Attached Link: http://sharkrey.deviantart.com/journal/6389054/

The link is for a journal I have at DA telling a little about my Katrina experience.

This is a tough situation. Y'all pray for us, and send water, ice, food, gas, money...or come help.

I'll be glad to go into details about my what my Katrina time was (is) like if y'all want. Let me know...

Gary

Hi Gary Thank goodness you are OK, we only have to look at the images on TV to realise how horrendous the situation is - our hearts go out to you (doesn't seem much to offer at the moment) but I am sure everyone will join together and pray for the safety and recovery from the devastation. Take care my friend Hugzz Judi :O)

Oh, Gary, I'm so glad you are ok! You have my deepest sympathy! Living in Florida, I know all about the devastation of hurricanes. But nothing I've ever experienced in my 57 years comes close to what is going on in Mississippi and Louisiana right now! I'm glad you are ok for now, Gary, and I pray things continue to improve in your area, even while they continue to deline in others. My heart and prayers reach out to all of the victims on Katarina. Please keep us posted. Florida is having gas shortage problems, too. They are anticipating that the school buses will stop running on Tuesday, although they won't be suspending school. People are starting to find when they get up in the morning that all the gas has been syphoned out of their vehicles. We live in a condo, and there are lots of cars parked row after row in the open, so it's easy pickin's for gas theft. It's times like these that the best and the worst of humanity are made evident! Bless you and yours, Gary, and please keep us posted. Linda

good to hear youre ok but the area looks absolutely horrific. we can not do very much from europe except supporting financial, but we do what is possible. hang on in there. monica.

So glad you came through with your life. I am wondering about Joey Dude also, as I believe he lived in N.O. I get the most horrible feelings inside as I see the pictures on TV of the destruction rendered by Katrina. All these people are in my prayers for their survival.

I'm relived and thankful to hear that you survived this horrendous catastrophe, Gary, and I hope and pray all your family members are ok, as well. There's such a feeling of helplessness here, but you and Joe and all the people in the devastated areas are in my thoughts and prayers. Our church has sent many supplies already, and I'm going to try to spearhead an organized effort in our local ward (congregation) to put together care packages with small necessities to send. Please tell me what you think is needed most. It's heart-wrenching to see the images on TV of what you all are going through..but also heart-warming to see and hear stories of rescues..and see how so many individuals and organizations are pooling their resources and manpower to help (though I'm disheartened and even angry about the government's slow response). I'm going to check out your journal at Deviant Art now. God bless you and everyone so affected. Linda

Good to hear you're ok. Hard to comprehend what's going on. Heard on the news that there are so many casualties. Just glad you're not one of them. But you're not "out of the woods" yet. Hope that help is on the way. Take care. Yvonne

Thank you all for your kind prayers, thoughts, and help. gumbykat: What's happening is that folks are scared and the panic factor is coming into play. This is going to be felt probably everywhere, but particularly in the SE US. Gas is $7 a galllon in Dallas, $6 in Atlanta...which effects everything else...food prices going to rise, that sort of thing. We need to expect to be pushed out of our comfort zones for a while to come. kansas: Yep, JoeyDude is from N.O. I can only pray that he got out in time. I work for the MS highway dept. and was involved in the evacuation Sat and Sun before the storm. The authorities in N.O. were very clear...LEAVE!!! NOW!!! So if someone was able, they did. We had estimated traffic of 1.5 million cars on US59 Sunday before the storm. fractalinda: You go girl!!! You are on the right track, local churches being probably the best practical way to help. Needed are the very basics: drinking water, and more dinking water, and oh yeah, did I mention water? Plus non-perishable food, diapers, clothes, etc. Just imaging if you suddenly had nothing...I mean nothing...what would you need? That's where most folks are at. mountmous: You're right...it's going to take months for us locally, years for folks farther south to recover. But today is better than yesterday, and tomorrow will be better than today. Again, thank you all, continue to pray, help if you can, remember us next week, and the week after, and the week after... G

Good luck guy. I'm too old to drop work and run out and play hero, but we sent a donation to the Red Cross on Tuesday. After the way we got blasted in Orlando last year you have my heart felt sympathies. Mike

I can only imagine the horrors. The pictures we see on TV in England are sickening in the least. It is very hard to understand why aid was not given earlier when we know what a wealthy country in every way America is. Not to apportion blame, just a wish for all of you that it is soon resolved. I know life will never be the same for you. God help you, no-one deserves to go through what we have seen.

I'm very glad that you're ok, Gary, and would like to hear about your experiences. We have scouted around looking for a local, reputable charity and located the KY Baptist Convention based in Louisville. They have a 2000 person Disaster Relief squad that is specifically trained to be first responders in disasters, irregardless of the location. They currently have at least 70 persons on the ground in Mississippi and have had for several days, so we sent a donation to them. Please let me know if you encounter them or hear about them down there. Take care and it would be great to hear some updates about the ongoing efforts in your area. Stephanie

It's great to know you're ok, Gary! I can't say anything that hasn't been said already. Just you and your family (and everybody else there) are in my thoughts. Barb

Just got back in town - REAL glad to hear you're ok, Gary. Got back here just in time to be stressing about Ophelia right off the beach but what we had around here last year was just an inconvenience - nothing compared to what y'all are going thru over there. If I don't have a new job in the next 3 weeks I'm thinking of heading out your way to see if they need a "strong back and weak mind" while my severence is in effect. Good luck and stay safe, man. Now, we just have to find Joey... Rick

Hey all, Life is actually returning to normal in my neck of the woods. Gas and groceries are in fair supply, power back for most folks. Day by day, things are getting better. Mike: appreciate ya, buddy! Jennyfnf: You can bet there will be a lot of finger-pointing...But there are a lot of real reasons why help was delayed. Stephanie: KY Baptist Convention is a good organization. And they are definitely on the ground helping. Most are working with the Red Cross feeding folks. Barb: Thank you, ma'am. Rick: You can bet they can use some help. Labor intensive right now, but more specialized as the months go on. Poke around with area MEMA (MS Emergency Management Agency) offices and they can direct you to companies that are hiring. And again, I appreciate everone's thoughts and prayers. We're doing fine locally, but it's going to be a long road for the folks further south. G

Gary, So glad life is getting back on track for you, however slowly. We need to know now that Joe is safe. So close by words, so far in miles. Wish there was more we could do.