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Surviving Gustav, and the TV coverage
New Orleans has survived Gustav.
For days we heard the ominous forecasts (is there another kind?) There were fears that the hurricane could roar into the Crescent City as a Category 4 or even 5 storm.
The talk was of utter devastation. And the timing could not have been more eerie.
Almost three years to the day after Hurricane Katrina forever changed New Orleans, and really the entire country, fears of a repeat were rampant. New Orleans was a ghost town, with a mandatory evacuation getting citizens out of harm’s way.
But it didn’t happen. That’s not to say Gustav did not leave his calling card.
Eight people are believed to have been killed in the Gulf region, after the storm claimed 94 lives in the Caribbean.
There are 80,000 people still without power in the region.
And people are thankful.
Gustav only managed a glancing blow at New Orleans. So far it appears the levees have held. There has been no repeat of the massive flooding that ensued when the levees gave way under the wrath of Katrina three years ago.
Gustav has now weakened to a tropical depression.
City officials and residents should be lauded for heeding the warnings, taking the proper precautions, and getting the hell out of dodge.
The same can’t be said for the TV folks, who have given us non-stop of the storm the entire holiday weekend.
They can fix their hair and makeup now. We’ve seen them standing out in the midst of the storm, at some times comically so.
At one point CBS’ Harry Smith actually snagged a cap that had been blown off the head of “The Today Show’s” Al Roker. They apparently were doing stand-ups right next to each other.
Locally, John Bolaris made the trip to Lafayette, La., to report for Fox-29.
“Hurricane” Schwartz stayed right here in the friendly confines of Philly for Channel 10.
Never fear, another storm is usually not too far off.
Two more are already brewing out in the Atlantic. Hanna is expected to threaten the southeast U.S. coast later this week and could give us rain by the weekend.
Better pack your umbrella, John.
For now, New Orleans and the rest of the country can breathe a sigh of relief. Residents will return in a few days to inspect the damage.
And the weather folks can start banging the drum for the next storm.
For days we heard the ominous forecasts (is there another kind?) There were fears that the hurricane could roar into the Crescent City as a Category 4 or even 5 storm.
The talk was of utter devastation. And the timing could not have been more eerie.
Almost three years to the day after Hurricane Katrina forever changed New Orleans, and really the entire country, fears of a repeat were rampant. New Orleans was a ghost town, with a mandatory evacuation getting citizens out of harm’s way.
But it didn’t happen. That’s not to say Gustav did not leave his calling card.
Eight people are believed to have been killed in the Gulf region, after the storm claimed 94 lives in the Caribbean.
There are 80,000 people still without power in the region.
And people are thankful.
Gustav only managed a glancing blow at New Orleans. So far it appears the levees have held. There has been no repeat of the massive flooding that ensued when the levees gave way under the wrath of Katrina three years ago.
Gustav has now weakened to a tropical depression.
City officials and residents should be lauded for heeding the warnings, taking the proper precautions, and getting the hell out of dodge.
The same can’t be said for the TV folks, who have given us non-stop of the storm the entire holiday weekend.
They can fix their hair and makeup now. We’ve seen them standing out in the midst of the storm, at some times comically so.
At one point CBS’ Harry Smith actually snagged a cap that had been blown off the head of “The Today Show’s” Al Roker. They apparently were doing stand-ups right next to each other.
Locally, John Bolaris made the trip to Lafayette, La., to report for Fox-29.
“Hurricane” Schwartz stayed right here in the friendly confines of Philly for Channel 10.
Never fear, another storm is usually not too far off.
Two more are already brewing out in the Atlantic. Hanna is expected to threaten the southeast U.S. coast later this week and could give us rain by the weekend.
Better pack your umbrella, John.
For now, New Orleans and the rest of the country can breathe a sigh of relief. Residents will return in a few days to inspect the damage.
And the weather folks can start banging the drum for the next storm.
posted by Heron's Nest at
7:44 AM
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