Gustav swirled toward Cuba on Wednesday after triggering flooding and landslides that killed at least 22 people in the Caribbean. Its track pointed toward the U.S. Gulf coast, including Louisiana where Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc three years ago.
Oil prices jumped above US$119 a barrel as workers began to evacuate from the offshore rigs responsible for a quarter of U.S. crude production and much of America’s natural gas.
“We know it’s going to head into the Gulf. After that, we’re not sure where it’s heading,” said Rebecca Waddington, a meteorologist at the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. “For that reason, everyone in Gulf needs to be monitoring the storm. At that point, we’re expecting it to be a Category 3 hurricane.”
Prayers for the Gulf Coast.
Ditto.
It doesn’t look good. Water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are in excess of 85 degrees. They are now forcasting to be a major hurricane.
Praying… Some might be interested to read Fr. Jerry Kramer’s update from New Orleans. Let’s keep him and all at Annunciation in our prayers:
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“New Orleans in the Cone”
27 August 2008 5p
Dear All,
While still early in the ballgame New Orleans is presently in the centre of the cone. There’s a highly palpable, eerie feeling in the city right now. Folks are starting to make plans to bug out; all of the hotel rooms between Lafayette, LA and Jackson, MS were gobbled up by early this morning. Water all sold out at the Walgreens across the street.
Annunciation is beginning its evacuation protocol. On Friday, if still square in the cone, we’ll begin moving items to the second floor areas. Sensitive documents, brass, etc. will go on the road with us to our evacuation location. It looks as if we’ll hit the road on Saturday or Sunday if Gustav’s path keeps to current projections. We aim to have the entire campus locked down and secured by Saturday afternoon.
I’m personally tracking Gustav at http://www.wunderground.com.
Our big focus in the next day or so is finding out where parishioners are going, who needs rides, who needs cash for gas (worst possible timing for us), road supplies, etc. etc.
Thanks for all of the expressions of concern, care and love this morning and throughout the day. I’m glad to know there are people still out there reading my blogs!
Keep the prayers coming . . . know of ours. Blessings from the Cone!
jerry+