On Saturday, it was plywood.

On Sunday, it's prayer, as the Cajun Prairie turns from Hurricane Gustav preparations and begins the wait for what seems inevitable.

Some are not waiting. They were leaving this morning, in private vehicles or on public transportation, joining the estimated one million ldeparting the north-central Gulf environs before the storm's arrival.

Church bells loud on a normal Sunday seem to have a much-greater volume on this one, as another clear, still and hot day dawned, beckoning citizens to gather and plead for the common good.

That clear, calm day is expected to begin changing by late afternoon as the outer reaches of Gustav grab the coast line and points inland.

Eunice faces no threat from tidal surges and has no river to levee against, but the threat of millions of gallons of rainwater is a worrisome one.

The city drains poorly, and many of its residences and businesses are on sites perhaps better suited for crawfish farming.