Hurricane Katrina

Thanks to everyone for all of your outpouring of love and support this past week. It ocurred to me yesterday that it was exactly one week ago that I heard Katrina had changed direction and was headed toward the Gulf Coast. The next day as we heard more hurricane reports, it was worse and worse, but I never dreamed Jackson, Mississippi would be hit with a Category 2 Hurricane. But, that was exactly what happened beginning Monday morning and continued all day. We lost power immediately and watched so many trees fall into homes, across roads, into cars that day. It was scary to say the least. It will be months before my yard looks normal again. My power is now restored, so I am SO happy about that. I promised myself I would never complain about a high electric bill again. You haven't lived until you go several days without air conditioning in our high temperature/high humidity state! Also, at night, no power means no lights and I mean, it's so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face.

A small town on the coast called Waveland is gone. It's hard for me to comprehend that, but it's true. My husband was due to play in a golf tournament in Biloxi next weekend. I think he would be happy to know his beloved golf course is still there, but, of course, we know it's not. The casinos (12 of them) employ 14,000 people in Mississippi and they are all without jobs. That is just one aspect of the impact of how our economy will suffer.

We are running out of gas. My husband waited 4 1/2 hours to put gas in his car. I am using my bike a lot now. At the gas stations, armed National Guard troops guard the stations and are ordered to shoot to kill anyone who tries to steal gas. In Hattiesburg, (an hour south of here) a brother shot and killed his own sister. They were arguing about who would receive the last bag of ice.

One of my employees is looking for her Dad, Step-Mom, sister and 2 nephews. They lived a little south of New Orleans and there has been no contact.

My neighbor lost 13 horses. Countless chicken houses have been destroyed---last count was over 20,000 chickens gone. Today I ran into a lady at WalMart who asked me about if children here wore uniforms to school. She is going to enroll her children in school here while she decides what she is going to do with the rest of her life. She no longer has a home in New Orleans and cried when she told me she didn't have room to bring her dogs with her, so she had to leave them at home. I cried with her.

In fact, I go to sleep crying and wake up crying. There is so much sadness.

A good thing I just found out is that the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans is OK! I was shocked because it's right on the water. Also, the New Orleans Zoo only lost 4 birds and the rest of the zoo is OK. (It's also on the water.) I am thrilled about that because the zoo has always been a favorite place of mine to visit. I always liked to ride the boat to the zoo. I liked to roam the French Quarter, I liked to talk to the very unique people who live there. I loved to eat at Emeril's restaurant and Commander's Palace. I loved Mardi Gras and I loved Fat Tuesday. I love New Orleans and I feel like a part of me died.

As far as looting in New Orleans, people need to realize that gangs have ALWAYS been around down there. That is nothing new. Crime has always been high down there.

Right now, I am watching a couple from New Orleans who are living in our colloseum.

They were supposed to get married in New Orleans, but couldn't, so the wedding is taking place right now in the coliseum! Of course, the place is packed with refugees, so they have thousands to watch them get married. Several restaurants are providing all the food. It looks like fun.

The company I work for had a 300 unit apartment complex in Gulfport. The downstairs residents literally swam for their lives when the storm surge hit. There are so many people at these apartments who had no insurance and have only the clothes on their back left. If anyone who reads this would like to help a specific person at this apartment complex, send me an e-mail and I will be glad to give you the information. I know the Red Cross is taking donations, but I can give you specific names and you will be able to put a name (and hopefully, a photograph, too) with who you are helping and that would help to make it a little more personal.

Paulette Gunn
Jackson, Mississippi
Tweet