Sandy and Rusty are at it again

[Don (W5IT)]

I just got off the phone with sandy and Rusty.

They are holding out fine so far.

They have a house full of folks who found themselves stranded on the highway trying to evacuate.

Typical Sandy and Rusty with hearts as big as Texas!!!!

[Don (W5IT)]

I just got off the phone with sandy and Rusty.

They are holding out fine so far.

They have a house full of folks who found themselves stranded on the highway trying to evacuate.

Typical Sandy and Rusty with hearts as big as Texas!!!!

[Madame Boomer]

Hi Don -

It was good to hear from you, but that was prior to Rita's turning toward your neck of the woods! I tried to call you yesterday, but could not get through. No doubt Rita left her imprint on Baton Rouge as she plowed through. Please let us know how you are doing!

Ed Gray? Where are YOU!!!! Please post so we'll know you are okay.

Once Rusty and I knew that we'd be staying, our concern was for the many people stranded on the highway. Although we can't "save" everyone, we went out to do what we could. People were pulled off the road out of gas and no where to go in this sweltering heat. It was miserable for all of them.

We headed out again Friday morning to take hot coffee and breakfast bars to those literally sleeping in any parking lot they could find. By that time we knew Rita would make landfall to the east of us and we anticipated only high winds and lots of rain. Those people stranded would have to weather it out in their vehicles.

We found a family of eight who had been in the massive gridlock of vehicles for 31 hours traveling only from Galveston area to 290 @ Spring Cypress (a "normal" 2 hour drive maybe). They were at their wits end - I can't even imagine dealing with the heat much less all the other stress they encountered.

They gratefully accepted our offer of food, showers and shelter for the night and were able to return home the next day. Thankfully their homes were spared.

We're blessed to now call them friends!

Sandy

[Don (W5IT)]

Sandy around here there was just a long period of wind and LOTS of rain. Winds were not too bad, around 30-50 at times with some gusts a little higher.

The rain though has the rivers and bayous full with some local flooding. Not that bad...

Did not lose elect. at my house at all this time. Mom and Dad lost it for about 12-18 hrs. No biggie.

But have lots of limbs and such from the trees to clean up.... (Forest Gump voice on) AGAIN! (Gump voice off)

Actually it gave us a chance to clean up a bit around the shop. (Innovative) While folks were "Hunkered down" we got to cleanup a bunch and "Catch up" on some stuff. (Got a long way toward catching up on "Paperwork" for all the trailers sold too) It ALMOST looks nice around there now.

But by yesterday afternoon (Sunday) folks were showing up looking for trailers.

Plan to go to "The camp" Cathy's family owns in Pass Christian weekend after next and start all the "Tear-out". (Katrina damage) Carpet, furniture, Sheetrock and the like. Get it stripped out\dried out so we can start the re-building the interior. (Gump voice on) AGAIN! (Gump voice off)

Back to where we were 26 years ago. It was built over a period of 20 years by us as the family was able to buy materials.

It got a little over three feet of water, on the second floor. (THree bedroom, two bath, two story "Summer home" actually built five feet off the ground)

The real kicker is that after paying through the nose for years just for flood/surge/hurricane coverage ins. we will not get what it takes to rebuild. It will fall short (Imagine that??) and we will have to do the rest when the funds run out as we can buy the materials. But we are better off in that regards than most that have places nearby. Many of them did not have the extra coverage.

Nor are they still standing. The outside/structure of "The camp" is fine. The houses all around it or either demolished or have MAJOR structure damage. (Most that are still standing have caved in roofs) Goes to show ya how different it is when you build something "Above code" or exceed the building requirements of the area........

When all this is over, I want to make a LONG trip in a rig just to "Get Away" for a while. I'm tired..............

But looks like the next trip may well be the 06 National in the Smokies.

[Hamie]

Rusty, Sandy and Don

Glad to hear everyone is alright. Hope all our friends on the coast are ok. Austin didn't get a thing from Rita. Not a drop of much needed rain. Take care.