Preparing for Isaac

As I write this, I should be working on my inprocessing paperwork for my new job with the Supervisor of Shipbuilding (Gulf Coast), Naval Sea Systems Command, which begins on Monday in Pascagoula. Instead, I'm checking weather forecasts and websites for information on approaching Tropical Storm Isaac. We became aware of Isaac's approach early this past week with reports of a 'developing storm to watch' out in the Atlantic; and then on Wednesday Melissa texted this message, "Sounds like u could be seein' a hurricane soon." And the Isaac-watch began. I credit the local television stations which have tracked this storm doggedly and continually. And as we continue to unpack, put things away, and explore this beautiful area, we are also now joining in the hurricane prep. Our new 5-gallon gasoline can is filled, as is the Toyota. There's a grill and charcoal in the trunk. We've bought bottled water and resupplied our stock of batteries. I examined our important documents to decide which ones we need to take if an evacuation occurs. Next we'll begin putting everything together. And, finally, Barb emailed friends in the Memphis area should we need a place to stay in the event we leave. Isaac's track through the Gulf is still a work in progress, but its projected path puts this section of the Mississippi Gulf Coast squarely in the way, so we may not miss its effects. As of early Saturday afternoon, it is southeast of Florida, moving through the Caribbean. Current projections have it changing from a "Cat 1" to a "Cat 2" in the Gulf and then back to a Cat 1 after reaching inland some time on Wednesday next week. During all this I've learned more than I ever knew before about hurricanes. And we arrived here smack in the middle of hurricane season, which runs from June 1st through November 30th. The "Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale" lists five levels, with the Category 1 causing the least damage with winds of 74-95 mph, Cat 2 (extensive damage) at speeds of 96-110 mph, Cat 3 (devastating) with speeds of 111-130 mph, Cat 4 (catastrophic) at speeds of 131-155 mph, and Cat 5 (also catastrophic) at speeds topping 155 mph. During our travels through the Pascagoula-Gautier-Ocean Springs-Biloxi area this past week, we've visited with folks who survived Katrina, which became a Category 5 hurricane and the second-strongest hurricane in US history. One gentleman we talked to said he and his family lost 3 businesses and 2 homes during Katrina. The only item recovered from their Biloxi antique store was an Indian sculpture that was located six blocks away. Katrina's death toll was 1,836, with 705 people still reported as missing. Of course, having lived in the Midwest most of my life, I'm familiar with tornadoes and their destructive tendencies. It was always my goal as an amateur photojournalist to photograph a tornado. I haven't achieved that goal, although I've seen the destruction tornadoes cause. I have no such compunction to get up close to a hurricane. If the order comes, we'll be on the road and heading north next week.