Pray for Texas, and remember Baton Rouge

Before

After

These photos, taken at the same place on Old Highway 98 in Destin, Florida, show what the beach looks like on a typical summer day, and how badly Ike was churning up the Gulf of Mexico, 100’s of miles east of Hurricane Ike. Thursday morning, the storm was only a Cat 2, not even 100 mph yet.

Here on the West Coast of Florida, though far from the projected landfall zone for Ike, we’re still getting a taste of what Texas is going to feel. Early this morning storm surges breached the dunes and flooded US Highway 98, forcing the Dept. of Transportation to close the only road between Fort Walton Beach and Destin.

The road is expected to remain closed until Friday morning.

Tolls on the Mid-Bay Bridge were suspended for motorists forced to detour through Niceville, located on the leeward side of Choctawhatchee Bay. I expect traffic tonight to be bumper to bumper as marooned residents take the long way home.

As this storm makes its way toward Texas, don’t forget the Louisiana residents still suffering from the after effects of Gustav. To get the real story, to find out how there were still communities without power long after the media stopped it’s coverage, read ‘Not Big Enough Story. ‘ Nola, her husband and their daughter, evacuated New Orleans ahead of Gustav, retreating to Baton Rouge.