Posted on 09/02/2005 2:40:18 PM PDT by Syco
I am co-owner of a farming and packing company located in Central California. We ship fresh fruit throughout the country and as a result, we have contacts in the New Orleans area. This morning we received a call from Carl, our primary contact in the New Orleans area. To be honest, we were shocked that he'd call us but he was able to get a message out. He primarily wanted to get word to us that he is okay and to give us a heads up about what things are like there.
His company was located in New Orleans until a few months ago. Fortunately he relocated his warehouse to Piscayune Mississippi just a few months ago.
Carl had the sense to get his family out to Florida before the storm, but he stayed behind to look after the business. He said that Piscayune was right in the heart of the storm and there was extensive damage. However, his brand new warehouse weathered the storm quite well and he currently has generators working. The national guard has comandeered most of his trucks (something that he was NOT complaining about) and he has GIVEN out most of the food that they had in storage to storm victims. Beginning tonight they will be receiving about 500 refugees into the now empty warehouse as they are looking to put people in any available space.
He says that the guard has a good presence around his facility, but there are plenty of problems to deal with in the surrounding areas. Much of this is due to the desperation of some survivors, but there is definately a criminal element out there.
We asked Carl if we could send him any food to distribute and he said that that would be great, but after talking to a few relief agencies it sounds like it is extremely difficult to get any trucks into the region right now. Many bridges are out and roads are impassible to most vehicles. Plus, with the lawlessness of the region, driving a truckload of supplies in can be extremely dangerous without an armed escort. As a result, we're working with a few other produce shippers in California to send product in through America's Second Harvest.
Thank you.
Thanks for the firsthand report, these reports are always the best, not like the jerk that Drudge has on his front page saying that Randall Robinson (a 'civil rights leader')says that black folks in NO are so hungry that they are eating corpses. Matt is an idiot for spreading such an obscene and easily discounted rumor.
Yes, thanks for posting that. It is so interesting to get first-hand accounts.
Excellent solution, and good to hear this kind of news. Thank you.
That's the first I've heard from Picayune. I knew it had to be bad wind damage there since they received the brunt of the eyewall.
thanks for the story, nice to hear some good news, everything else is so depressing
Well, one does get hungry after carting off dvd players by the arm load from Walmart.
Hope those DVDs are tasty!
ping
MS storm ping!
I'll try to keep it going. FYI, I was just told that since the Midwest and Southeast produce enough non-perishables, about the only thing that they're looking for from California is fresh produce. This surprised us at first since we didn't think that they'd want perishable product, but I guess it's something that people need even in these circumstances.
Originally we didn't know where to send it and my buddy wanted to just send a truck to the Astrodome. If anyone is thinking of doing this, DON'T! Thay have plenty of supplies in Texas and anything brought to the Astrodome would simply go to waste. Instead, Second Harvest is sending product into Distribution Centers in Texas and other neighboring states and sending food into the affected regions from there. You can contact Second Harvest at 1-312-263-2303. They will also take money contributions which are desperately needed. I give most of my cash to Samaritan's Purse (Franklin Graham's organization) but Second Harvest is also great in these situations.
Probably means 'Picayune'. About 25 or so miles inland, but directy in the path of the storm.
"Plus, with the lawlessness of the region, driving a truckload of supplies in can be extremely dangerous without an armed escort."
I know it's been said by a few, but there it is: ladies and gentlemen, I give you MOGADISHU.
Yeah. Picayune. My mistake.
Here's a great example of private enterprise being more efficient and compassionate than the government. Hurrah for Carl! God, He love you very much!
From a friend at church:
Please have everyone pray for my family. Most of you know that Doug and I moved here from the Mississippi Gulf Coast. My entire family still lives there.
My parents home and my dad's business was flooded, they have a lot of work to do tearing out the floors drying things out, replacing shingles...my dad lost his truck and alot of his self owned welding business. It's massive repair, they have two small rent houses with the same damages. They did not have flood insurance, it isn't sold in the area that they live in.
My brother, his wife and 3 small children lost everything...there house is gone.... My aunt and uncle stayed and lost there house, they had to escape their home because the roof was torn off and slammed back on top of their house....there is nothing left...my neice was just married this month and their home was flooded, again no flood insurance sold in their area.
Doug's side of the family lost homes also. Pray for them all it is going to be a long hard clean up. Doug and I are praying about making the trip home this weekend to help clean up, we thought we could stay in our tent and try to bring food and supplies and a couple of helping hands. Please pray that we make the right decision because there is no way to make phone contact unless they find a way to call again. If anyone feels lead to send something, let me know. Most of all your prayers for strength and faith are needed.
Thank You,
(My comment) Doug and a friend are heading to Mississippi tonight with food, water (I gave them a Big Berkey water filter that will filter even the nastiest ditch water), about $1000 of donated money, and as much gas as they can carry (I gave them a 55 gal drum)
Thanks for the news. I lived in Picayune from 75-77. I've been trying to get any news from there.
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