Watching CNN reports on the approach of Hurricane Gustav to Louisiana and dreading what will follow.

Regular readers know that I was in Louisiana from November of last year until May of this year, with the last 3 months being spent in Baton Rouge doing recovery work from Katrina.

I have friends and co-workers in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, some who are still there working on cleaning up after Katrina and some who were just deployed there in preparation for Gustav. They, like thousands of other first responders, have put themselves in the path of this storm in order to be ready to assist as soon as the hurricane passes.

Please send your good thoughts their way tonight and tomorrow. I know I will.