Hurricane Katrina

[Barry Dufour]

Morning guys. I went to New Orleans Saturday to help my older brother retrive some items from his home in St. Bernard Parish which is east of New Orleans. The t.v., internet and newspapers don't show the entire picture. New Orleans is slowly re-building but just east in St. Bernard Parish there is nothing going on. Every house had some type of damage either from the water of the winds. The street where my brother lived is a ghost town. Out of the entire 6 block length there was only on FEMA trailer hooked up. No one is going back. All the houses in this area received over 10 feet of water and 1 foot of oil. He lost everything. Luckily he had insurance so he got his monies plus what he got from Murphy Oil. He is not going back. He's planning to build north around Alexandria. He has come to the understanding that he lost it all and he's not going back.

Barry

 

[Bruce Freeman]

That's tuff, I can't imagine it on a personal level, but you know if he and is family got out safe, then thats all he needs to start over. Besides when it happens again (and it will) he will be out of harms way. Wishing him well.



BF

 

[Kenny Guess]

I know what you mean, my son lived on Compangna St. about 3 blocks south of Chalmette High and he is in the same boat! My wife and I went with him to recover what he could about 6 weeks later. Had to wear full coveralls, goggles, gloves and resporators in 95 degress heat! He had 6 inches of black sludge throughout the house and mold growing everywhere 5 ' up the walls. Saved very little. News pictures really don't tell the entire story. We live just north of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi (about 50 miles east of N.O.) You should see this area!!!! I never thought I would live to see anything, I mean anything like this. Today I went down to beach blvd. in Bay St. Louis and stood looking at the Gulf and the distruction on the immediate coast- the road is gone and all you see is gas lines, sewer lines , etc. that was under the road. All I could compare it to was the beach in Normandy (from pictures I have seen, I was not there) Trust me when I say, after 6 months of seeing this everyday, I still can't believe it and I was a boy when Camille hit in the 60's. The bar has been raised.....

 

[Larry Harp]

My heart breaks for those folks down there. I remember when the big F-+5 tornado hit the south Okla City area in 1998 I drove by some of those areas that were hit and it made tears in my eyes. That was an area maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile wide and perhaps 20 or 25 miles long and it was horrible. I can't imagine what it must be like to have whole cities and towns and regions wiped out.



Harpo

 

[William H. (Bill) Barham]

Barry,



I'm so sorry for your brother. Maybe he'll be happier around Alexandria.. I don't know a lot about that area but when I was in the service I had chance to visit Alexandria and some "joints".. In a time when being in uniform was a bad thing, everyone in that town and area were the nicest people I ever met. I don;t care where I was, my money was no good.

I've told my wife about this numerous times. I loved that placed and hope to visit there again some day.

I'm sorry I kinda changed the subject but when you brought up Alexandria pleasant memories jumped out at me..



Bill

 

[JD Johnson]

Sorry to hear your brother lost everything but I am glad to hear he is ok and is insured. I think he is being wise leaving the area, it is just to low to suit me.