Has anyone observed what the gulf coast RRs are doing in preparation for Hurricane Gustav? Since it appears that it will hit somewhere along the gulf coast as a CAT 3 or possibly more storm I would think that certain preliminary plans should be started. All the class 1 RRs will be affected with NS, CN, and KCS the least affected but AMTRAK, BNSF, UP, and CSX can be in the gunsights. If I was a private car operator I would want only the minimum # of cars required for my manufacturing operation in harms way. RR locomotives and any other rolling stock also need to be staged for evacuation
Louisana will make mandatory evac of New Orleans. About 25% of rigs are being pulled now. Maybe the rest will be pulled as well. Lousiana will not make another stadium shelter. In fact, they arranged for 700+ buses to get everyone OUT and lock down New Orleans. They activated 3,000 National Gaurd with another 2,000 pending.
As far as we are concerned, our new flood insurance is activated and we are ready for Gustav. We have cleared some trees this year and expect to lose the rest to Gustav. We have already bought enough for one month from walmart today and have emergency provisions and fluids should power fail (And it will along with water.)
As far as house damage, I expect it to happen above 70 mph sustained. It would not be the first time we evac to the shelter in town in strong winds. We dont expect Gustav to actually reach deep into Arkansas, however we got a half hour of hell from Katrina and remember that quite well. It however, was a little band that was spun off the monster as it chewed our neighbors in MS.
One computer does nothing but monitor Gustav 24/7. It does not move anywhere without me learning about it at least three times a day. Decisions to evac to another location near spouse work at the hospital will be made if necessary. In fact, we wont be evacing too far, my spouse is one of many employees that will be vital at the hospital.
For example, we had a ice storm in 2000 that killed electricity for two weeks we learned how to deal with storms. The only thing we cannot deal with are a major Madrid 8.0 earthquake and I doubt we will be alive to have to deal with it anyhow.
As far as Im concerned there is more than sufficient information over the internet and many options one can take up to a certain time as the Gustav approach. I dont need hysterical hype from media blowhards telling me chicken little is going to be blown away. I make decisions up to a certain point and will execute them.
We dont worry about Gustav. Every
Now we might be dealing with TWO storms.
I deliberately left out my own small layout from the reply to Gustav preps. If it all gets blown away, it can be easily replaced with new Kato Track, fresh benchwork etc. No problem.
Cheers.
Thanks for the clear and explicit explanation of the situation. Since everyone seems to be prepared, Gustav will probably miss.
I agree with your assessment of the New Madrid fault. Our town would probably go the way of New Orleans, but I believe points south of the epicenter would suffer most.
I read this morning that evacuation plans included using trains to get people out of New Orleans. Anyone know the specifics of this? Is Amtrak moving extra resources into the area to help?
M
Keep an eye out for white boxcars. [}:)]
Between Denver & Minneapolis somewhere, keeping busy, Tree.
When the Flood Walls are closed…New Orleans is shut down for all the railroads.
…Yes, trains are to be used too…Watching NBC nightly news last evening it showed an Amtrak train in the station. Don’t know if it was a file photo or one actually on the ready to help…
This was posted in another forum I visit this morning;
In preparation for anticipated landfall on the Louisiana Coast of Hurricane Gustav, Norfolk Southern has issued an Embargo, effective immediately, for all traffic destined to locations south of Hattiesburg , MS to and including New Orleans . Traffic moving via New Orleans to and from connecting carriers is also included in the embargo.
I would imagine other RR going in that direction will do the same shortly, if they haven’t already.
inch
As the hurricane gets closer the railroads will begin moving cars and engines out of low lying areas, the signal dept will remove crossing gates and signal equipment from low lying areas. Ballast is being loaded and prepositioned. different crew lodging arrangements are being made. The major railroads will develop an alternative interchange gateway plans to reroute new Orleans gateway trains around the Louisiana Gulf coast.
Dave H.
Your in Arkansas???
Service Status Updates
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8/28/2008 KCSR Prepares for Hurricane Gustav In preparation for the possible landfall of Hurricane Gustav on the Gulf Coast region, The Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR) is initiating its hurricane plan. Beginning late Friday, August 29 or early Saturday, August 30, all rail cars in, coming from, or in route to New Orleans, La. will be affected by the closures of the flood gate at New Orleans. Operational updates will be provided as additional information becomes available. |
Thank you Quentin for not assuming I was referring to the boxcar shackle story. I had read on Associated Press that trains were to be part of the overall evacuation plan. I was just looking for further details. Apparently Larry did not think I had a serious, legitimate question.
YEs, the Little Rock area. Last check of the track shows a good chance of West of NOLA Landfull Tues-Wed am and track SW of Little Rock during Wed-Thurs.
As long it tracks south and west of LR, I intend to stay put. If it should enter Eastern Arkansas or MS, then we have problem.
My spouse has indicated that the hospital where she is will lock down and no one leaves during the storm so, she is ready to stay there at work for the duration.
I took my DCC and electronics up off the floor of my home. Although Im elevated 3 feet above a non flood plain the idea of water coming up to the home is a plasuable one if we get enough rain fast enough.
Hotels in Southern AR all the way to LR and beyond are booked solid according to several local papers and traffic has increased greatly, even more so than usual for a friday where I am. I am aware that this is labor day holiday and feel that people are very intent on enjoying thier time off and a long weekend, Gustav or no Gustav.
Reading about NOLA, they are apparently serious about evacing the people. I dont know how many they will get out. There will always be a few who either get left behind or stay behind. There are many who dont own a car and or have medical/social/financial problems preventing them from simply leaving on demand.
The following is from NARP’s Friday Newsletter.
"In anticipation of Tropical Storm Gustav, which may gain strength and strike the Gulf Coast early next week, effective immediately Amtrak will annul eastbound Sunset Limited train 2 at San Antonio and turn it to westbound train 1. Likewise, southbound Crescent train 19 will turn in Atlanta to northbound train 20. Southbound City of New Orleans train 59 will turn in Memphis to northbound train 58. No alternate transportation will be provided beyond the truncated endpoints, and these changes are in effect through at least September 4. Amtrak is prepared to run evacuation trains from New Orleans tomorrow in accordance with its contract with the Federal Emergency Management Agency; 10 former Connecticut DOT commuter coaches are on hand, along with Sunset Limited and City of New Orleans trainsets. Amtrak expects to run trains to Jackson, MS, and can handle up to 7,242 evacuees.
Tonight’s Trains newswire provides a rundown of the plans being made by CSX, NS, BNSF, UP and KCS.
(No mention was made of any plans by Canadian National. They may have too many problems with public reaction to the proposed EJE merger to be bothered with a hurricane. [}:)][swg]. My bad-just hard to resist.)
We were told to bring a big lunch monday or tuesday.
…mioik:
mioik…yes this is serious stuff. Hope the New Orleans area is much more prepared now as compared to Katrina…and the government as well…Surely they will be…!
I’ve read several places Amtrak will be involved if needed.
As for the box car stories…I stay away from that one…it brings up remembered terrible sights {from photos}, of many years ago…
I can tell you first hand that we are holding traffic for New Orleans as far North as Indianapolis. We had several export grain, pipe, etc trains that we were trying to find spots for since nothing except essential frieight was being allowed south.
Hulcher and R.J. Corman marketing folks are ringing the RRs phones off the hooks offering all manner of post impact assistance too…
LC