Gustav...

BillyMac · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Sep 01, 2008, 02:18pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandan89

As I am sure that most of you have seen on the television over the past few days Gustav is more than likely going to strike in the next few days. Once again, I am just asking that everyone keep us in mind and pray for us if you will. I will try and keep everyone updated on how everything goes. Unfortunately, I will not get to leave with my family. With they field of work that I am in it requires me to stay. I work for the 911 center in my parish. (Louisiana has parishes not counties.) I also am a member of the Fire Department so I guess if we are not busy at 911, I will be out with them trying to help rescue.

brandan89: It's about 3:00 p.m. EDT. I just checked out the National Hurricane Center website, and it looks like Gustav is headed right toward Lafayette, like you have a big target painted on your town center. You are very brave to remain to help out those in need. I will pray for you, your fellow emergency workers, and all the residents of your great state. Good luck, and may God bless.

brandan89 · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Sep 01, 2008, 06:58pm

Here is an update....

After the news deciding that this would be a pretty bad storm, we were told to get out of the city. We did. I came up to Shreveport to be with the rest of my family. We found out today that my grandmother (who is with me) lost her intire roof of her house. I left my car at her house and drove her in her van. I also left quite a bit of important information there because I did not think this was going to happen. Hopefully, it was just the tin gone and the plywood and other stuff is still there. We want to get back ASAP to try and save all that we can. I feel so bad for her because she also lost her home to Andrew back in 93. A big differece this time is she does not have my grandfather around to help her get through it. My mom's traile lost the carport. We are hopeing to get in tomorrow to get a look at all of the damage. I am not sure if my family will be able to come but I have a government pass to get back in. I will let everyone know after I get home about the damage. I was told that we should expect to be without lights or water for 12-16 days.

Thanks for all of the prayers and please continue them.

grunewar · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Sep 01, 2008, 08:30pm

12 - 16 days without water and electric? Wow! I can't even imagine that! We panic up here when we have a power outage of longer than a few hrs.... Good luck, be safe, and best wishes to you and everyone!

dblref · #4 (**permalink**) Tue Sep 02, 2008, 11:46am

Brendan:

Here's hoping you get water and electricity back soon. I know what it is like to be without them for several days. I lived in Hattiesburg, MS in August 1969 when Camille paid a visit (she wasn't a very nice lady), and we were without power for 8 days. August is such a lovely month (humidity wise) in MS.

JRutledge · #5 (**permalink**) Tue Sep 02, 2008, 11:25pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

January, 1967 - incredible overnight snowstorm blizzard in Chicago - almost three feet of snow fell in about eight hours. We didn't lose electricity but the water turned bad really quick. I was home from college for holiday break. My mom had me walk up to the store and carry home as much bottled water as I could. I remember we had a six foot wooden fence around our house and the drifts were so high I could walk on the snow and step over all the fences in the neighborhood which let me take a shortcut to the store and back!

I know Rut doesn't remember this because he wasn't born yet.

And I did not live here either. Then again, no one in my family lived in Illinois at that time (I think my Mom was still in Florida and my Dad in Michigan).

Peace

Lcubed48 · #6 (**permalink**) Wed Sep 03, 2008, 02:36pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

January, 1967 - increible overnight snowstorm blizzard in Chicago - almost three feet of snow fell in about eight hours. We didn't lose electricity but the water turned bad really quick. I was home from college for holiday break. My mom had me walk up to the store and carry home as much bottled water as I could. I remember we had a six foot wooden fence around our house and the drifts were so high I could walk on the snow and step over all the fences in the neighborhood which let me take a shortcut to the store and back!

I know Rut doesn't remember this because he wasn't born yet.

Holy Cow! That brought back some memories. My brother, a friend, and I got to drive back to school through the aftermath of that storm. We drove from Effingham to Dekalb in order to return to NIU for the start of the 2nd semester. It took us double the usual amount of time to drive the trip. The vast amount of that time was the second half of the trip.
I remember another trip in the early 80's. I was travelling from Northbrook after visiting the inlaws to our home in Altamont with my wife and daughter. We were forced to spend the night in Rantoul due to the nasty weather. We didn't hit the bad weather until around Kankakee. Basically, it turned into a 2 day trip that was normally a 5 hour trip.

Lcubed48 · #7 (**permalink**) Wed Sep 03, 2008, 09:08pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Apparently, we went to NIU at the same time. Were you in a frat? Also, I haven't heard the names Rantoul and Kankakee in quite a while. My dad was in the wholesale grocery business and his route took him to both cities. I remember going along with him sometimes in the summer when I was a little kid.

No, I was a GDI all the way. However, I did own a pair of TKE wingtips. I was a History major who lived in Grant North my freshman year, in Gilbert Hall my next two years, and in an off campus apartment my senior year. I matriculated in 1970.
My dad travelled also as a salesman of animal health products. I sometimes went along. His territory included central and southern Illinois.

brandan89 · #8 (**permalink**) Thu Sep 04, 2008, 04:28am

Thankfully, some of our parish is up and running with electricity. Many are still with out. There is no water,gas, groceries etc available in the Parish. Many cities in our parish are advised not to drink the water because it is till not ready. I would like to thank everyone who has kept us in their thoughts and prayers. We are slowly coming back along and moveing forward each day. We are not watching the other two monsters out there. Ike and Josephine. (I hope Ike is in a good mood because if he does to anyone what he did to Tina, they are in for it.) Haha

grunewar · #9 (**permalink**) Thu Sep 04, 2008, 04:45am

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandan89

Ike and Josephine. (I hope Ike is in a good mood because if he does to anyone what he did to Tina, they are in for it.) Haha

Keep that sense of humor Brandon! Continued good luck.

BillyMac · #10 (**permalink**) Thu Sep 04, 2008, 06:42am

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandan89

We are not watching the other two monsters out there. Ike and Josephine. (I hope Ike is in a good mood because if he does to anyone what he did to Tina, they are in for it.)

Lcubed48 · #11 (**permalink**) Wed Sep 03, 2008, 02:46pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandan89

Here is an update....

After the news deciding that this would be a pretty bad storm, we were told to get out of the city. We did. I came up to Shreveport to be with the rest of my family. We found out today that my grandmother (who is with me) lost her intire roof of her house. I left my car at her house and drove her in her van. I also left quite a bit of important information there because I did not think this was going to happen. Hopefully, it was just the tin gone and the plywood and other stuff is still there. We want to get back ASAP to try and save all that we can. I feel so bad for her because she also lost her home to Andrew back in 93. A big differece this time is she does not have my grandfather around to help her get through it. My mom's traile lost the carport. We are hopeing to get in tomorrow to get a look at all of the damage. I am not sure if my family will be able to come but I have a government pass to get back in. I will let everyone know after I get home about the damage. I was told that we should expect to be without lights or water for 12-16 days.

Thanks for all of the prayers and please continue them.

You, your family, and all others are in my prayers!
My wife and I lost our power for 6 days in the aftermath of Isabel when it went through us here in Richmond VA. I can still remember the feeling sitting and listening to wind and rain as the storm rumbled its way through our subdivision and it myriad of tall trees. I could feel the storm's power even though it was no longer a hurricane. We were fortunate as we received no damage, but others weren't so lucky.