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Blog: CBS4 Tours Hurricane Damage With Northcom

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Sep 3, 2008 12:35 pm US/Mountain

Blog: CBS4 Tours Hurricane Damage With Northcom

Written by Rick Sallinger
  Editor's note: CBS4's Rick Sallinger is traveling with commanders from Colorado Springs based U.S. Northern Command Wednesday as they tour Louisiana after Hurricane Gustav. (All times mountain) 

7:30 p.m. Somehow it seems very odd. This morning I got up at 2:30 a.m., drove to Colorado Springs, got on a jet, flew through the remnants of a hurricane, motorcaded through the streets of Baton Rouge, saw enormous lines for gas, downed trees and the President of the United States. If all goes well I'll be back at Peterson Air Force Base in a few minutes and hopefully in my own bed by around midnight. When I wake up maybe it will seem that this was all some strange dream.

1:18 p.m. We have been driving outside of Baton Rouge. Everywhere there are large trees blown over. Property damage is not too bad, mainly signs and light weight structures. The Windsor tornado was far worse, but this is over such a wide area. We'll be glad to get back to Colorado. I can barely breathe due to the humidity!

12:19 p.m. President Bush told those manning the Louisiana Emergency Operations Center they are doing an excellent job, but there is more work to be done. He spoke for about 10 minutes, then shook hands and posed for pictures. He then departed by motorcade to see some of the damage.

11:04 a.m. President Bush is in the house. He is now meeting with local, state and federal authorities. This brings to my mind his visit 3 years ago after Katrina. Then, the President uttered the famous line about FEMA Director Michael Brown doing a "heck of a job." While this time the storm was much less severe it does appear the governmental response is far more organized and effective.

9:17 a.m. As we drove through Baton Rouge we spotted tremendous lines at the gas stations that are open. A dusk to dawn curfew is in effect. We are now at the Louisiana State Police Emergency Operations Center. I just asked Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff how he rated the government response to Gustav. He replied that it was efficient. Gov. Bobby Jindal stressed the importance of getting evacuees back in their homes as soon as possible.

8:50 a.m. We have arrived in Baton Rouge, La. Dark, rainy, Cessna flipped over at airport, power outages, bad traffic. We have police escort with Gen. Gene Renuart head of U.S. Northern Command. He is here to assess and plan after Hurricane Gustav.

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