Sunday, August 31, 2008

A way out of town

Linda and I made it out of town and to "safety" in Florida leaving our place yesterday at 3 p.m.. This is the intersection where we took leave of the I-10. To say the traffic was at a crawl, would be an exageration. So we took out bets on a backroad -- heading out Highway 90. It took us 3 hours to get out of New Orleans to the Slidell area.

We finally pulled into our Florida destination ad 12:30 a.m., feeling lucky we left when we did.
More details from on the road later. Let me catch some sleep.

--steve buser

33 comments:

The Mulligan Family said...

Oh Lord, Steve! Three hours to Slidell!!! That's like a 30 - 45 min. drive normally. So sorry! but, glad you are out of there and safe. Prayers still coming your way for our beautiful NOLA.

Unknown said...

I'm glad you made it to your destination.

My son made it here Friday night, and we are so thankful he will be here for a few days.

Hopefully you and all other New Orleanians will be able to return after Tues, and find that your city held up without too much damage!
I'm praying for that!
diane

Laurie Allee said...

Oh Steve, I'm glad you and Linda are safe. My cousins had a similar experience fleeing Houston in preparation for Rita. She was 8 months pregnant at the time and they ran out of gas after being stuck in traffic for almost 5 hours. They ended up getting a gas can's worth of gas and turning around to go back home. Luckily for them and that baby the storm passed over without too much harm to their area.

My thoughts and good wishes are winging your way. I'm thinking about all of you affected by this storm.

Meead said...

Hi Steve. Thanks God you left the city. I hope all others could make their destination to a safe place. Gustav, it has a frightening name. Let us know about yourselves. Do you have a relative in Florida?

Jilly said...

So glad to know you and Linda are safely out, Steve. Thankyou for your reports. You are a star!

Now to hope Gustav doesn't do his worst.

Virginia said...

Steve, head on up the road to Birmingham if you need to. Would love to help you out. During Katrina, my daughter Kathleen did a fabulous job coordinating housing, furnishings, clothing etc. for displaced folks from your area for her church. We all made many great friends during that time. I know it's frightening for all of you to have to relive that sad time. God bless.

Eric said...

Good to hear you're safe. Where do you stay? At friends? I hope your home won't suffer any dammage.

Let me send you good vibes from Paris ;)

Sara said...

Steve,

Glad to hear you are out of the city. We made it to Baton Rouge yesterday via the Westbank in 2 hours. Hopefully we will be home soon.

http://www.newsfromnola.blogspot.com/

Sara

Michael Salone said...

All my best to you, your friends and family. As a south Florida boy, I know how these things can go so glad you are getting out of the way. Good luck!

Knoxville Girl said...

Steve, glad you & Linda are safe at your destination. And you posted -that's dedication!
My thoughts are with you and the people of NOLA

Ann (MobayDP) said...

I'm sooooo glad to see that you made it out in time and are "safely" in Florida. We're keeping our eyes on Hanna and those two other little disturbances in the Atlantic.

We suffered under Gustav last Thursday and he was only a Tropical Storm when he hit us here in Jamaica. The amount of rain that fellow dumped on us!!! I believe 11 people died in that storm here and countless others in Haiti. Mainly caused from the flooding.

He is not a storm to be trifled with at all. I really hope that your home survives without damage steve. All the best to you and yours.

Wanda said...

Oh Steve, we've been glued to the TV watching the storm...

So glad you and your family are safely to your destination.

Our prayers and thoughts are with you.

slim said...

Steve-
Posting in an event like this is true dedication . . . my wish now that you are safe is for Gustav to inflict the least amount of damage possible. It must seem like a really bad dream.

Jon said...

Steve, Relieved to know y'all made it out of NOLA safely to Florida. You must be tired and stressed out. Hope you get some rest and don't worry about meeting a "daily deadline" to post on your blog during this storm. Your readers will understand why you need some time off. Take care, Jon at Mississippi Garden

Anonymous said...

I am glad that you are safe! I hope there wont be victims in New Orleans!!

Gerald (SK14) said...

best wishes for your safety and that of others - hopefully the authprities may have learnt something from the last experience.

Lynette said...

Steve, Mama and I are praying for you and your beloved city, as well as our beloved Mississippi.

photowannabe said...

Keeping you and your family in my prayers. I have been thinking about you all day. I'm so glad you made it out safely even though it was a long journey. Try to rest.

angela said...

So glad to hear you made it safely out...and hope you'll be back soon.

kuanyin333 said...

I'm praying for your beautiful city, and I've wondered how much traffic there was considering the vast number of people evacuated. Happy to hear you made it out safe.

Sally said...

Stay safe! We saqw pics tonight on the news of the stay-puts, still drinking on in Bourbon St bar!
Sydney Daily Photo

Ineke said...

good to hear you are safe. Looking forward to any updates whenever you're ready.

Denton said...

I have accountancies who work in New Orleans and I worry for them as I do for all who live there. However, a CDP blogger feels more like family and friends in dangers way.

I'm glad you made it out.

Virginia said...

Steve, stop by my blog today. I have a song dedicated to you!

Profile Not Available said...

Glad you are someplace safe. Have been wondering about you as the news has begun to cover Gustav more regularly here.

Victor said...

Glad you're OK. Keep the faith.

Kim said...

Steve, It's very good to see you guys made it to Florida safely. I trust with nerves intact, despite the traffic. When we've visited "hurricane" country, we've always shuddered to see duct-tape x shapes over windows and signs along two lane roads denoting "Evacuation Route." I've lived with the west coast's "shake 'n bake" all my life, and I'd much prefer a quake or fire to the storms that the Gulf Coast is prone to, or the twisters along cyclone alley. I hope that you are back home very soon . . .we are hearing that the worst passed New Orleans by. This must stir up all the anxiety from Katrina. Wishing you rest and normality and a much quicker trip home!
-Kim
Seattle Daily Photo

Kim said...

PS
Hey Steve, I just happened to think. . .we are ALL sister cities to New Orleans today! :-)
-Kim
Seattle Daily Photo

Jane Hards Photography said...

So glad you made it out safely, especially after the last one hit. Our thoughts on this side of the Atlantic are with all New Orleans resisdents. Stay safe.

Kate said...

Glad you're safe; hope that your home and belongings remain intact.

Chris said...

I'm glad you made it out okay. Our son lives in Ft. Myers, and I was a basket case last week when Fay was headed his way. Know that my thoughts are with you. . . and all in Gustav's path.

Louis la Vache said...

We're happy you are safe, Steve!

Anonymous said...

I read some stories this morning about the next one coming. Hanna is it? ANyway, the writer said he thought it was time to move out of New Orleans and let the ocean have it back. With the Bush Global Warming and the sea levels rising 5 feet, I am guessing that will doom the city.