[Susan G]

Just now getting power back here in Plaquemines Parish, LA. (where Isaac and Katrina came ashore!) I can tell you first hand of this "minimal" hurricane. What they did not/could not factor in was the extremely low pressure. Power went out last Tuesday, rain and wind relentless for 2 1/2 days. It beat up the home of our Parish President (Billy Nungesser) that has 2 foot thick concrete walls and is built like a fortress adjacent to the Mississippi River. 12 to 14 ft. storm surge pushed up the River and surrounding bays/bayous and into the area. Seven days later, there is about 6 foot of marsh grass, canes, snakes and dead cows floating in that toxic soup.

I stayed as my employer (Home Depot) has to be back up and running as soon as winds die to provide supplies to repair homes. That will never happen again for a "minimal" hurricane. This will be one for the record books as I'm sure the forecasters will find a way to correctly factor in the pressure.

The new levees held, although there is some early speculation that water was funneled to other areas because of the construction. Corps of Engineers will be looking at all the possibilities.

In closing, as luck would have it, I had to take one more "spanking" from Hurricane Issac before my move to The Villages end of September. My home here was already sold and held up well...others were not so fortunate. In summary, I and other Louisiana residents now know there is NO SUCH THING AS A MINIMAL HURRICANE...especially if it stalls when coming ashore as Isaac did.