[chalmette70043]

Hi ya'll. I wanna thank you all for going through this with me. I havent had access to the internet for days now. Sorry i couldn't personally tell ya'll what was giong on. But, i want to thank Muffy, Bluevixen, Hallie and Sabby for passing messages on.

We heard early yesterday morning we could go back home, so hit the road from Jackson, Mississippi to St. Bernard. On the way we heard on the radio the state police were turning people away at the state line and telling them to turn around and go back to where they came from. We ended up stopping at a rest area and sat there for a few hours trying to figure out what to do. We decided to head towards the Imperial Palace Casino on the back bay in Biloxi. Their parking garage is covered and we could sleep in the truck there. I was able to get in touch with the casino and was told that every single casino was closed down by the gaming commission till further notice. Even garages.

So we kept going south on 49 and when we got to the highway 49 and I-10 area, we started looking for a hotel. We found one here and will stay two nights. Last night and tonite.

We are getting ready to head down to the parish to check the house. We have no idea what to expect. According to our parish president, we did not substain any major damage that they could see. I"m just hoping all our windows are intact. When we left i did not see one house boarded up anywhere, even businesses. The way they built this storm up to be bigger and worse than Katrina we all knew what was gonna happen, so why board up.

The early info we were getting was bad. All word of mouth. They were saying nothing on CNN, etc about us. So phone calls to family and friends and others at the hotel was the only info. I apologize for flipping out on ya'll, but hearing that info. well.......

I have my digital still camera and all three batteries are just about dead. I am going to take what pics i can till it dies. I will post what i can get tonite. Then i'm going to have to pull out my video camera(thats gonna be major for me. I hope i dont get triggered by looking through that viewfinder. I havent since the first time i saw my house after Katrina).

We are being told that we will not have water, power or gas for at least a week. We have a generator. Today, if the ice chests are still there we will bring two back with us to Gulfport and get groceries to bring home tommorrow. We have a generator to run the fridge. But, will be internet free for i guess 1-2 weeks.

Ya'll there are a few other members here that went through the storm too. And in the same position as me. Please pray for them also. This is going to be a long ride for us all.

We are all already keeping a good eye out on Hannah, Ike, Josephine(?) and that other one that just came off the African coast. Keep your thoughts and prayers out there for Florida and the Carolinas, looks like Hannah is going to hit them all.

I have to go now, heading home in just a minute and need to get me some coffee. Cant do without my coffee. lol

I will post when i get back here this evening/night.

Thank you and love you all

love
chalmette

jeeze this is confusing this new way here. lol

[sabby]

(((((((((((( Chalm )))))))))))))

So good to hear from you hon...thanks for taking a few moments to post.

I know it's hard to think that they built the storm up to be worse than it was. But hon, if it did hit bad like Katrina, and you had stayed, you would have been in a world of hurt or worse.....way better to be safe than sorry in my eyes!

Mother Nature is a fickle woman....one can never know exactly what she holds for anyone.....I do pray that there is minimal damage to your home and that whatever happened is easily repaired.

Be safe on the road....take your time. You are continually in my prayers hon.

[wanttoheal]

(((((((((((((Chalmette and others from Gustav)))))))))))))
So glad to hear from you and to hear that you are safe! Thank you for letting us know what's going on and how you are doing.

I just can't imagine how hard that was for you to leave and wonder if you had anything to come back to. I am so hoping that everything is intact, including the windows.

Please be safe going back. We look forward to hearing from you again soon.
:Heart::Heart::Heart:

[chalmette70043]

We made it to the house and found no serious damage. Some plants down. Alot of stuff blown into the yard. But no broken windows and the roof made it through perfectly.

Some of my neighbors didnt fare so well. They had some roof damage and some cosmetic damage.

I'm going to post pics of my house and my neighbors.

Compared to Katrina, these pics look like nothing.

[(JD)]

So glad you're safe!

[wanttoheal]

Woo hoo! Good news! I'm so glad for you Chalmette. I hope the neighbor's houses can be fixed up quickly with no problems.
:Heart::Heart::Heart:

[Christina86]

(((((((((((Chalmette)))))))))))))) Glad you're safe

[HALLIEBETH87]

yay! my friend is home safe! *HUGGLE*

[free2beme]

So glad all is well and you are able to be home again

[sabby]

:Heart:

Glad to hear you are home safe and sound and everything is in pretty good shape. Thanks for letting us know (((((((( chalm ))))))


sabby

Sweetie I am soooooo happy you are back, safe and there hasn't been too much damage ..... my heart goes out to your neighbours ..... we've been thinking about you here and praying for your safety, love you ...... tc Jinny xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

big extra HUG

[chalmette70043]

Not home yet. It was so hot and with the mosquitos we couldnt stay there. We just heard on the news it could be 2-3 weeks before we get power on. The city and Jefferson parish are at the top of the list and of course, ****** *** St. bernard is at the bottom.

Sorry, just a little mad. Watching the local news aint a good idea. Plus im drowning myself to get away from it.

I want to sleep in my bed again.

[ECHOES]

Chalmette, I hope you get home to sleep in your own bed very soon!

I hope you get power sooner than expected and I'm glad you are safe!

[MyBestKids2]

I am so happy you are safe, have been thinking of you so much!!

(((Chalmette)))



Dee

[AAAAA]

(((((Chal))))) I pray for you and all of the people going through the same thing. Stay safe!

[Kiya]

(((((((((((((((((((Chal))))))))))))))))))))) that is GREAT news!!! Now hoping the same for all those other huge storms!!!! Keep yourself safe out there!!! (and same for everyone else going through this!!!!)
hugs! Kiya

[eskielover]

<P>((((((((((((Chalmette))))))))))))),</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>Prayers have been answered that you are safe &amp; your home went through undamaged.&nbsp; Everything else is just nuisance junk that comes along with it living in an area where Mother nature hits that way.</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>It's like when we choose to live on top of a serious earthquake fault that goes off every few years.....there are just some things that become a part of life as long as as chose to live in areas of Mother Natures paths.</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>It's important to look at the blessings we have &amp; how much damage didn't occur....you will get through this.&nbsp; It will&nbsp; pass into the past &amp; into your memory.&nbsp; Please take care of yourself now.&nbsp; Drowning yourself won't change what is......so please take care......as that just adds another level of problems on top of the situation.</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>We love you &amp; care......so please take care of yourself,</P>
<P>Debbie</P>

[bipolar_bear]

I hope power is returned faster than expected. Soon you will be back in your own home.

BB

(((((chalm)))))))))))))))))))))))))
please keep yourself safe...
I know this has been so hard on you
I hope the power is restored fast
My prayers are still with you my friend
Your a strong person
Muffy

[chalmette70043]

This is actually funny now that its over and done with.

Last night my parents and i went off for a few hours to get out of the hotel room and just do something. When we got back just before midnight, there was a letter taped to our door saying as soon as we return to see the director of security. So my dad a i went down to the front desk and the director came out. He said that Bayou was barking and the people in the room next to us made a complaint. It was 10:10 the director said when it happened.

There is a nightclub in this hotel and there are a bunch of kids on vacation here. The past two nights we've been here, they are loud as hell walking back to their rooms. I think that noise is what caused Bayou to bark. Otherwise he lays down and goes to sleep.

Anyway, the director told us he knows we are evacuees but we have to be out of the hotel by this morning. My dad went down there about 5am this morning and spoke with him again. There was an agreement made that Bayou was not to be left alone and we could stay. But unknown to this guy, is that Bayou is still going to bark if people act loud and unruly right outside our door.

He's a chihuahua, thats what they do. They protect with big mouths and no bite.

[HALLIEBETH87]

yep......those little doggies are LOUD. I grew up with one named, Pebbles....daggone dog never shut up. lol

[Fuzzybear]

(((((((((((((( chalmette ))))))))))))))
:Heart: :Heart: :Heart:

[Irine]

Glad to know you are safe. Hope the house is o.k,too.

[chalmette70043]

Just announced on tv. Like they said st bernard will be at the bottom of the list, well they aint lied. we are the bottom of the bottom. the earliest power will be on is the 15th. but they expect it to take up to the 29th to actually be able to say it will be on.

The cell phone towers were all knocked down in the parish, so i will also be unable to use my cell phone.

I'm sorry i wont be able to have any contact after this saturday. But we have no choice, we cant afford to stay at a hotel any longer than that. And no FEMA wont work. They've already turned us down for help.

So no gas for another 9 days, have to boil water, and power betweeen the 15th and 29th.

Ya'll will probably be able to smell us from where you are.

[eskielover]

Chalmette,
I have to laugh at your little barking doggie.....I have 6 american eskimo doggies.....they were bread as perimeter guard dogs....to warn if anything comes even close to the house. It works....when a bird flys over.....they bark......if the cows come into the pasture across the street & start moving around....they bark. They bark when the little mice come into the kitchen where 3 of them are located.......they bark to get my attention for anything. I always take 3 of them with me everywhere...& have spent many days in hotels with them.....same thing happens with mine.....asked to keep them quiet or please leave. Most times they end up in the truck with me & not staying alone in the room....but in the real hot summer, that's impossible also. It's amazing what we do for our doggies & yes, they bark even when we are there.....but everyone feels better when the bark if followed by a shushhh----quiet!!!!!!.....lol.

I would think they would help out with hotel costs while you can't live in your houses? The 15 is only 10 days, but the 29th??????oh my.....I couldn't handle it that long without a shower.......I love backbacking & roughing it but there's a limit to my tolerance of myself & how cruddy I feel.

will be sniffing to see how your power is doing,
Debbie