From my uncle in Houma, here is a link to local photos of Katrina and Rita damage. Most of the damage was south of Houma.
[Not relatives, but I just discovered through LaCoquette a blog about New Orleans from a Brooklyn New Orleanian, and another, antigravity.]
From another Lake Charles cousin:
Hey all,
continuing update..
D, S, L, and D's brother E went to Lake Charles yesterday to survey damage, help out, and clean out refrigerators.... (eeeewwww) !!!!!
Dad (L) stayed and did not return to Baton Rouge last night... though we have already received a call from him this morning saying, "So when are you coming back, D... cause I think I'll go back to Baton Rouge... it is too _____ hot!" [There is no electricity.]
D said it looks like a bomb went off on W Street and throughout many areas in town. We will send photos soon. I do not know how our house wasn't hit... there is some damage but nothing compared to others. We lost many shingles and have water damage on the kitchen and living room ceilings. Some things like awnings and siding were blown off the house and ALL but one baby tree have been blown down. Downtown Lake Charles had 125 mile per hour winds sustained for about 6 hours. Uncle F parked his SUV in our driveway to avoid water damage from the bayou only to have one of my massive water oak trees fall right down on it! D says that it looks like the trees were strategically placed on the ground in order to avoid our house. Even the 12 foot cinder-block wall (fence) down the right side of my house BLEW OVER and my house didn't ????? The compound looks terribly different... NO TREES! Even the woods behind Aunt B's house are NO MORE!!! You can actually see the Port of Lake Charles from her backyard.
D's parents have a tree right through the middle of their house and D spent much of the day yesterday on their roof, 105 degree plus temp., trying to at least cover it with a tarp.... All of them had some level of heat exhaustion when they got back to Baton Rouge. Quite worried about Dad in that heat! [He's in his mid-70s.] Hopefully we can get him back here soon.
Mom is fine. She is staying with my Aunt E L (Dad's brother's wife) . She is quite comfortable and only 1/2 mile from me. She is going to a Baton Rouge Doctor tomorrow.... The day we all evacuated she was told that the antibiotic she was on (after many already) was not working and the bacteria had become resistant to the drug... They were to call her out a new RX but then all of the pharmacies shut down. I have been quite worried about her. D and I have a very close friend here in Baton Rouge who is a doctor, and he recommended this new doctor who said he would see Mom right naway. So I will get her there soon.
Some say we will not be allowed back to town for 7 to 10 days. This morning I heard 30 days and almost croaked! OH..... I just want to go home.
All in BR have been so hospitable and we are so unbelievably thankful!!! Imagine those with no place to go!!!
Info previously reported by D and M on all of our homes is accurate .... however, the damage, even when seemingly minimal, can end up being tremendous, as we are not truly able to see some of it completely yet (like the water damage).
More phone numbers if needed: [ ]
Cell phone service is poor so keep trying!
Thanks--Hanging in there.
J
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