reports from the coast here are mostly a water event, we're looking for flood areas...

[Eclipse]

I've been sitting in the MS EOC for the last 3 days (still here) the weather is finally breaking enough to launch our 1st damage assessment sortie.  Reports from the coast here are mostly a water event, we're looking for flood areas...

...head South (no charge for the intel)...

[DNall]

North LA sounds like the flood event. We didn't even get any rain. Were set to start running 8 DA sorties a day, but that's on standby. I think they're flying today but that's cause it was already set to go and just verify we're good. If you need anything next door there, please let us know.

[Fifinella]

If you (or anyone else involved in DR work) wouldn't mind writing up a little something on the experience (or even better, getting one of your senior cadets to do so), I think it would certainly help a few of our Squadrons over here to realize why they should get motivated to pass GES and get some ES quals.   Many of them don't yet get it.   May I thusly impose?   

Rog, I've asked one of our cadets.  Will forward upon receipt.

[Eclipse]

My Region is requiring daily updates on readiness and deployment availability for at least the next 30 days.

One of my units ran a deployment planning meeting last night and assigned a number of details with the assumption we'll be going "somewhere" in the next month.

We will also be releasing info to local press on the planning process as "watch this space" and general awareness mode.

If we don't go anywhere, we have still completed the mental exercise of the planning, alerted employers to our volunteer service and possibility of being needed, and ramped our personal and team gear back to alert status.

We should not squander these opportunities to leverage real-world events into training opportunities for our people and as readiness assessments for our units.

"We don't do ES" is neither acceptable in terms of CAP's overall mission, nor an excuse for not being able to participate - use this as the drumbeat to get things going - the only person who needs to be motivated, initially, is you.

[Shotgun]

Just wanted to give everyone a little update.

Mississippi Wing is currently flying photo missions for NEMA.  Surveying different area for flooding and storm damage.

No recovery work or boots on the ground - just air missions for now.

We've been having to work around around the weather a bit which has slowed things down, but so far things are looking good. No real significant damage or flooding considering how much rain we've received and the number of tornado and flash flood warnings that have been issued

[Eclipse]

NEMA or MEMA?

[stratoflyer]

How does one get Recon qualified? I just finished my GES stuff with ICS 100. How would someone like me be able to help out during a situation such as a hurricane? Obviously, my squadron commander should be my main contact point...

[JoeTomasone]

How does one get Recon qualified? I just finished my GES stuff with ICS 100. How would someone like me be able to help out during a situation such as a hurricane? Obviously, my squadron commander should be my main contact point...

Attend the training; I don't know when the next one is being held.   Perhaps check with your Squadron's ES officer.

[NEBoom]

Not CAP related, but still,

The Huskers are coming!

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10422379

Points of interest:
1) This is the largest deployment of NG troops from Nebraska at one time ever (peacetime or war).  At the max we had 800 in Iraq at one time, which was the largest deployment since WWII.

2) On a personal note, my son-in-law is one of the troops heading down.  He got word over the weekend, reported yesterday.

Best wishes to all of you down there for a speedy recovery.

[Eclipse]

The G-Man has finally crawled his way up to my AOR, bringing sporadic, heavy rains.

I was in a Pep Boys yesterday and a storm popped up out of nowhere for about 15 minutes with fire-hose like rain that made it plenty loud in the store.

I heard one guy remark "this sucks...", and thought to myself, um yeah, imagine what this would be like if it was continuous for about 12 hours with 100Mph winds.   

[Laplace]

The G-Man has finally crawled his way up to my AOR, bringing sporadic, heavy rains.

I was in a Pep Boys yesterday and a storm popped up out of nowhere for about 15 minutes with fire-hose like rain that made it plenty loud in the store.

I heard one guy remark "this sucks...", and thought to myself, um yeah, imagine what this would be like if it was continuous for about 12 hours with 100Mph winds.    

Welcome to my world four (?) days ago.  Baton Rouge took major hit from storm as Eye passed to our direct west.  Most of town still without power.  I just got it 3 hours ago  .   My neighborhood has had a lot huge trees in it.  They are everywhere - on houses, fences, the street, cars, etc.  Most fences over 3 foot tall are gone as well as any metal garage doors.  Straight line winds were the worst I've seen, without gusts to 92 mph.  At least this bastard came during the day.  It would have been really scary at night hearing the trees crack and waiting blindly for impact.  I was very lucky, no tree to roof connections. I lost several fence sections, huge segments of roof shingles, multiple trees & tree limbs and there is foliage/limbs 2 feet deep over entire city.  Thank God for generators and helpful neighbors.  We started to clean up as soon as rain slacked.  Gas is scarce with 2.5 hour waits.  Very few grocery box stores opening with limited supplies.  Helpful neighbor drove 80 miles round trip west to Breaux Bridge to get gas for several of our generators.  Louisiana Wing is active and sharing space at airport with Army.  Not sure of our missions as I've been assisting local law enforcement in rural areas with curfew and gas line enforcement.  They are being told no power for 3 more weeks!  Is this getting much national coverage?

New Orleans got off relatively easy.  I hope this does not cause them to think twice about prior evac next time.  Hell, the Sanits are playing the Bucs on Sunday.  Anybody need tickets?  I can't go.

I think worst area was down south in the Houma area.  Have not heard much from down there.

Guard Units from various States are down helping distribute tarps, water, ice and MREs.  Great to see all the help.  I will try to get to Wing in the next day or so.  Would like to meet anyone down here if possible.

[stillamarine]

Try like for 3 days! I'm currently in LA working disaster security. Been a very busy few days, started in Baton Rouge Monday, to Lafeyett tuesday, thursday back to baton rouge and last night I was in Alexandria. Today I deploy to Bunkie. Damage is bad in some areas, but the people are stronge! Everyone here is awesome, I even had some crawfish etoufee the other day..mmmm...much better than MREs!

[Laplace]

Thanks for your help Tim.  I'm working in New Roads / Point Coupee Parish assisting local law enforcement with patrol duties.

Get some Jambalaya if possible during your stay!   

[Fifinella]

Try like for 3 days! I'm currently in LA working disaster security. Been a very busy few days, started in Baton Rouge Monday, to Lafeyett tuesday, thursday back to baton rouge and last night I was in Alexandria.

Shoulda stopped by LAWG Mission Base at the Million Air on England Air Park.  (No cajun food, but several CAPTalkers.)

[stillamarine]

Thanks for your help Tim.  I'm working in New Roads / Point Coupee Parish assisting local law enforcement with patrol duties.

Get some Jambalaya if possible during your stay!   

I've been trying!! I did get some shrimp etoufee (sp) loved it after 3 straight days of MREs. Wanted to try crawfish but apparently they are out of season. Spent the last 3 days in Bunkie, LA. Things are starting to look promising.

If all remains the same we may demobilize wednesday and head home. Waiting to see now.