WOW!
I guess 3 drunk guys and a hurricane was a hit. Over 3000 viewers, an ABC interview... 2 missed calls from CNN, and 4 cases of beer.
It's 11:45 or so. Raining outside, and it's time to shut it down. We're here to help, not to be drunken fools that can't fend for themselves, so we need to get some sleep and sober up.
Thanks for all the emails and comments. TONS of Twitter watchers, Total Fark, Digg, Something Awful, and all the other sites that have linked... not to mention the #1 show on Ustreem.TV.
Wow... that's all I can say.
Just another update…
Not a whole lot going on. Not even enough wind outside to fly a kite... we tried. Just waiting to see what's going to happen...
HurriCam back up and better than EVER!
As you can see, I've got HurriCam back live and it's better than ever!!!
HurriCam will be down for a few minutes…
I'm testing out a way to stream live video and sound, so I need to take HurriCam down for a few minutes. It will be back up soon.
-Greg
A quick roll-call of who’s watching HurriCam!
I'm getting a TON of emails from folks all over the place. Thanks to all of you. I'm doing my best to keep up with all of the emails. So far, I've got viewers checking in from 12 states, The UK, Holland, Brazil, Spain, France, and Canada. Seems that my little webcam is getting pretty popular.
If you’re staying in Lafouche, call LPSO and let them know.
From WWL-TV.com:
As Hurricane Gustav approaches the Louisiana coast, Lafourche Parish residents who have decided not to evacuate should be prepared to deal with a potentially catastrophic event. If you are a resident living south of U.S. Highway 90 and you have decided to stay for the storm, please contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Command Post at 532-4337 or 532-4338 to inform them of your intentions.
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office along with Lafourche Parish Government will be sweeping the Parish until 12 Noon for anyone needing assistance evacuating. “We estimate around 70% of the Parish has been evacuated,” said Parish President Charlotte Randolph. “We are hoping that number will be closer to 85% by the end of the day.”
Windell Curole, overseeing levees in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, is warning that South Lafourche residents that there is a concern about the levees being overtopped. “These levees were built to withstand a Category 3 or lower storm,” Curole said. “There is definitely the possibility that the storm surge and rain will cause the levees in South Lafourche to be overtopped.”
Anyone who is currently south of the floodgates in Golden Meadow must be on the north side by
3:00 P.M. today. At that time, the road will be completely blocked off to prepare for the storm, and you will be unable to cross back into the levee system.
A curfew has been set for 6:00 P.M. today (Sunday) in Lafourche Parish. Any residents left in Lafourche Parish must stay in their homes after that time. Any travelers after that time will be stopped and questioned by law enforcement officials.
Guide to reading the new HurriCam wind meter
Caution tape hanging on side of pole: wind not blowing
Caution tape hanging at 22.5 degrees: wind is blowing, cooling things off
Caution tape hanging at 45 degrees: wind is blowing, getting rid of mosqitos
Caution tape flowing at 67.5 degrees: wind is blowing, Gustav is getting close
Caution tape straight out at 90 degrees to pole: wind is really blowing hard, Gustav VERY close
Caution tape gone: Landfall!
Update on the evacuation
I just heard that Hwy 90 out of here is backed up from the Luling Bridge on I-310 to the Des Allemands bridge. Once you are on 310, you CAN NOT go to I-10. You will have to exit at Airline Hwy.
I’ve been too serious… time for some fun.
Why do Hurricanes only have winds in increments of 5? Do hurricanes not blow at 123 MPH? And why do they have screwed up names. Gustav is actually a Norse name meaning "Staff of the Goths". The Goths were an East Germanic tribe that were some pretty wacked out people. Because of the etymology of the name, they Gothic tribes were designated as "pourers of semen". That was their way of saying they were "mean people". I think it's their way of saying "Gustav is going to screw you". I'm not kidding about this either, check the wiki.
So I'm about to get screwed by some guy named Gustav. Joy. I don't normally swing that way, but this is going to be one of those prison situations. There's not much I'm going to be able to do about it, other than just sit there and take it...
***THIS JUST IN!*** Hurricane Gustav has called my cell phone saying that he found the blog on Google. While I had Gustav on the phone, I was able to do a quick interview with him.
Greg: So Gustav, looks like Cuba took it out of you. Why so weak this morning?
Gustav: Well, you know they have the best cigars in the world in Cuba. I think I smoked a little too many yesterday, so my lungs are a little sore. I'll get a "second wind", so to speak, later on today.
Greg: Ahh, I remember my dad locking me in a closet with a box of cigars when he caught me smoking. They weren't Cohiba's though. Now, you're forcast to come visit me here in Houma, LA sometime tomorrow. Why have you decided on Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes for your landfall?
Gustav: I like good food and I hear you guys have the best. It has to be better than that tourist crap they serve in New Orleans.
Greg: You heard right; we do have the best. Do you realize that by making landfall in this area, you are going to affect about 15% of the US oil supply. Why do you want to drive up gas prices?
Gustav: I saw T. Boone Pickens' commercials and I like his idea. I'm just trying to lend a helping hand to make sure that gets off the ground. After all, I'm all about wind and he seems to be pretty sure that wind will save you pathetic creatures from your oil crisis.
Greg: Don't you think "pathetic creatures" is a little harsh?
Gustav: Not at all. I'm coming to teach you creatures not to mess with my mom.
Greg: Your mom? And who would that be?
Gustav: Mother Nature, dumbass.
Greg: Well Gustav, thanks for the call. Any parting words to the people of Houma before you go?
Gustav: Yeah. Take the shrimp out of your freezer and leave it in the front yard. I'm hungry.
Greg: Thanks Gustav. I'll see you tomorrow.
*click*
There you have it folks. Straight from the horse's mouth. He's hungry and he likes good food, so get a roux going on the stove and get some good food ready. This is going to be a rough ride.
Update from the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center
Things are good at the Civic Center. The National Guard showed up last night to help with the evacuation and are bivouacked in the parking lot. It looks as though the guardsman are driving busses and from what I gathered, they only had 3 or 4 more busses to fill before everyone that was there was gone. They will be running busses until Noon today, so if you still need to evacuate, get to the Civic Center.
I spoke with State Rep. Damon Baldone a few minutes ago, and he'll be staying behind tonight at the Sherrif's Office to help coordinate the emergency procedures.
Again, if you need to evacuate, get to the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center before Noon.
-Greg