Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles

I am in a state of utter shock and disbelief, but as far as I know, Tom & Mark and family are alive in Picayune, as we’ve had no reports of any deaths there.

The last time I spoke with Tom was about 10 p.m. Sunday night and he had left the newspaper and had gone back over to Mark’s house (about 1 mile directly east toward, and near I-59) to wait out the hurricane, and I cannot tell you how thankful I am that they were all together and that Tom had not stayed alone at the newspaper.

Before I go any further, for those who might want to help, other than water, medical supplies and food (in Picayune), what is probably needed most is money, so that when it is cleared out enough, supplies can be purchased from elsewhere to bring in. More on that later.

I am now writing to you from Grand Prarie, Texas from my stepdaughter’s (Kristine) house. I am leaving here sometime later this morning to drive west to Abilene to stay with my mother (and sister, Laura Holland) until I can regroup and try to make some kind of sense out of all I’ve seen on TV since arriving here last night.

I had no knowledge of any of what had happened anywhere since about noon on Monday, while it was all still going on.

We have no word at all from Tom & Mark and family, but from other information we’ve gotten from people in Picayune, Mark’s neighborhood "fared pretty well." His home is on very high ground with only one tree close enough to have possibly hit the house, so I’m presuming (hopefully) that the only damage would have come from extraordinary winds that came through at 140 mph.

There is no means of communication in the state of Mississippi south of I-20, which runs across the middle of the state through Jackson, over to Meridian to the east (get your maps out or online as I blog from now on and I’ll try to tell you all I know and where).

The hurricane tracked up Interstate 59 all the way from Picayune to Meridian (where it was still a Category 1 hurricanne, as in Jackson). No roads or highways are open south of I-20, which is some 150 miles are so north of Picayune and the coast (and Slidell).

I left Jackson (Brandon) yesterday morning (a gorgeous cooler, sunny morning) about 11:15 a.m. in about 30 minutes after we learned that Sam’s power would not be back for 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. I had perishable insulin that needs refrigeration, along with all of my other vast medical needs from my diabetes and heart condtions, and made the decision to get on the road to come out here to Kristine’s until I had time to think further.

I was on I-20 all the way across (they live just south of I-20 in Grand Prarie) and there were masses of people all the way from Jackson into Texas.

There is no power in most of the state of Mississippi and won’t be anywhere for quite a long time (as in weeks and months). Gasoline was scarce along I-20 until about West Monroe or Ruston.

I have not slept much and every conscious thought is of Tom & Mark, Lynn, Z0e and Hannah and what they must be trying to endure. I only hope that outside help arrives as quickly as possible and that when they can finally get out, they can leave going north to Jackson and then perhaps out here to Texas with the little ones.

While ago I saw the mayor of Slidell on CNN and most of the city has been under water (five feet downtown and the post office), even our hospital on Gause Boulevard, the main street all the way across Slidell from east to west.

(By the way, we are getting very good, detailed information from "politics.technorati.com/search/slidell" (or picayune or mandeville, which is where I am a member of Tammany Oaks Church of Christ).

I know that where the Old Spanish Trail congregation is located on the south side of Slidell, it was under at least five feet or more of water.

The water in Slidell is all from the storm surge from Lake Ponchartrain, coming north.

Tom and I live(d) just 3 blocks north of I-12, just one mile west of the I-12, I-10, I-59 split (interchange – look at a map, even all all weather channel radar, the maps show that intersection as a cross – + – just northeast across the east end of Lake Ponchartrainn).

As I wrote before leaving home, our home has flooded twice (1995 – 12", 2001 – 4") from excessive rain, but rain totals there this time apparently were not bad. Plus, we have read one blog post from someone in Slidell who has seen the front of our subdivision (we are two blocks directly north) who says that neighborhood is intact, taking no water, and all of the houses (from there) appear to be all right!

If that is true, it is God’s direct hand, indeed, and incredibly good news.

However, I do know that a bowling alley approximatelly 3/4 mile to thee east of our frontage road was heavily damaged by a tornado. But, the eyewitness to our subdivision was very specific and detailed, so I am praying it is so.

We have many dear friends and some extended family in Slidell, Mandeville, Picayune and over on the gulf coast in Long Beach (just west of Gulfport), Gulfport and Biloxi, as well as New Orleans, Metairie and Kenner.

There will be no way anyone will be able to learn news of anyone else until at least months, if ever (for those south of Lake Ponchartrain or who may have stayed on the coast).

The magnitude of this devestation is beyond comprehension. Beyond the ability of words to convey or of the mind to even assimilate. Interstate 10 going south from Slidell to New Orleans across the east end of Lake Ponchartrain is completely GONE!!

Every one of our doctors and their families live in Slidell.

The mayor of Slidell said this morning on CNN that it will be at least three months before electric power can be restored. That is one quarter of this year, taking us past Thanksgiving!!

Right now I have no idea when I will be able to even speak with Tom and Mark, much less get to see them again. I cannot tell you how heartsick I am over this, yet thankful to God for the little good news I have learned.

Picayune will be able to recover and go on in timee, but I have grave doubts about New Orleans ever recovering or the Mississippi gulf coast. Very grave. Life as everyone has lived it for years and years and years is totally gone.

There is no city of New Orleans.

I have been reminded, since Sunday evening in Jackson watching revelers on TV on Bourbon Street in New Orleans drinking and being totally blaise about the hurricane, of the end of the world and their utter unpreparedness for that impending doom. Indeed, the world has ended totally and abruptly and completely for more than one million people, at least.

I will be driving over to Abilene later today and will next post from my mom’s house or my sister’s, Lord willing.

Please pray for God’s mercy on Tom and Mark and family, in particular, the rest of our family and all who are suffering and homeless in grave conditions.

Be sure that I have been greatly sustained with the knowledge that all of you and many others have been lifting up prayers to our Father on our behalf. The nights have been long and dark, but I have not felt alone. God has stayed with me and kept me safe, thus far (despite a few physical problems), with help all along the way.

I pray that He has kept Tom and Mark and family safe thus far, too.

The moment I hear word of them I will let you know.