Latest official advisory
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These diaries are intended to provide an up-to-date emergency information and references for our many Gulf Coast Kossacks. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the hurricane. If you are trying to reach someone in the area of the storm, try text messaging. It often works when cell phones do not.
Please post only relevant images. We are trying to keep these diaries loading easily.
Please use the first comment to post updates. Responses to the first comment should be updates only.
Please use the second comment to volunteer for liveblogging. Respond to the second comment if you can volunteer to liveblog. It's very easy! You can just copy what others have done.
Resources are below the fold
Weather & News Updates - National
National Hurricane Center's Gustav page, as well as a streaming radio feed.
NHC Satellite Loop
Stormpulse (Flash)
NHC podcasts
NHC text only
NHC Mobile/PDA
Weather Underground's Gustav page
Wunderblog
MSNBC Hurricane Tracker
Hurricane Watch Net -- shortwave at 14.325 MHz (set up for USB mode)
Spaghetti Models
Hurricane Frequencies -- additional short wave frequencies
Caribbean Hurricane Network's Gustav, "how close can it get" calculator.
millwx has been providing thorough updates and analysis, as has Darksyde
Weather & News Updates – Local
1-800-469-4828 -- LA State Police hotline for road closures
WDSU Streaming video
WBRZ
WWL
WWLTV with live video feed
WWL live audio feed
WWL Hurricane Info Page
ABC26 Livestream
-- Four concurrent NO/BR live video streams
Times-Picayune
Gulf Coast News
Clarion-Ledger (Mississippi Gulf Coast)
Texas Hurricane Info (via Rick Noriaga)
Texas Gustav Situation reports (also via Rick Noriega)
Weather Cams
Bridgecam (near convention ctr., looking SE)
French Quarter
Emergency Alert Radio System
In the event of any emergency, information will be broadcast on these Louisiana Emergency Alert System radio stations:
Alexandria: KZMZ 580 AM and 96.9 FM
Baton Rouge: WJBO 1150 AM and WFMF 102.5 FM
Lafayette: KVOL 1330 AM and KTDY 99.9 FM
Lake Charles: KLCL 1470 AM and KHLA 99.5 FM
Monroe: KNOX 540 AM and 101.9 FM
New Orleans: WWL 870 AM and WLMG 101.9 FM
Shreveport: KWKH 1130 AM and 94.5 FM
Important phone numbers
LA residents hotline for shelter information: 211
Residents from other states hotline for shelter information: 1-866-438-4636
LA State Police hotline for road closures: 1-800-469-4828
Español -- Spanish-speaking LA residents: 1-866-288-4539
NO and area Evacuation Information
Estimated Evacuation Times from New Orleans:
Alexandria: 16 hours (800) 841-5778 (special needs shelter)
Baton Rouge: 8 hours (800) 349-1372 (special needs shelter)
Hattiesburg: 8 hours
Houston: 18 hours
Jackson: 24 hours
Lafayette: 8 hours (800) 901-3210 (special needs shelter)
Lake Charles: 16 hours
Meridian: 16 hours
Monroe: (866) 280-7287(special needs shelter)
New Orleans Area: (504) 658-2500 (special needs shelter)
Shreveport: 20 hours (800) 841-5776 (special needs shelter)
Travel time during an evacuation is four times longer than in normal conditions
Amtrak service has been suspended on the following lines:
- 'City of New Orleans' trains 58 & 59 for the entire route
- 'Crescent' trains 19 & 20 south of Atlanta including Birmingham
- 'Sunset Limited' trains 1 & 2 east of San Antonio.
DailyKos Gustav Roll Call
Please check in!
Evacuation Tips
Crashing Vor's Evacuation How-To Diary
WWLTV live video feed with evacuation info
Ellicatt suggests
To use cell phone service to or from the affected area, try text messaging vs. a phone call. I understand that you'll have a better chance that way of getting through.
Disaster Supply Kit Information
Red Cross / FEMA Preparedness Guide (PDF)
Volusia County, FL guide
Florida Division of Emergency Management guide
Offers of assistance:
Representative William Jefferson's Washington office to serve as call center Monday
Locating loved ones: (202) 225-6636 - inside Louisiana, (866) 498-6161 - toll free (US)
DailyKos housing thread
Kosmate chauie
Kosmate alkalinesky
We Care Texas
This site will provide information regarding resources for medical, housing, food and water, transportation, communication, and search information for lost relatives and loved ones.
DailyKos San Antonio Red Cross volunteers can coordinate with MKSinSA
Obtaining FEMA Assistance
AustinCynic's employer canboard 10-15 dogs in the Austin area
question everything has offered advice for setting up recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Animals
Noah's Wish animal rescue
Texas SPCA - Fairgrounds are beginning to prepare for livestock to be brought in; ALL shelters in Texas and beyond are preparing to take on animals
United Animal Nations Emergency Animal Rescue Service
Best Friends Animal Rapid Response has hurricane response up and running
petswelcome has a listing of pet-friendly hotels searchable by state, then breaks them down by city.
Notes:
E-Mail Barbara to get on the list for emergency pet shelters in Texas.
More on Animals from Barbara:
I would suggest those who can get or have trucks and horse/livestock trailers and are CLOSE, may want to prepare to get horses out. Contact LARGE ANIMAL VETS and see if they need animals at their hospitals EVACUATED. Also, if you have a dog breed you 'belong' to, find the TEXAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI club and contact them directly to see what is needed. Or do a search of shelters/rescues/vets, etc in the above listed states and call them and ask what they need. If they are a good contact, then get all the contact information, their wish list, etc and we can get it up and posted for others to use. Check out the various COUNTY/STATE Fairgrounds, these will be taking animals and need volunteers and supplies.
Donations
INCITE! - New Orleans Women's Health Crisis
United Nations EARS Animal Relief
Additional Information
Loop Current Wikipedia page, explaining the importance of the gulf current
Loop Current Graphic
Explanation of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane rating scale
UCAR explanation of how hurricanes form
Oil infrastructure damage expected to be significant
Kossack synchronicityii's analysis on the failure of Old River Control
Kossack millwx' analysis of current storm conditions (8:00a.m. EDT)
Gustav eying Gulf oil and the LOOP written by ManFromMiddletown
arubyan's view from Baton Rouge
Louisiana Parish map
Information we're seeking - Let us know & we'll update the Mothership
General Population Pick-Up Sites
RTA buses and Train information
Senior Citizens Evacuation Pickup Sites
map information on evacuation routes
Weather Channel weather map
Volunteer Information of various organizations
State resources for Louisiana
Evacuation Tips
Pets/Animals Supply Kit
Transportation and evacuation information for various parishes/areas