This storm was "predictable," but only about 24-36 hours before it hit. It was a category 1 hurricane when it crossed the Florida peninula a few days earlier. When it got into the overheated Gulf of Mexico, it suddenly ballooned to huge proportions.

We left work Friday afternoon without taking any of the usual hurricane precautions. Computers were left turned on and on the floor Two days before the storm hit, it was not perceived as a threat at all.

Change of subject: In this morning's newspaper here in Paducah, KY, I saw a friend stranded in New Orleans in an AP wirephoto. I tried to find a copy on the internet so I could post a link ~ no luck. I'll just have to describe it:

Bob Rue is a fellow member of our Mardi Gras club, the Krewe of Mama Roux. Actually, since Peggy and I are the currently reigning king and queen of Mama Roux (perhaps the last ever), we could say he's one of our "subjects." He owns an oriental rug store and stayed in town to protect his business. The photo shows hm shirtless and sweating in the doorway of his shop, with this message spray-painted on the plywood boarding up his display window:

DON'T EVEN TRY
I AM SLEEPING INSIDE
WITH A BIG DOG
AN UGLY WOMAN
TWO SHOTGUNS
AND A CLAW HAMMER.

Ah, the indominatible spirit of wiseass humor!

One more thing: Check this site, a "blog" and webcam being maintained by the staff of a small local ISP who stayed in town and are telling us what's really happening on the ground:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/