Interested in hearing 2005 Hurricane Season Survivor stories

[cajungal]

If anyone rode out Katrina, Rita, Wilma, etc... I would be interested in hearing your story. Interested in hearing stories from record breaking 2005 season. If it is too painful to tell your story, I understand. Because I don't want to upset anybody.

My story is not much to tell. Because I am one of the lucky ones. When Katrina exploded quickly into a 5, I never heard so much panic in my parents voices. They were screaming, we must leave! We never ever left for a storm before. A few tracks had it going straight over Terrebonne Parish. Terrebonne Parish was soon under a mandatory evacuation. But, I found out later, more stayed than left here. We evacuated to my aunt and uncles house in Ville Platte, Louisiana. Central Louisiana but away from the coast. A nearly 3 hour drive. My dad knew all the back roads. So we did not have to be stuck on the interstate in gridlock. I was scared. We arrived in Ville Platte safely and I quickly alerted storm2k that I was safe. My grandparents, uncle and 10-year old cousin arrived also at the house. They live in Picayune, MS which is right over the MS/LA state line. My aunt who lives in Kenner also showed up. And she brought her elderly friend with her who lives in New Orleans. I tried to shelter my 10-year old cousin from thoughts of the storm. She is very smart and she knew. But, I did not want to her to worry about losing her home and all her possesions. She is just a child and I wanted to protect her. My aunt's elderly lady friend started crying. And I tried my best to comfort her even though it almost made me cry with her. I could not believe my eyes. For years everyone kept talking about the big one for New Orleans. And it was really happening. Only 11 days before the 40 year anniversary of Betsy. I stayed up almost all night unable to sleep worrying about what was going on at home. I watched the terrified looks of the extremly long lines of the people going into the Superdome on TV. Many of them children. I kept wondering what is going to become of all these people? My heart ached for what was going to happen.

We went home 2 days later. My parish of Terrebonne was mostly spared. We got cat 1 80 mph winds. Just 50 miles more to the west and we would of been toast. Just saw tons of trees down. But, very minor damage to homes. Just plenty of roof damage and many no damage at all. Our house did not sustain any damage at all. Not even a roof shingle was missing. We had no power, but I did not complain. Even though the heat was around 96 degrees. I knew people were going through a lot worse than having no power. And it made me angry when some people would complain about something so petty. My dad cranked up our generator. It was the first time we used that generator since Andrew knocked our power for over a week in 1992. We went to Lowes which was one of the very few stores open in town. We bought their last window AC unit. It got hooked up in my parents bedroom. I just layed down in my parents bedroom a lot next to the AC. I had my battery operated TV on constantly to hear the latest on New Orleans and the MS gulf coast. The news was unbelievable. Water was rising and New Orleans would be forever changed. I cried for about a week or more after the storm. I got very depressed. Power was restored to my home about 3 days later.

About a week after Katrina, my dad went with his 2 brothers to MS. They were going check on my grandparents and uncles home in Picayune, MS. The news was a miracle! They live in the rural part of Picayune away from town and it is very hilly. So the surge missed them. Not even a roof shingle was missing! Amazing! Even though it was nearly 2 months before they could return home due to no power, phone, or running water. My 10-year old cousin had to attend school in Ville Platte, Louisiana for those 2 months.

The news was not so good for my aunt. Her house was flooded in Kenner. But, was not a total loss. They had to just strip their carpets and moved back in shortly before Christmas. But, the news could not be worse for her elderly lady friend. Her house was near the levee break and was totally destroyed from the water. She lived in that house for many years and it even survived Betsy. She is over 70 years old and has to start completly over. I went to Destin, Florida on a vacation with her and my aunt only 2 weeks before Katrina. We were together for a whole week and I grew close to her. She is now living with my aunt in Kenner. Anyone else has stories to share from the 2005 season? It can be any storm experience from the 2005 season. Katrina, Rita, Dennis, Wilma, etc...

[ROCK]

Just a suggestion. You might want to move this to the Aftermath forum....

[cajungal]

Then the mods are going to have to move it. It is way too long for me to delete it and try to type everything all over again

[RattleMan]

Then the mods are going to have to move it. It is way too long for me to delete it and try to type everything all over again

You can use Copy and Paste. Assuming you don't know how to, and are using Microsoft's Windows, point your mouse right next to the first letter of your post, then hold down the left mouse button and move your mouse downwards. The text should become blue. Now, do that all the way down to the end of your post, and then let go of the left mouse button. Now, right click on a blue part, and click "Copy". Now, if you right-click on the area where you regularly type your post, you can see an option called "Paste". Click that, and your text is copied!

[LaPlaceFF]

Check this out cajungal

http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=76841

[cajungal]

Thanks, Laplace. I just read it and I am sorry about your dad. I love to write and love to read others stories. I really want to go back to school and major in journalism.

[cajungal]

I can't believe I did not get any responses. Maybe not too many looking at the tropical weather forum.

[Ixolib]

I can't believe I did not get any responses. Maybe not too many looking at the tropical weather forum.

I want to submit my story, but it just seems so long if I'm to do it any real justice. I hope to find a moment down the road someplace where I can add the whole thing to this thread, but for now, it's still 12-15 hours a day repairing and remodeling this house - with a few S2K breaks in between.... Keep hope alive!!

[cajungal]

I can't believe I did not get any responses. Maybe not too many looking at the tropical weather forum.

I want to submit my story, but it just seems so long if I'm to do it any real justice. I hope to find a moment down the road someplace where I can add the whole thing to this thread, but for now, it's still 12-15 hours a day repairing and remodeling this house - with a few S2K breaks in between.... Keep hope alive!!

I totally understand. Would be interested in hearing it when you have the time. Good look in repairing your house. And I am sorry for all what you had to go through.