No Me Gustav = (

I have spent the last few days frantically watching CNN and The Weather Channel, reading the frequent texts I've received from Tulane's emergency services, and checking the web for updates on Hurricane Gustav. I was completely out of the loop until Wednesday when I received a text from Tulane that they were monitoring the hurricane situation. Thursday afternoon I got another text that they were going to be closing the university the next day at noon through the following Wednesday. I was shocked; I had no idea that the storm was that serious and I have been continuously surprised at how serious it really has been. I talked to several friends that were in New Orleans and most evacuated Friday or Saturday. My friend Allison works at a senior care facility for her internship and is on their evacuation team so had to stay and work. We talked Saturday night and she wasn't planning to evacuate with work until Monday (today) morning. I was gone most of the day yesterday and came home to news that the storm was moving faster and the rains and wind were already hitting the city. I couldn't get ahold of Allison but finally heard later last night that they had evacuated early yesterday with all hundred or more patients and were safe in Baton Rouge. It sounds like most people believed the warnings and followed the mandatory evacuations; I think people were a lot more scared than when Katrina hit. Off and on today I watched the news as reporters stood on Canal Street, St. Charles, and in the French Quarter in front of buildings that I passed daily just a few weeks ago. I even saw a few shots of Tidewater where the School of Public Health is and a few other buildings right by my apartment. The rain was pouring down and wind blowing everything in sight. I have been very scared for the city. So much money, energy, and love has been invested in the three years since Katrina--the third anniversary was last Thursday when people first really started preparing for Gustav. Its awful to think of the economic damage to the city again and that this hurricane may continue to cause if tourism slows again. I received a text this afternoon from Tulane that the worst had passed and both campuses had fared well with very little destruction. Its great news but there still is so much that could happen in the next few days. Tulane originally was planning to re-open on Wed & classes Thursday but that has now been postponed until Saturday and Monday. There were only two days of classes held before the evacuation and now students have a week off before starting again. Quite the welcoming to New Orleans for the new students!!! As happy as I am that I'm safe in Wisconsin, I also realize what a need there will be in the city over the next few weeks and months and I regret not being able to be there to help. I was only in New Orleans for a year but there is so much to love.