We just recieved requests to send people (feds are looking for 1000 teams) to go for 30 days. Teams are expected to be self sufficent for that period with no more than what they will carry on their backs. Got a meeting in the morning to see what we can spare. Doubt I (way to close to retirement and I've got other responsibilities) will go but would be a challenge to be involved in. Friends on USAR teams loaded up yesterday to the trip Jeff S -----Original Message----- From: STAN SIMM <SSIMM@triad.rr.com> Sent: Aug 31, 2005 6:59 PM To: GT350HZ@aol.com, ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com Subject: Re: Hurricane Katrina Lee's right. Nawlins is a fishbowl. With one of the levees busted, it's gonna take time to repair the break and start pumping out the water. They need big-time power to get that started. The death, destruction and disruption of hundreds of thousands of lives is difficult to comprehend. It's going to affect us all in one way or another but not like those there. I lived thru a small tornado in '89 that destroyed 1/2 our home, w/o elec. for 10 days. Took a 90 ton crane to get a giant oak off the roof. $100k worth of damage back then w/an additional $25k of tree removal that ins.didn't cover. Took about 1 yr. to get back to "normal". These folks are going to have it far worse. I finally got a phone call from a good friend of mine who lives(lived) in Metairie. He left Sun. Noon for Summit, MS and it took him 5 hours to go 110 mi. He's staying w/relatives. They have water but no electricity but they're high & dry. It will probably be weeks b4 he can get back to find out if he has a home or not. We have a lot to be grateful for. Mutha Nature is a Bitch! Regards, Stan ----- Original Message ----- From: GT350HZ@aol.com To: ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 9:27 PM Subject: Re: Hurricane Katrina Basically, there is likely no way to reach anyone in New Orleans. I lived there for a couple years in 1988-1989. I was there when Florence hit, and the storm was a minimal hurricane that broke apart quickly. The biggest problem is that people who remember Camile, think they are going to be able to ride out a major hurricane and many others don't remember Camile and think it couldn't have been "that bad." Even if 75% of the people left the city, that leaves about 150,000 in the city, plus surrounding areas. It is going to be the worst disaster in American history when all is done. I have been there through major rain storms in New Orleans. I had to wait a couple hours for the water to be pumped out of the city to get home. Water was about 2 feet deep around where I worked off of Jefferson Ave. from a sudden 2-3" rainstorm. The hurricane is basically the worst case senerio without a direct hit. It is horrible, and it is probably going to get worse for the next few days. The rain from the storm, as it continued north, will cause the Mississippi river to crest at higher levels over the next couple of days. All I know is if there was a storm like this headed to me, I would get in my Shelby and start driving west or northwest as soon as it seemed likely to be hitting my direction. I would have my wife or a friend take my other Shelby too. In this case, that would have been Friday evening. Being in Dallas, we have some New Orleans refugees already being "organized" at Reunion Arena. Even the schools are prepared to take in the students. Relief efforts have started to get food, clothing and most importantly water to Louisiana. I hear that Houston has more than 30,000 people from New Orleans in their city. Prayers and more go out to all of the people in the gulf region affected. Lee 66 # 869 69 # 2055
