Say a prayer for the Big Easy

[Realist]

I'm not normally a very devout or religious fellow but trying to get my mind off of New Orleans tonight. I thought there probably wasn't a better place than to have the christian conference mates include my family tonight. I'm originally from the town, and have over 60 relatives that live there, right next to Lake Ponchatrain. All of them are out except a cousin that is missing with no transportation in the city (he's in the french quarter trying to get to the superdome). For those that don't know, N.O. sits below sea level and the potential loss of life and basically the entire city if it gets hit head on is enormous. May be heading down there at the end of the week depending on what happens.

[HarrisburgFlame]

You've ome to the right place. The Prayer Warriors will be out in force tonight. Glad to hear most of your family made it out. I hope the city won't sustain too much damage. But buildings can be re-built - I am more concerned about the lives of those who cannot leave or who ended up stranded there.

All we can do is pray - hope is not a strategy - prayer is.

[PAmedic]

Hoping and praying for the best here:

some updates on the storm

But the city did get a bit of good news: Katrina was edging slightly to the east, which would put the western eyewall — the weaker side of the strongest winds — over the city, which lies below sea level.

[PAmedic]

Realist, hope you're family is ok- Superdome on partial power initially and supposedly now restored but no power in the French Quarter at this time. let us know what you hear.

[ATrain]

Levees are holding...lets pray the water stays below them

[Realist]

We haven't heard much as phone lines are down or tied up one---and this is trying to call
Shreveport where they evacuated to. Looks like it won't be the worst case scenario with it moving east of the city, but the next hour will tell. The winds are blowing north to south on ponchartrain toward the city. Some of the family lives in Metarie a suburb where the western eyewall is about to pass. Everyone should be ok health wise, it looks like the biggest worry right now are the homes in metarie. Thanks guys.

[PAmedic]

you got it bro, update us as you hear.

[Sly Fox]

It appears New Orleans is getting the brunt of the storm, but that doesn't mean prayers aren't still needed. It never ceases to amaze me that more people don't lose their lives in these hurricanes. And I believe prayers are a big reason why.

[HarrisburgFlame]

New Orleans could not withstand a direct hit. My prayer was simply that the storm would not hit the city directly. Now we just have to pray that those left behind will see Tuesday morning.

That said, off to New Jersey for a meeting. Go Flames!

[Realist]

The east side of New Orleans proper is under six feet of water with people on the rooftops after levees were breached. I think the west side is still relatively without flooding. Lots of structure damage. It should be letting up soon hopefully.

[BaldSpot]

We probably have a number of alumni in the area. I know Mike Montoro is the SID at Southern Miss. I heard they cancelled this week's game and there are apparently a lot of casualities in the area.

[PAmedic]

Getting worse by the moment down there, hoping for the best at this point.

[Sly Fox]

There are certainly a ton of hurting people there who probably lost everything they have including a job. And that doesn't even touch on the countless lives lost and the families still looking for loved ones. This tragedy seems to get worse by the hour with no end in sight. I know many of you feel like you are along way from New Orlenas & Southern Mississippi. But I live in a city that is loaded with refugees and you can't miss them everywhere. Its been a great opportunity for witness and ministry. But at the same time, its heartwrenching to see all these people who have no idea if their family members are dead or alive.

[PAmedic]

And from an Emergency Mgtmt standpoint, having your main evacuation point (Superdome) disintegrating before your eyes, w/ NO sanitary facilities, power or water, is devatating. A logisitics NIGHTMARE of proportions not seen since 9/11 (WTC). God bless the FD, PD and EMS along w/ military and others down there risking life and limb to save others.

[Realist]

Talked to my 17 year old cousin who hitched a ride into slidell talking his way through 3 checkpoints. Apparently my family's houses are somehow, barring minor damage, ok so far. He's back out now and heading for Shreveport. The worst news is yet to come. I expect there to be deaths in the hundreds, maybe more, once they actually release a figure and sickness and injury is going to absurd with the contamination that is going on. So far my family has been really fortunate. I don't expect that to be the case for the majority.

Some of the things my cousin saw: Gas floating on top of the flooding in certain areas, a few gators in the middle of a once street. People still waving from rooftops to get out.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

[Sly Fox]

I have a friend who was working as a police dispatcher in Slidell. She is back here in Texas after losing everything from flooding. What a mess.

I see where they are now making the Astrodome here in Houston the primary evacaution center. That's a good idea considering the other options available.

[grm]

Praying at our church service on Wednesday evening. God bless.

[cheer95]

Praying for the months to come!

[PAmedic]

This is absolutely terrible- a VERY SAD story. My thoughts and prayers are with this young woman's family, esp the young lady currently at LU.
DUI is such a SENSELESS CRIME- it enrages me.

Katrina survivor struck, killed

Ron Brown
[e-mail]
October 10, 2005

A woman who survived the flooding and destruction of Hurricane Katrina last month was killed early Sunday morning as she walked along U.S. 460 just west of Lynchburg.

Selena Angelina Stewart, 26, of New Orleans died after being struck by an automobile shortly after midnight.

She was hit when the vehicle ran off the side of the divided highway’s eastbound lane about 100 feet east of its intersection with Virginia 1580.

Virginia 1580, also known as New London Drive, serves as an entrance to the Wildwood subdivision.

State Police said she had walked to a nearby convenience store.

The driver of the vehicle, William V. Harris, 66, of Altavista was charged with driving under the influence in connection with the incident.

Other charges are pending, said Sgt. David Cooper, the public information officer for the Virginia State Police in Appomattox.

Cooper said investigators will likely seek advice from the Campbell County Commonwealth’s Attorney on how to proceed.

Trooper G.G. McMurray investigated the incident.

Cooper said Stewart moved in with Virginia relatives in Manassas following the floods that consumed New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina’s onslaught.

She checked in at the Timberlake Motel on Saturday after coming to Lynchburg to visit her cousin, Asia Fullilove, a student at Liberty University.

Liberty University Police Chief Randy Smith said Fullilove was walking with Stewart when she was struck.

Stewart was pronounced dead about 12:30 a.m. after being taken to Lynchburg General Hospital.

Liberty University Police Chief Randy Smith said school officials were notified of Stewart’s death by hospital chaplains.

“We notified our campus chaplains who were available to minister to the student and her family,” Smith said.

[cheer95]

How sad!

[Sly Fox]

What a horrendous tragedy. Our prayers go out to the victim's family and Asia in particular. I can't imagine having to witness an act like that.