My electricity and cable just came back on. THANK GOD!
I live in the French Quarter and rode out the storm. Really wasn't bad at all. My only "damage" is the neighbor's bamboo that fell into my courtyard. We really didn't have much rain at all. The wind was pretty strong but walking around the quarter today I didn't see any real damage. Lights and signs scattered around but no real damage to any buildings.
The Quarter from Conti to Canal didn't lose power. Newscasters on that end were lucky to be with power and AC. The rest lost power early this morning.
ABC is broadcasting from the Bourbon Orleans with Charlie Gibson on the balcony. His team as well as three other cameramen filmed my dog Ruby and me. Apparently Ruby is a peter magnet. If anyone sees video of a beautiful black cocker spaniel and her master with a red tshirt and jeans, that's us. They even followed us into a coffee house and filmed us there.
Anyway, NOLA didn't get much damage at all. Water is now topping the levees in some areas but no real breaches and it appears to be under control. We were EXTREMELY lucky the storm didn't hit us head on. No way those levees would have survived.
The Northshore (north of Lake Pontchartrain) I'm hearing has a lot of water damage and they're without phone and cell service. Not nearly Katrina type water but flooding nevertheless. Apparently they're getting a lot of water this afternoon with the backside of Gustav creating surges in waterways.
My friends in Baton Rouge are texting me that they were hit very hard. It's inland so they won't get water damage.
My parents are in South Central Louisiana and the Eye of the storm is going over them right now. I spoke with my mom this morning before the storm hit. But now I can't reach her on her cell or her landline.
I haven't heard anything from Houma and Morgan City where the storm hit them head on. I can only imagine they received a great deal of damage and water.
Anyway, just wanted everyone to know that NOLA is fine. TONS of police and press presence. They're all over the place. The National Guard and police go out of their way to be very courteous and helpful. Every time one passes (which is every 5 minutes) they're asking if I'm OK and if they can help.
So let's hope the rest of Louisiana doesn't suffer loss of life.