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Posted on 08/30/2005 10:10:45 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
It is with heavy heart I write this...
I have finally reconnected with my best friend who is a paramedic who was sent from Georgia 2 days ago to Gulf Port, Mississippi before the hurricane hit.
He just reached me within the last 10 mins via emergency cell phone to tell me he was alive.
Thousands of bodies have been discovered throughout Mississippi in Gulf Port, Waveland,Hancock County,Bay of St.Louis.
They are hanging in trees and they are pulling them out 30 at a time. Entire families found drowned in their homes and washing up on shore.
The stories he could tell me were brief. National Guard is on the scene and arresting anyone seen on the streets.
The numbers are staggering and what I have been told tonight will shake people to their foundation as the numbers will be coming out in the next 24-hours of just how many people have actually perished in these and 3 other beach communities.
More to follow....
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.
ping
Prayers to all.
I think when the governor said, "This is our tsunami" he knew more than he could say at the time.
The Galveston hurricane was in September, 1900 -- 105 years ago next week. Death estimates range from a minimum of 6,000 to 12,000. I understand they still dig up skeletons.
Galveston was a prosperous and vibrant city, a center of banking and finance, more prominent than its northern neighbor, Houston. It was filled with lovely large Victorian homes and high society. Despite warning messages sent to the Galveston weather office from counterparts in the Carribean, no one prepared for the storm.
"Isaac's Storm" -- the title referring to the Galveston weather bureau chief -- tells the horrid story in detail.
The city was largely flattened, funeral pyres burning on the beach for weeks. But Galveston not only rebuilt, they raised the city. Literally. Jacked up the houses, brought in many tons of sand, moved the entire town straight up and installed a sea wall to keep the ocean corralled. A massive and most impressive undertaking.
No looting.
The story is amazing and inspiring. If ever in Galveston, visit the Hurricane Museum on The Strand. I love the pictures of sidewalks suspended above the ground while the "raising" was underway.
So far it's worked. But, then, it's been a while since Galveston got a direct hit.
In other breaking news in Aruba . . .
I'm just stunned beyond belief.
Bad/Sad news
I remember soon after the WTC crashes, the media would put up a banner saying something like "2 Confirmed Dead." As if, anybody would believe that there would only be 2 deaths from the crashes.
Doug, that's been in the back of my mind since Katrina struck.
Glad yiou brought my worst nightmares to fruition/ sarcasm
Tomorrow morning I'm going to mass and light a candle for everyone there. Say rosary for the repose of their souls. I am numb.
What do you mean the city still stands a chance? They need to rescue those they can and when this is over they should NOT rebuild that city. Basically there is nothing left of it except the French Quarter. That ought to be made into a Historic District and the rest allowed to return to wetlands. If they rebuild NO, it should be someplace else.
inappropriate.
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Oh, dear. Prayers for the dead and the survivors.
"Thousands of bodies have been discovered throughout Mississippi in Gulf Port, Waveland,Hancock County,Bay of St.Louis."
Katrina's aftermath is a living nightmare. Everything about it is terribly, terribly sad. Wish that I could say I'm surprised by this news but I am not. From the outset I've felt the final death count of the storm will be astronomical. Hope that I'm wrong but I doubt it.
May God bless your friend. And may He bless all those who were lost, as well as their friends and family.
On New Orleans' Canal Street, which actually resembled a canal, dozens of looters ripped open the steel gates on clothing and jewelry stores, some packing plastic garbage cans with loot to float down the street. One man, who had about 10 pairs of jeans draped over his left arm, was asked if he was salvaging things from his store.
"No," the man shouted, "that's EVERYBODY'S store!"
Merciful Father in Heaven,
We are lifting in prayer our many fellow Americans who have lost lives and property in New Orleans and other areas throughout the devastated Gulf Coast region. Please, Father, bless all who are affected. Guide them. Comfort them. Move our fellow citizens to compassion so that all urgent needs can be met. Guide the rescue workers, the police and law enforcement, the volunteers and the many constructive souls who are working to help that area with recovery from this disaster. For those who are clinging to life and hoping for rescue, please send an angel to them to keep up their hope and indeed send help to them.
Enfold those you have chosen to call home and help their loved ones through their grief, and our nation to recover from the immense loss each life represents.
Help our President and all our leaders have wisdom and compassion as they work to help New Orleans, the Gulf Coast, and our nation recover from this disaster.
Father, we ask that you will bind and judge the consciousness moving in through and around people who are falling into the temptation to loot and take undue advantage of their brothers and sisters suffering adversity. Bring these people into a rapt attention and shake them free from a selfish and dishonest mindset. Protect our Police and National Guard and all others who are charged with the responsibility of maintaining order.
Thank you Father. We are grateful that you hear us and always answer according to thy infinitely perfect divine Will.
Amen
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