Gulf Coast, West Coast, What's the Difference?

This is a conversation I had with a drug store cashier last Saturday morning, while Hurricane Rita was lashing the Gulf Coast.  I had just walked into the drug store carrying Trailhead Kid, whose head was resting on my shoulder:

Cashier:  Awww, somebody’s tired.

Trailhead:  Yeah, we just flew in from the West Coast last night and he’s a little jet-lagged.

Cashier:  Where did you fly in from?

Trailhead:  Portland, Oregon.

Cashier:  Oh, no!  Are things getting bad down there?


I didn’t know quite what to say.