Gustav?

Some of you know that The Lovely Daughter began her college career at Tulane University. While she did spend the second semester of her freshman year there, she had fallen in love with the school she'd attended as a first semester refugee, and today she flew back to Oregon to move into her apartment and begin her senior year.

I am still on Tulane's mailing list, and I have followed the rebuilding of city and college with great interest. My own trip to NOLA in January 2006 was a sobering and moving experience. (There are links in my sidebar.) As we listened to the weather reports over the past couple of days, I began to wonder whether class of 2009 would begin its senior year as it began its freshman year. And sure enough, here's this afternoon's announcement:

"Dear Tulane Community,

While Tropical Storm Gustav appears to be tracking to the west of New Orleans at this time, Gustav’s path is still too unpredictable for us to be sure of its ultimate landfall.
After many discussions with our senior leadership team, as well as up-to-the minute reports from our national weather monitoring service, we have decided to close the university at noon tomorrow (Friday, August 29). ***** At this time, I want you to be ready to enact your personal emergency preparedness plans *** "

If it sounds familiar, that might be because this was on my blog three years ago:

"Message regarding university closure:

In response to Hurricane Katrina's shift to the west, Tulane University will close as of 5 p.m. today, August 27. *** Everyone should begin implementing their personal hurricane plan now."

My heart goes out to everyone in the New Orleans and Gulf Coast area, along with prayers and hopes that Gustav will head back out over the water and dwindle down to nothing.