Monday, August 29, 2005

We the writers of this blog humbly bow ourselves in respect to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and their families.
We cannot understand your pain.
The information we are giving you is filtered through our experiences.
What began as an adventure has quickly turned into heart-wrenching tragedy.
We joked, and may try to find respectful humor again before long, but we do so honestly as a need for distraction.

For those of you seeking information, the following is what we are comfortable passing on for now and we will try to do more as time passes.
-Every building in a low-lying area along the Coast experienced bad damage.
-The roads are mostly impassable or destroyed and the communications lines are spotty at best. This situation will persist for several days.
-Do not try to come here yet. Police, fire and rescue are beyond overworked. Looters are rampant. Hospitals have overflowed. Officials of all stripes lack the words to properly describe the devastation.
As much fun as its been to do this blog, Mike and I are going to be overworked before long. We want to help those of you seeking information but fear telling you the wrong thing, especially with this much destruction and confusion.
Thank you for reading us.

34 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

What do you know about the back bay - popps ferry rd. area?

9:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

THANK YOU FOR THIS BLOG. My parents are right now trying to return home to assess damage,help friends, etc., but no telling if they will even be allowed in. They didn't know the extent of the damage because they couldn't reach anyone via phone. Your blog has been a lifesaver for me, as national media seems to only cover N.O. and Mobile. I am near tears as I try to imagine the devastation. Recent reports were of 50 dead in Harrison County, mostly in a Biloxi apt complex. It's beyond words. Thank you for your posts ... and even for your humor.

Stacie, MS native moved to Atlanta

9:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How is it in Long Beach? I have family who lives there around the Post Office. They are here but want to know about their home.

9:32 PM  
Blogger ReddingDream said...

Hey Keller,

It's your old buddy, dave.

I posted some shit earlier. They were in the tone of (of course you know it) enjoy your hurricane day off, fucker. But man, on a serious note, I'm glad to know you're safe. I was pretty scared for you and your friends at the start of this craziness. Not that your lives will be any easier over these next few weeks, but for what it's worth, I've appreciated your reporting on how things are and have seen you guys help a few people out along the way. Please be safe (keep your pants on, for Christ sake) and let me know as soon as you can, that everything's good and fine in your neck of the woods.

P.s. I don’t think I'll be boloxi anytime soon.......

9:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for provinding a source of information on an area mostly ignored by national media. It's been a frantic day with little reliable information for those of us familiar with Biloxi, but not present. This has been a great resource -- and our thoughts are with Biloxi during the recovery from this awful storm.

10:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What about Gautier...? We aren't hearing anything about Gautier and very little about Pascagoula. Can you help?

10:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have family in Gautier. Talked with them earlier. Wind damage and flooding on houses low to ground. Thankfully their house is built up. They said Ocean Springs was very bad. Some houses gone within 2 blocks of the water.

10:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bless you all - I was young and don't have too many memories of it except the reports (and my photos in the papers during the aftermath) but we lived in Gulfport when Camille came in. My thoughts and prayers are with y'all.

10:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hi, i am writing from italy. my parents have a home in the orange grove area off of dedeaux rd and my daughter is out on wolf run blvd...both in the 39503 zip...any photos or news on that area??? we get very limited news and of course i am worried for everyone out there.

2:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Looking for any info on the ocean springs area. have family there off government street near magnolia school also gulf park estates.

4:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is there an official list of those who have perished? I have family and friends in the area that we couldn't reach prior to the storm so we don't know if they got out or not.

6:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can anyone tell us more about Gautier? My family home is on Graveline Road, about a block off the sound, near Sheppard State park. We survived Camille, Frederick and others just fine ... my dad is worried two things: does he still have a house? is it flooded? We're wondering if the roads are passable enough to try and get in... Thanks.

7:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can this really be considered "our tsunami"? I mean really, those countries lost thousands of people!

7:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, just a note from Annapolis, MD. Two years ago we were under 8 feet of water from Isabel. We know what you are going through, though by comparison we were lucky. Hang in there, thanks for the reports, and good luck.

7:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Any info on Gautier, especially Point Clear area is greatly appreciated. I had family that were unable to leave. Thanks.

8:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Without this blog, we'd be entirely in the dark. We have family and friends all through Gulfport to Bay St. Louis... Stupid CNN seems to think that only Mobile and New Orleans matter...

I can only imagine our old home in Long Beach is gone... I am sick with worry... Waiting for word from family is hell.

8:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

to the person who is asking if this is really our "tsunami"?

Have you seen the damage this major hurricane did? Do you have unaccounted for family in that area? Does your childhood home still stand?

We have no way of knowing how many have perished. They can't get into the worst hit areas to search for people yet. It's still so dangerous and those areas are cut off. They can't even show the worst hit areas on tv because they can't get there. Biloxi is my home, and I am stretching to recognize ANYTHING on tv. It's not recognizable.

9:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So sad. My sister stayed through it in Gulfport. She said it brings you to tears. She said as far as you can see is rubble, and 90 is barely passable and is too damaged in areas to drive on. I am so worried about my mother-in-law in Gautier.

11:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for the kind and sensitive way you are covering this tragic event. I have not been directly affected(am in Texas and dry), but my heart also goes out to you who have been in the path of this storm, both physically and figuratively. Your comments reminding readers of your humility in the face of this can be nothing but reassuring for them. God bless.

12:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

does anyone know about Ocean Springs? We have family trapped there and have hard noting??

1:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Do you have any info on College Heights apts on DeBuys Road? My son evacuated to Georgia and is desperate for information on his home. Please help if you can.
Kim-Mississipian by marriage

1:11 PM  
Blogger Kokopelli The Poet said...

hey guys barb in canada here
i can completely understand you guys trying to deal with this in a humorous way sometimes you just have to laff to stop your self from going in to depression especially when most of your town/city is completely wiped out by a freakish storm like our Katie was.how is mike doing after katie took a bite of his butt when he mooned her?

all kidding aside god bless you for providing a vital link to the area and keep safe. BARB

1:28 PM  
Blogger thatfarmgirl said...

Thanks for your work on this. My family is from New Orleans and I grew up there. Immediate family are safe, but no word on others. We were in Bay St. Louis in February and were so saddened to see the images of Main Street this morning.

Insofar as the anonymous comment about this being "our tsunami," is it really necessary to do a body to body count? The devastation and loss is every bit as hard and heart-wrenching.

1:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I lived in O.S. and worked on Keesler for 8 years, and went through Elaina. My heart and prayers go out to all of the Gulf Coast residents. Thanks for this blog, it seems to be the only info available about Harrison & Jackson Co. If anybody knows Cliff or Liz Waters, and how they are doing, please respond. They live in Ocean Springs, about 1/2 mile south of 90.

2:47 PM  
Blogger Thumper said...

Blessings for you are truely being led of The Lord! You began with the same attitude too many begin with. "Let's have a hurricane party!" Then there are hurricane funerals. Yes, I found you from CNN! I live in GA on the coast and remember seeing a pic of hurricane Floyd while in Israel. My husband called Israel (waking me up) and said "we are leaving and will meet you in Macon." After frantically searching for a television, and seeing the images, I couldn't sleep and enjoy my last day in Jerusalem. I knew what Andrew did. I audibly remarked, "There won't be anything left of GA!" When I flew into Atlanta and finally arrived home, I found not one drop of rain had fallen. No wind damage. I was not lucky. I was Blessed! My heart goes out to all of you suffering from this. We will all feel the ripple. This morning my daughter called to say that gas stations in Georgia were already locking some tanks and refusing to sell gasoline! A Statesboro, GA station tried to put in an order for gas, but it is not coming until the supply is opened!

We have just begun to feel effects from Katrina, but it is much more far reaching than this. To read more thoughts about this, go to http://oneemissary.blogspot.com/

I will share what was revealed to me some years ago, when I saw a hand reach out of the Gulf and grab Louisianna and the Coastal Area. God Bless Us All.

HE cares. Do we?

2:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Ex-native New Orleanian in California appreciating your considerable efforts to bring reality to those who love the Gulf Coast--seeking information on parents in Diamondhead. (Their house is near the tenth tee of the Pines golf course.) Do you hear anything at all about conditions in that area?
No matter what --- you should know that your reporting and going where no other media has gone --- is a great step for the blogosphere and its growing credibility in the minds of the regular people.
My heart is broken when I see the devastation. God Bless you for your heart condition ... and yeah, keep sweet humor in your hearts to provide the freshness of a different perspective for all of us who are going to need it.

4:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Any news on the houses along the back bay in Biloxi? Our house is (or was, who knows) in the North Haven neighborhood behind the new High School. I'm going crazy waiting and nt knowing what it's like there.

Never thought I'd be praying that my house was 'only flooded'

6:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lived in Ocean Springs for several years... left in Feb of this year. Looking for many dear friends, but two older ladies in particular - they lived on Green Acres road off of Tucker Road in Ocean Springs. The said they made it through Camille and could make it throught this one.. am scared for them. Their names are Ida Wheeler and Marietta Fountain. Please let me know. Thanks - Stacy Haverfield Amos erikakayoriginals@yahoo.com

8:20 AM  
Blogger zEarthling said...

Thanks for the information. We need to get more information from the area.

6:04 AM  
Blogger shapeshifter said...

I live in Scotland and have friends in Hattiesburg ( Mandaly Drive)I have been trying to reach them by phone. We last called them just as Katrina was hitting them. Of course with the lines being down its impossible to get through. I just wondered if anyone reading this would know that area, and be able to let me know how bad it is there? I read on the internet that they have no water or power... (They are mother and daughter, and the mother is my mothers dearest friend, they went through WW2 together) I just feel so horrified and disturbed by the events that are unfolding out there. My thoughts are with you. I hope that rescue and help gets there swiftly.

7:42 AM  
Blogger Sarah Retzloff said...

Thanks for putting all this stuff up. It is heart breaking.

8:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am sesrching for any information on a resident that lived in Gautier on Graveline Rd. They are Jane and Mark Peterman. An Elderly couple who stayed behind because no one would take them and their 13 cats. Mark had just gotten out of the hospital when the hurricane struck. Any information would greatly be appreciated. Thank you and God Bless!

4:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You have done a fantastic job and we all ty. But when do we haer or see anything about the towns further inland? I was told that Wiggins had 100 m.p.h. winds and is wiped out.Is that true?

10:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you sharining with us.

Grant
http://www.BiloxiBlog.com

10:38 AM  

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