News of the Riggs/Smith family in Convington, La.
Billie called and said "I don?t where I am but come get me." She is at
the Goodwood Church of Christ in Baton Rouge. She is with her landlady
Anita and another woman friend who sought shelter with Billie and
Anita. I think they thought they would have a fun hurricane party.
Billie fell out of bed and her face is swollen but other wise they seem
fine. Just want to get to Houston. I am going to drive to Baton Rouge
and either drive them all or guide them. Anita is fairly young.
Ellen and Laura?s friend Pete just called from Baltimore. She was able
to get through. Beth?s house had two huge pines fall on it. Extensive
damage but everyone okay. Ellen and LC?s house is fine thought eight of
the big pine fell all around it. like pick up sticks. Lud is spending
the night with them. They are so fragile.
We also may have two women from New Orleans arrive tomorrow. Mother and daughter, mother just had knee replacement and can?t sweat so needs air conditioning. She may be able to say with her sister. I hope so. The problem is for the New Orleaneans, they don?t have homes to go back to anymore. They are covered with water. And the infra structure is gone, I believe. It seems like it will burn when the gas and oil all ignite.
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8:17 AM
Beth called after I wrote you last night. A huge tree did take off a
wing of her house. There are eight more trees down around the house. She
said Ellen and LC are oblivious to what has happened. Asked her to
bring a generator next time she stopped by. LC convinced he will be
able to drive to store today. So many trees down on street and around
their house that Lud and the boys will have to chain saw the street to
make a path. The plan is to put them both in hospital.
But here is the problem. Covington like New Orleans has gas leaks
everywhere. So the city will be turning off the gas supply today or
tomorrow. The whole place will be evacuated within the week and no one
allowed back in for four to five weeks.
Beth's mother is outside Covington. She and the boys will head
somewhere. Maybe to Phil's house in North Carolina. That is another
story but Phil and family are staying in a friends house and have put
their house on the market. Friends will be in Europe till next spring.
So that puts a whole house available.
As far as Billie I will have to assess. She is pretty shocky right now,
so will see how she does. We have some great assisted living
arrangements near my house, but I fear she may need more care than I can
or want to give at this point. And there are some safety issues about
our house that have to be considered. But for a time, I will have a
house full so somehow we will manage for the short term that is going to
get long term pretty quick.
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jc wrote on August 31, 2005 01:03 PM:
I just heard from the son of one older woman friend. She didn't evacuate. Her home is in Metairie (suburb of New Orleans) and didn't flood, but they have no power or water and are experiencing oppressive heat. Her son-in-law lives about two blocks away and has two feet of water in his house. This is in Jefferson Parish, and my friend's son says the parish water pumps are still working there. The police are still trying to figure out how to get them out, because the roads that would get them out are still under water. They've been told to stay put for another day or two, and that once they leave they won't be able to return for at least a month.
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More reports: This one from Alabama by Caroline French
I just spoke with my daughter, Rebekah, who lives and has a business in Auburn Alabama. If you divided Alabama into quarters, Auburn is in the northeast quarter about an hour + from Atlanta, Ga. She has a business, For Paws (same name as the fictional one Ruth had in 6 feet under on hbo), and does grooming, daycare, boarding, obedience lessons and sells related stuff. They have about 40 extra doggie boarders right now...refugees from the south. These people drove 6 hours to get away from the storm and are staying in places that don't allow animals. She says that these people come to walk their animals and have no place to go. They have lost everything.