T&P&C to all the TE'rs in the Katrina area

[Trek420]

We probably have some TE'rs in the area hit by Katrina. Just sending out thoughts, prayers, chants whatever we all do. With the power and phone lines down we might not hear from you for a while but you're in our thoughts.

Do we know if we have anyone there?

Maybe it's a funny thought to have but as i watched the footage of the city evacuating and the gridlock, the thought occured that if for some reason Hayward was evacuated, thanks to this place I absolutely could just throw a leg over my bike at any given moment and ride 100 miles out ahead of all traffic.

But then I thought...no, I couldn't leave Mae (dog) behind.

Ok, ::: rides off to shop for a trailer::.

Also....if you know anyone in the area it is quite common, tradition, expected even that when massive amounts of lines are down the local phone company willl establish voicemail or call forwarding on your line so that your calls are answered or forwarded to another number that you can be reached at.

Since lines may be down, central offices lost and call centers effected bear that in mind but if you've lost your home and number that's a way to keep in touch.

As I look at film of the destruction I imagine that even central offices (where your dial tone is from and service maintained) are down or even completely gone. These buildings are staffed 24/7. As a phone co. worker I'm holding my breath our folks are ok. A check of the union website found that our annual convention just sent $4 million in relief!

http://www.cwa-union.org/news/WhatsNew.asp?ID=714

another thing if you know people in the area all sCingular wireless stores still standing in the area are acting as a contact point, folks can go there to make or get calls free. Check Cingular.com for locations.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Funny, I was thinking the same thing this morning - thanks for starting this thread.

Good wishes are winging to anyone who lives (or was) in Katrina's path from me too. I really feel for all who are in the midst of that devastation.

--- Denise

[bouncybouncy]

Funny, I was thinking the same thing this morning - thanks for starting this thread.

DITTO...

I was just thinking on my next little TE fix i would start a similar thread...Thank you and more-so...well wishes to the south!!! all too close for me...we were hit directly with Katrina's eye 3 days (a catagory 1 at the time) prior here in FtLauderdale...we had trees down, power out, a few killed, it has affected soooo many!!!! Good luck to our country on this one!!!!

[ACG]

Yes, best wishes and prayers to all.

I'll stop complaining about the heat here or whatever the flavor of the month is. My life is not that bad. I'm writing a check to some charity today.

[Ninabike]

Yes, prayers and good thoughts to all.

It makes us appreciate the really important things in life - family, friends, health....

[LBTC]

Thank you for starting this thread! I, too, had thought about starting it....and kept thinking the words that came to mind were just so insufficient! What devastation! Frightening, really!

Watching some of the footage last night I found myself hugging my 'Cuda dog, crying and chanting about how lucky we are!

Many many thoughts and tons of healing light are headed that way.

Does anyone here know if any of our girls are in that area? Extra special light goes to them, of course.

In the meantime, let's all of us count our own blessings.

Big hugs to all my girls,
~T~

[Trekhawk]

[QUOTE=Trek420]We probably have some TE'rs in the area hit by Katrina. Just sending out thoughts, prayers, chants whatever we all do. With the power and phone lines down we might not hear from you for a while but you're in our thoughts.

I only heard about the disaster when my mum called from Aust and told me. We dont have TV and I normally read the news online but had been busy lately and hadnt gotten the chance. I went and got the paper and looked at those pictures and its hard to take in the magnitude of this disaster. My heart and prayers go out to the people in these areas.
I know one thing though you are a strong people who pull together when things get tough and I know that no matter how dark things seem these places and people will know better times because of your ability to overcome great hardship.

[pkq]

A friend from OH called yesterday to rail and pontificate on the stupidity of building in New Orleans or anywhere nearby, especially the last 40 years, just because something like this could happen. He knows Louisiana will always be home to me, since I was born, raised, and lived there 38 years.

He railed about this for a long time and the lesser damage suffered by Florida....blah blah blah. Katrina was a Cat. 1 storm, when she hit Florida and a Cat. 4, downgraded from a 5, when she hit Louisiana. There was a significant increase in energy once Katrina hit the shallow, warm gulf waters.

He sure sounded like there are no smart people in NO, which I know to be untrue. No empathy for what they endure now. After I called him Bubba enough, he backed down on his position.

The same can be true of any coastal region of the Gulf or Atlantic; however, he refused to admit they need to stop building along other coastal regions, just NO.

I think his real issue is the disruption to his travel plans due to the cost and shortage of gas.

On a happier note, a friend of mine from Lake Charles is offering his boat and assistance this weekend. Louisiana has some great people and they won't be down long, they always find a way to enjoy life!

Katrina Facts

[Trek420]

uh, excuse me but don't they have tornadoes in OH? the nerve of him.

Trek-livin' on the faultline-420

[bouncybouncy]

i just thought i would pass it on...

http://www.usgs.gov/

[Irulan]

I've donated to the Red Cross. Prayers and wishes are great, but something more tangible will really help people out.
http://www.redcross.org/ You can designate your donation for hurricane relief. United way and salvation army are also good organizations. Money is more easily used for direct results than "stuff".

NO has been at risk for one reason or another, but there are not many areas in the world that are completely immune to natural disasters, be it earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding,tornadoes, volcanoes, ice storms, fires, etc.

For those of you interested in reading about such things, NO has been at risk for year, not only from ocean based storms, but from the Mississippi River. If you know anything about river deltas, rivers naturally migrate across the deltas, changing thier flow pattern, leaving and pirating channels and so on. For years, the Army Corps of Engineers has been trying to prevent Old Man River from doing what it wants to do naturally, that is, shorted it's course to the sea by pirating the Atchaflalaya River, which would shorten it's route by about 50 miles. They've actually built reverse dams on the Atchafalaya to keep this from happening. Which hasnt' yet, but they always figured it was a matter of time. Anyway,..... no point really, but an interesting book about this kind of thing is In Control Of Nature by John MacPhee.


irulan