Katrina and the Waves

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Pensacola Florida is 183 Miles away from New Orleans.

I want you all to know that being on the east side of Ms. Katrina on Monday was like we were reliving Ivan from last September. Oh my God, it lasted 14 hours here.

My Parents live just North of lake Ponchatrain in Covington(New orleans suburb) We(me and siblings) cannot get in touch with them at all. We have tried to go but the cops are in charge. I will try again today.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers to all who are effected.

Steve
 
Going To Take A Break

Just saw on the news a report about a 10 year old boy who survived the hurricane, but sadly his entire family did not. He is now waiting in a Gulfport shelter for someone he knows to "come and get him". That pretty much did it for me. Maybe it is the relentless 24 hour coverage or just the vastness of human misery, but simply cannot take anymore at the moment. Going to take a break and try to sort myself out.

Launderess
 
Got news from my Parents today. They are hurt but ok. House destroyed from wind and trees.

Will try to go to N.O. Louisiana on Friday. They asked for food, gas and drinks. Will do my best.

PS I will ask if I can take laundry back to Pensacola to do for them and make weekly trips! See we can have some sort of fun with this ya know!

Steve
 
I'm so busy with work that I can't keep up with news as it happens. No time to read newspapers, throw them away. I've turned on CNN for a couple hrs for the last few nights, but I can hardly bear the emotional hit of watching. The mail server at work crashed Tue afternoon. Customers calling to fuss, fortunately I haven't taken any of those calls or I might have snapped at them. "You're raising hell about e-mail, when there are thousands across the way with no HOME?"
 
Steve, I hope everyone's OK where you're are too.

Watching the news, it's just horrible watching the people in New Orleans walking along I-10, heopfully to get to Houston, in the 90 degree heat, without food, water, or shelter. Not to mention the people in the motels and shelters with no A/C, wearing only the clothes on their backs. Plain torture...

To get away from the now-common stereotype, not everyone stuck in New Orleans is part of the proletariat or those that weren't smart enough to leave...some just couldn't get out. One boy was reading a book to get away from the thought of his missing father.

I've thought about helping with people's laundry as well (Lord knows how many people need it and how much I could do)...1-18, 2 Kenmores, & Dual-Tumble rumbling away!

--Austin
 
Steve, I'm greatly relieved your parents are alive.

Terry, I've cried off & on since Monday, even at work. Today while waiting to get my hair cut, I watched tv for the first time. I can't deal with it. News via the internet I am able to handle. I told the lady who cuts my hair about Jason and his parents, Todd & Arthur (she knows about the appliance club) Her response was, "you're the first person I've met that actually knows people and has loved ones in new Orleans".
 
Steve, I somehow missed that part of the post...that's EXCELLENT news that your parents are alive and well! I'm sorry to hear about their house though. I'm also glad you and the Maytags came through in good shape as well!

I just watched a segment on the news where people are posting their services on Craigslist. Maybe a few of us Southern members near Louisiana should do the same with our "laundry services", if there's spare time? I'm seriously thinking...I could hook up the machines again and start washing! Although I still have to deal with the "1-dryer" issue...
 
From a nursing background, laundering flood soiled laundry is going to require more than a routine wash. If it is laundry fouled by petrol,chemical, sewage and worse contaminated water, one is probably best off chucking the items out and getting new. The alternative is laundering in very hot water with lots of detergent and disenfectant.

What people do need from what I'm hearing is WATER and FOOD. Anyone that has lived or lives in the deep south/along the Gulf knows what August weather is like. Supplies are arriving, but many have been without for two or three days already and in very hot and humid weather that is not good.

L.
 
This is just horrible.....just horrible! I can't keep from watching everything that's happening on TV. Out here in Bakersfield where things are dry as a bone, it's hard to believe. I absolutely love New Orleans, and this saddens me so much. My heart goes out to everyone. Please be safe!

David
 
One of my good friends lives in Northern Miss., 45 min from Memphis, TN. Anyone know how they fared up there? I heard from him on Monday nite, as the storm was approaching NO. Since then, the phones are out. Don't know if they got slammed or not. His brother & family live in New Orleans & business is there. I'm sure it's gone.
Jerry
 
A part of the Netherlands were hit in 1953 by a flood disaster. It was years before I was born, so I have no personal memories of that, but I have seen lots of pictures and movies about it. People standing on top of buildings waiting to be saved. Dead cattle, dead people, everything destroied. Today I see those same pictures again. New Orleans looks like part of my country then. My thoughts are with everybody who has lost somebody or something through this horrible disaster.

Louis
 
Katrina...weapon of mass destruction...

I lived in New Orleans about 25 years ago, New Orleans East to be precise, and returned every Labor Day in the 90's for Southern Decadence...
The culture, climate, and citizens of that town, good and bad, created an ambience that can never be replicated...
Always, always, always, there was talk and speculation about what would happen with a major hurricane, and how Lake Ponchartrain could subsequently flood the city...
I am captivated, as well as angered, by the reports on CNN and FOX, and ultimately destraught by the response, or lack thereof, to an event that has been predicted for decades...
Heartfelt thoughts and prayers to those who reside there, though we all will suffer the loss...
George
 
The Humanitarian Airlift Begins...

We all got called from our dispatch office asking if we want to volunteer to fly trips from New Orleans to Kelley AFB in San Antonio and Lackland Airforce base too. It seems that is where they are trying to send people since the Astodome and Astroarena in Houston are all filled up now.
Southwest, Northwest, Delta, US Airways, and Spirit Airlines are all doing the same to get many people out of New Orleans fast! Talked to a freind of mine who flew one of these trips and he said there are choppers everywhere you look and you are only on the ground long enough to unload the supplies you took in and load the people up. Even at the airport the smell is almost unbearable!
 
Even Amtrak!

They are bringing an Amtrak train directly into New Orleans to help with the infirmed people. Since the NOL airport doesn't have functioning jetways, loading them on the train is easier than carrying people up the steps.

Amtrak has been trying to get in since Tuesday, but the whole mess has kept them from getting permission.
 
Such a tragedy!

I am so thankful that you all are alive and safe! Arthur...I also hope we hear from you soon!

You are all in my prayers. We have many relief drives going on here. Our family will do our part to help those in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida to get back on their feet and resume normal lives.

If y'all need a weekend getaway, feel free to let me know. Maybe some of our washers will bring a little joy back to your lives.

You have my continued prayers and support!

Venus
 
Venus

When the dust settles, I might take you up on that offer. Let me know when the machines are ready to go and a Wash-in it will be.

I also saved the video camera (whew) so the video productions will go on.
 
We are all trying to do our part.....

Everyone in Houston and other cities are really trying to pull together to get the remaining people out and settled in the varying cities.
I worked two evacuation flights myself on Sunday out of NO. One to Lackland AFB and one to Detroit. This is all being done on a volunteer basis. You cannot imagine the mess they have. It seems that the area just to the west of the airport is dry. But everything east is like one big lake. The inside of the termial is as packed with people as Bourbon Street is during Carnival. Those poor people are not in the best physical shape not only from being stressed out from the storm and aftermath, but from days of being in that heat with no food or water at all!
A section of the roof of the airport is missing, as well as side panels on the exterior and a few windows. There are helicopters buzzing around worse than mosquitoes. They are everywhere! They are trying to keep the choppers over on the west side of C with evacuation flights loading on the east side of C.
Our church has trained over 4,000 people in Red Cross food service standards and are hoping to train another 8,000 in the coming week. It seems that the religious groups in Houston are all coming together to get the food service completed for the next few months. Right now there are enough volunteers, but what everyone is worried about is that this will be a long term effort and that volunteers will be needed for months down the road when people start "fogetting" about this disaster.
They are trying to distribute as many evacuees across the country as possible. This means that no matter where you live, there should be a volunteering opportunity for almost everyone.
Maybe a giant "wash-in" for a smaller local shelter?
 
There are (or were) evacuees here from Metairie and Belle Chasse, among other areas. Local newspaper did brief interviews with several of the families. At least a couple of them plan to stay in the area, but they do want to go back to LA and check their property, recover whatever is recoverable. One group said they've already found some work. Local EMS sent an ambulance and three-man crew to assist in moving people in need of medical care. The churches and local banks and several private groups are collecting donations and goods, restaurants providing meals. I read either in a newspaper or online somewhere of a couple cases in which a private citizen handed over house keys, said take it for as long as you need. Unless I'm recalling wrong, a woman gave up two houses in Sugar Land.
 
Thanks for so much ...

I will try to keep this short; today was the first time I have been near a computer since before the hurricane. I want to thank so many of you wonderful folks for your concern and prayers. Bob, thanks for letting me cry on your shoulder these past few days.
We are all grateful that our families are safe. My folks saw their home yesterday and they had no damage, as did Gary's folks. They both live in the older section of Metairie, which is near the river.
Sadly, the house that Gary and I built three years ago did not fare out well. We are located in the newer section of Metairie which is (very) near the lake. We had roof damage and about three feet of flood water throughout the house. I am only going by what my father told me; we will finally get to see the house tomorrow. They will let us in for a day to survey, salvage and trash out; then the city is off-limits for three weeks so that power lines can be rehung.
As much as I want to be sad and cry for my own losses, I can't help but realize that I was lucky/blessed. So many senseless deaths ... we still have some friends and coworkers unaccounted for. Gary & I are staying in Covington at his sister's home (got a generator) and our cats are with us.
We are grateful to the other states for their assistance; however, the way that the federal government handled this was sickening. The remarks made by the speaker of the house were a slap in the face to the people of Louisiana and I am so proud that our governor (Kathleen Blanco) called him out on it. She, the mayor and the parish president had to fight for assistance ... nearly a week after it had all happened. All I ask is that you all keep the folks in this area in your prayers ... so many are hurting. Two of our New Orleans police officers committed suicide together yesterday because they just couldn't handle any more pain and grief.
I won't get to post for a while, until we find housing and start over. In closing, and in keeping with my warped sense of humor ... sadly, the Bosch dishwasher and LG set drowned in the flood waters ... thankfully, dad said that the workshop (which was raised) got no water, which means that my "babies" survived. The Frigidaires live on ... Todd
 
QVC & Katrina

Just to let you know that QVC is matching each vendor's donation(dollar for dollar) to the Red Cross disaster relief fund.
My sympathy goes out to all who have endured pain and loss.

Gary
 
Todd, I'm glad you were able to post. That's excellent news that both of your parents, as well as their houses and all of your vintage treasures, are OK. I'll keep praying that your co-workers and friends are alive and safe.

Hope everything gets better soon,
Austin
 
My cousin in Gretna, LA,

and his partner are morticians in NO. Thet were able to get out with 3 changes of clothes each. My cousin was only able to grab my grandfather's wristwatch that he received from my grandmother as a wedding gift in 1936. They are staying in Thibodaux for the time being. He figures that to dispose of all the bodies they will need to do mass cremations. Let's all donate to a "reputable" charity to help these people, our fellow Americans!
 
Rebuilding New Orleans

Jason & Todd - Glad to hear you're both OK.

Louis - I have seen some footage of the devastating 1953 flood in Holland.

Looks like the USA needs to borrow some of your Dutch engineers to build a sea barrier around New Orleans, like the one you folks have at the Zuiderzee...?

Take care....
 
Rebuild New Orleans, but somewhere else..

It sounds like the whole is a wasteland.

I've never been to New Orleans, Louisiana but it seems like quite the place. I want to know how a whole city was built BELOW water level. Try taking a building permit to build a house below water level today. Not going to happen. Was this place cheap swamp land at some point that someone made a bundle selling?
I hope it's rebuilt but somewhere above sea level otherwise it is just another difficult to insure disaster waiting to happen.

I hope the best for everyone affected by this tragic event. Curse republicans
 
a brief update

My partner and I went to salvage what we could at the house today. I have to think that it would have been easier to deal with had it burned down or been completely destroyed by a tornado ... fishing through your treasured mementos and finding them all destroyed just breaks your heart. just when you stop crying, you find another something ruined and you cry all over again. I KNOW that we are lucky, so please don't think that I am belly-aching. It is just hard to see so much destruction and so many senseless deaths. A friend at a local hospital said that the day they decided to start evacuating patients, they put toe tags on all patients and staff in order to easily identify those who "didn't make it". He said that the first thing he did when he got to plano was "cut that damned toe tag off". I do want to thank so many of you for your concern, prayers and offers for help ... I am truly blessed to have folks like you all on my side. THANKS SO MUCH!!!! Todd
PS - Steve, thanks for your generous offer; Gary and I are touched and appreciative, but we think that we need to ride it out here for a while.
 
Todd,
I can't even begin to imagine what you and your partner are going through.
I know that you guy's will bounce back in time, and all though it does not seem like it now, this will make you stronger.
Take care, and thanks for letting us all know how you are doing.
Keep us posted when you find the time to let us know how you are.
Brent
 

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