In the continuing Gulf Storm Saga, Rita took out power for longer than Katrina did, but I'm back up and running about a day later. It's making me seriously consider buying a generator if another storm comes through. Local damage is slightly worse as well, as a number of fires have apparently broken out throughout the city. I was out and about throughout the day escaping the powerless apartment, and fire engines were a common sight — one set stopping at a gated community just a few blocks away from my own apartment complex.

My paranoid side wonders if it was due to people's individual generators catching fire. There are some drawbacks to storing ten gallons of gasoline in your apartment, after all.

Related entries:

• I survived Katrina