Except for Tropical Storm Omar, which appears headed for colder waters and then further out to sea, the Atlantic is pretty quiet.

This blog has been quiet, too, because a funny thing happened during the height of hurricane season, as Gustav and Ike took aim and then did what big storms do. I froze.

For those who don't know my background, I was an assistant city editor at The Times-Picayune in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. We were evacuated on the back of circulation trucks through 5 feet of water. As those with their own hurricane stories know, an experience like that stays with you.

And sometimes returns. Gustav's march toward the central Gulf Coast was particularly troublesome. Hundreds of miles away and safe, we and many friends who also had relocated to Nashville from New Orleans parked in front of The Weather Channel, transfixed. We took calls from friends who needed a safe haven and took them in. It felt as if Katrina were happening all over again. One friend here in Nashville even remarked that he felt like he should be packing a bag and going somewhere.

I hid under the covers. Chaos filled my dreams. I was edgy. Even when you know a storm is coming it can take you by surprise.

As for Omar, as of Saturday night, the National Hurricane Center had issued its final advisory on the storm. "Because Omar has been devoid of deep convection for more than 12 hours," the center says, "it does not meet the criteria for a tropical cyclone and it is now a remnant now."

Amen.