HURRICANE
KATRINA
LEROI STOVALL ('70) in
Longbeach, Mississippi (near Gulfport)
was hit hard by the hurricane and he sent me an email this week, "Dear Dennis, this is my first
time back on the net
since the hurricane. Katrina was not fun. We lost 13 giant
pine trees, but only one hit the house. Two bedrooms were damaged, but
not
totaled. God Bless American bricklayers.We are all fine, just have some
New Orleans family as extended guests. Love is all around here,
especially thanks to all the help that has been pouring into the region
from Texas and the rest of USA. Lots of damage, but not as many dead as
we expected, but our missing persons ads in the paper have doubled over
the last week. Good to be alive. GOD Bless Texas for taking in all the
refugees!" ---Leroi, it's good
to know that you and the family are safe. Please know that our prayers
are with you and I am certain that classsmates have been giving
generosuly to the Red Cross and Salvation Army relief funds. Take care
and keep my posted and anything that we can all help you with. Love IS
all around. (9/15/05)
CHUCK
KOSTMAYER ('70)
who lives in Mobile, Alabama, owns a few rental homes and tells me
that his property has sustained over $250,000 in damages with 5ft of
water in his homes. He called me on his cell phone saying that his
family was being eaten alive by mosquitos, with no electricity, no
water, no fuel for his generator and conditions were deteriorating
rapidly. He said he has not heard from CHUCK
SPITZER ('70)
who also lives in Mobile. He asked if I had heard from anyone that we
knew who lives in Louisiana and I said no. Among our classmates who
live there are CATHIE
BOOTH ('70),
and brothers BOB
(WILKINSON) BROUSSARD ('70),
and PAUL
(WILKINSON) BROUSSARD ('69).
If anyone has news on them, please let me (Dennis) know. Chuck, you
hang in there! (9/5/05) see update below...
UPDATE FROM CHUCK:
9/10/05: "Hello
Dennis & Mustangs Things are better, but not normal. Power
came back in town a few days ago, and came back yesterday at the family
homestead at Navco. Gasoline is fairly easy to find now. Many stores
are open, but many things you might need are scarce. You'd think Wal
Mart was having a half price sale. The water is said safe to drink
again in Mobile, but we still boil it to be sure. The first week was a
stuggle to buy food and gas for the generator ect. Ever since it's been
a daily struggle to pull my wet furniture & clothes out of the
flooded house and fight mold and make repairs. The water was about
shoulder deep outside our front door at Navco. Over the kitchen
counters a couple inches inside. The living room wall is trying to
seperate from the house and has several broken windows from the storm
surge coming in and out. Our house in the bussiness district however
had only minimal damage. My business sustained several hundred
thousands of sollars damage, all total I lost many thousand of dollars
in uninsured damages. No
charity needed, thanks anyway. Help is rare to find. I hired three
girls to help and two quit after the forst day. The only one left works
every other day for a few hours. I
want to thank all for the prayers & anyone who did anything to
help, and I just can't understand why nobody seems to understand that
south Mobile had thousands of flooded homes and serious damages. All
here were affected to varying degrees. West Mobile, wasn't spared
either, this is where my business is, and my parents house, probably
only 13 miles east of Miss. and they say nearby Pascagoula near the
state line was bad. I've not been to Pascagoula since, but have
personaly spoken to and helped survivors from the Miss coast. We helped
a family from Biloxi get airplane tickets to Calif. and my aunt from
near Gulfport is now here with relatives. I want to say thanks to the
president for
the help, but this thing is just too massive. So far all I've seen is a
few National Guard. Many
thanks to the group of Mittenites who helped my elderly parents with
their damages. They
say God won't give you a bigger burden than you can handle. I must be a
able to do more than I thought. The shock began to wear off a few days
ago & nausea set in as I began to cope with reality, but now it's
time to work, and pray. It could have been worse, and I'm thankful it
wasn't. I think this time it's just us and God, this one is to massive
for the government to help much. Praying for all of you.
CATHIE BOOTH ('70) in
Hammond, Louisiana was hit by the
hurricane, I got an email from her, today..."Dennis, we are in
Hammond, Louisiana and
are
affected by the hurricane. I am using someone else's computer to send
this. We are fine, but having to stay with my brother-in-law. We still
don't have
phone or electricity, but we are blessed compared to others and we are
alive!!! Thanks for thinking of us. Love and blessing." ---Cathie, you're in
our prayers, Hang in
there! (9/7/05)
UPDATE FROM CATHIE:
9/11/05: "We
are
staying with my
husband's brother and just got electricity at 7:30pm, Friday. The
heat went to 107 degrees at his house and we were so thankfu,l as
the power came on. We even have a tent city for evacuees here in
Hammond, LA and continue to need supplies for these folks. Still, no
electric at my home and no damage to it but the mail is finally being
delivered. We are more blessed than some of the other ones. My
sister, Terri
Booth ('77
or '78), in
Biloxi, Mississippi, got
3 feet of water in her trailer and the place where she worked, the
Boontown Casino which is now
totally gone. Boontown is going to continue the pay for it's
employees
for the next couple of months. My sister's, Cindy Booth ('75?) husband
works for the EPA and states
it is real hard doing rescues down in the CBD. Please, everyone
continue the prayers for all concern that we all
continue to help one another through this time. I love you
all. With
many blessings."
KAREN COPAS ('77) in San
Antonio, Texas has emailed me with
news on her brother who loves in New Orleans... "Dennis, This is news about my brother,
ROGER
COPAS,
'80. He is a General Manager
for a Marriott Hotel in New Orleans. He and his family, wife Atena and
20 month old twins Abigail and Austin made it out of New Orleans in the
afternoon of 27 August (Saturday). It took 17 hours to get to Dallas as
they were diverted to Mississippi with all the closed exits. As there
were no rooms in any hotels even for a general manager of a hotel he
had to go into Dallas. They arrived at my house this week in good
health but emotionally shattered. Their house in Slidell, Louisiana,
was damaged by rising water and trees thru the roof. It was for sale
and was to close to new buyers last Wednesday. Roger returned to the
Louisiana on Saturday to attend meetings on which Marriott hotels could
be up and running earliest. Yesterday was the first time he saw his
house and the damage; it was mild in comparison to the devastation in
other parts of the state and south. As a family, we all have faith in
God and his plan and we need to look to him for guidance in these times
now more than ever. They will be fine in time. All their losses were
material and can eventually be replaced. They are all in good health
and safe for now. His twins and wife will be staying in San Antonio
until living arrangements can be made back in Louisiana." --- Karen thanks for the news on Roger. We
all appreciate knowing that he's doing OK. If you can send him my email
address so he can stay in touch with us and keep us all informed from
the "inside," I would appreciate it. Your sister, STEPHANIE COPAS '71
came to The Guys meeting last month and I think she had a great time
with us. It was great
seeing you at the reunion, too! Stay in touch. (9/6/05)
BETTY
CONSANI ('70)
in California offers this email... "Dennis,
God Bless San Antonio and all the people there that are taking care of
the displaced people from the Gulf Coast. I didn't know who else to
thank when I heard that San Antonio was taking in the displaced and
thought of you. We in the San Francisco Bay Area are trying to do
our
part by sending money, food, generators, clothing and volunteers. Have
a terrific holiday weekend." ---Betty, thanks for the kind
words.
San Antonio has really come through for the victims of the hurricane.
Thousands of people are being cared for at shelters at the old Kelly
AFB (now called Kelly USA). They are also being housed at the old
Farah/Levi Straus plant and at the closed Windsor Park Mall. The Alamo
City is doing its part as best we can. (9/5/05)
ALAN
FREDERICK ('70)
in Houston, Texas, sent me an email. Actually it was addressed from
Alan and his wife, Donna. I'm not sure who wrote thism but here are
these thoughts... "Dennis, My
company had a plant in Westwego,
Louisiana, just across the river from New Orleans. All 150 employees
have lost everything. Now times that by ten to include their
relatives. Think of all those homeless & jobless
people. They
didn't ask to be relocated in Houston but here they are. I spoke today
to one of my co-workers. He told me it is so bad that he & 15 other
family members will never go back. They left with nothing
but the
clothes on their back. Alan & I may not have a lot money to give
but we have gone thru our closets to offer clothing. We have
offered
our home to share with those who have been left homeless. Please
help
in relief effort. You can give to Red Cross or any other charity
but
please give. Please pass this message on to everyone." ---Alan
and Donna, I am happy to share your message. It touches all our hearts.
(9/5/05) |
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