How do you not know to bring an ax to the attic?
St. Bernard
- Some houses in Chalmette have water past the second floor. The Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries ahs approx. 60 boats ready to go out to rescue people from rooftops where necessary in St. Bernard Parish (and 200 throught SE Louisiana. Some people were reportedly trapped in attics. You’d think everyone would know by now, BRING AN AX TO THE ATTIC. I don’t care if you’re in Nebraska. If you go into the attic, you bring a damn ax.
- Water as high as 10 feet on north side of Judge Perez Drive.
- Chalmette High damage confirmed, people in hallways away from broken windows.
- Roof of Civic Auditorium was blown off.
- An actual levee breach IS being reported, now. Flooding that was thought to be only from water going over the tops of levees in St. Bernard and Lower 9th Ward is now being blamed on an actual breach along the Industrial Canal (different agencies and news teams are still receiving conflicting reports - in most cases we have government agencies reporting what they’ve been told has happened, not what they have actually seen and documented)
Jefferson Parish
- Diesel fuel leak in Gretna
- “Boil Water” alert in Jefferson Parish
- Dept. of Irony officials report that officials at the Jefferson Parish Water Dept. report no water pressure
- Phone systems throughout the metro area have largely failed. Cell may be the best current option, since many towers have on-site-backup power available. But those back-ups are not long-term.
Orleans Parish
- Department of Irony officials report that the Entergy Command Center (downtown in the Hyatt) is without power! Heh. Must be because they had to take out that cable so that larger cruise ships could dock in the Port Authority Cruise Terminal.
- Floodwaters seem to not be a big issue in Riverbend, but then, if I remember correctly, that area was pegged as one of the places projected to be under the least water in a report from the Corps of Engineers sometime in the late 90s.
- Officials are asking people NOT to try to return to the New Orleans area tonight. They claim that rescue and recovery operations will only be hindered and take longer.
Evacuees should wait until they are told it’s ok to return. At this point, despite all these reports, there is no comprehensive snapshot of exactly what the flooding situation is, what the building damage situation is, and what the utility situation is. Winds have to drop further before we really get hard coverage of how much damage the area has taken and how long the immediate recovery (power, water pressure, flood water pumping) might take.
Other People’s Misery
- Water has reported reached the second floor of the Beau Rivage Casino
- Flooding in Mobile is 10 feet in places
- Heavy flooding and no power reported in Biloxi
Update:
- Two large oaks in Jackson Square near St. Louis Cathedral are down
- AP is confirming building down on the Westbank with people trapped (apparently) inside. Rescue crew as yet unable to reach the scene. Probably the Wright Ave. location, but it doesn’t say, so it could be the one on Manhattan.
Update II:
- Two people have reported that the Quarter did not get significant flooding, and one says power came back on at 5am. But, at the same time, Entergy is reporting that basically their entire service area (reported as 700,000 customers) is without power.
- A spokesperson for Memorial Hospital claims they lost some 2nd and 3rd floor windows but that the walkway has NOT collapsed as reported by the city earlier. And it is Uptown, I obviously confused it with another hospital downtown.
Related posts:
Your Blog was listed in a major German news source (Spiegel) (just FYI).
My heart goes out to all in the region and my prayers are with you.
Fox’s text crawl is showing “Looting Reported in New Orleans”. No confirmation/specifics yet.
i’m shy from toronto’s metblogs… wanted to to just stop by and say that you and loved ones will in my prayers tonight.
thank-you for the updates.
You guys are better than the news. Cable tv is spewing its usual small details and not showing the big picture. I’m just checking back here to see what’s going on.
Screw the ax — what are the idiots doing still in their homes to begin with.
This is NOT the wrost case scenario. By all accounts, your NOLAs got by pretty easy. Don’t make more of some water and a few broken windows than it is. You all just bought into the media hype and frenzy. Your little storm was about what I went through last night in the midwest.
While it could have been worse (direct or east-side hit, category 5, west bound hurricane, etc) as a former New Orleans resident, Huricane Georges evac survivor, and a long term resident of the midwest, there is no way you can compare the two.
May god keep you all safe and remember that we are all watching and hoping for your safety.
I was wondering if anyone has heard anyhing on the Metairie area. We have family that lives there and have evacuated.
Thanks for the info. Godspeed from New Jersey.
I picked this up off of the National Weather Service website, with
the report originating from the New Orleads Office. I thought that it might be on interest and assistance to you in New Orleans. I suspect that the thoughts and prayers of the nation are with you now. Take care.
A SIGNIFICANT AND LIFE THREATENING STORM SURGE ESTIMATED AROUND 20
FEET HAS OCCURRED WITH KATRINA…CAUSING LEVEES TO BE OVERTOPPED IN
ORLEANS AND ST BERNARD PARISHES. IN ADDITION DANGEROUS BATTERING
WAVES ARE OCCURRING ON TOP OF THE STORM SURGE NEAR THE COAST. SEVERE
TIDAL FLOODING WILL CONTINUE IN THESE AREAS FOR SEVERAL MORE HOURS.
SIGNIFICANT FLOODING IS ALSO OCCURRING ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI GULF
COAST OVER HANCOCK…HARRISON AND JACKSON COUNTIES. EXTENSIVE
DAMAGE DUE TO THE WIND AND STORM SURGE IS OCCURRING ALONG THE
MISSISSIPPI COAST.
IN ADDITION…A STORM SURGE OF 10 TO 12 FEET HAS OCCURRED IN THE
SOUTHWEST PART OF LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AFFECTING THE EAST BANKS OF
JEFFERSON…ST CHARLES…ST JOHN THE BAPTIST AND LIVINGSTON PARISHES
KF: I wish it was just media hype and frenzy. The storm turned north slightly before it was supposed to. Perhaps as little as one hour later on that turn and what you’re terming “some water and a few broken windows” would have in fact been much much worse. And there is still no clear picture of just how bad things really are in the metro area. Sure, we caught a break. But your storm didn’t have the potential to do to 10 people what this storm had the potential to do to more than a million.
When you (and the closest million people to you all go to bed in a several dozen strange cities resigning yourself to the very high odds that you’ll wake up with nothing to go back home to, please feel free to give us a little shit for over reacting.
Does anyone have any info on the 9th ward? We have some friends who may still be in the neighborhood. Please, before you make a wise crack about why they are still in thier homes, be aware that some people simply become immobilized by fear or severe mental illness are not able to react rationally. Please just let me know if you have any news of water levels etc. Also if there is anyone reading this from NO who is in Austin Texas right now, let me know. That’s where I am!
Snipped from the WLOX station website:
Hurricane Katrina Update
WLOX has suffered roof damage due to the high winds of Hurricane Katrina. Some parts of the building have one foot of standing water due to the leaking roof.
Updates of storm coverage are being supplied from WLOX’s sister stations.
I’m sorry to say that all reports say the Ninth Ward, and parts east of the city were hit the hardest. They say that the flooding is the worse in New Orleans East and St. Bernard Parish.
KF: If Katrina is truly a little storm that only generated some broken windows, I expect that you’ll be on the first bus, plane, or train into NOLA to help show us Louisianians how to clean up and rebuild. Please make sure that you plan on staying for at least 4-6 weeks since that’s how long it’s probably going to take to get most residents’ power back on, and insure that they have clean drinking water, food, and shelter. Otherwise, please feel free to cure yourself of “foot in mouth” disease and keep quiet.
KF: Grab those mops and buckets and COME ON DOWN. Having had three hurricanes pass within 15 miles of my community last year … having seen the incredible destruction and overwhelming human anguish … I am convinced you couldn’t find your ass with both hands.
You are an incredibly insensitive, uninformed neanderthal!
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone that has been touched by this. Please stay safe!
Good Luck and God Speed to my friends in New Orleans and Biloxi…
I think that the most important lesson here is to be prepared. It’s very easy to say, ‘why did they stay?’ It’s also easy to realize why some didn’t/couldn’t leave.
I hope and pray that all will be spared and that we will all respond to the help that’s needed. Regardless of whether they stayed or left, and our opinion of that decision, no one is deserving of life destruction.
I’m watching the networks now, and am in disbelief. Although in the Northeast and far from the storm, I’ll be checking my supplies this week and making sure that I’m prepared. At the same time, I’ll also participate in the disaster relief efforts in the area. And, I’m also considering buying an axe for the attic!
I lived in Myrtle Beach SC when Hugo hit in 1989. I was scared half to death that I would have nothing to go home to, but I was one of the lucky ones. Every time I see the the streams of cars evacuating, the lines of folks waiting for a spot in a shelter, and the shell-shocked survivors lining up for ice and water, the feelings all come rushing back. This is nothing to make jokes about. Whether you lose nothing or lose everything, this is a traumatic event in anyone’s life. It will change the way you look at your neighbors, your community, and yourself. Recovery and rebuilding is going to require calm heads, patience, and a sense of humor. Good luck, and best wishes.
We have friends in Ocean Springs, MS. We hope they left but are afraid that they were unable to. Does anyone know about damage to Ocean Springs. We really would appreciate any news.
Does anyone have ANY info on how Slidell’s Oak Harbor has faired? I can’t find info on CNN, MSNBC, NOLA.com, WDSU.com, paul2.net, etc.
Would really appreciate some word on how things are over there. We really dodged a big one last night. Keep on praying, folks! There’s still a lot going on and smaller dangers to dodge yet in the aftermath.
Thanks!
We’re dry in illinois!
We’re sending TP and Bleach.
Look out for snakes!
Having lived through a levee break in ‘93 we know snakes. They are everywhere!
Prayers and thoughts from Colorado, don’t let skeptics and jealots discourage ya’ll from N.O. Our thoughts are with you and we’ll send our support! (atleast I will)
Does anyone know if the people staying in the Goverment Complex in St. Bernard’s parish were able to escape? We have a family member that was on the second floor. Is the building under water?
To all:
I’m posting this on several sites for anyone looking for information or conditions on people staying at the Hyatt, near the Superdome:
A family member living in New Orleans made contact with his family in Charlotte, NC, from his cellphone which unbelievably worked a short period of time this afternoon. He was indeed at the Hyatt where all the windows were blown out, including the windows in his room. He stated people were relocated to the main ballroom during the storm, but could now go back and forth to their room to get things, from what I understand. They were originally going to feed them (3)meals a day but had to ration the meals to (2), as of 8/29 mid-afternoon. So anyone who is looking for an update on friends or family staying at the Hyatt near the Superdome, the outcome so far is good.
My friends and I in San Jose, California have been glued to the TV and the web for news on how you all are faring. We’re praying for everyone and sending in donations for the relief efforts.
Wish we could do more.
You’re friends in Cal.
KF
You succeeded in getting a reaction. I challenge you to repost something that shows some empathy to balance your skepticism and bravado.
God bless Katrina survivors. Illinois prayers are being said.
This could be helpfull for those looking for relatives or conditions.
http://www.wwltv.com/forums/index.php
A tv station that has forums with tons of post about locations and etc..
:) just an fyi
I really feel for y’all down there…. nobody really knows how bad it is, yet, the storm was just part one…. seems that communication is spotty in some areas… I heard doppler radar towers were blown down so no one may never know exactly how fast the wind was or how low the pressure went…. I remember Camille (sp)…. I was staying with relatives near Shreveport… and the weather up there was horrifying…. Good Luck!
To the clueless midwestern who thinks NO hasn’t been through much. Let me help give you a frame of reference. The middle of the huricane which including the eyewall and some of the area just out side of it had wind equivalint to an F3 tornado AND that area was 90 miles across. Have you ever seen an F3 tornado that is 90 miles across in the midwest?! Thought not. That is not even including the rain and flooding.
NO - I will keep you in my prayers.
From - Concerned in Texas
Any word on the DDay museum. I think of all that glass and I shudder.
B
Hey you hurricane patrons, I am from N.O., live in Fla. I must be nutz to stay coastal, but ya know, the freedom of living near the water, fills some perverse need to avoid feeling land-locked. Went thru 4 hurricanes last year, lost $60K+ in business. It is called, LIFE. My heart goes out to N.O. Such a densely populated area to have absolutely every person affected in some way, more intense than 9/11 due to the financial trauma to all. My advice, send out your good vibes and love because everyone, and I mean, everyone in the hurricane zone needs to feel loved right now.
I’m so sorry for what everyone in Katrina’s path is going through. People say why would anyone stay, but stop & think about the homeless & everyone that does not have a car or the funds to leave. That is why they are calling the Superdome the last resort escape but there are still people that couldn’t even get there.
You are in our thoughts & our prayers, I wish I could do more but no funds. I will keep you in my prayers.
God Bless you all!
My heart goes out to the people affected by Katrina. My husband and I lost our home in Dennis in July. Although the loss of a home and your personal property seems overwhelming, we must all remember that it is just “things” and not loss of life or a loved one that might be faced by people in this storm.
There by the Grace of God (whomever’s) goes I!!! I can’t imagine having to make the decision of getting on the Interstate in that traffic, going to the SuperDome or staying in my home. Let alone the money involved in whichever decision. I’d probably stay at home and protect my property!!! Whatever y’all decided, no one has the right to question it!
We are keeping good thoughts for you guys & hoping for no tornadoes here in N. Ala as we feel the effects of Katrina. If Katrina is gone by the morning with no bad here, we’ll send our bucket trucks!!
Our eye on how your predicament, our prayers are that God’s hand will keep even the most vulnerable safe. This too will pass away though the media will cash in on it, the ultimate truth will be reflected in how everyday people endured extraordinarily.
From” Hilton, Malaysia
Please ignore the neanderthals who lack compassion. They know not what they speak.
Ignore the ignorant midwesterner. I’ve been through Atlantic hurricanes on the east coast and tornados in the midwest. There is NO comparison, a tornado or severe storm doesn’t hang around all day and dump 10 ft of water on you. That monster (Katrina) had me scared from 800 miles away in IN.
NO has a soft spot in my heart cuz it’s where my husband found God…in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras!
All those in Katrina’s wake are in our prayers and will have our support to rebuild.
My thoughts and prayers are going out to all of you in New Orleans. I live in Pensacola and made it through Ivan last year. Although very early, the pictures look similar…minus the water which I suspect will be the biggest disaster for you guys. Don’t worry, help is on the way! Hug your family and thank God for what you have left.
I am a native New Orleanian(7th ward) currently living in memphis.I personally would like to thank everyone for the much needed prayers and support. And also all the (love) I have several different families(35p) now living with me who have lost everything due to the storm.I also have my mother who is trapped in new orleans due to the job she performs for the City of New Orleans which is to run the pumping stations to extract water she has also lost her home. But yet we prevail and not compare catastrophes Mr.Midwest. After all it is Mother Nature not You are I who wins.
I got up this morning feeling really sorry for the folkes having to go thru this, and in my heart, really grateful that it wasn’t us. However, today it was announced that we may have a typhoon hitting us here in the next few hours. I don’t like mother natures sense of humor. Anyway, we are now at tropical storm level three. The next one is typhoon level 1. We went thru a couple of these last year and our banana trees still haven’t recovered. Still, it isn’t a super hurricane like they are getting, so I am still grateful, but I still don’t want to go thru another one. Susie in Saipan (a few hundred miles from Guam)
We have not forgotten the help that people from the South, including New Orleans, provided us in East-Central Indiana following the severe ice storm we recieved in January.
It may take some time, but rest assured that help is on the way! Just hang in there a little bit longer and know that you’re in our thoughts and prayers!
Does anyone have any info on Ocean Springs? My brother is a police officer there. My mother is up near Wiggins and we have no idea how either area was affected. We are up in VA. Any info would be great..
As a MidWesterner, I am embarassed by the comments of KF. He/she would probably be the first on in the food and water line were his home to be hit by a tornado/flood etc. KF sounds like the stereotypical bully that has no compassion for othere and only thinks about himself. Perhaps he should not look at the “speck in the eye” of those affected by Katrina before he pulls the “log from his own eye”.
Prayers and best wishes for a safe and speedy return to “normal”. As different as we all think we are, it is in times like these when we realize we are all just “God’s children”.
This was just a thought:
I am from Saint Martin parish and my family lives check to check with not much money left over each month for other than the food we need to feed ourselves. Maybe the government would give our electric company funds to help with electric bills for family’s that would allow New Orleans residents to put campers in our yards and hook up to our electric? That would be a good way to help these residents get out of shelters and sleeping on floors that will not be able to return home for maybe months. I would be more than willing to do it but just can not afford the extra money it would cost. I live in the country with yard space enough for a couple of campers and I am sure I could get more people from my community willing to do the same. Does anyone know how to get the ball rolling on something like this?
To the poster who suggested the govt. provide campers…That’s exactly what FEMA will do.
They did it here in FL last year—we still have some folks living in them even now.
Prayers going out to all that need them…
Living on the east coast of Florida, and having gone through a number of hurricanes last year, our hearts and prayers are with each and every one of you.
devastion is devastation, no matter the people, area or reason-the prayers of millions go out to those of you who found yourselves in nature’s violent paths this week.Maybe we better put our 10 Commandments back in public, Christians have rights too.God bless and sustain you all.Your worst stress is yet to come, try to endure and remember many are with you hourly, for months to come as you clear, clean and rebuild.Everyone suffers fear and panic in the face of possible annihilation,try on compassion for ‘Midwest”and such. Steer toward the light….
I live in Wisconsin and we had 28 tornado’s in a single day a couple of weeks ago they killed one person and destroyed entire towns, I mean completely leveled them GONE! I have seen first hand what the devistation can be and still I don’t even compare it to what has happpened to y’all down in the south. My grandparents live in Orange City, FLA their home was trashed by two hurricanes in a matter of a couple of weeks last year. Sure midwest weather is weird and strange and usually with very minimal warning we get ery severe storms. You guys get warning down there and still look at the destruction it really shows how much more powerful a hurricane can be. GODSPEED to you all. And please don’t think poorly of the midwest people because one guy has his head up his ass!!!! Much love from Green Bay, Wisconsin
Thoughts and prayers from West TN. I have family who were unable to leave LA. They are in Lillian Parish on Mizell Loop.
Both my Aunt and Uncle are in their 70’s and both recently underwent surgery.
Any word of damages in that area?
Thank you for any infomation you can provide. Family from TN. to Maine are worried sick about them.
Lori
KF, there’s a reason the midwest has lots of tornadoes: it’s God’s way of saying he made a mistake and he is trying to clear out all the fools there. So, stay right where you are. Your maker will come for you sooner or later, and he just might drop a house on you!
The hearts and prayers of all of us at Dreamviews go out to you. We are still waiting to hear from several of our members. I personally am quite fond of your city and hope you recover soon =(
Thoughts and prayers to all touched by this.
I’ve been riveted to the news! I visited New Orleans just this past April. I can’t believe the images we’re seeing on CNN news. The devastation is unreal, but sadly quite real. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Best wishes to you all from Canada! Stay strong!
survivorsofkatrina@yahoogroups.com
KF, you should be ashamed of yourself for making such self centered allegations, especially given the circumstances of the last 24-48 hours of the the unfortunate scene for the people of New Orleans. I’m reposting your note so others won’t have to search for your heartless comments. God Forbid you should ever face such devastation…
*******************************
By KF earlier….
Screw the ax — what are the idiots doing still in their homes to begin with.
This is NOT the wrost case scenario. By all accounts, your NOLAs got by pretty easy. Don’t make more of some water and a few broken windows than it is. You all just bought into the media hype and frenzy. Your little storm was about what I went through last night in the midwest.
Posted by: KF at August 29, 2005 12:30 PM
*******************************************
God Bless your heartless soul, my friend….
hey, 9/11 was enough for me. i hurt to the core when i see people suffering.we’ve all been thru destruction, thank your lord if you haven’t- and pray you never have to and for those who have it now, where ever you are, GOD BLESS YOU,it’s hard enough to deal with. we need to support each other, we are all americans and we need to pull together. let the petty steam letting be what it is-frustrated people, not thinking. no one deserves destruction or death and don’t wish it on anyone, we reap what we sow…there are so many people suffering thank god it’s not you or yours and have compassion for those involved!!GET IT TOGETHER AMERICA.
Dear readers,
Hello,I myself am from the Montreal area and like everyone else, we too are certainly touched by the devestation happening to americans…..but could someone PLEASE tell me why people are so surprised??????…I am certainly dumbfounded by the size of the impact but why do people even bother putting money on these beautiful waterfront homes??? why exchange peace of mind for so much trouble ? certain people did not have a CHANCE to evacuate but some stayed of there own free will….and now they are sitting on rooftops crying!!!is THAT the american dream?????I mean, I even seen reports on CNN of people trying to FLY thinking it was funny!!!people were able to move within an hour’s drive to evacuate ( driving without traffic)…….why not pass a law that does not allow waterfront homes???? damn it save yourselves!!!what is losing a commerce compared to families being wiped out??and one thing that really gets to me is this….certain adults decided to ride out the storm….as an adult, it is their choice…..but the ones with children that stayed behind are complete idiots that put their chidren in danger….when new orleans was told to evacuate most people had time……the dome was not even full…..now instead of just haveing the shelters to evacuate they have to run around and save a whole bunch of senseless idiots who stayed to prove they were hero’s and ended up sitting on rooftops in blistering heat with little children. and those little children, if they would have been asked, would have probably made a wiser decision than those dumb assed parents who decided to stay!!!!those who had nowheres to go well i can understand those who made the decision to stay should stay on the damn rooftops till they evacuate children,elderly,shelters and hospitals,they wanted to stay, i’d make them wait and start by saving those who took the means to at least find a safe place!!!
As the seriousness of the situation in New Orleans finally begins to sink in, one of the questions I have to ask is “Should New Orleans be rebuilt?” With climate change increasing sea levels around the globe, could or should this terribly devastating event be seen as a warning from mother nature to seek higher grounds. It seems to be a losing battle when it comes to pumping water out of a city that has such a great risk factor for future flooding. Does anyone really think “whew, that was a bad one, but it won’t happen again for another 30-40 years.” That, to me does not seem rational. I understand that abandoning a whole city may not seem rational at first, but think about the billions that will be spent to rebuild while only waiting for the next “big one” to flood it all out again, not to mention the loss of life.
And as for the looters, what good does it do these people to loot, where do they think they will go with it? The water is still rising and they have already lost their homes. Do they think they can carry their “Loot” out of the City? In these dark times we need to shine as human beings and help our fellow man. Food, clothes, medical supplies, YES, but tv’s when there won’t even be electricity for what looks like months, that’s ridiculous. And to the fact that the chain stores stock guns and weapons to sell, only to have them looted and used for further damaging activities, maybe that should be rethought too.
What has happened in Ocean Springs, MS near Biloxy. Does anybody know? I have a daughter out there and I don’t know if she’s o.k. or not. I can’t get a hold of her by cell or email. Please someone reply. Thank you and God Bless you. My daughter’s name is Alexandria Blake.
Still no word about the Bogalusa area. I have elderly family there who could not evacuate in time.
If anyone has contact from the Dana Enman family please let me know.
Thank you and God bless
madlilly6@yahoo.com
I live in the FL panhandle and went through Ivan, Dennis, and Katrina. Every time a hurricane warning is issued it costs us around $200 for water, gas, propane, food, etc. Last year during Ivan we were without electricity for a week. My husband and I are both professionals with jobs, but live on a strict budget. Luckily we squeak by each time, but it does put a strain on our funds. I can empathize with the NOLA folks who couldn’t evacuate. Not everyone can fill up their SUVs and go stay with family or in a hotel.
And what the IDIOT from the midwest needs to realize is that when a several million people on the Gulf Coast have 2-3 days to evacuate, after making preparations, the roads are clogged. Many people had to make the decision to stay or ride it out in their cars.
I’d love to see the “Midwest idiot’s” checkbook– I’m sure he’s never made out a single check to a charitable organization. Maybe I’ll keep that in mind this winter when the Midwest is ravaged by ice/snow storms. Sorry to sound so bitter, but our fellow citizens are suffering.
Pieraud: Hmmmm, let’s see, ice storms … snow up to your kiester … tornadoes … why DO you stay in Montreal???!!!
And as for people not leaving. Some people couldn’t afford the gas to leave. Some, tourists, were stranded when planes filled and rental cars ran out.
Catastrophes are just that. And if everyone made exactly the right decision, there wouldn’t be any catastrophes.
But we’re human … at least some of us.
Instead of pntificating … why not come help.
BG
All the appellate clerks in Louisiana are accounted for and safe.
The two state trial court buildings in New Orleans are completely flooded as is the federal 5th circuit building. The building which houses the Supreme Court and intermediate appellate court for that district has the entire 1st floor flooded. Most of the court is housed on higher floors.
WHY? why didn’t the govenor get all buses[school buses and city buses in new orleans and in mississippi] to take the people on the border of texas at the wlcome station and set up camp and cantens until it was safe to go back. it wouldn’t have hurt. the buses would have been saved also for the children.
now you get buses, what about the ones that deadsome people just don’t use their head. shame on you.
Any news from Bay St. Louis and Waveland area?
Please allow me to send my deepest to the families in need. I am a 31yr old mother of 1, and whatever I can do to relocate someone to New Jersey and provide housing, my arms are open!
well….i guess i didn’t express myself correctly * blushes*…..what i TRIED to express doesn’t change but my wording I admit was quite harsh….let’s try again….some people PURPSEFULLY stayed….yes a small percentage….they are the ones I am aiming….I personally get emotional about a situation as big as what is unfolding….yes, my words are harsh but so is the pain of what i see and hear….and as for the icestorm….actually I am glad you brought it up….first I am not in a ” my place is better than your place” war….we all live on ONE planet * smiles*….back to the ice storm…first i am a ” she”…* looks down top*….yep a she I am *laughs*….during the ” famous” Icestorm wich to my standards was ridiculously blown out of porportion in some places and neglected in others….and i lived through the …ahem….monster icestorm…..this message will be sent in …* shrugs shoulders*….I don’t know how many parts….i don’t have a pre-script written,,,,,i write from the heart and do not even correct my typo’s…..this is actually the first day i have ever blogged in my life and i certainly don’t want to depict a monster when in reality my heart tends to take control of all logic!!!….so please be patient and maybe at the end you will understand my point of view the same way i am trying to understand your percption of things….i don’t fight….i debate * smiles*
ok * pats empty seat beside her*…..here we go * smiles*…..by the way the person who wrote from dallas….Texas is a wonderful place * smiles*….Fortworth has a magnificent zoo and the stockyards were great!!!!…in Paris ,Texas a kind maid at the hotel gave me an apple pie recipe that i use till these day * winks*
now * taps fingers on desk*…..coffee anyone??…the Icestorm…..do not forget that Montreal is an island…..we have the north shore * lifts finger* wich is moi and the south shore….Montreal itself was hit yes but not as much as the south shore…..most pictures you seen came from the south shore…..on the north shore the ice storm hit harder a bit further north wich is less populated and people like me that lived si the woods with only a few neighbors near ( USED to live in the woods)….someone kind of overlooked all those old people liveng on the north shore who died in their houses in the woods because noone came to see if they were ok….extremely few compared to a REAL crisis but still heart wrenching….and these seniors were from townships of sometimes only 3000!!!!! but they were forgotten!!!we who lived there could not go see because imagine what the forest looked like compared to what you were seeing in populated areas….but still….the night it struck, it was actually my first winter there!!* laughing*…..my husband( ex thank god) had left for Texas that very morning….i had JUST called a load of wood and it had arrived that day wich was great because i was out of wood…so here i am alone in the woods with my sons 7 and 11 at the time….they are announcing freezing rain but usually the worst that happens are slippery roads so you don’t even think about it really!!!I had driven to the airport and taken the boys out to friend’s when i got home ,I found out my neighbor was in the hospital in labor…and the other 2 neighbors on my street were gone because they were only there through summer mainly…….there were still lots of houses in walking distance ( 250 feet or so)i just thought, heck , i’ll bring wood in tomorrow and just brought in what i needed for the night with a little extra just in case….sooooo , heck, no husband…what do you think a woman does? * sly smiles*……she pulls out her flannel P.J’s and a book!!! * laughing*…….and after well..she goes down for the night with not a worry in mind……………..
Bay St. Louis and Waveland no longer exist.
*bolts up in bed*………I can hear thunder but no lightening………odd…no electricity and here I am stumbling around in renovations because i was too stupid to prepare a flashlight…fortunately i had 2 intelligent sons who ALWAYS slept with flashlights beside their bed!!…well that thunder that i hear are actually trees falling!!!!….so the kids are sent straight to the basement and the dilema is this…….if i heat the stove will a tree fall on the chimney…….if i don’t well, will i freeze in here???….if a tree falls i can make it out in time…..so i spent the night going outside to see if trees were on my house……..I spent the next 5 days picking wood out of the ice and used it to keep the house warm….we would go and eat at friend’s and come back and sleep…..we had no water….we washed at friend’s…..we had no electricity se by candlelight we played society games and probably got to bond a great deal….yes I had to pick branches and wait because everything was frozen over……..but really………do you guys REALLY think it was as big a monster as they say?????…..and let’s get a few things straight….SOME houses people could not get back in because of danger..wich only accounted for about 5% of the people touched ( montreal and the south shore )….the others people had to leave because there was no heat…….they did not leave hurridly because a roof was falling on there head….they left because it was cold…..now could someone please explain to me the following……people from ALL OVER rushed to donate,food,blankets,toys,diapers and every thing imaginable to help them…..even you helped and even I helped…bit in reality…all they had to do was bring there things no????….true they did not have access to money but damn it they all had pillows and blankets in their houses no??????…..and I lived through the thing and c’mon people does that seem to you like a carastrophe?????????………it was unpleasent yes, but it was not catastrophic and ever since then i do admit to being a bit hard towards certain things i see, but unfortunately we live in a world that people play on pity…what i see in the states i call a catastrophe….the people who are their against their will i am sympathetic towards but those who stayed of their own free will ……..i could never leave them there if i were there but once saved they’d get a piece of my mind!!!..hopefully i was better understood this time around by sharing my little part of the world * smiles*…….and hey…umm…..forget his name * blushe*…..someone said, well come and help….if I could yes I would……and if i could i’d go to shelters and TRY to somehow build activities for the children to take their mind off of things for even a minute or two and give the parent’s a break…..vut I too have children to feed and even here money doesn’t grow on tree’s. but what can be done with school opening up is approaching the schools and making them buildfundraiser’s…….in my world everything is possible * smiles*
Yo my homies be keeping it real.
pieraud–
Not trying to be rude, but right now these people and myself do not care about “your world.” You are so unsympathetic and self-absorbed. Why do we build houses here? Have you ever seen the gulf beaches? Have you ever been to New Orleans? If so, you’d know why! Why did people stay? First, who cares? It doesn’t make a difference now. Now we need to focus on saving those we can and mourning those we can’t. But if you must know, people stayed for many different reasons. The most common one I’m hearing: Nobody REALLY knew it would be this bad. Hurricane Camille hit the same area years ago, and yes, it was bad…but not the total devastation we’re seeing now. We have hurricanes every year. I, myself, live directly where the center of hurricane Ivan passed over last year…and I didn’t evacuate. Neither did any of my family. We are all emergency workers. We have the bottom of three states wiped out now! And I have family members and friends living in all of them and feel horrible that I am able to do very little to help. It doesn’t matter WHY people stayed at this point. They did. It’s EXTREMELY inhumane and self-righteous to degrade them for that now. Maybe you would have made a different decision…over a million people did. But now is the time to say “what can I do to help you?…not waste blog space that people who really care could be using.
For those looking for news about Ocean Springs…
I’ve stayed up late and watched all the field reports from South Miss. I don’t like to bear bad news but….
The Hwy 90 bridge near Ocean Springs is gone. The storm surge went inland as far as the railroad tracks, which are about 3/4 of a mile inland, maybe more, if I remember correctly . Anything in the surge zone is gone to a ht of 20-25 feet or so. Hwy 90 is covered with sand and has broken pavement everywhere.
I was sent to Keesler AFB, MS 3 times in my military career for training. The damage shown extended much further inland than it did with Camille.
The only good news I can pass on is that the water has receded so relief organizations are starting to get in there. Communications are still sparse, so it’s hard for people to communicate with relatives and friends.
Pieraud,
Sadly, I have to waste space to write this to ya—Shut the heck up.
–A Texan living in NY
there is a lot of hope in all this despair…..keep your heads up New Orleans….. through all this…you have survived…. and you will continue to… and start over..with a few lessons learned.. this wont repeat itself… good luck to those who are survivors of a terrible american disaster….. you are the hero in my book….. hang in there, god is on your side….and to the hood, help your brothers and sisters, in their hour of need…be a leader…
Oh My…
Why people stayed behind?
Hurrican Lilly hit our area 3 years ago. It was supposed to hit at a very high category ( I can’t remember exactly)but went down drastically right before landfall. Anyway, We left went up to Dallas. Our transmission went out on our car in Shreveport ($3000) We had to rent a car to make the rest of the trip to Dallas and then back home.($600)Because of the damage we had to stay for 4 days in a hotel($450) because we could not make it back down with all the debree on the roads. Then had to continue renting the car for a week later so another ($600)plus the fast food we had to buy along the way and gas($200). We also had to make the trip back to Shreveport to pick up our car almost a week and a half later. So total right around $5000 dollars. We were lucky we had a credit card and we are still paying for an evacuaction from 3 years ago. Had Katrina hit my area this time I would have went to a local shelter just like alot of the New Orleans residents did. Alot of people hoped, prayed and probably thought that Katrina would have dropped before it hit the coast. We have left with lots of expenses many times for a maybe and then not hit. So we kinda get numb sometimes to these warnings and some times just cant afford to leave so we “Hunker Down” Some may say it’s stupid, Some may say why live there, but please understand that alot of us have no choice.
We got winds from Katrina here in Saint Martin Parish. We never lost power, but let me tell ya’ll something…Had it made a westerly turn at the end we would have been smashed. I spent $300 dollars on water,food and gas for the generator. Compare that to the money we spent on Hurricane Lilly. That’s why I dont find it hard to understand why people don’t always leave….
I cryed yesterday and told my husband that I wished it had hit here because it would not have had such a bad impact. We live in a Mobile home and I know we would have lost it and everything in it, but it would have been better. For sure less lives lost…
Now is not the time for the “gangs” to claim territory and have their gang wars. What blocks are there to fight over? The odacity of these jerks to terrorize during a time like this is unspeakably low leveled savage idiotism.
I pray for them all. Let this be a wake up call that we really don’t have as much control as we thought in this world. This life is not our life but should be used to help others.
So instead of sympathizing w/ whats on tv while eating a hot meal, sleeping in a warm bed, what can you do?
Donate to the RED CROSS: your blood and your money.
By the way,
Good intentions are more meaningful when followed by the appropriate action!!
We are all capable of doing something. Don’t just turn your back and think that you can’t.
If you stand for nothing- you will fall for anything.
Dear Brian, Thank you for the news re: Ocean Springs; however, we wish it had been good news. Our friends, Sherry and John Tonne live south of the tracks, closer to the water. We hope to God that they got out and our prayers go with all others who were not fortunate to be able to leave. God Bless!
I agree Ida
There are so many ways to help, if you cant help.. help someone that can
I am disabled and cant really get out to help, but I put together a care package for my brother who is going out with his boat to rescue people.
I gave my other brother all my stored gas that I had gotten for our generator to use if Katrina came here for him to go and cut & clear trees. He called and said that he needs the strengt to continue because the people are asking to buy his gas and food from him. He made a trip to Mississippi and had to come back to get more supplies because he had given them away and could not get any over there. He slept 4 hours and left to go back.
Also my husband teaches Microsoft office to Medical Assistants. Today he has taken his class to the Heyman’s Center in Lafayette where they are sheltering the special needs patients. They are going to give baths, take blood pressure and basically give comfort to these people. He just called me and said that it is so heart wrenching…
For people looking for loved ones try posting to this site or browsing through to see if they posted that they were okay:
http://www.wwltv.com/forums/index.php
This is a great link to show that there are a few that have found the people they are looking for.
http://www.wwltv.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4607
CARL CAMAGONG PLEASE CALL ME AT 619 757-7608 AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE ALL OK AFTER THE HURRICANE KATRINA. YOUR FAMILY HERE IN CALIFORNIA ARE VERY MUCH WORRIED SICK NOT KNOWING IF YOU ARE OK. WE DO PRAY FOR YOUR SAFETY AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS AND MISSISSIPPI. YOU MAY EMAIL ME BACK IF PHONE’S ARE NOT AVAILABLE globen53@hotmail.com WE LOVE YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS!
Der Midwest,Pieraud,etc., please find a no-heart, empty-head, nimble-fingered, no-life blog station and leave this open for it’s intent, information alley for desperate, frantic people who have no where else to obtain such information as is firsthand here. Unfortunately, the people who REALLY need this, don’t even have electric right now,let alone a dry place to sit and type…or the strength to do it. God Blessed America and we kicked Him in the teeth…remember, we don’t need Him….the sky is clogged with prayers and cries now…
News not opinion should be reported, but it’s all we get anymore.The media’s games could start a civil unrest, don’t let it happen.They reported no help at all,then days later,start showing pictures of military choppers that had been in action all along.This is a disaster,on a scale never before experienced.Don’t let the media destroy our country with their political agendas.The new Botox-oid doesn’t live in reality like the rest of us anyway,they live far above the crowd and have no idea the life the average american lives…the average american isn’t making millions a year.They spent more on botox this month than they donated to the relief effort.Don’t let media-hype destroy what it has taken 350years to build.
I used to live in New Orleans. If any of my old friends need a place to stay- I am in Houston in West University. Email me at DunbarGalleries@aol.com- I am in New York Monday through Thursday of next week. Does anyone know how the zoo is faring?
I live off Lake Ave in Metairie on the Jeff Parish side of the 17 st canal. Anybody got a clue about water, electricity in my area. I live about 6 blocks off Vetern’s hwy toward the lake. Let me know if you know anything. All I cann see is aerial photos of my area and it looks pretty dry.
Thanks
R Judlin
IF THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY
GOD BLESS NEW ORLEANS
So George W (W meaning woefully inadequate)Bush is telling us to focus not on the “blame game”, but on getting “this great city” put back together and rebuilding so he can “sit on Trent Lott’s porch”. Well I for one want to keep the blame game going so we “never forget” who dropped the ball on this one. People and the news media have a tendancy to forget things when a new story comes along. I know that the Iraq war headlines (were our soldiers are still getting killed and maimed) have been moved to the 2nd and 3rd pages of the newspapers. WE ARE FORGETTING. WHAT ABOUT OSAMA? So let’s not let “those folks” in the White House forget what happened in the Gulf region and hold them accountable!!! GEORGE BUSH IS NOT AND NEVER HAS BEEN A LEADER OF THIS NATION. I SAY IMPEACH!