31st
A nasty Swedish hurricane might just bring a downpour of deja vu to the Gulf Coast
This is not what the doctor ordered for my favorite Southern belle.
Approximately three years after Katrina redefined New Orleans and the terms “being poor,” “swimming in hard times,” and “bureaucratic inefficency,” it is not looking good for the future of the Crescent City. Hurricane Gustav, which evolved from tropical storm to CATEGORY FOUR hurricane in less than 24 hours, just pounded Cuba’s Isla de la Juventud with a devastating amount of force. Luckily no deaths were reported there, but evacuation ahead of the storm were key to that. New Orleans has been largely evacuated in anticipation of the worst-case scenario playing out, but once again, there are undoubtedly thousands who are absolutely resistant to fleeing all that they own, and are sadly, madly and crazily putting their lives on the line to ride out the storm. It is impossible to simply label them “stupid” or any other derisive term, as there is something to be said for an individual that loves their home and their neighborhood so much, that they cannot cope with the horror of coming back and not finding their home, their neighbor’s home, or anyone else’s home still standing.
These zealous warriors possess such a devoted passion and attachment to their own lives as they know them, that although they may pay dearly for sticking around to “hold down the fort,” their spirit is unbreakable. I admire that.
To all those who have fled, and especially to all those who should have fled—stay strong, stay positive, stay safe, and stay united.
Oh, and to all the media outlets out there, STOP trying to analyze and compare the potential physical, emotional and financial damage to what Katrina did. If this thing hits anywhere as hard as Katrina did, the news execs will be jumping for joy at the spike in viewership and circulation ratings.
