Hurricane Katrina

[missbudpilot55]

[SIZE=14pt]Just looking at the arial shot of the New Orleans area and it doen't look good at all in particular for the Slidell area, most places under 6-10 feet of water, portions of the I-10 bridge in a lot of the areas collapsed. People that stayed being rescued from their roof tops, Keep them in your prayers, haven't heard from any of the New Orleans bunch on here, hopefully they took the mayors advise and did evacuate. I ain't pretty at all, don't know about any deaths but it could be days before residents are even allowed back into the area to assess their property damage. All we ask for is prayers for our brotheren that we have all come to know and enjoy.[/SIZE]

 

[Don Ferrette]

I hope all our southern racin' buddies are ok. :blink:

 

[[email protected]]

Disastrous and a shame that happens. Katrina could be the next name taken off the list of Hurricanes like "Andrew".

 

[Jerry Wyss]

I've been thinkin' 'bout you down there Bill, I'm glad you still have power. It looked at first like it was gonna hit you straight on, I'm sure glad it didn't. It's sad,,the sufferin' for many isn't really realized yet,, the power coming back on for a large group of people will seem like forever and for Many having power is not gonna help.

I had another look at the later evening news, I saw hundreds of homes where only the roofs were showing,,man this is really bad.

 

[missbudpilot55]

Hi Jerry,

Yes I am one of the more fortunate, I live 40 miles NW of Baton Rouge, we lost two trees at the house, no property damage, our winds only got up to around 50-70 mph where I live but most of the Baton Rouge area is still withput power. New Orleans residents have been told don't even expect to head home till at least next weekend. Haven't seen any film footage from the Slidell area, I think they took a direct hit from Katrina, will take some time to clean-up. Hopefully they took the advise of the Governor and left the city. [SIZE=14pt] Virgil , Jeff or any of the Southern Gentleman, if you are out there let us know how you are!!!!![/SIZE]

 

[Eric Canto]

I have spoken with Jeff Lutz in Mobile and the damage there is pretty significant. The roof on his grand parent in-laws home was ripped off and the house is not inhabitable. He says the flooding is unbelievable. There is no word on when power may be restored. I cannot see the gas nats still happening in Slidell with the beating that place took. Our church took time out Sunday to pray for all in the path of this monster storm, I hope recovery is swift.

 

[Jerry Wyss]

This is easily the most devastating storm damage in US history and it couldn't have hit a more sensitive area in our Country. And to think it could have been much worse than it is, is the only relief those people have.

I plan to pitch in with some $,,was just wonderin' if anybody knew the best place for it to go?

Jerry

 

[Stuart Barr]

I have tried to call the Tidewater people several times today but never could get through. Has anyone had contact to see if OK?

 

[missbudpilot55]

Jerry it's hard to say where to send any donations at the moment, was just catching up with the latest new on the New Orleans area and they say the pumps in the city are failing and the water will rise another 9 feet very rapidly when that happens. Fot those of you that don't know the cityof New Orleans lies 25 feet below sea level, it is like a big bowl. The pumps that pump out rain water can only handle roughly 1" of rain an hour, they are old and out dated, with total power failure these pumps either run on natural gas or diesel, natural gas has been shut down and can't get diesel to the ones that run on that type of fuel. Right at this time there are approximately 9,000 people in the Super Dome and it has a large hole in the roof and is filling with water at this writing approx 4-5 feet. They are looking to totally evacuate the 22-23,000 people that stayed in the city and couldn't or didn't evacuate. Baton Rouge is the closest city to them and all of the shelters there are full. Where I live which is 40 miles from the Baton Rouge area our small civic center is full and has double the capcity it is ment to hold with refuges from the N.O. area. These people have been told they may not be able to go back home for somewhere in the region of 2-3 weeks. If you have been watching the national news I know a lot of it has been the devastation that Katrina

left in her wake across sotheast Louisiana & southwest Mississippi, you would literaly have to sit in front of the TV for hours to see what they are showing down here, Gulf Port, Mississippi has a patch of distruction, with nothing left from the wall of water and the winds of Katrina that extend up to 26 miles inland from the coast where there is literally nothing left except a few trees standing, "I MEAN NOTHING EXCEPT MATCH WOOD". Saw a little of the Slidell area on TV and most of it is under 10-12 foot of water, very sad to see the destruction it has caused. For now all we need is all of yall's continuing prayers. On behalf of our boating brothers and the people of Louisiana & Mississippi I say THANK YOU, just keep paying our freinds are OK.

 

[missbudpilot55]

Just read this on Jim's:

Things are bad...real bad. I have no idea what I own right now other than three pairs of close and a truck. We all got out early Sunday morning and headed to Baton Rouge where about 25 of us are now going to be living for the next few months with my older sister and her family.

As for the race....it's not going to happen this year in Slidell. For those of you that know the guys that were putting on the race....This is what it's looking like....

I think Richard Scallan and Noel the pasted secretary of the IMPBA lost everything. There house if it's still standing is under 12' of water. I would think they are also both with out jobs right now.

Danny, this is the guy that you mailed your entries to, also lost everything including I think his business.

Virgle and I live in the same area and I was told that I have anywhere from three to five feet of water in my home.

The bridge that connects New Orleans with Slidell is gone. The Bridge that goes north over the lake (the Causeway) has bad damage and is closed.

Slidell is in worst shape than New Orleans. The hotels that everyone was to stay at are all unlivable. No roofs or windows on most of them.

They are telling us that it will be 4-6 weeks before we will have power again in New Orleans, Slidell may be longer. They won't let us back to our homes for a week or so because water is still flooding the area because of levee breaks.

It's just goes on and on.

Baton Rouge or New Iberia may be an alternative for the race but I'm sure that everything could not get done in such short time. EVERYTHING....has been lost for the race I'm sure.

Keep in mind that this is just my opinion of what’s happing and that I am talking with no authority by the SGRA, however I know the areas and the guys and know that the last thing that any of major players putting on the race are thinking about right now is the 05 gas nats.

My prayers are with them all.

C Herzog

 

[Gale54]

Hello From Don and Sandra McKay,

We live in Pensacola, FL we are only about 2 to 3 hours away from the storm sites. We have power, air, water, all those things and we want to extend a welcome to those racing brothers and sisters who need it. Our house is small but we will make room. We remember Ivan and can not even begin to imagine the horror you all face every morning you wake up. Please let us know if there is anything we can do. We want to help as much as we can. We know the help we got after Ivan and want to return the loving gift. The schools here are excepting students so anyone with school age children would have no problem getting them in here. They are making special arrangements for storm victims. Please let us know if we can help. We will continue to pray for all of you.

 

[Buckshot]

I have tried to call the Tidewater people several times today but never could get through.  Has anyone had contact to see if OK?

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I just got off of the phone with Sandy at Tidewater and they are just fine.

They only got a little wind and rain but nothing too major.

I talked to my gandparents who live in Rayville just east of Monroe, LA last night and they are fine as well, but they said that with all of the traffic going on through there on I-20 that they are going to run out of fuel soon with car after car lining up at the gas stations.

-Buck-

 

[[email protected]]

How about Mark Daniels? Doesn't he live in LA?

 

[Don Ferrette]

I truly hope all our boating buddies down that way are ok, sounds like it's gettin' real ugly.

There has been speculation that the final death toll may be in the thousands, even rivaling the deaths from the tsunami earlier this year. The saddest part of all of this is that out of all the countries that were soooo quick to criticize the U.S. for the amount of aid we gave at that time, NOT A SINGLE ONE HAS STEPPED FORWARD TO OFFER HELP TO US NOW THAT WE NEED IT!!! I hope the next time one of them needs help that George, or whoever is sitting in the big chair, gives them the big middle finger! :angry:

 

[Terry Keeley]

I heard a speach today from our Canadian Prime Minister offering to help in any way we could for as long as needed. People here are encouraged to donate to the Canadian Red Cross. We do care...

 

[Tim_Duggan]

Aussie Dept. of foreign affairs press release.

I personally would like to be able to do something but it's a little difficult being on the other side of the world. Maybe we, the IW gang can come up with something as a group? Any ideas?

 

[Don Ferrette]

I heard a speach today from our Canadian Prime Minister offering to help in any way we could for as long as needed.  People here are encouraged to donate to the Canadian Red Cross.  We do care...

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Cananda was one of the few countries that did not criticize U.S. tsunami aid.

And I just finished reading an article in the Washington Post that stated how the U.N. was saying the 3.2 BILLION DOLLARS in aid we gave to Africa last year wasn't enough. :angry:

 

[Finne]

I truly hope all our boating buddies down that way are ok, sounds like it's gettin' real ugly. 
There has been speculation that the final death toll may be in the thousands, even rivaling the deaths from the tsunami earlier this year. The saddest part of all of this is that out of all the countries that were soooo quick to criticize the U.S. for the amount of aid we gave at that time, NOT A SINGLE ONE HAS STEPPED FORWARD TO OFFER HELP TO US NOW THAT WE NEED IT!!!  I hope the next time one of them needs help that George, or whoever is sitting in the big chair, gives them the big middle finger!  :angry:

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The aid is beeing offered. I just have no idéa what's holding it back.

Both sweden, and from what I've read here, canada are offering help, so I am sure other countries are aswell.

 

[Don Ferrette]

I truly hope all our boating buddies down that way are ok, sounds like it's gettin' real ugly. 
There has been speculation that the final death toll may be in the thousands, even rivaling the deaths from the tsunami earlier this year. The saddest part of all of this is that out of all the countries that were soooo quick to criticize the U.S. for the amount of aid we gave at that time, NOT A SINGLE ONE HAS STEPPED FORWARD TO OFFER HELP TO US NOW THAT WE NEED IT!!!  I hope the next time one of them needs help that George, or whoever is sitting in the big chair, gives them the big middle finger!  :angry:

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The aid is beeing offered. I just have no idéa what's holding it back.

Both sweden, and from what I've read here, canada are offering help, so I am sure other countries are aswell.

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Hmmm, the press seems to be painting a very different picture. Not to mention the news footage shows only U.S. ships & people departing for that region, no mention or shots of other countries loading up people & supplies. I sure hope that others do help & that the people of this country (& our government) remember who does not so that the next time they hold their hand out we can tell them where to shove it.

 

[AndyBrown]

All I know is that there are some boaters out there who have loaded their trucks with Generaters and Supplies and made the long hauls to La. and Miss. to help out in any way they can. My hat's off to them.