Alexandria has no lodging available for the next several days and there's price gouging going on at the hotels. Coverage continues at this link:
http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
My phone's ringing like crazy with calls from concerned friends and relatives up North. I think we'll be OK in Cenla, but I am posting the same message on several threads so evacuees don't head up I-49 to Alexandria or Shreveport only to find "no room at the Inn."
Prayers to all in Katrina's path!
Be aware that CenLA (Central Louisiana) might get hit by tornadoes. Hurricanes in the past have spawned deadly tornadoes. Be watchful for that, please!
But if one can make Shreveport on I-49, people could travel East to Texas. Dallas-Fort Worth and places East of there should have plenty of lodging.
West of Lake Charles (LA) should be safe and lodging should be available -- especially the Houston metro area. Beaumont (TX) and west on I-10 may have lodging available. Houston (TX) should not have any lodging problems -- if people can make it that far.
It will be tough to get past Lafayette (LA) heading West, as I-10 is bound to be heavily congested in the next 24 hours.
I hope someone could re-route some of the Truck traffic to I-20 rather than on I-10 (or even routing north to I-40), but fuel prices make it tough for truckers to divert...