FYI: Anyone that may need to evacuate from New Orleans

[finecraft]

If New Iberia stays out of the path of the storm (and we don't need to evacuate too!), here is hotel info should you want to come here:

Hotels:

Best Western 337-364-3030
Comfort Suites 337-367-0855
Days Inn 337-560-9500
Holiday Inn 337-367-1201
Inn of Iberia 337-367-3211

Bed and Breakfast Inns:

Le Rossier Bed and Breakfast 337-367-5306

Take Highway 90 from New Orleans to New Iberia. It will be quicker than taking I-10.

Good Luck and stay safe!

[yankeeinlouisiana]

1. Thanks for the info.

Hopefully, we won't need it.

[AnnInLa]

2. Fine Craft...Early Sat. morn, it looks like

that b--ch has a good chance of coming up the Vermilion Bay! If so, we are in deep doo doo. Do you have any friends in Lake Charles or Beaumont who has hotel phone numbers? LOL Am not sure even Lafayette/Opelousas would be safe. I am starting to mildly freak out.

[finecraft]

3. I just left a message for my niece in Beaumont

and asked her to call me when they got up to send me some hotel phone numbers. I'll pass them along when I get them. We're taking the boards down from the attic this morning just in case. Looks like it's going to be a long weekend. :scared:

[AnnInLa]

4. Thank you....

I know no one in Beaumont or Orange, but they look like good places to relocate for a few days. My problem is needing a small-pet-friendly hotel/motel.

Long weekend indeed....I'm just as jumpy as a cat, trying to make mental lists of everything to do, looking at my LA map, keeping the weather channel on, planning trip to store. Looked in my pantry for canned goods and found only mustard greens! Can you imagine being without power for a week, and only having cold mustard greens to eat? Ugh.

[finecraft]

5. Well, come on over! I have a pantry full of

ramen noodles! Any flavor you could imagine. If we mix your greens with the ramen noodles, a gourmet delight indeed! FYI - last time we had to evacuate we went to the Best Western in Alexandria and they let us bring our 2 small dogs with us...as long as we kept them in their travel cages while they were in the room. The Microtel in Natchitoches also allows pets. I just got back from Super One. They have plenty of water, ice, batteries and stuff. There were restocking the ice and water, so I guess people are starting to get jumpy here. I'll keep you up to date on what's happening here during the day.

[AnnInLa]

6. Ok, please keep me informed

I have the weather channel on of course, (as does all of Acadiana, I guess) and check wunderground every 3 hours. I know I will get no sleep tonight, as will wake up every few hours to check out info. I did see on the internet that there are Best Westerns in Eunice and Ville Platte that are "pet friendly." My son and his girlfriend live in an old mobile home and never evacuate, and that just adds to my nervousness....they are trying to kill me!

The noodle/mustard green casserole does sound delicious! not. Going to buy Spaghettios....that is what I lived on after Lily. Will eat all of the ice cream and drink all of the milk today. I put on 10 pounds every time a hurricane comes near.

[finecraft]

10. Just got back from Wally World

HOLY CRAP! Half the cars in the parking lot seemed to be from New Orleans. Cops are directing traffic at the two gas stations by my house because there are so many cars. Diamond Shamrock and Wally World's gas station have both sold out of the lowest and middle grade of gas. Only premium is left. No "c" or "d" batteries anywhere, and ice is going fast. Glad I bought mine (along with my 20 cans of Spaghettios this morning!)

[darkstar]

7. Yep,

let's try and stay connected via this thread.

I'm in Lafayette with lots of space in case anyone gets in a real crunch. Doubtful I'll have to evacuate, but (irony time) I work for an emergency management conculsting firm and I may be staged in BR for deyloyment immediately post-storm--wherever it hits--or perhaps even prior to a hardened emergency operations center.

But none of that is done deal, including my staying put in Lafayette. So, everyone, please stay in touch and be safe.

PMs welcome...

[AnnInLa]

8. Darkstar...just heard the Blanco

news conference, but nothing about this area. I am in Abbeville, so if we wake up in the morning, and that storm has shifted a little to the west, is that an invitation? I am half-serious. Was thinking of taking the back roads, and trying to get up to Eunice or Ville Platte because the highway into Lafayette will be gridlock. I really hate this....you stay safe.

[Catherine Vincent]

9. Stay safe everyone and good luck!

[AnnInLa]

11. well hell...they extended the watch line to

Intracoastal City. Guess we'll know more tomorrow.

[Lorien]

12. A REMINDER TO PET OWNERS:

I work for a pet rescue group in Central Florida. Last year, we were hit by three hurricanes, which was a real learning experience. Most (human) shelters do not accept pets, so many pet owners simply left their animals at home. When the storms blew out windows or when trees knocked out walls, the pets ran and often never returned. Animal shelters were inundated with found dogs and cats. IF THE ANIMALS WERE NOT MICROCHIPPED OR WEARING IDENTIFICATION, THEY WERE DESTROYED WITHIN ONE HOUR OF THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE SHELTER. The shelters had simply run out of room, and that was their policy.

Please, please put a collar on your pets with ID NOW-even if you are evacuating with them.

Also, La Quinta Inns and many Motel 6s accept pets.

[Lefta Dissenter]

14. For horses and other livestock

that can't be moved - spray paint your phone number or other identifying information on their sides, in case they get away from their home turf.

Good Luck to all of you. :hug:

[kestrel91316]

13. Here's the link to the NOAA Katrina 3-day cone graphic

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at2+shtml/204748.shtml?3day

So you don't have to go looking elsewhere for it.
I am very disturbed by the likelihood of a near-direct hit on NO. I wanted to get back there to Bourbon St one more time for some fresh oysters.