LAORLEAN-L Archives

From: "PB Delery" <>
Subject: Katrina
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2005 10:04:09 -0400

I received this email from my sister who has lived on the Gulf
Coast for 30 years. At that time, she bought some property, way
back off the beach in Pass Christian. She put a mobile home on
it intending to build a house. The house never got built--she
recently remarried and was living in Long Beach until----Katrina.
Her husband wanted to remain in Long Beach but fortunately she
changed his mind and they went to my brother's house in Pensacola
[imagine--going to Pensacola to get OUT OF THE PATH of a
hurricane]. This email tells a little of what it is like in the
PassChristian/Long Beach area.

Penny

[Thursday, 2 Sept]
"Don and I spent yesterday and today on the MS gulf coast. Our
home on South Island View was indeed washed into a heap along
with other homes, onto the diagonal corner. We climbed the 12
foot mountain, very broad--at least 300 feet deep of debris
looking to see if we could identify anything in the rubble.
Fortunately the entry of VIVID-Violet was a real help. We could
spot the "house" among others. As Don identified his room--he
said, I think I shall get on top of this roof ONCE more. with
that he climbed the mountain. Since the law enforcement was not
allowing traffic south of the RR, we waited until later in the
day to make the trek. I figure, even policemen need to sleep or
take a leak. We had earlier that day, given our digital camera to
a young man, who was hurting for cigarettes, in exchange for our
getting him some smokes. and water. He had weathered (for real!!)
the storm south of the RR and as long as he did not cross the
barrier, he could stay on that side. We own the things on our
backs and what we put in the car. Paintings, china, chrystal etc,
etc, etc gone. No problem--we are alive and well and a bit in
shock. I had a better idea of nasty storms than Don, and had
strangely looked back to say to all the worldly possessions that
it might be the last time I saw them and that I had enjoyed them
immensely. Eerie now that I think about it.

Our home was about 1 mile west of the main drag. I spoke with a
local policeman today, and he said that they were pushing debris
westward from Jeff Davis and had thus far got to Trautman
street--about half way to our corner. The equipment that is in
use is huge. Big jaws and bigger rakes. AND THEY MAKE HUGE
STRIDES EACH DAY. We decided there was little we could do but
watch others, so we went to see that friends were in OK condition
and alive. There is NO communication in any of the communities
yet. cell, land line, nothing.. The TV is still broadcasting but
you better have a generator. There is no power and not likely to
have these ammenities for 3 to 6 weeks. The devastation is as
great as you see on TV and more so when you can physically stand
on the piles and smell the odors -which are many. Sweat is a big
part of the scents. Some communities have water. If not, hope you
were lucky enough to have a pool or a filled bathtub for the most
basic needs. Much of the physical restriction of people is
because, there are still unrecovered people. Some dead, some
alive. The dead are being marked with EXes and GPSed for pick up
in refrigerator trucks.

In the woods [Pass Christian], the County is sweeping the major
roads of downed trees around cemetaries especially and the
funeral homes are filling fast. Warm moist air might make your
complection feel soft and smooth, but rot is rot, whether flesh
or vegetation. Our neighbor had an aviary in his back yard with
tropical birds. He stayed home because pets are not allowed in
shelters. He had them in the house. When the water was chest high
in his house (2nd south of us) he decided to leave. He watched
the wind lift and sail our roof. then he got the hell out of his
filled home. The birds remained for a final flight of 300 feet.
FEMA here we come!!!!!

We went to the woods to see what still remained on the hill. Don
had made this trek in the dark Monday night and knew that there
were 3 large trees across my driveway so we stopped at the
Volunteer fire department to see if we could find some very handy
people (BIG countryboys) with chainsaw and skills. None were
available at the moment, and those that were there were totally
exhaused. So Don and I left to go count how many were down and
their size.

We parked at the end of the driveway, and counted over 13 trees
from a 15 in diameter, to 4 inch diameter lying across the drive.
I have not walked that drive totallty in a long time, and the sun
was bright, my bp meds were not happy. . trees were across the
power lines.. We got within sight of cleared lawn and the ring is
FINE [horseback riding ring], light poles are still up.
Underground cables helped. Sure 'nuf, the irony is there--my
mobile home of 27 years is standing WITHOUT trees on the roof.
Shucks--I cannot even get a new mobile home thru FEMA!!!!. The
house was mostly unscathed; no water, no power, but the bed was
dry and I still have dishes and other niceties of life -- chairs
and table, inside and out under the oak. Shucks. I have the Taj
Mahal up there. One window was blown in, but no critters joined
in the fun of things. We have a place to sleep when we can get
the car up the drive. I spoke with Forestry and they are going
to pust hte timber to the side so we can have passage. I stand in
line for the effort, but I have a place to sleep in Pensacola. I
considered it fair to say that we would return in a couple of
days, so if they can do it, GREAT. Sleeping in the front seat of
a loaded van is not the most comfortble sleep. but it was easy to
get up to find "relief" under the stars. And there are still many
stars up there.

. . . So we continued to search for friends on our way out of
town, and take picturues of their homes if they were out of the
area yet. We faired a lot better than New Orleans DESPITE the
destruction that is unreal, on the coast--for miles and miles and
miles, in all 4 directions. There is a lot of open space, or
denuded space in the green state of Mississippi and a sand beach
is definitely in peoples' front yards.

We bought gas in Florida --finally-- 30 gal limit, for 3.099.
Lines in Alabama are at least 3 miles long if at all and your
fuel limit is $20 a day--regardless of your mpg when you can find
it in MS.
. . ."



Outgoing Mail Is Virus Scanned by AVG updated daily

This thread:

• Katrina by "John and Betty Halberg" <>

  • Katrina by "PB Delery" <>