Tuesday, September 2, 2008

After Gustav...

It’s all over except for the cleanup and return of residents. And we all know what that could mean.

Talked with the sister twice and she’s hanging in OK, it’s just that like all natives she’s itching to get “home”. While the city suffered less damage from Gustav (trust me, it’s all relative), there are still many power lines down, some residual flooding, trees and branches down on both major and minor roads and all this must be dealt with before folks can even attempt getting to their homes.

The evacuation turned into a pretty harrowing experience. As the sister and krewe headed out of the city into Mississippi and attempted to leave the interstate for restroom breaks or food, they were met at all exit ramps by local and state police ordering them to keep going; they were not allowed to leave the interstate. We’re talking about a 68 year old woman, her daughter and the daughter’s two small children – accompanied by two frogs and a turtle.
What was there to fear, if fear was the motive?

As Loki at Humid City (go over and listen to his audios) said “they probably didn’t want crazy New Orleans folks running around their lily white towns.” I find it interesting that these MS rednecks love to party in NOLA while being afraid of its people. Hey! Paging Dr. Phil.

Anyhoo. I digress.

They drove straight through to Memphis and upon arrival the sister was exhausted and in such pain (the inability to stop roadside and take a short walk made her legs cramp uncontrollably) that when I called she was in bed with legs propped on pillows, trying not to scream and scare the children. I think hearing from me had a calming effect; she told me today that she fell asleep shortly after my call.

Now the wait for the a Welcome Home announcement is under way.

Always a difficult job.

To my friends in FL, I have been unable to get a good line through to answer your calls and your calls to me were breaking up badly. Stay safe.

There are two or three more threats waiting in the wings. Please keep the entire region in prayer.

And so it goes.

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