yeppers doc, it was worse then expected. i guess it was the overall size of the storm. it lasted forever. came at night, so you guessed it. no sleep for 2 days. the tidal surge was much bigger then expected as well. again, it was the size of the storm. they say the surge was what a cat4 would bring. when i drove to lousiana down i10 yesterday, the tidal surge had gone north of there. it had receeded enough to pass, but let me tell you, the cattle and wild hogs werent so lucky. they were everywhere. also, there were cars abondoned along i10. it appears they were flooded out. makes me wonder what happened to the people driving them. all i can say is, buc was right. ike brought it with some extra stank. barry