Hootie just asked me to post this account of what folks are going through down there for everyone to check out:
Well, it's unbelievable down here. We didn't get the media coverage but it's horrible. Sabine pass got more storm surge than Houston or Galveston. Some places got a little wind damage, and are mainly waiting on utility restoration.
The city I live in and the neighboring small towns suffered major flooding. It was over 9 feet in some spots. I went down to the post office today and it's locked tight. They have to bring in a professional cleaning crew to clean and disinfect it. Water was big time in the building, and mud is everywhere. The whole downtown is mud. Buildings have an inch to two inches of mud in them.
Flooding on my assignment was so great that fish were jammed in the hurricane fences. There are dead fish everywhere, and the stench is bad. The snakes and gators are out in force too. Not good at all.
No stores have food, only 1 or 2 gas stations are open now, and no drug stores. The donut shop is open in the mornings. Two tire places are open. No laundramats are open. I think we are going to wind up stinky naked people.
Fema got here right away, and the national guard is handing out the ice, water, and food.
We appreciate the effort the government is making. Thankfully, most people here have sense to get out, and the county and state makes sure there is free transportation to get people out. I don't know why New Orleans didn't have that much sense in Katrina. We've done this for years.
I passed a lot of convoys yesterday coming from far away states. Utility companies are pouring into the state to help with Houston. We lost so many trees during Rita that down trees are a minor issue. We lost transmission lines. The wind bent the towers like pipe cleaners.
The storm may cause the permanent closing of one of our major employers. The chemical plant had benzene contamination. They are telling the employees it may be 6 weeks to never that they'll reopen.
I am tired, very sad, and wish I could retire. I checked on some of the business owners on my route. Every single time I saw someone, I stopped to check on them, and gave out lots of hugs.
I brought a whole box of kleenex with me. Last time, I had to wipe my eyes a lot because of all the suffering people. It's something you have to live to understand. You just can't imagine it.
I need something to bring a smile. Rubi, pm me a pic of you in the red dress.
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