Please leave if you are in the path of the Hurricane. If you stay...

[SouthernDem2004]

I happen to live and work in one of those cities on the coast that is about to destroyed. Yes, I mean destroyed. I am unable to leave due to work. I packed up my family and they are long gone.

Police, Fire and AMS will be completely unavailable during and for a long time after the hurricane. When the winds reach an unsafe level we seek shelter and will no longer respond to ANY calls. You will be on your own. After the hurricane is gone we will still be unable to respond for a time due to blocked and destroyed streets. It could be days for some areas. All I can say is run!

If you stay:

1) Do not go out just before, during or just after the hurricane. You endanger your own life and may hamper emergency services that are still trying to move.

2) Do not go out and drive around or gawk after the hurricane. You will get in the way of the public works crews trying to clear streets. You also risk injury to yourself from debris and other things.

3) Do not drive through standing water. The roadway that was under the water maybe gone and it can be alot deeper then you think.

4) If you stay go to a shelter if your residence is unsafe.

5) If you stay and own a chainsaw, feel free to remove debris from the roadway near you after the storm is gone. Any little bit helps.

Just be aware that Police are going to be working 12 and 18 hour days. We will not be getting much sleep for atleast a week. We are not going to be in the best of moods. Please stay home if you do not leave. Obey any barricades placed. Do not go out sight seeing.

Thank god my house is insured. I fully expect to lose it or suffer major damage. I probably will not be around for a while after the storm. Good luck to those in the path. Look out for yourselves and those around you.

Peace,

SouthernDem2004

[The empressof all]

1. Our thoughts are with you

Let us know you are ok when you can

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. take care, SouthernDem2004

folks like you are the true heroes. May you stay safe.

[rateyes]

3. Take care, and stay safe..

SouthernDem. I heard once, during Andrew, or Hugo where police were finding stubborn folk refusing to evacuate, and making them put "dog-tags" or "toe-tags" on so they wouldn't have to spend a lot of time trying to identify them afterwards. I know that sounds ghoulish, but a Cat. 5 storm is nothing to play around with. Find SAFE SHELTER, we need you here.

Peace, and Good Luck.

[CottonBear]

4. Please take care. Do you have a storm shelter where you can stay?

My in-laws live in Lacombe, LA. I am very worried about them. I think my sister-in law's house may be flooded. I love NO and the Gulf Coast. This is a disaster of huge proportions in the making.

Let us know how you are when the storm has passed.

[SouthernDem2004]

5. Going to try and ride it out in my house.

[Mnemosyne]

6. I will be thinking of you SD, please be very careful.

How far inland are you? Are you above sea level?
On second thought, please get the hell out of there, now.
Strength to you.

on edit>
I see you are an officer. Please be careful, without your help more will be lost. Thank you for all you will be doing.

[SouthernDem2004]

8. May god favor the foolish. :)

[Mnemosyne]

11. Amen brother, amen. n/t

:hug:

[nytemare]

7. Not many people think of those in Police/fire/ems and guard services

that have to put their lives aside during a disaster. It is truly taxing.

After going through 3 here last year, none as strong as Katrina, I wish you the strength and patience to get through this. People can get really stupid after these, they won't stop for downed traffic lights, get in fights in gas lines. They don't realize everybody is in the same boat, and it almost seems to go back to people acting like apes.

You take care of yourself, as well.

:hi:

[WCGreen]

9. A true hero......

[cally]

10. Please get to a shelter and

stay safe. Thanks for all you do and check in when you can. All my best.

[KitchenWitch]

12. Very sound advice

and could be heeded during any natural disaster (we get tornadoes - the gawkers cause major troubles for the emergency crews).

[Blue Diadem]

13. Stay safe SouthernDem2004,

We'll be thinking of you and praying for your safety.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

14. Thank you for being one of the heroes.

Please stay safe, and I hope to see you back posting on DU very very soon.

Best to you and everyone else out there that you'll be working with tonight, tomorrow, and after the storm has passed. Take care, SouthernDem2004.

[alarcojon]

15. Stay safe, SD2004

You have a mountain of a task ahead of you. We will be thinking of you.