Sunday was an agonizing day for those who stayed behind in New Orleans, gathered around TVs and radios, watching the painfully slow progress of Hurricane Georges. Twenty-four hours ago, the killer storm was lined up for a direct hit on Southeast Louisiana and the New Orleans area. But the hurricane slowed almost to a halt just southeast of Plaquemines Parish and began bobbling, teasing residents with hope that the threat would disappear. Local meteorologists announced every drift away from the NOLA area almost apologetically, as they delivered good news to New Orleans that was bad news for someone else.

Although the city was no longer officially ground zero, New Orleans still settled for bed Sunday night with no assurance that Georges would not drift again during the night and hit the city dead-on. And even if the storm made landfall in Mississippi, dangerous winds, rains and tides were still predicted for NOLA.

Across the country, New Orleans' scattered family struggled to keep up with the news and deal with the stress of uncertainty and separation. NOLA Live received numerous queries from evacuees, expatriates and lovers of the city, seeking information and offering sympathy and prayers. One woman expressed admiration for the city's decision to open up the Superdome and other sites as refuges. New Orleans' care for its citizens, especially those without money or resources to flee the city, was an outstanding example for other cities, she said.

After two frantic days of turmoil and fear, New Orleanians turn the lights out tonight wondering if tomorrow brings relief or misery.

-- Jon Donley / NOLA Live

From http://www.nola.com/weather/hurricane/index.ssf?/weather/georges/stormcolor1.html

 

All but 6 camps on the Lake Pontchartrain shore along Hayne Boulevard were destroyed by Hurricane Georges.