rita
Here it comes--the wind and rain have already begun. Rita is big enough that even though she's hitting west of us (right around Lake Charles--on the La./Tx. border) we're going to really get some rain. And some wind. For those of you who don't know, the east side of the storm is the bad side--which is why Baton Rouge is probably going to get winds and rain as bad as Katrina even though Rita isn't as bad of a storm/farther away. This, again, bodes ill for New Orleans. While the rain will help wash away the gunk, rain is also not the best thing for a city just trying to dry out right now. I certainly hope all those people stuck on the interstate in Texas are managing to find a way out--I'm not really sure why there wasn't a contra-flow plan in effect, but. . . . I think more people than expected were evacuating due to Katrina. One thing that is good is that on that side of Louisiana, there aren't a whole lot of people/towns south of the interstate--unlike east La. Unfortunately, Beaumont, Tx., is a lot closer to the Gulf than any La. cities of that size. The rain is really pouring down here right now, and the storm isn't officially going to hit until late tonight. Please keep everyone affected in your prayers. Now we just have to wait and see what happens.