Olwyn Mary just posted to one of the other groups. Here is what she posted -- just in case she doesn't get a post here anytime soon.....
I'm safe, cool and dry in a suburb of Lake Charles, LA, right near the Texas border, staying with the friends we made when we evacuated for HurrixNE iVAN. (And I can't type worth a @#$% on this laptop when I'm used to a real keyboard). After the canal gave wAY, I decided to get out even though we were up high, just in case the moat effect did happen. There was(and still is) only one way out of New Orleans which is the Crescent City Connection. For those of you who have visited the city, that is the huge bridge which crosses the river just above downtown. From there, the only road available was U.S. 90. As DH has well controlled diabetes, plus a pacemaker which is rapidly approaching the end of its projected life, and as thehospitals were evacuating, I decided to get him out of there while I still could. I had started packing several days ago on the assumption we would fly out, but at 1 a.m. I heard about the canal walls and pumps failing. Woke up dh (he had had 2 hrs sleep, I had about 1/2 hr). We packed for a car trip instead, called a young, fit neighbor and cleaned out fridges and freezers for her to share with the nbhood, unplugged the appliances, turned off the water heater, and were onthe road by 3:30 a.m. Once out of the city, we stayed on U.S. 90 instead of trying for the interstate, and there was hardly a car on the road. Very foggy going over the swamps and bayous. I drove until dawn, then we stopped at a truckstop, waited for full daylight, called our friends here before they left for work. They were thrilled we had "come to our senses" and left a key under the mat for us. DH took over the driving. We finally got here in the early afternoon, and I am now severely jetlagged from lack of sleep. On the other hand, I slept in a bed last night, not on the floor of a shelter, praise heaven.
What the future holds, we have no idea. we have a few clothes and our important papers, and that is all. I didn't even bother bringing the family pictures, but they are on the second floor so they should still be there. One close friend of mine who live(d) in Chalmette - downriver from the city - e-mailed a news photo showing where her house had been. She has lost everything she ever owned, so I must count myself extremely fortunate. -
I have been totally awed and humbled by the outpouring of care and concern from al my cyberfriends. DH is just astounded - didn't really realise the bond which turns us all into family.
Are there any posters near where I am now? If so, please get in touch.
Now to figure out how to post this message on the other boards rather than typing it out again.
With love and very grateful thanks
Olwyn Mary NOT in New Orleans.