Glad To hear you made it out okay, Ian. Hope you hear from your brother soon too.

Burke0011--- Where in Texas is your friend? We have a bunch of folks here in Ft Worth.

 

Good luck on your personal recovery down there Ian. Stay away for a while longer, I'm sure things are nutty and stressful down there. Stay safe.

 

Glad to hear you are doing fine Ian. Hope you hear from your brother soon.

 

Thanks, everyone. The internet seems to be working again now so I can reply. My brother showed up here in Baton Rouge late last night. I haven't gotten to get over to where he's at yet, so not sure of how he got here. All I know is he had to "loot" a Rite-Aid in New Orleans to get water and food, and was shacked up at a friends house that had some minor flooding. Supposedly a group of "Army guys" (probably National Guard) busted in the door and made them leave. From what I hear, they are going house to house.

At least he's ok though. Once I get to talk to him more, I'm sure he'll have some stories. He said that there are bodies everywhere. They are tying them to light poles and street signs so they don't float away. I know that the Feds won't release actual numbers yet... but I'm guessing it'll be close to 20,000 by the time it's all over. Scary stuff.

 

Glad to hear he is ok, my best friend is in the missouri national guard as an m.p. and left last friday for New Orleans.

 

20,000 dead. Thats really really bad. I was truly hoping that was not the case.

 

yeah the president of Jefferson Parish, Brousard I think his name is stated "I know the death count but dont want to say, because I dont want to horrify the nation" or something to that extent.

 

Ian,
Glad to hear that you, the family, and the car are ok. Hope to hear that you are back home soon.
Laters
P-R

 

Ian / Acadian: Are you back on the north shore yet? I understood that power has been returned to most of Mandeville, Madisonville and Covington.

We're locked out of Jefferson Parish for 2 - 3 more weeks. I was told they are hoping for 10/1/05 to get us back in. Yet the airport is booking passenger flights starting 9/19/05. Why open the airport and bring people in to an area that is still predominantly closed??

 

I came back to Mandeville yesterday. We still don't have power or running water, and shouldn't for another 2 weeks, they say. Actually 60% of the Northshore is without power still. I have a little generator though so I can survive at home for two weeks without a problem. I will only be able to get on-line here at work for a while. But I'm back home.

 

As Acadian / Ian and I know but the rest of you probably don't, things are changing daily if not hourly down here.

We were able to get back in to our home in Metairie on Wednesday 9/14/05 via an approved entry pass for businesses. Our home is OK, no flooding and structurally sound so we are clearing, hauling, cleaning and preparing to take in 5 - 8 extended family members who are now homeless as a result of Katrina.

We will take my in-laws to Arabi in St. Bernard Parish on Saturday 9/24/05 when their sector opens for viewing and recovery. People who got in there yesterday brought in trailers to haul out recovered possessions but for the most part left St. Bernard Parish with empty trailers. The devastation is virtually complete down there. Sheriff Jack Stephens cited a street one block from my in-laws home, which area had 18 feet of water. Saturday will be bleak, grim and quite emotional when we take them in there. They are in their late 70s / pushing 80. A life time of possessions and effort wiped out in one day. Incredible.

Ian and I are among the very blessed and lucky. So many more around us have suffered immeasurably. The pictures and videos do NOT do justice to the damage, destruction and devastation down here. My area looks like an absolute war zone. I have never seen such wind and water damage in my 50 years of life; yet my home thankfully was spared major damage.

Thanks to all TMS folks for your encouragement, prayers, support and compassion. Please continue. Thank you.

 

Mike, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

 

Donna: Sorry, I've been offline for a few days. Thank you so much, I appreciate you and your prayers more than words can describe. Much needed, much appreciated.

 

Who, or what??