Lightning Strikes Twice (Hurricane Isaac survival)

[LAwxrgal]

Lightning Strikes Twice

As I write this, I'm in a hurricane shelter in Shreveport, Louisiana. This is somewhere I never thought I'd be. I'm not sure why I'm here, I don't know if it's some kind of divine plan or something or if I'm being punished for some imaginary crime I've committed somewhere a long time ago in the cosmos or something. I know I'm probably rambling, it's 12:30 in the morning, I need a good night's sleep, a hot meal, a warm bath... you know, to return to something resembling normal. But I need to rewind... and tell you how I got here in the first place.
Seven years ago, I survived the process of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana. And now, lightning has struck again.
I probably should have known better. I thought I was done with hurricanes. I thought I could deal with them.
Mother Nature has ways of forcing you to relearn lessons you should have learned a long time ago.
Allow me to rewind the clock one week, on August 25. I'd just attended my aunt's funeral up in the country. Her death was a sad time for all of us, as she was my last living aunt on that side of the family. She would be missed in other ways, too, but more on that later. The funeral expenses also hit us hard in our wallets, leaving us nearly penniless.
I decided to check Storm2K for progress on what was then Tropical Storm Isaac. For days, forecasters had the storm hitting the Florida Panhandle and we in Louisiana had nothing to worry about.
For the second time in seven years, I was wrong -- and this time, nearly dead wrong, as models once again shifted toward Louisiana. I had seen this movie before. It didn't end well.
On Sunday, my sister had gone to my aunt's to help clean up her cottage which would be put up for sale. That was when the very first rumbles about then Tropical Storm Isaac appeared on the local news. But it was only a passing mention, not a grave concern.
However, as the days passed, along with the proximity to the Katrina anniversary, local meteorologists continue to sound alarms. But nothing could prepare me for what would happen next.

(to be continued, my laptop is losing power as I speak and my internet connection is slow to non existent)

[somethingfunny]

Oh my God, LAwxrgal ..... I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to your house. Keep us updated when you can; I know there's many other things on your plate during this time.

It's in times like these that family truly becomes so important. Please let us know if there's anything we can do to help you now.

[artist]

Lawxgrl, I am so sorry. My prayers are with you all.

[Nikki]

Lawxgrl please let us know you are ok as soon as you can! You have been in my thoughts and prayers!!

[artist]

Thinking about you Lawxgrl. Please check in when you can.

[brunota2003]

I asked this in the other thread, figured I would in here too, is there anything we can do to help?

[CajunMama]

I am so deeply saddened to hear what has happened to you and your family. Please know you have our love and support. Like others have said, please tell us if there is anything we can do to help.

[bevgo]

I am so sorry to hear this. You and your family are in my prayers.

[BreinLa]

Oh LA I am so sorry, is there anything we can do let us know

[Nikki]

Has anyone heard from LAwxrgal???

[brunota2003]

I was wondering the same thing. I am sure things are very busy, and might not have time to check in.

[brunota2003]

Anyone heard from LA? Been two months now...

[brunota2003]

Anyone hear anything from our S2K member?

[LAwxrgal]

Hi guys,
Thanks for your concern, and I'm sorry for completely vanishing off the face of the earth! I also apologize for necroposting, I know that's kinda not allowed but I guess I can be excused here... I've been lurking for a bit, but I found my old password so...

To make a very long story very short, I ended up in a hurricane shelter in Shreveport for two days after Lake Pontchartrain paid me a visit in 2012 after Category 1 Hurricane Isaac flooded my house. We were rescued in the thick of night after the fire department did a comb through of our street. It was pitch dark outside (one of these days this will probably be recorded in a book) and rode for six hours with strangers on a chartered bus. I had nieces and nephews on the bus and they kind of looked at the trip like a mini vacation. We're only now getting somewhat back on our feet. I lived with my sister for awhile, then we had to go through a lot of other stuff. I've also been dealing with some health issues, too.

Guys, if there are tropical system warnings posted for your area, you've got to take them seriously. I live a hundred miles inland and my house flooded because of storm surge from the lake and the angle the storm came in. Every house on my street flooded. Every single house on that street took water.