Hurricane Hysteria

It’s Labor Day and along with Tim and Jess, I am doing the Jerry Lewis telethon for MDA. MDA of course stands for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and represents an army of more than 2 million volunteers who are committed to fighting the 40 insidious diseases that are bundled under the MD moniker.

If you get a chance give us a call and make a pledge this Labor Day as we continue the tradition started back in 1966 of joining Jerry and the stars for this day long entertainment and fund raiser extravaganza.

Down to the weather and while we enjoy a beautiful Labor Day with plenty of hot sunshine, there is a hurricane paying visit to American soil.

His name is Gustav and he is moving onshore this Labor day in the Bayou State of Louisiana. As I read the latest from the National Hurricane Center, it appears Gustav is only a shadow of his once fierce self with a landfall at the high end of Cat 1 or low end of Cat 2 status versus the high cat 4 he was as he crossed Cuba on Saturday. That means winds near 100 miles per hour NOT 150!

Storm surge and fresh water flooding will no doubt be a significant problem, but at first glance Gustav will not gain notoriety for being an All-American national tragedy. Still, some Louisianna parishes will be under water and we are awaiting word on how much Gulf of Mexico storm surge will get into New Orleans.

Interestingly, Gustav is crossing the most densely populated oil rig and platform part of the Gulf so his potential impact to oil production is high. The key of course will be if the pipelines and rigs have been damaged by the combination of 100 mile per hour winds and rising tides.

Gustav aside, Hanna is in the mix later this week and I must tell you up front, if you are planning a vacation to the Coastal Carolinas this week including Myrtle Beach, there is a strong likelihood of a Tropical Storm or even Hurricane strike.

Since Hanna is still just a tropical storm approaching the Bahamas and several days from mainland America, I will simple state that her impact will at the least mean rough surf at the Grand Strand with a hurricane watch possible later this week.