I am from South Louisiana. My family is from a little town called Erath. It is right in the very center of the state and 10 miles from the coastline. If you are looking at the news and see where the hurricane is expected to make landfall it is going straight up a bay called Vermillion Bay.
Hurricane Rita damaged the entire town. People had upwards of 8 to 9 feet of water in there house. People are just starting to get their lives back together from Hurrican Rita.
One thing that you won't hear on the news is that the coastline has not recovered from the Rita. Much marshland and barrier islands that used to take some of the impact off of hurricanes are now gone. 300,000 trees were blown over and died from Rita. Experts are saying that if Gustav hits as a Cat 3, the damages will be that of a Cat 4 hurricane If it hits as a Cat 4 the damages will be that of a Cat 5...
Hurricane Rita was a Cat 3 when it made landfall and there was a 9 foot storm surge. With the lack of barrier land and vegetation, Gustav is expecting to produce atleast a 12 foot storm surge.
Please keep everyone in South Louisiana in your thoughts and prayers. I will keep everyone updated as to what is happening in South Louisiana.
Tim Darbonne
2007 Blue Devil Euphonium
2008 Academy Vis Tech