We have made it through the worst here in Mobile.  Hurricane Georges made
landfall in Ocean Springs, Mississippi (about a 45 minute drive to the west)
and is now Tropical Storm Georges.  The news media is telling us that
Pascagoula, Mississippi and Mobile, Alabama were hit the hardest.  We were
lucky here.  We lost one tree.  Several limbs are down.  We were without power
only for 6 hours.  Many are still without power.  The storm is far from over.
Georges has stalled and flooding continues.  Though no official declaration
has been made it seems we are under martial law.  All residents of Mobile
County have been ordered to stay at home.  The new media reported that anyone
on the streets other that emergency personnel would be arrested.  The
Sheriff's Department is not allowing anyone onto Dauphin Island; even those of
us who have passes to return to the island after a storm.  With the flooding
and current "martial law" situation I do not  know when I will be able to make
it to the beach to see what the storm has washed up.  I have hopes of finding
many oceanic treasures since the storm pounded the same area for so long.  The
surf has been incredible; 32 foot waves were reported at Dauphin Island, 25
foot waves at Gulf Shores.  My beachcombing will have to wait since 76 roads
in Mobile County are closed and those that are open are temporarily illegal to
travel.
 
Still high and dry,
 
Doug Shelton
Mobile, Alabama