***TROPICAL ALERT*** TROPICAL STORM ETA (Late season tropical outlook discussion)

I had to go out for a few supplies today, local grocery store open (Galliano IGA with Generator) but Walmart closed. Went down through Golden Meadow. Saw several power poles, new green ones, snapped like twigs. I also saw a large metal billboard bent over from the ground, this was about 2 feet across, it pulled its foundation out of the ground. Several huge oak trees also with damage and many other trees destroyed. Lots of power lines down in the area and just a few crews working, not many people. I suspect they are trying to work their was South.

The Coast Guard Station on Grand Isle is on the far Eastern end of the Island, pretty far from where the eye cam ashore. I don't know of any wind gauges right in the path of Zeta close to the coast. My estimate of wind speed, after surveying the damage, is sustained winds of at least 110 MPH and guests of 135 MPH. (It would not surprise me at all if Zeta is recategorized as a Cat 3 after storm damage assessment is done on the ground.) I have been in several hurricanes, including the eyewall of a Cat 5++ and I know winds. The worst of it was only about 25 minutes or so, but it was really blowing. Looks like about half of the houses have some damage. A couple of boats also sank. Lots of Emergency crews are out and there are a few gas stations open with generators working their gas pumps.

I don't anticipate Entergy getting power back on here (Galliano) for a few more days and some areas (Parts of Golden Meadow and below) could easily be a week or more. I hope Verizon extends their unlimited data for the storm, most people only have that for communication.