We've all been hearing about hurricane Katrina.  I certainly hope everyone will be safe from this next blast from hurricane Rita.

Here in the metro area in MN we are still cleaning up from the storms that blew through on Wednesday night.  Two tornados (F1/F2) touched down along with straight line winds that were over 80 miles an hour (the equivalent of a category 1 hurricane), hail that was as big as baseballs in some areas, and of course, torrential rains fell causing flash flooding.  I was without power for 20 hours, my son's house was without power 36 hours.  Hundreds of large, mature trees were knocked down as well power lines and poles.

Our storm was so little in comparison, yet so disrupting.  I can't imagine what the hurricanes are like.

I hope those living in Texas and the nearby areas survive through Rita. :(  I can't even begin to imagine being evacuated to Texas only to be evacuated again.  It must be like a never ending nightmare. :(


I'm so glad you are alright after the two storms you have just had.  Storms of any significant size are scary.  I'm glad you got your power back, hopefully cleanup wasn't so bad.  (((hugs)))

This weather has been trying for all of us.  None of are unaffected.

I hope everyone is safe and sound, wherever you are.

I'm wishing everyone is safe and sound, and that the hurricane will leave quickly with minimal damage.  

Cynde

It is very bad right now. Mother Nature is showing us who is in charge.

BB I hope that you and your family will be alright. My prayers and wishes are with you and everybody in the path of Rita, aftermath of Katrina and any Tornedo victim. Be safe.

Thanks, everyone.  We just got back from our son's house.  Amazing to see all the trees that were blown down.  The sound of chain saws is deafening everywhere.  Trees were blown over - roots and all.  Amazing that our son did not lose any of his trees.  He did get water in his basement, so we spent the day cleaning that up and then collected oak and maple wood from all the downed trees.  (We have a wood burning stove that helps heat our house in the winter).  

I'm glad to see that Rita spared the major cities.  I hope that recovery from this storm will be quick.

I will be off the boards for a couple of weeks.  I leave for the Gulf Coast early a.m. (flight leaves at 6:05 a.m. :P).  I will work with some of the relief/clean-up crews there.  If you want you can read about some of the work being done here:

http://www.friendships.org/hurricane.html

Take care, all.  Hope you have lots of good hair growth while I'm gone!

How generous of you.  Good luck and let us know how things are when you get back.  Let's hope that Wilma does not create the need for more cleanup and relief.

Good luck, PreciousLocks!

Good Luck!!

Good Luck! and take care of your self

Be safe  :-*

Good luck and stay safe  :-*

Good luck and stay safe!

How absolutely wonderful and commendable!!!  One of our very own long-locks is aiding in disaster relief, that is so great of you, Precious Locks!  I look forward to your safe return to the boards, and that you have lots of good to tell us!  God Bless!

I'm back ;D
I'll write more later, just trying to catch up on emails,etc.  But I am tired still and have to return to work tomorrow, so no late night tonight!
In the midst of great tragedy, God has been doing some awesome work.  
I stayed onboard a ship -- no, not the cruise ships that have been in use, but a re-furbished Coast Guard ship that is part of the Friend Ships "fleet".  First time I've lived on a ship so that was kind of fun, and at times challenging.
Many different people and groups coming in and out of the area to help.  At the particular site I spent most of my time we had a tent distribution site for clothing, personal hygiene items, groceries, and cleaning supplies.  In conjunction with some other ministry organizations we also served lunch and dinner every day (about 500 each) and some teams took hot meals out into the community for distribution.  Very different from bigger organizations -- very little bureaucratic red tape -- registering was a matter of giving your first name and where you were from (state).  All supplies and food were free for the asking.  As the weather had started to get cooler blankets, jackets, and sweaters were in high demand.

Glad to hear you are back and OK.  I look forward to hearing more about your experiences.

Welcome back, PreciousLocks! It sounds like you did a lot of good work while you were away!  :D

Welcome back, PreciousLocks! :D

Glad to have you back, PreciousLocks!

Cynde

Thank y'all for the very nice welcome back.
The first night on the old Coast Guard ship I was assigned the middle of a triple bunk.  Before you get in bed you have to decide if you want to sleep on your back or your belly and go in that way! ???  I sleep on my side  :o.  After I got in I did have just enough room to turn on my side -- just glad there weren't any videos of my getting into and out of the bunk :-X  The next night I moved to the top of a double bunk -- more room, but I wasn't too sure of myself climbing up and down when 1/2 asleep, so by the 4th night I moved again to the bottom of a double bunk.  "And Goldilocks found this bed to be just right!"  ::)
Climbing up and down ladders between decks was also an exercise in agility (pun intended), and remembering to climb over the door hatches every time you went to another room was a memory test.
The people I worked with were the best!  I'm homesick for them, and I only met them 2 weeks ago!

Many of the people we gave food and supplies to were contracters/workers.  The distribution site was in the middle of the construction workers' tent city.  It got chilly just after I arrived, and many were not prepared for Lousianna to be cool.  Also many came back almost daily for more work clothes for several reasons:  limited washing facilities (if any), limited shopping, and very dirty, nasty work sites i.e. canals and sewer systems with very questionable gunk in them :P :P :P.  Some of them were changing clothes 3 times a day, and not wanting to wear them again even if they were washed!

Flood water lines on the buildings I saw were 6-8' high, and that wasn't the worst area.  Cars that had been flooded, anything from an old clunker to a new Porsche -- all junk now.  Bushes, grass, gardens were dead; lower parts of the trees were damaged if they hadn't been knocked down completely.  Ironically there had been little to no rain since Rita.

People coming back to check out their houses have to decide if it's worth it to them to repair or rebuild, or if they just want to move on somewhere else.  

Many prayers were and are being said in conjunction with the food and supplies being given out. <><

It will be a long time before the city is truly restored.  And all those other areas that have been literally wiped off the face of the earth :'(
Even the short time I was there has helped restore some sense of what is important in life, what is Lasting and True, and what is just "fluff", albeit nice "fluff".

Thank you again for the warm welcome back  :D

I feel so PROUD of you for giving of yourself to such a needy cause, it truly touches me, Precious Locks, you must be a very special person.  I mean that.  Applause to you on your hard work, and...........................................

WELCOME BACK!!!  ;D