From a year ago
http://mamarama.livejournal.com/387696.html
...But I'm even more nervous about this hurricane a-comin'. It's a-here on the coast. My folks still live in the house I grew up in, about 70 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico. They're going to be fine I'm sure. They've survived more than this, including the house being hit by lightning this past week. Oh, had I mentioned that yet? Last week during a thunderstorm, my folks were both in the kitchen when lightning hit one of the power lines going to the house. It fried the oven and refrigerator, and fortunately neither mom or dad was touching an appliance. They told me this story somewhat nonchalantly a day or two after the fact, and by Saturday they'd bought new appliances. They'd had the same appliances for as long as I can remember, so it'll be a new kitchen when I visit again. I'm just glad they were ok.
http://mamarama.livejournal.com/2005/08/31/
[My parents] called the Birmingham brother and were ok and just a window was broken in the house. They said none of us needed to come down there. Then last night I talked to my sister who said it wasn't just a window, but part of the wall and roof in her old bedroom.
South Mississippi is the Pine Belt, and it's main industry is paper. Even though Hattiesburg is 70 miles north of the Gulf Coast and is an evacuation site, with its bounty of long leaf pine trees most of the area had serious damage from Katrina. Most of the houses in my parents' neighborhood were damaged. My parents are lucky.
An email from my brother on Aug 31, 2005, at 10:24 AM:
We walked in the last 1/2 block to the Spells on Tuesday. They drove in from the the other direction in the truck as we rang the door bell. They had just started riding around a bit for the air conditioning, and to see how much of the debris the neighbors have cleared from the streets. Just enough was cleared so that the Spells can zig/zag out to 49 if they have an emergency.
49 is open N/S to Jackson, with debris still in one lane at times between Hattiesburg and Mt. Olive.
The Spells' back door neighbor and his brother cleared the tree top (blew from another yard) that fell through the roof and ceiling into our sister's bedroom. By the time we arrived they had also placed a tarp over the roof to cover the hole. Dad had mopped up the water damage. I didn't review the damage from inside yet.
We brought my mother in law back with us last night, driving through Jackson since we knew 49 was open. There is no gas until Jackson, and long lines at the few open pumps between there and Meridian. We got back at 3 am this morning.
I'm going back today, to take the Spell's more dry goods, canned goods, and water. (Their neighbor is letting Dad have water from her pool to flush the toilets with.)
They look fine, and are resolved to stick it out. I'm planning to stay there through Sunday morning. I will report out by cell phone as the phone situation permits.
...But I'm even more nervous about this hurricane a-comin'. It's a-here on the coast. My folks still live in the house I grew up in, about 70 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico. They're going to be fine I'm sure. They've survived more than this, including the house being hit by lightning this past week. Oh, had I mentioned that yet? Last week during a thunderstorm, my folks were both in the kitchen when lightning hit one of the power lines going to the house. It fried the oven and refrigerator, and fortunately neither mom or dad was touching an appliance. They told me this story somewhat nonchalantly a day or two after the fact, and by Saturday they'd bought new appliances. They'd had the same appliances for as long as I can remember, so it'll be a new kitchen when I visit again. I'm just glad they were ok.
http://mamarama.livejournal.com/2005/08/31/
[My parents] called the Birmingham brother and were ok and just a window was broken in the house. They said none of us needed to come down there. Then last night I talked to my sister who said it wasn't just a window, but part of the wall and roof in her old bedroom.
South Mississippi is the Pine Belt, and it's main industry is paper. Even though Hattiesburg is 70 miles north of the Gulf Coast and is an evacuation site, with its bounty of long leaf pine trees most of the area had serious damage from Katrina. Most of the houses in my parents' neighborhood were damaged. My parents are lucky.
An email from my brother on Aug 31, 2005, at 10:24 AM:
We walked in the last 1/2 block to the Spells on Tuesday. They drove in from the the other direction in the truck as we rang the door bell. They had just started riding around a bit for the air conditioning, and to see how much of the debris the neighbors have cleared from the streets. Just enough was cleared so that the Spells can zig/zag out to 49 if they have an emergency.
49 is open N/S to Jackson, with debris still in one lane at times between Hattiesburg and Mt. Olive.
The Spells' back door neighbor and his brother cleared the tree top (blew from another yard) that fell through the roof and ceiling into our sister's bedroom. By the time we arrived they had also placed a tarp over the roof to cover the hole. Dad had mopped up the water damage. I didn't review the damage from inside yet.
We brought my mother in law back with us last night, driving through Jackson since we knew 49 was open. There is no gas until Jackson, and long lines at the few open pumps between there and Meridian. We got back at 3 am this morning.
I'm going back today, to take the Spell's more dry goods, canned goods, and water. (Their neighbor is letting Dad have water from her pool to flush the toilets with.)
They look fine, and are resolved to stick it out. I'm planning to stay there through Sunday morning. I will report out by cell phone as the phone situation permits.