Good morning!
According to what I am hearing on TV, it looks like Nate *might* not make a direct hit on New Orleans after all. It is now predicted to make landfall as a Category 2 hurricane, at Biloxi which puts us on the "good side" of the storm. Those saying this also say that we will still be affected with strong tropical storm level winds, rain, and storm surge, but hopefully will not get the worst of the storm. Better for us, but worse for Missisippi and Alabama clear to Mobile; some areas are predicted to receive sustained winds of over 100 mph.
BUT - - - We still have an official hurricane warning here from the NHC, so reports are conflicting. TV meteorologists are saying we will know more by 4 PM (about 5 hours from now). The NWS insists we will experience hurricane force winds as early as 7 PM.
Confusing! The "take-away" is that nobody actually knows for sure right now and officials are trying to be responsible about what they say.
But I am very hopeful. The mayor is not at all hopeful, on the other hand. He is back on TV at the moment telling us to stay off the roads and stay safely at home after the official 7 PM curfew, except for those in eastern New Orleans under a mandatory evacuation order who should be gone. He has not said a thing about Nate not making a direct hit. Our (Jefferson) Parish President out here in the suburbs, says we are expecting a significant wind event and says that the Parish has completed preparations. He admits we may not see the brunt of this storm (!
) but says to still expect an extreme wind event.
Frank and I are prepared for the worst, but hopeful, and will just wait this out.
