Hurricane Gustav hit the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, 31st Aug. It is spiraling to southeastern coast of Louisiana. What is interesting is that it comes so as to disrupt the Republican Convention in Minnesota when John McCain will be selected as the Republican nominee for the forthcoming US elections. Bush and Dick Cheney have already canceled their plans to attend the convention.

Louisiana Governor, India-born Bobby Jindal, is doing a nice job by overseeing the evacuation of people from this state to safer places like Missisippi and Texas. Hope the havoc, chaos and dread caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 will not be repeated this time.

Hurricane Gustav may affect the offshore production of oil also. This, in turn, is likely to spread uncertainity in the international market. As crude oil prices are yet to ease up in the global market, the movement and strength of Hurricane Gustav will be decisive in determing the price of crude. Which means, even a local businessman in a remote place in Ethiopia or Guyana has to keep a watch on the movement and intensity of Hurricane Gustav.

Back last summer, on Fred’s persuasion, I finally made my first trip to New Orleans. Located in the southeastern portion of Louisiana, it is a major port city of United States of America. To its north lies the Lake Pontchartrain and to the east, lies Lake Borgne. Known to be one of the oldest cities in the US, it is named after Philippe II, Duc d’ Orleans. I was particularly eager to join in the annual Mardi Gras annual celebrations. Fred had this on mind long ago I knew it. Yet another photographic adventure to him I thought.

I sipped onto the coffee as Fred lay beside me doozing. The airlines food always made him feel sleepy he says always. As I browsed through my travel brochure, I came across a few interesting facts about Mardi Gras and its origin. I found that early French settlers had brought Mardi Gras into the state of Louisiana. The day is celebrated with processions and jubilation across the streets. Celebrated a day prior to Ash Wednesday,  Mardi Gras is celebrated in many places around the country such as Colombia, France, Guatemala, Germany, Italy, Mexico and Panama. Interesting times lay ahead, I thought, as I looked out of the window to see the picturesque land below. We would arrive in 15 to 20 minutes.

Storms are nothing new in the America map. There regular reports on various storms hitting especially the coastal regions. South Dakota faced a storm attack and huge loss of properties. Now Texas is facing another threat of these attacks. Edouard is the name of this expected devastating storm.
The meteorological department of Texas has warned the state government about an upcoming attack of Edouard in this very month of August. Louisiana and the eastern part of Texas is expected to be heavily damaged during this attack. Port O’Connor is one of the main coastal cities which are located in this region.
The origin of this storm has been point at the mouth of the Mississippi River. This place is about 390 miles away from the place called Galveston in Texas. At present the speed has been recorded as 5 miles per hour but the experts have expressed their worries saying that the storm may gain its strength as it enters the state.
2008 is going with a hectic pace as all these attacks are hampering the life in coastal USA. So the governments of these regions are in talks about relocating some of the important establishments which are based in these places. These calamities have also caused a frown in the face of various state governments as they are bringing huge blows to the agricultural development of the country.