Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?
I hope Katrina does!
I’m just sending out a prayer and good wishes to the people, animals, and places in and around New Orleans today–being hit by the {now} Category 4 hurricane, Katrina–and which is particularly vulnerable. They’ve officially evacuated the entire city, and thousands of people who couldn’t get out of town are hunkering down at the Superdome, which is supposed to be above the (possible) floodwaters and wind-proof up to 200 m.p.h. It’s a blessing that the force of the storm dropped down from category 5 overnight, but one newscaster said yesterday that that’s the same as the difference between being hit by an 18-wheeler or by a freight train. It’s still going to be bad. I just hope it’s not catastrophic.
One of Mom’s friends lives in New Orleans and sent her an e-mail just before they evacuated yesterday:
“…We are really scared this time. . . . There’s no telling. I know one thing, we will not have a home if it comes ashore at category 4. I’ve tried to carefully pick only the stuff that would hurt me most to lose, the other stuff, well, it’s just going to be a memory. I am positive we will lose at least the roof; the trees will be down; and maybe the walls will go too. When it’s like that, you don’t have anything left and the looters (in spite of the cops’ efforts) will get the rest. I’ve taken: my manuscript; some of my light stuff; pictures of my family; our important papers; the cat; and food and clothing. It took me all day (mostly deciding) on what minimally I could take. I’ll try to get back with everyone when it’s all over one way or the other. Thank you for your prayers. I think this time we are truly in for it.”
(To make matters worse, she’s afraid her husband won’t have a job when they come back–because he called in sick to have time to evacuate. And he’s only got 2 years until retirement. Now that’s an employer to love, huh?)
So, as I said, my thoughts, prayers, good wishes, and hopes are with the people in and near the Big Easy . . . because this isn’t going to be easy, at all.
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Tannenbaum.
House Calls
I’m very worried about this storm too. I hope they are going to be ok. I’ll be glued to the news today.
My future brother-in-law is a supply boat captain, and hgis dispatcher said to not make any plans for a month. He’s written off his truck, and humkering down in a high school north of Ponchatrain. We’re all keeping our finger crossed.
How sad and horrible…I hope that all turns out as well as can expected.