The following message came this morning from contacts of the Militia of Montana who live in Mississippi:
We may be suspending our email list, effective immediately, due to Ivan's
fury.
Conditions on the Gulf Coast are - currently - grave.
Buoys - just offshore - are already registering a monsterous storm surge
of 26-feet. Yet, Ivan remains 20 hours away from land! Remember that New
Orleans, for example, is mostly at or below sea level. That is roughly
two million people. On the other hand, Pensacola Beach, Florida, is - at
its highest point - 10 feet above sea level, with a population base of
about 400,000. Biloxi, MS is - for the most part - only 10-12 feet above
sea level. Biloxi's "Miracle" -- i.e. the Playground of the South -
referring to its luxury world-class casino resorts - are all located
directly on the Gulf of Mexico, in accordance with Mississippi State Law.
These huge floating "barges" were established to withstand 125 mph
winds, at which point, their deep-set moorings no longer would secure
them. As of yesterday morning, all these casinos announced that they
would be closed until "Ivan folded."
Inland counties - 45-60 minutes from the Gulf Coast - are instituting
mandatory evacuation of mobile/modular home residents as of this morning.
While this precaution appears to be quite sensible, there are some
issues. With limited evacuation routes available, these people are
jumping into their automobiles - only to be stuck in bumper-to-bumper
traffic enroute to...nowhere. Some spent 4-6 hours on the road, only to
make it less than 7 miles. Many have - simply - given up and returned.
Gas supplies are drying up quickly. Food supplies - however - remain
somewhat viable, through last night. Unfortunately, many people are
stocking up on pretzels and beer rather than food items that could
sustain them for a very long period of time. Warnings are already in
place that once electrical systems go down, electricity will not return
for up to three weeks, maybe longer.
On another note, the thousands of offshore drilling rigs have all been
evacuated and services suspended. This ought to cause a flurry of
"hurricane activity" on Wall Street, as these rigs provide the nation
with vital oil and gas resources.
If you don't have a diesel vehicle on hand, now's a good time to consider
trading in your SUV for one. The situation is bound to get critical one
day soon.
On a personal note, it's hard to believe that a Category Four Hurricane
is lurking just off the coast. The weather is pleasant, although
overcast, and there is a light 15 mph breeze.
All of the animals - and even insects - are beginning to sound an inner
alarm, undoubtedly due to the profound pressure change, which we,
ourselves, are not yet quite registering. Hornets are swarming. Dogs
are cowering. And, the chickens are acting confused...if not petrified.
We'll try and keep you apprised over the next 10-24 hours - if not
longer, depending upon our retaining telephone services.
Our personal best to everyone,
Serving Freedom
and Liberty
