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Posted on 08/26/2005 7:50:27 AM PDT by Billie
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 or .45Man at danbh59@yahoo.com and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line. |
Every Thursday at the Finest  |
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Hi, Lady. I'm back. Actually I've been back for over a week but have been having computer problems.(Durn new fangled thingies, these computers!)
Today, I've been glued to the FR hurricane thread. It's like an unfolding nightmare. My mom and dad, both in their 80s, have lived in Metairie(NO suburb) for over 30 years. They left this morning before daylight heading for Texas. Though they can still run circles around me, they did not need this(who does?) at their age. If this all turns out the way the weather folks say my folks will have to make many huge life changing decisions soon.
Good afternoon, Mayor. We had prayers for the people who are in the path of that monster hurricane this morning, too. I pray that there is no one killed because they weren't evacuated in time! God bless you.
I'm glad you're safe.
Praying for those in the path of the hurricane.
Hi Victoria! I hope you are having a good weekend.
Thank you for the ping. :-)
Hi snugs. I haven't heard of that puppy. Cute!
Thank you for the graphics to celebrate the holidays!
You might be interested in a personal family happening I'll relate after posting about THIS hurricane in Florida:
1928 Okeechobee Hurricane
The Okeechobee Hurricane (or San Felipe Hurricane) was a deadly hurricane that struck Puerto Rico and southern Florida, United States, in September 1928. The hurricane killed 3,411 people and caused around 100 million dollars (1928 dollars) in damages in the United States and the Caribbean.
Impact on Southern Florida
After leaving the Caribbean, the hurricane gained strength again as it moved toward Florida.
In the evening of 16 September the storm made landfall in southern Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. The eye passed ashore in Palm Beach County. Damage along the coastline from the heavy winds and 10-foot storm surge was catastrophic; however the area was only sparsely inhabited at the time.
Inland, the hurricane wreaked much more widespread destruction along the more heavily populated coast of Lake Okeechobee. Residents had been warned to evacuate the low ground earlier in the day, but after the hurricane did not arrive on schedule many thought it had missed and returned to their homes. When the worst of the storm crossed the lake – with winds measured on the ground at around 140 mph and a pressure of 929 mb (but note all such measurements are suspect) – the low pressure and south-blowing wind caused a lake surge to overflow the small dike that had been built at the south end of the lake. The resulting flood covered an area of hundreds of square miles with water that in some places was over 20 feet deep. Houses were floated off of their foundations and dashed to pieces against any obstacle they encountered. Most survivors and bodies were washed out into the Everglades where many were never found. As the rear eyewall passed over the area the flood reversed itself, breaking the dikes along the northern coast of the lake and causing a similar but smaller flood.
Floodwaters persisted for several weeks, greatly impeding attempts to clean up the devestation. Burial services were quickly overwhelmed and many of the bodies were placed into mass graves. Around 75% of the fatalities were migrant farm workers, making identification of both dead and missing bodies very difficult. As a result of this the count of the dead is not very accurate. The Red Cross estimated the number of fatalities as 1,836, which was taken as the official count by the National Weather Service for many years. However in 2003 this was revised as "at least" 2500, making the Okeechobee hurricane the second-deadliest natural disaster in United States history.
Thousands of people were left homeless in Florida; property damage was estimated at $25 million (1928 dollars). Adjusted for wealth, inflation, and population (in other words, taking into account the vast growth of southern Florida) to the year 2003 this would be $18.7 billion. However a disaster of this kind is unlikely (but perhaps not impossible) to occur again because of the much larger dike that now contains the waters of Lake Okeechobee.
Now - in the 20's my father was a Manager for Florida Power & Light; first at Punta Gorda (where Charley 'visited' last year) and then Lake Okeechobee.
When he learned of the approaching hurricane, he sent my mother and older sister (then 3) by train to South Carolina to her parents - to be 'safe.'
As an engineer and take-charge-guy, with foresight he anticipated the biggest need for the area would be potable (drinkable) water.
He thus ordered train boxcars full of ice blocks to be shipped in as soon as it passed for that purpose!
That no doubt prevented many persons from becoming ill or dying from the contaminated waters; and no city drinking water able to be pumped.
NOW FOT THE REST OF THE STORY!!
Mom and Anne came here to where I currently live in SC, where my grandfather was the minister of the Methodist church. The parsonage provided was a lovely 2-story one typical of that day - wide porches around 3 sides.
Anne relates she was standing at the top of the stairs when the remnants of the Florida Hurricane came HERE on its way North....
A huge tree crashed through the roof and across the foot of the stairs as she watched!!
Close call after all, eluding it in Okeechobee, but right there for her in SC.
By the way, my son Kevin is in Lake Worth, and Steve now is out of Davie as of 3 weeks ago, up in Port St. Lucie, neither sustaining damage, north of the impact.
Steve's son, Ryan (21), who remained in Coconut Creek, is safe.
Mom's prayers were heard....and now have become fervent for persons in the areas in the path of Katrina today...
Thank you for the scripture posts, Mayor. I hope you are having a good weekend.
Offering special prayers for your parents. As you say, the results of this might mean *major* changes in their (and your) lives....do you have siblings?
And is your son and family safely settled in Washington state?
Off to get a few things I forgot at the store, while our sunshine and blue clouds and white fluffy coulds hold...BBL.
It's amazing how destructive the weather can be, and that it can do so much damage after it's no longer a hurricane.
You are a sweetheart!
Here's Georgio on his favorite perch! He sends his love & appreciation too!
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Oh, my. It HAS been two weeks(blush, blush) since I dashed off that hurried note to you. We got back the following Tues. and D. took the rest of the week off.
I've tried for the last three years to convince Mom and Dad to move here close. I wanted to get it decided and done while they (and I) were in relative good health and to avoid just this very scenario. Sigh. Needless to say, I wasn't successful. Mother considers my area somewhat...er...remote. She loves city in general and NO in particular so I stopped trying. This will be heart breaking for them and I fear, a blow from which they won't really ever recover(if the disaster does come to pass as predicted). I have a brother in Texas but he is not in a position to care for them when the time comes.
But on a better note, son#1 and family are settling into their new digs in Washington State. Grandchild #2 is due the end of next month. Grandchild #1 is still darling(of course)!
It's a beautiful day here, too but it looks like this monster will recurve close to us by tomorrow so I'd better get in gear and get the stuff off the deck & porches. Bbl
( 'kay - hugs for Julie, too!)
Thanks, Lady! I love doing them and I love being here!
Thanks, Lady! I love doing them and I love being here!
Mine today (sez she laughing!!) is not only the bad hands, but blurred vision, making it hard to Preview and too in a hurry for Spell Check.
Exhibit "A" in the 1928 Hurricane Story -
"NOW FOT THE REST OF THE STORY!! - FOT ??!!
And in my other reply to you, I kinda invented COULDS, rather than clouds..:))
LOL
You are a compassionate and thoughtful conservative JohnHuang2. I will certainly follow your direction in praying for the people of Louisiana and all in Katrina's path.
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