3:30 Update
Ok, wind has died down significantly. Rain is minimal. It's still overcast, but the cloud cover isn't nearly as dark. By now, the news crews should be back out all over the city. I see a lot more pedestrians walking around and some civilians driving down Poydras, Camp, and St. Charles. Lots of reports of windows out in most high rises. Power loss is virtually total in the CBD, and water pressure is very low. I can only imagine what sanitation conditions will be over the next week -- or longer depending on Entergy. You never know what to expect from a company which has a government-mandated virtual monopoly. Some people are saying a month before power comes back. We've got 10 days or so of fuel for the generators. No word on when water will be back to normal. There's debris everywhere. Lots of damage.

Here's the good news: No flooding here in the CBD as far as we can see in any direction. No flooding means New Orleans has survived.

CNN might be linking to this blog today.

The governor is holding a live conference now, whatever good that will do. I imagine we're in for the reports of all the destruction and loss of life. Hopefully the people who stayed behind fared as well as we here at Directnic.com did. Let's hope the looting is nipped in the bud.

Cam will remain on for a while, and I'll be in and out on ICQ over the course of the day: 21710340. I need some food, some sleep, and to hear from my parents. Hopefully my apartment and my parents' house are both still intact.

Thanks to everyone who offered prayers, well wishes, and information during this ordeal. Let's just hope the people who didn't have the kind of comforts available to them that I had available to me are ok.

Buff