Saturday, August 30, 2008

Hurricane Local Statement

HeadlineHurricane Local Statement
DescriptionLafayette, Rapides, St. Landry, Upper St. Martin.


The Following Watches and Warnings are Currently in effect For
this Area:

Hurricane Wind Watch.


Residents are Encouraged to Continue Making Preparations to
Protect Life and Property.

Acadia.
A Voluntary Evacuation is in effect for Residents North of
Interstate 10. a Mandatory Evacuation is in effect for All Residents
South of Hwy 92, and for Mobile Homes South of Interstate 10.

Allen.
A Voluntary Evacuation is in Effect. a Recommended Evacuation will
Start at 6am Sunday.

Jefferson Davis.
A Mandatory Evacuation is Planned on Sunday.

Lafayette.
A Voluntary Evacuation is in Effect.

Upper St. Martin.
A Voluntary Evacuation is in Effect.


Tropical storm Force winds will Begin to Affect the area 10 to 12
Hours Prior to Hurricane Force winds.

on Gustav's Current Path, Tropical storm Force winds Are
Expected to Begin Impacting the Louisiana Coast During the Pre -
Dawn Hours Monday Morning, then Continue to Spread Inland As
Gustav Moves to the Northwest. Tropical storm Force winds Will
Start to Impact the Lafayette and Crowley Areas Shortly After
Sunrise, and Impact the Alexandria area by Mid Afternoon.

Hurricane Gustav is Expected to Make Landfall Along the South
Central Louisiana Coast Mid Monday Morning As an Extremely
Dangerous Category 4 Hurricane, with Sustained winds of 150 MPH
and Gusts Up to 180 MPH.

The Following Damage Can be Expected Along the Path of the Eye
Wall of a Hurricane of this Strength.

Houses of Poor to Average Construction will be Severely Damaged
or Destroyed. Well Constructed Homes will Have Substantial Roof
and Exterior Damage. More severe Damage to Homes with Gabled Roofs
May Occur. Many Industrial Buildings will be Destroyed, Others
will Have Partial Roof and Wall Damage. Wood Framed Apartments
will be Severely Damaged. Complete Destruction of Mobile Homes Is
Likely. Electricity and Water will be Unavailable for Days, And
Perhaps Weeks, After the storm Passes. Many Trees will be Snapped
And/or Uprooted.


St. Martinville.
Tropical Storm, 79 Percent.
Hurricane, 32 Percent.

Lafayette.
Tropical Storm, 77 Percent.
Hurricane, 29 Percent.

Opelousas.
Tropical Storm, 76 Percent.
Hurricane, 27 Percent.

Marksville.
Tropical Storm, 73 Percent.
Hurricane, 20 Percent.

Ville Platte.
Tropical Storm, 73 Percent.
Hurricane, 23 Percent.

Jennings.
Tropical Storm, 69 Percent.
Hurricane, 23 Percent.

Oberlin.
Tropical Storm, 67 Percent.
Hurricane, 20 Percent.

Alexandria.
Tropical Storm, 67 Percent.
Hurricane, 16 Percent.


10 to 15 Inches of Rainfall, with Locally Higher Amounts, Will
be Possible Across South Central Louisiana. Rainfall of This
Magnitude will Likely Result in Flooding.


this Statement will be Updated around 5am Sunday Morning.

At 1000pm CST...the Center of Hurricane Gustav was Located Near
Latitude 23.1 North...longitude 83.8 West...or over The
Southeastern Gulf of Mexico About 90 Miles West of Havana Cuba...and
About 530 Miles Southeast of the Mouth of the Mississippi River.
Gustav is moving toward the Northwest near 15 MPH...and This
Motion is Expected to Continue for the Next Couple of Days. On
this Track...the Center of Gustav is Forecast to Move Into The
Central Gulf of Mexico on Sunday...and then Make Landfall on The
Northern Gulf Coast on Monday.
Maximum Sustained winds are near 140 MPH...with Higher Gusts.
Gustav is a Category Four Hurricane on the Saffir-simpson Scale.
While Gustav has Weakened During Passage over Cuba...it is Forecast
to Re-intensify During the Next 24 Hours As It Moves over the Warm
Waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Fluctuations in Strength are Likely
After That Time...but Gustav is Forecast to Remain a Major
Hurricane Through Landfall Along the Northern Gulf Coast.
Hurricane Force winds Extend Outward Up to 70 Miles from The
Center...and Tropical storm Force winds Extend Outward Up to 175
Miles.
The Estimated Minimum Central Pressure is 948 Mb...or 27.99
Inches.

Expires9/1/08 3:00 AM
Message ID71980
County/AreaLafayette, LA (latitude: 30.2159, longitude: -92.0904)

Gas Availability:

Gas is currently available at the Valero on Moss and Pont Des Mouton

Re-Tweeted for @zeffryn

Target on the Northside

is still open and they have supplies. Water and food is rather
plentiful, as well as some batteries.

Re-Tweeted for @zeffryn

Price Gouging

Report Price Gouging in Louisiana by emailing: pricegougingreport@ag.state.la.us

Call 511 in Louisiana for Road Closure Information

New Orleans Traffic Cameras

You can view the New Orleans traffic cameras and a glimpse into
weather conditions here:

http://www.dotd.louisiana.gov/press/traffic_cameras/no_cameras.asp

Baton Rouge Traffic Cameras

You can view traffic information and get an idea as to the weather
conditions by viewing some of the Baton Rouge area traffic cameras:

http://www.dotd.louisiana.gov/press/traffic_cameras/br_cameras.asp

Volunteers Needed for Hurricane Gustav Response

BATON ROUGE, La. (August 30, 2008) – The Louisiana Department of
Health and Hospitals-Office of Public Health (DHH-OPH) is seeking
volunteers to help in pre and post-storm emergency activities.

Those interested in assisting are asked to sign up with Louisiana
Volunteers in Action (LAVA), the DHH's volunteer management program.
Prospective volunteers should register at www.lava.dhh.louisiana.gov.
DHH-OPH volunteer coordinators will then call registered volunteers
with information on when and where to report.

Volunteers don't have to be medical professionals. DHH-OPH officials
are asking anyone who registers to be ready to assist. Those who
register may be assigned to help at a Medical Special Needs Shelter or
at t! he state's bus triage operation. Non-medical volunteers may be
asked to feed patients or perform clerical tasks. Medical volunteers
will be involved in direct patient care.

According to OPH Assistant Secretary M. Rony Francois, M.D., MSPH,
Ph.D, "Volunteers are the backbone of our response to emergencies like
hurricanes. Louisiana could not have made it through the aftermath of
hurricanes Katrina and Rita without the dedication and selfless
service of volunteers." Following the 2005 hurricanes, more than 8,500
volunteers assisted DHH and the storm victims.

Contraflow Now Begins at 4AM

Jindal has announced that contraflow will begin at 4am now.
Contraflow was originally scheduled for 6am, Sunday 8/31/08

Southwest Louisiana Contra Flow Map:

http://www.dotd.state.la.us/maps/ContraFlow_SWLA_map.pdf

Finding Shelters

Department of Social Services Secretary Ann Silverberg Williamson is
urging all citizens who are evacuating in advance of Hurricane Gustav
to dial 211 if they are seeking a shelter inside Louisiana. Residents
who are looking for a shelter in another state should call the
toll-free number 1-866-Get Info (1-866-438-4636) for the location of
Red Cross shelters in another state.

"I am grateful for the partnership of both 211 and the Red Cross. They
have worked diligently to create systems to help our residents make it
to the closest shelter that has vacancies," said Williamson. "I would
also urge media outlets across the state to publicize these numbers so
that our residents have the latest information about shelter vacancies
as they evacuate."

For the latest on Hurricane Gustav, you can visit
emergency.louisiana.gov or call the state's emergency hotline at
1-866-288-2484 to listen to a recorded message with the most
up-to-date information.

Important Numbers

FOR EMERGENCIES, call 911 in all areas. FOR NON-EMERGENCY INFORMATION
AND REFERRALS, CALL 211.

For a complete list of important phone numbers, parish information and
additional resources, visit http://ecowatch.ncddc.noaa.gov/c-side

Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
1-800-256-7036 or 225-925-7500

National Weather Service Forecast Office
(New Orleans/Baton Rouge) – 504-522-7330
(Lake Charles) – 337-477-5285

Louisiana State Police
225-925-6325 or *LSP from any cell phone

Louisiana State Police Road Closure Hotline
1-800-469-4828

Louisiana Attorney General Hurricane Hotline
1-866-351-4889

American Red Cross
1-866-GET- INFO (1-866-438-4636)

Latest Computer Models

Show Slight Improvement with latest Gustav tracking @ 8PM EDT 8/30/08

Improvement for Lafayette / Acadiana area that is. The latest models
show landfall is expected a bit more east then previously expected.
Not good for New Orleans though.

http://static.picwing.com/11306/u_108172_t540.gif

Note that since following this storm 4 days ago I have seen these
models change EVERY time. The only sure thing about Gustav is it is a
hurricane and it will likely hit some where within the US Gulf Coast

Cox Communications Contact Info

Acadiana:
(337) 232-6323
(888) 215-8474

Baton Rouge:
(225) 615-1000
(866) 342-5269

New Orleans:
(504) 304-8444

LUS Contact Info

Report Power Outages
(337) 291-5700

Report Water Problems
(337) 291-5740

Report Wastewater Problems
(337) 291-5750

Report Street Light Problems
(337) 291-5700

Report Tree Limbs Over Power Lines
(337) 291-5711

Important Info and Links

For those following on Twitter.com/LFT411 you might want to follow
@RedCross as well.

Also if you Twit about Gustav include #Gustav in your Tweet to have it
picked up and posted at the Hurricane Gustav Information Center and
Social Network: http://gustav08.ning.com

Also for those looking for New Orleans news and info on Twitter you
can follow @NOLAnews and @stbernardnews

For information on supplies or status of Home Depot stores follow @TheHomeDepot

GET WATER

Obviously the #1 thing everyone needs is water. Simple enough. The
body can go without food for some time, but not water. When you
couple the bodies need for water with the fact one may possibly loose
power for days, the heat will make you need water even more. Fill up
pots and bath tubs at the very least. Don't forget about the pets
water needs as well.

Grocery and Fast Food Stores

Many people staying around Lafayette will find that many stores will
be closing early due to either employee shortages or to allow their
employees time to evacuate if they choose. This is needs to be taken
into account that food may be difficult to find over the next couple
of days regardless of where and when Gustav lands. It is important to
ensure your prepared for this and take these often overlooked facts
into consideration.

Store Closing

McDonalds on Johnston near UL has announced they are closing at 9pm
Sunday and plan to reopen (weather permitting) on Wednesday.

Gas Availablity

Chevron at Bertrand and Eraste Landry

---
Thanks,
Daniel Kedinger
daniel@crucedesign.com

c* 337.257.6182
w* 337.234.0913

Sent from my iPhone.

HURRICANE GUSTAV INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 22

000
WTNT32 KNHC 301200
TCPAT2
BULLETIN
HURRICANE GUSTAV INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 22A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL072008
800 AM EDT SAT AUG 30 2008

...MAJOR HURRICANE GUSTAV CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN...
...CONDITIONS DETERIORATING OVER THE ISLE OF YOUTH...

AT 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA HAS ISSUED A
HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE CUBAN PROVINCES OF MATANZAS AND
CIENFUEGOS. A HURRICANE WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE WESTERN
CUBAN PROVINCES OF PINAR DEL RIO...LA HABANA...CIUDAD DE LA
HABANA...ISLA DE JUVENTUD...MATANZAS...AND CIENFUEGOS.
PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY IN THE HURRICANE WARNING
AREA SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

A HURRICANE WARNING ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL CUBAN PROVINCE
OF VILLA CLARA. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA... GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE LOWER FLORIDA
KEYS WEST OF KEY WEST TO THE DRY TORTUGAS AND FOR THE CENTRAL CUBAN
PROVINCES OF VILLA CLARA...SANCTI SPIRITUS...CIEGO DE AVILA...AND
CAMAGUEY. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24
HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS
WEST OF THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO KEY WEST.

INTERESTS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE NORTHERN GULF COAST SHOULD
CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF GUSTAV.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 800 AM EDT...1200Z...THE EYE OF HURRICANE GUSTAV WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 20.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 81.6 WEST OR ABOUT 85 MILES...
135 KM...SOUTHEAST OF THE ISLE OF YOUTH AND ABOUT 225 MILES...360 KM
...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA.

GUSTAV HAS JOGGED TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST DURING THE PAST FEW
HOURS...BUT IS EXPECTED TO SOON RESUME A MOTION TOWARD THE
NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH...19 KM/HR...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THIS TRACK...THE CENTER
OF GUSTAV WILL PASS OVER WESTERN CUBA LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT...AND
MOVE INTO THE SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO EARLY SUNDAY AND INTO THE
CENTRAL GULF BY EARLY MONDAY.

DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND ARE NOW NEAR 120
MPH...195 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GUSTAV IS A DANGEROUS
CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE.
GUSTAV IS EXPECTED TO PASS OVER WESTERN CUBA AS A MAJOR
HURRICANE...AND COULD REACH CATEGORY FOUR STATUS BEFORE MAKING
LANDFALL THERE. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE OVER THE
SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO.

GUSTAV IS A LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND
OUTWARD UP TO 60 MILES...95 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL
STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 160 MILES...260 KM.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE BASED ON REPORTS FROM BOTH AIR FORCE
AND NOAA RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS 955 MB...28.20 INCHES.

COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 2 TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS
IS POSSIBLE IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS...WITH 14 TO 19 FEET POSSIBLE NEAR
WHERE THE CENTER OF GUSTAV CROSSES WESTERN CUBA...INCLUDING THE ISLE
OF YOUTH. STORM SURGE OF 1 TO 3 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS IS
POSSIBLE IN THE DRY TORTUGAS AS GUSTAV PASSES TO ITS WEST.

GUSTAV IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO
12 INCHES ACROSS THE CAYMAN ISLANDS...AND CENTRAL AND WESTERN
CUBA...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF UP TO 25 INCHES POSSIBLE.
THESE RAINS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND
MUD SLIDES. RAINFALL OF 1 TO 3 INCHES IS POSSIBLE OVER FLORIDA KEYS
AND EXTREME SOUTH FLORIDA BY SUNDAY MORNING.

REPEATING THE 800 AM EDT POSITION...20.8 N...81.6 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...955 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
1100 AM EDT.

$$
FORECASTER KNABB