The magic eight ball is even hazier than usual as regards Gustav. Will it veer far to the west of New Orleans? Will it come due northwest from the Gulf and breeze right through Baton Rouge? Who knows. The only thing to do is prepare.

I'm spending the night tonight at my church, which is hosting expectant mothers and their kids evacuated from New Orleans and environs. Actually, the one guest we're sure of tonight is a dad; his pregnant wife and kids have already skedaddled to Atlanta, and he needs a place to sleep as he makes his way over there.

Unlike Katrina, when Baton Rouge was inundated with relief
workers and evacuees, the plan this time around is to house only relief workers here, sending evacuees further north of us. Besides making sure that essential personnel are in place, this will leave some extra beds in the River Center and other large sanctuaries for us locals, if (heaven forbid) Gustav comes close enough to force some of us out of our homes. (And there's always the prospect of one of the very brittle trees we specialize in down here--water oaks, etc.--coming down and piercing one's roof. Especially in my neighborhood.)

We are much better prepared than last time. The degree to which preparation is enough, though, is an open question.