Safe in Dallas
It is now 5:00 pm Dallas time and I just woke up. As you have already read in Tom’s posts, the last 24 hours have been eventful (now there’s an understatement!). As you already know, I was in New Orleans for an Executive Committee meeting with David Kistle, Glenda Holmes, Mark Schumann, Scott Cytron and Julie Freeman as hurricane Katrina was churning in the Gulf. We were all hoping - along with the millions of people along the Gulf coast - that Katrina would turn or loose power but it was not to be.
Throughout our meeting on Saturday, we kept checking weather forecasts and airline schedules. As parish after parish declared voluntary or mandatory evacuations, we all began to think about exit strategies. Mark was scheduled to fly out late on Saturday but was able to move his flight up. Glenda, who was in the area with her family, was able to hook up and get out of town late Saturday afternoon. That left Scott, David, Julie and I.
Julie found out late Saturday that her next day flight had been cancelled and rescheduled for Monday. David and Scott checked and their flights on Sunday were still on. I had been planning to stay on for the week to visit with Charles Pizzo and speak to a meeting of IABC New Orleans. As the situation worsened, Charles and his mother wisely evacuated very early Sunday morning.
Julie and I discussed what to do and decided to hunker down in the hotel but Charles kept calling to urge us to “get out of Dodge”. Late Saturday evening, Julie and I talked and decided that first thing in the morning we would try to find a rental car and head north. Cut to Sunday morning. Scott and David headed to the airport early. Scott got lucky. His flight was on time and he got out. David was not so lucky. His flight was cancelled so he headed back to the hotel to join Julie and I. Julie called me at 9:00 am and said she could only find one car but she turned it down because they would only rent it if it was returned later in the week to New Orleans. She had forgotten I was planning to be in the area until early next week so she quickly phoned the company back. Her next call was, “pack and be in the lobby in 15 minutes or we won’t get the car.” I threw things together and headed down - to be greeted by David in the lobby. The three of us threw our bags in the car and we were off to join the millions of people heading out of New Orleans.
On the advice of the folks at the car rental company, we headed north - across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway toward Jackson, Mississippi then west to Shreveport, Louisiana (to drop David off for an early Monday morning flight) and then on to Dallas, Texas so Julie could catch an 8:00 am flight. We hit Shreveport around 1:30 am Monday morning and Dallas around 5:00 am - 19 bumper-to-bumper hours later. After dropping Julie, I headed to the nearest coffee spot to wait for a while before touching base with Scott to get directions to his home. I arrived at Scott’s around 7:00 am and following a short visit and a long shower, fell into bed. I considered writing a post then but, to be honest, it seemed more important to sleep!
I am now up and around, watching the devastating images from New Orleans, catching up on how everyone is and trying to sort though it all. My heart goes out to Charles and his family, the entire IABC family in New Orleans and throughout the are and to the millions of people affected by this horrific storm. The last 24 hours have been a roller coaster. So many images will be seared in my mind forever - all lanes of an Interstate highway filled to capacity with people leaving their lives behind and not knowing what will be waiting for them when they return, a convoy of ambulances heading into the city to help respond to the wrath of Katrina, roadside rest areas overflowing with people who left their homes with no place to stay at the other end of their journey, television images of a beautiful city blown apart and flooded. So much to think about.
Over the next few hours, I will sort out my own plans so stay tuned for updates. In the meantime, thanks for taking me in Scott and to all of the IABC people out there, please use the Cafe to let us know how you are doing. Know that our thoughts are with you.
August 29th, 2005 at 3:16 pm
It’s great to hear you are all OK, safe and sound. I know we’re all keeping Charles, his mother and other IABC/New Orleans members in our prayers.
Though this has little to do with professional development, this is one thing that makes IABC such a wonderful association. We’re a global community of colleagues and friends.
August 29th, 2005 at 4:09 pm
I heard from IABC’s friend, Gerard Braud, that he and his family are also safely evacuated, though very uncertain about the state of their home. In one note to me (yesterday), he pointed out the stress of the cleanup as well:
>My home will be destroyed by falling trees. We’ll just
>rebuild and move on. I just bought an electrical generator, gas
>cans and water to prepare for the trip home in a few days. The
>next year will just hell as we fight to find contractors,
>roofers, tree cutters.
I’ve asked him to post his own update as well.
To all of you near, or hoping for people in, the path of this storm, I’ll add my prayers. To Charles, Gerard, John Deveney, and others - stay safe…
August 29th, 2005 at 5:24 pm
I was thinking of Charles this morning as I read the paper. My first thought was to check the IABC Cafe to see if he had provided an update on how he and those in IABC New Orleans are faring and I was not disappointed.
I didn’t realize the Executive Committee was meeting in New Orleans as well and am pleased that you all made it out safely.
You’re right Robert - this is a big family and it is what makes IABC so special.
My prayers are with you Charles.
August 29th, 2005 at 5:28 pm
New Orleans was blessed not to get a direct hit. This morning the storm moved 15 miles to the east and made all the difference in the world. My family safely evacuated Saturday. We won’t know the extent of damage because we won’t be able to go home for several days. We expect heavy damage from trees that likely fell on the house. We expect it to be a week or more before we have electricity. If damaged, it could be weeks or months before we can live there. Because I live north of Lake Pontchartrain, we did not get catistrophic flooding, but may have some water in the house from rain.
The worst has yet to be seen from New Orleans proper and the suburbs. Hundreds are stranded on roof tops. TV has not yet shown this because news crews have not gotten there. In other areas (such as the birth place of Charles Pizzo) as many as 40,000 homes where the storm came ashore will be flooded or distroyed by catistrphic winds.
Saturday was the last time I spoke to Charles. He and his mom headed north. I have not yet seen video from his neighborhood to know if his house flooded.
I’ve received e-mails of concern from from IABC friends in Australia, Canada and across the U.S. It means a lot to us to know you care. Thanks so much. I’m sure many of our members may find they are homeless when they return to the city.
Last night as I e-mailed Jennifer Wah in Canada, I told her I didn’t expect my home to be there today. My optimism has increased because of that simple 15 mile turn by the storm. However, the poor people in the town 15 miles away have experienced catistrophic distruction of their homes. Parts of the town 25 miles away are gone. Complete buildings were blown away and washed out to sea. NOTHING was left.
Pray for the folks down here. This story will likely be out of the news in 48 hours, but many people will have no electricity for months and no homes for a year or more.
August 29th, 2005 at 6:27 pm
New video coming in shows flooding worse than my previous posting.
August 29th, 2005 at 8:00 pm
Good to hear you and your family are safe Gerard. As regular and cell telephone usage is almost non-existent, please use this forum to pass along any information you may have about other IABC members in the area. I talked with Charles earlier this evening and he and his mother are moving tomorrow to a long-stay suite hotel in Fort Worth to be near other family, knowing that it will likely be be some time before they are able to go home.
August 30th, 2005 at 4:43 am
Thank you for keeping us posted during this immensely difficult time. We have all been so concerned for everyone in the area and those travelling to safe spots. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and friends. As your international family of colleagues, we will be alongside as the rebuilding from this devastation begins. Take care and be safe.
August 30th, 2005 at 6:08 am
Clearly, our IABC community is concerned about our friends in New Orleans. Is there an opportunity here to organize an effort from within our ranks to help our colleagues? I know the San Antonio chapter is already planning a food drive or fundraiser.
Ideas? Thoughts?
August 30th, 2005 at 7:06 am
Great idea Lisa. From watching the news this morning, it looks like the area is going to need all the help it can get. I would urge everyone to consider what they can do to help out.
August 30th, 2005 at 8:06 am
Often, relief agencies such as the American Red Cross prefer monetary donations to items such as food or clothes because it is easier for them to deal with. Is there an IABC member with the Red Cross who might be able to guide members/chapters who want to do something to help?
August 30th, 2005 at 12:27 pm
Hell has arrived.
August 30th, 2005 at 12:34 pm
August 30th, 2005 at 8:28 am
HELP. Please, please, please help. This is Gerard Braud. I have evacuated safely from New Orleans, but now I am trying to return home to offer my services as a communicator. Specifically I an trying to get to Covington, Louisiana to help in St. Tammany Parish. The problem is, there is no way to get information to anyone in an official capacity who can get me in to help. I need an official police or emergency vehicle to get from Destin, Florida to Covington, Louisiana. Only official vehicles are allowed on the interstate.
As with most disasters, everyone is busy handling the crisis and no one is communicating. I have a broadcast camera and computer editing in my car. If I can get in, I can drive back out to places with power to get this information out to citizens who need it. ONE MILLION people are trying to get official information and there is NO SOURCE FOR IT. One Million people will be HOMELESS for week and don’t know it yet. I have the tools and the know how. I just need a way in.
If you know anyone, ANYONE, who can help, we need you desperately. I need someone at the Federal FEMA level who can cut through red tape and show interest in my offer to help lift some of the communications burden.
I am currently camped out at an Emergency Operations Center in Florida, where they are trying to help me facilitate my offer.
If you see this posting, please contact me here at 850-651-7560.
My e-mail is not working. I will look for your postings here.
Because the TV networks are showing the same footage over and over, and only a few dramatic interviews, my goal is to gather official information that I can bring back out to TV and Radio Stations, as well as websites, so other evacuations have real info. Official government websites are down because the servers are only based locally and there is no power–there are no phone lines.
We need to think outside the box. I need brain power and the networking capability of this global organization for us to do something BIG.
My evacuation site numbers are as follows:
My cell: May not work-504-908-8188
Elaine Tucker’s Cell-my house host-850-585-7294
My temporary e-mail is gbraud@spamarrest.com I will look for your postings here.
August 30th, 2005 at 5:44 pm
Hi Gerard - wish I could help, but I have no such connections - as a Mandeville resident, I want to commend your effort - we NEED info on the north shore and there just isn’t anyone keeping us informed.
thank you