I've been watching the pictures on CNN of Katrina's aftermath around New Orleans, the Mississippi and Alabama gulf coast and other areas further inland, and hearing about tornados in the region and headed towards Georgia.

The devastation and destruction is just indescribable. AP's already talking about 55 deaths in the Mississippi coastal region, and that's just the start; by the look of the appalling flooding in the poorest New Orleans suburbs, that number will be matched and more. I simply can't find the words to express how sad, how terrible this is.

I know there are FoLCs in that region - Jen, Shelley, Forrest, Marilyn and more. CC in Georgia. Please, please check in to let us know you're safe. I know some of you won't have internet access for a while - even if our friends are safe, there are over a million people in that region without electricity. If anyone else knows if any of our regulars who are in Katrina's path are safe, please post to tell us!


Wendy

This is very sad. So much destruction!

I hope all FoLCs and their families in this area are safe.

Tricia

I hope everyone will be alright.

See ya,
AnnaBtG.

After flickering off and on most of yesterday, we got our power back this morning. And our first real chance to look at the news and see what had happened.

God, my heart hurts.

Georgia had seven spun-off tornadoes- the kind hurricanes throw that come out of nowhere, little to no warning. Our small town had two within fifteen minutes of each other. We had just gotten the all-clear for the first, only to go running back for cover. Because of the rivers, we always fear flash flooding- but there was none of that this time. We are lucky- so very lucky- considering our neighbors to the south.

I spent four years in Biloxi, Mississippi- the first place we were ever stationed when my husband was active duty military. It's funny, because I was a city girl, born and bred. And when I heard *where* we were being sent and for how long, I could not believe life could be so cruel. Of all the places we were eligible for, Biloxi was absolutely last on my list . A sleepy little coastal town- and it was far sleepier before the gaming industry moved in- where I was certain I would wither away from sheer boredom.

I went kicking and screaming. But I wasn't there twenty-four hours before I fell completely, totally in love with it. That instant feeling of *belonging* the very first night we were driving around to get acquainted- windows down, moon on the water, breeze blowing in- is one of the biggest surprises I've ever received. I had spent 26 years in the city, never knowing home was waiting for me in tiny, hot, laid-back Biloxi.

Four years later I left... kicking and screaming.

This won't mean anything to anyone who hasn't been- and I'm so sorry for this long ramble; I've been glued to the news this morning and it just hasn't soaked in- everything south of the train tracks is gone. Miles and miles erased. The antebellum homes. The old churches. The flags. The little apartments we all stayed in until we could get housing on base. The base houses gone, too. The old fashioned McDonalds where I abandoned years of being a vegetarian. The Ocean Springs bridge. I haven't heard the fate of the lighthouse;I have this ridiculous hope it still stands.

Most of all, the loss of life. In the hundreds. Possibly, probably more.

I can hardly wrap my brain around the scale of it. The tragedy of it. It will be months before anything approaching normal can begin to emerge there.

My apologies for how long and maudlin this is. It's raw and I know I'm blurting this out thoughtlessly.

Jen, when you see this, could you drop me a line and let me know you're ok? I know you aren't far from there and I'm worried about you.

CC

*hug*

Last we heard from Jen was that she was waiting for the evacuation prompt before she went to her parents' house... Not sure where that is, but I'm assuming far enough away from too much danger.

So very glad to hear you and your family are all right, CC! (((((CC)))))

I hope the rest of the Gulf Coast FoLCs are okay, too. You're all in my thoughts.

Sara

I'm so sorry for your loss, CC, and for everyone else in such a tragic situation. It is a disaster on so many levels. Here's hoping that Washington pile in as much resources as are necessary to restore these towns and their people as much as is possible, as quickly as is possible.

LabRat

CC, thank you for checking in! I've been watching the news and listening out for place-names in Georgia, where the tornadoes struck, hoping to hear something to tell me that your area was okay. I hope you haven't suffered too much damage or loss of property.

I don't know any of the Gulf Coast towns and cities, and my heart has been aching ever since watching the first news broadcast after Katrina made landfall. I can only imagine how much more heartbreaking it is for those who know those places. Who've lived there. Who still live there. It is agonising to watch. Even more so now when we're hearing projected death tolls which put this disaster on a scale approaching 9/11.

Potentially hundreds dead in coastal Mississippi. We don't know how many in Alabama - fewer, far fewer, we hope. But New Orleans and the surrounding region... just an hour or so ago the New Orleans mayor said that the numbers dead could rise to as many as a thousand or more. Other experts - police, medics, the media - seem to expect more.

Words fail me - except to say that I hope more of you FoLCs from that region will be able to report in soon and let us know that you're safe and well. Jen, Forest, Marilyn, if you're out there please let us know.

And if there are any ways in which we can help any of you who suffered loss or damage, please tell us.


Wendy

{{{CC}}}

Thanks for checking in, though. Been thinking about you the past few days and wondering if you're okay. Clearly you're not totally okay, but at least you're safe.

Yvonne

CC!! (((((CC))))) Damn, been laying low off the boards with visiting in-laws and writer's block but I checked it out today, I should have earlier, I knew Georgia's gonna get some of that weather. Keep in safe places with your head covered!

Damn and Biloxi!! Did they say anything about Keesler yet?!!?! It was so close to the beach, we could walk from the base to the beach and there was a little Baptist church right next to the base I used to attend, and the Cinema Tavern, the Mall, and the Pink Flamingo??? I haven't been watching much news but is that area hit bad??!!

I didn't fall in love with Biloxi like you did, my stint there was only nine months, but it was my first time away from home and I had a lot of good memories there, damn, and now it may be gone. Freakin' crazy this disaster! AND JEN'S DOWN THERE???!!! did I read that right??!!! WHO ELSE?? has everybody checked in yet, at least via email or phone??

TJ

I still can't seem to wrap my mind around the scope of this disaster. The stories are just heartbreaking. Whole cities GONE and these families that have lost everything they called their own..I just get overwhelmed with sadness!

Big hugs to you ((((CC)))), these losses are almost too hard to bear. My thoughts are with you and I pray that all our friends are safe.

~Liz

TJ, as far as I can work it out, the roundup of those we know about from the Gulf Coast states are:

• JenD, aka Shadow, who's in Gulf Coast, Alabama. She posted before the hurricane struck that she was maybe going to evacuate. She hasn't been heard from here since.
• Forest, aka TagsNOLA, a guy from New Orleans who comes on IRC and has very, very occasionally posted on the boards. We don't see him much, but he certainly lives in New Orleans. No sign of him since the weekend.
• I know Marilyn lives in Alabama, but have no idea where or if she's anywhere near the hurricane-affected areas. Still, she hasn't posted anything since before the hurricane.

ShelleyEm from southern Louisiana, who we were concerned about, posted in the other Katrina thread to say that she's fine. So glad to hear that, Shelley! And, of course, CC - any other Georgia/tornado-area FoLCs out there?

There are probably more FoLCs in the Gulf Coast area - these are just the ones I know of. If anyone has any information, please let us know! We know that there are millions still without electricity and phone-lines in that part of the US, even in areas where Katrina did no real damage, so people may be perfectly fine and just not able to get online. At least, I hope so.


Wendy

Update: we got news on Forest. He evacuated from New Orleans before the weekend and is safe and well. His home is seemingly in the one place that is still dry, but he's been told that the whole street of houses has lost their roofs and perhaps have been looted.

But at least he's alive, and we're very glad to hear that, Forest!

Thanks, Jenni, for passing on the news.


Wendy

Oh, that is good to hear. I hope you find when you get home that it's not too badly damaged, Forest.

LabRat

Hey guys,

Barely any internet time, just wanted to say I'm ok. I'm in Norcross, GA and will try to come back home Sunday

Jen

*very relieved* Stay safe, Jen!

Jen and Forest, I'm so glad you're safe! hugs

simona

Thank heavens, Jen. I was beginning to get worried about you. Hope things aren't too bad when you get home.

LabRat

JEN!! So glad to know you're safe!! Keep us posted.

TEEEEEJ

Thanks for checking in, Jen -- we've been worried about you.

PJ

Nice to hear you guys are fine.

See ya,
AnnaBtG.

Jen!! Whew! Yes, we were all very worried about you, given the pictures we've been seeing from all along the Gulf Coast. Thanks for checking in, especially as your time is limited.

I hope you have something to go home to. But the most important thing is to stay safe, even if it does mean staying away from your home for a little while longer.


Wendy

We were lucky. One county over there were some bad storms and last I heard, a few deaths. It didn't even rain here. Atlanta got a bad rainstorm, but all the inclement weather passed over Douglas County.

Laura

Glad to hear it, Laura. I know parts of Georgia got hammered. Thanks for checking in.

PJ

Hey CC.

Don't feel bad about writing a lot. I know I want to 'listen'. I hope everything is going all right for you - as best as they can be under the circumstances.

I can't imagine what it feels like.

I'm glad you and everyone else so far is okay.

<<<<hugs>>>> to everyone.

What's up.

So I made it home this afternoon. I finally got my internet working during these wee hours <g>. There wasn't quite as much hurricane damage as I expected...although I don't live downtown; it's probably a mess there. Several windows blew out in my apartment, and I'm absolutely shocked that they were replaced in the week I was gone. Others in my building weren't so lucky (i.e. tree damage), so I'm counting my blessings. Lots and lots of trees down, but many have already been cut up and are waiting to get picked up. I stopped by my parent's house, and they have, among other things, power lines down in their front yard. No major damage, though.

We had a couple of tornado warnings in Georgia, so we hid in the basement for a while, but nothing came out of that during the evacuation week. The only major hassle was they starting gouging the gas prices in our area of Georgia, and it got up to 6+ dollars a gallon. Cops were showing up all over the stations to regulate.

It's still kind of a mad house down here. My city, among others, has been all over CNN and such mainly because of gas shortage and lack of supplies (i.e. ice, water). For a while, people were showing up at the gas stations with guns and such. Some people even tried to hijack a gas tanker that was bringing gas to one of the stations. But now that there's no gas, well, crazy people aren't much of a problem for now.

A lot of the city got power back today, which was surprising. It was a lot worse with Ivan last year.

So that's about it, I think. The city is still kind of a mess, so we have a curfew here every night. All in all, it could have been a lot worse. Several friends of mine no longer have houses in both Mississippi and Louisiana.

Anyway, enough chatter. I should get to bed soon since our first school make-up day is tomorrow (formerly a school holiday).

Peace,
Jen

HEY!! Jen, glad to have you back for real now.

Damn, that whole armageddon mentality going on has got to be scary. Keep your head about you when you're out and give us progress reports when you can.

Take care!! If there is a way you can be helped out, let us know. I wouldn't know the logistics of how to help other than Red Cross or Salvation Army, but I'm more than willing to jump in if someone enterprising figured out a way.

TEEEEEJ

Welcome back, Jen!! I'm so glad to know you're home and in pretty decent shape.

We're still waiting to hear from several friends in the Biloxi/Ocean Springs area. Ocean Springs- with the power and bridges out- has been especially hard to get information on.

Some brighter news: My town is receiving evacuees from N.O. As of today we have 350 new Georgians, with more expected tonight and over the following weeks. We're a good spot-- close to the coast, able to make housing available fairly quickly.

It has been so nice to *do* something hands-on, rather than just watching it unfold on television feeling helpless. I know that makes me one of the lucky ones.

I love you guys. Have I mentioned that lately? Thank you for being such a great place to let off steam.

CC

Since this thread said "Gulf Coast" and I don't live on the coast, I kinda passed it by. Then I was told my name was mentioned because y'all didn't know where in Alabama I live. I'm 450 miles inland -- on the opposite end of the state from Mobile. We had wind and rain and a brief power outage. Some folks were without power for a couple days but no one here is complaining. We feel so bad for the coastal folks and feel that what we experienced is just a minor inconvenience. Because we're along I-65 we have evacuees in the area. Churches and other civic and religious organizations are taking them in and are asking the locals to help with supplies and perhaps lodging. A job fair was held yesterday to help them find employment. And the local university has said any students from the N.O. colleges can attend here. They're going the extra mile to see that their education continues.

My writers group just learned today about a writer from New Orleans who has come here to stay with her sister. Our workshop is this weekend and we're inviting her to attend free of charge, hopefully to give her a few hours with other writers and take her mind off things. She lived in the Garden District and isn't sure but suspects that the house she rented was flooded and probably looted. This means her books and computer are most likely damaged beyond repair if they're even still there. I really hope she attends on Saturday so we can see if there's anything we can do to address her needs.

I'm hearing more and more that it's the grassroots help that's most effective. The monetary donations will eventually be distributed, but the individuals who take boxes of food and clothing and supplies straight to shelters or who take in a family are the ones really meeting the immediate needs of these people.

Thanks for asking about me.

OMG!! ANNE RICE?!?!? Tell her the Sleeping Beauty chronicles ROCK!!!

Just kidding... Seriously, I hope your visiting writer comes through okay. It sucks to lose your work, the awesome turn of a phrase, those ideas that even the writer knows are brilliant, grrrrr, and unfortunately most of us don't have a photographic memory to store it all in. Give her our best!

TEEEEEEJ