NATE UPDATE 5

It has officially begun

Well, folks, the first band has arrived with driving rain and winds at starting at 17 mph, predicted to be up to 50 mph to 70 mph, and up to 74 mph to 110 mph closest to the storm's core by 7 p.m. Central Time, about 4 hours from now.

I just happened to be outside when it started and there was no warning drizzle, the sky just released a hard stinging rain and that will probably be the case for at least 6 hours, with maybe a small window (an hour or two) then the main band/storm, based on the radar map I pulled up will come in.  Also based on that radar map, looks like the area between eastern Louisiana and most of the Mississippi Gulf Coast is the projected landfall target. 

Mandatory curfews will be in effect from 7 p.m tonight until Sunday at 9 a.m.  7 to 11 feet of storm surge is expected, and the worst tornado and waterspout impacts begin now until Sunday.

I don't expect to lose power until the wind is holding steady at 45 mph to 50 mph, but officials are warning that power could be out as long as 3 to 4 days in some areas.  

If my power goes, so does my wifi/internet, however, I can tether/hotspot my cell to my laptop and make quick reports/check-ins.

Again, I ask that you keep special thoughts/prayers for those who are still emotionally damaged by Katrina.  Just as a soldier carries it with him for life, some of these people experienced life threatening situations that will be with them forever.  These are the folks I'm most worried about.  This is our first hurricane since 2005, we've been very lucky, but as many of you know, emotional scars take much longer to heal than physical ones.

Some of the pressure in my head has already begun to ease now that it's finally here.  It's that build up before it all breaks that I can feel.  Again, no headache, just a tightness, like a headband that's too tight.

We're going to try to eat a hot meal while we still can.  We also still have our Dish satellite coverage, but the wind will knock that out before the power goes.  

Every thing that is made of cloth has been laundered and is ready for whatever comes, including all my blankets in case someone needs them after Sunday.  Yup, folks, plenty of clean underwears - gotta be prepared, you know, like if we are hit by a tornado and have to be rescued - we gots those clean drawers, so Mama won' be 'mbarr'ssed by the first responders talkin' 'bout our nasty behinds! *snort*

This is Miz Carol, reporting live from Biloxi, MS.  Back to you, Cafe...  

Reviews

[Jimmy Yetts]

"Clean drawers": one of every mother's first principles.
This report is, of course, now old news--very smartly written old news.

[Paul Bell]

You hold tight now. Don't be running around playing the hero.

[AmateurWriter01]

I hope everything turns out okay for you. I really would have no idea what to do in a situation like that. You seem to be handling it alot better than I ever would. I will be watching anxiously for your next update. Please be safe.

[Carol Cashes]

This is my fourth hurricane in my lifetime. At age 12, I was in Hurricane Camille in 1969. I lived out west for 23 years and returned in 1997. I then stayed at my father's house with my then fiance during Hurricane Georges. In 2004, Hurricane Ivan hit Gulf Shores and we caught a lot of the rain and wind from that one, then in 2005, of course, Katrina changed our lives. Now, we're the landfall target for Hurrricane Nate. If you don't live in a flood area, south of Interstate 10, or in a trailer, most people opt to stay and of course we did. We got lucky in Katrina, but not so much friends and relatives. It's only really frightening if you live in an unsafe area for storm surge (flooding). But the outer bands always host numerous tornadoes, some small, some fierce and there is no real protection - much like Californians deal with earthquakes, they hang on and hope it ends soon. There are essentials that you need to plan for. Power outage - maybe for days. After Katrina, we had no power or almost 2 months. We have a lot of camping gear: cook stove, etc. and we have a generator that we can run for a couple of hours in the morning - primarily for the freezer and the well, then about 4 hours in the afternoon, same reasons but also because right after a Hurricane it is Hades level hot and the humidity is what I wish my IQ was. We keep phones charged and make sure we have plenty of water, all the laundry is done to make sure that you have clean clothes until power is restored, oh, there's a routine and standard food staples...it's all rather matter of fact for those of us who have safe addresses and generators and the money to fill up gas tanks. You also have to make sure that you have a bit of cash - we usually stick to about $300, because if the power is out, there are no ATM's or and everything is on a cash basis. There is a demographic who may be mandated to evacuate, but have no money to leave, not for gas, not for a hotel, these are the ones who really suffer along with those who are injured or who lose their homes. It affects everyone in some capacity. If you read the updates from the first one, then you can get an idea of the progression of events.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Prayers, prayers,prayers🙏. Thanks for the expert update my friend. Please stay safe inside and post only when you can.I guess the Storm Sisters will get a new brother??- kidding, kidding? Xo

[Carol Cashes]

Miss Annette, at age 41, when making my mental list of what would be non-negotiable in my next mate, should I get lucky, was that he provide the papers documenting his neutership. I got lucky.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

............:):):)