PJ Friends and Hurrican Katrina......

I will post information as I receive it......

31 Aug 2005

Hi Jack,
My name is Lee S..... I was kadilee in pj. My best friend for 6 years now, bamamay(mary) is in dire straights. She lives outside of New Orleans as you well know. I am reaching out to you because I dont have all the addys for the old friends in pj. I wanted to send out a bulk email to everyone that knows her to let them know to pray for her and her family.I also think that missstew is in trouble too. I had your website from mary and wanted to see if you could help here. I am so worried about her. I rode out the hurricane with her via our cellphones until she lost power and connection. I did hear from her yesterday 8-30 and she said that she still has no power. She has a gas grill and water but the water is running out. She has 17 people in her home including small children. I have written to the red cross and even CNN to see if someone could get water to them. Its so devastating to see the pics on TV but more so that I have a dear friend there who is struggling to survive. Please Jack would you send out an email to all of our old friends and maybe we can get a prayer chain going. Let me know if you can. Thanks Lee (kadilee) GBU and ma.




Friday, September 2, 2005, 10:52 PM

Forwarding a note from the Cincinnati prayer chain group - from one of the member's Dad. Thought it was interesting to hear a first-hand account, so passing along. Have a safe Labor Day weekend, all!!

Helen

Hello Everyone -

This just in from Russ M....'s Dad - He lives just northwest of New Orleans about 50 miles on the south end of Baton Rouge. This is an email he sent for first time this morning, thought it was interesting and tells how wide spread the problem ready is and although folks "survived the storm", what is happening now is despair and spreads beyond New Orleans, but the spirit of people helping people is there.



Subject: Update from Louisiana

Let this be a lesson to all of us that we all get by each day on a very thin line. We as a society are not appreciate how well things are balanced or tuned to make our lives run smoothly. Any "true" news from Louisiana is not what you see on CNN, NBC, etc. There are many good things happening and miracles of survival. People helping people.

Federal, State and city governments have performed miserably. The local cop is where it happens. The State Police, FEMA, politicians are little help. Once the Governor (help us from her!!) called for the National Guard (those left here and not fighting in Iraq instead of the regular Army), things started to happen. The National Guard has and is making it happen. God Bless them!

True things: ......As we are living them:

1. Some gas stations have no gas (certain brands), others are getting delivery. Lines are short. The price for us has been unchanged since before K....hope it continues to hold true.

2. Bread is hard to find, if not impossible. Milk for babies in short supply, but available on emergency notice.

3. Most large grocery stores have what you basically need. A few trucks have been in the area to bring bottled water, etc.

4. It is hard to find temporary housing.....that's why so many are being shuttled out-of-state.

5. The poorest, oldest, sickest people that could not get out (no cars) are suffering the most. N.O. Welfare/medicare knew this ahead of time.

6. All major roads in and out of N.O., except for I-10 West are gone.

7. The N.O. airport has no commercial traffic and won't for a long time.

8. Our Baton Rouge airport (small regional) is swamped with planes, military, commercial, charter ....plus 100's of helicopters. 10 minutes does not go by for a helicopter passing over. We still can't use to the noise, but that's a minor concern to everyone.

9. Do not let the pictures of N.O., tell you the full story. Just outside of N.O., there are literally thousands of good people trying to get by and survive. ...especially in Gulfport and Biloxi.

10. Railroads ..... are wiped out north, south and east. Tracks, signals, and bridges gone.

11. The oil directs in the gulf are not damaged. The true fact remains that there is no electricity to run pumps to pump crude from the platforms.

12. With all of the refineries, chemical plants, tank farms, pipelines etc...... here, the chemical pollution is still an untold story.

13. Traffic on the Mississippi was not effected by K, but may if there is an oil spill .............Summer low water, yes. Yes, a few barges sank ...!!

14. In lower LA., no water from rivers, creeks, etc. flows into the Miss.

Will continue to update you as best I can. Be reassured, we are doing the best we can - and you CAN survive without fast food.



Best Steve



Saturday, September 3, 2005, 08:45 PM



Hi Jack,
Just a note to let you know I still havent heard from MaryBama) since Tues afternoon(8-30). I have been going to the weather.com site where they post messages from people. I am very worried about her now. I have emailed the red cross and ham radio operators to see if they could get some water into them. I do not know about Elaine(missstew), if she is ok or not. Please everyone continue to pray for them. I know that God will be with them all. Thanks Jack for posting.
Lee(kadilee).



Saturday, September 3, 2005, 09:20 PM



Hi Jack,
I just got off the phone with Mary. She is doing ok. She has 20 people in her home now and the food situation is very grave. She has been trying all day to get food to feed her people. I know that all of you that know (Bama) Mary, know that she is a survivor and will survive this devastating situation.She has a long way to go and its far from over for them. Please continue to pray for her and her family. Im sure that she will be back to pj and in pogo as soon as she can, and I cant wait. Thank you all for praying for her.Thank you Jack for posting these emails. Say hi to Ma for me.
Lee S.





Sunday, September 4, 2005, 12:12 AM

Hi My Dear Friends,

Just a note to let you know that most my family and I are safe. I have not heard from one of my nieces' yet. I do not have any information. I am very worried. She was in a flooded area. I do not know if she stayed behind or left before the storm. Please keep her in your prayers.

It has really been incomprehensible to see all the devastation that Katrina left behind. It is simply the unimaginable. It looks like fallout. I was without water, electricity. gas, phone, and had absolutely no use from my cell phone. The damages that we incurred do not even compare to the magnitude of some the losses others' have endured. I am very blessed. If at all possible please give to the Red Cross or Salvation Army. I can tell you first hand that they are getting food, water,clothing, shelter and other assistance to those in need through this horrific and trying time. The news media is not giving you all the facts or information. These two organizations are out helping people. The infrastructure of New Orleans has been severely damaged. Sections of the Causeway, I-10 E twin spans, and I-10 high rise are all damaged and shut down. The Mississippi River was shut down. Communications were virtually shut down. This crippled the city. New Orleans International Airport was under water and some of the runways were severely damaged. Railways as well as major highways and thoroughfares were shut down due to downed trees, power lines, and high water. It made it very hard for assistance to get in. New Orleans is a large soup bowl. We are between the Mississippi River and Lake Ponchartrain ....abound by 130 miles of levees. I just wanted you to have an idea what we are up against.
(http://www.enlou.com/no/no-neighborhoods_map.htm)

My sister and her family are now at my home along with others who had to run for their lives. I have 20 people at my home right now. I just got my electricity and phone back today. We are managing as well as we can. I am so thankful to God that we are safe. You cannot imagine how difficult it has been for the citizens of New Orleans, the rest of southeast Louisiana as well as the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It just breaks my heart to see the devastation and path of destruction that Katrina left. I love my city and we will be back...even stronger than ever.

My sister did not fair too well. She lost everything. Her house was in one of the flooded areas. This is a link of a picture of her area.
http://forms.belointeractive.com/sharedcontent/datafiles/1125380695760_ORIGINAL_100_0861.jpg

It has been tough this last week. We were cut off from everything. Thank you for your prayers, love , and support. As I have said...we are safe and we are alive ...and I thank God. I hope that I hear something about my niece soon. Please keep us in your prayers.

One bright encouraging event occurred through all of this. I am a great aunt. My sister's daughter gave birth to a 8 lb 4 oz baby boy named Christian Daniel Broadbridge. She went into labor this week right after the storm. They are doing fine. So I know that things will be alright. It will take some time but we will be even stronger than before. Once again...Thank you for your prayers. May God Bless you and your family always.
Love and Hugs,
Mary (BAMA)


Sunday, September 4, 2005, 02:24 PM

Hi my dear friends,
I have great news. My niece has called and she is alright. She tried to get to my house and could not. As I have previously stated the cell phones were basically useless. Thank God that she is safe and alright. Thank you again for your prayers my dear friends. I am truly blessed. Please pray for the people who have been through this tragedy. May God Bless each and everyone of them. And God Bless you and your family.
Love and Hugs,
Mary (BAMA)