Three Years Later

[dreamflower]

A few weeks ago, my husband and I drove home from my mother's funeral, and decided to come home by way of Mississippi, in order to see his sister, whom we hadn't seen since we moved.

I don't know how to say this more politely: it made me sick, literally. Yes, the bridges are fixed. But Highway 90 is still only two lanes for most of its length. Yes, most of the mounds of debris are gone. But far too many hulking shells of broken buildings still stand. Yes, some things have been rebuilt. But they are far too few and far between, and most of the intersections still consist of empty concrete slabs.

Now, three years later, the Coast is hunkering down as Gustav is expected to head that way. It is a mandatory evacuation for everyone who lives south of I-10. That includes my sister-in-law, who after 18 months in a FEMA trailer, had finally settled into a new apartment in Bay St. Louis. She has only just begun to rebuild her life, which was completely wiped out by Katrina.

My own dreams have been troubled the last few days with the memories of that horrible time. And we were among the lucky ones.

Some of you are new to my flist. If so, you may not have seen the diary I kept during Hurricane Katrina. You can find it here:
My Hurricane Katrina Diary

And here are some of the pictures I took after the storm:
Katrina Pictures here and Here.

I still have many friends on the Coast. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers this weekend. Let's hope that Gustav will go away.

Another blow like Katrina at this point in time--well, I do not think the Coast will *ever* recover.

Comments

[shirebound]

I've been turning on the Weather Channel a lot, worried about Gustav. This is a scary time.

[dreamflower]

It's very scary. The Gulf Coast just can't take another bad hit, not now.

[surgicalsteel.livejournal.com]

I agree. The thought of another blow like Katrina is sickening to contemplate.

[dreamflower]

I'm just praying hard and crossing my fingers.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

oh sweetie, I remember I read the diary before I really knew you and I was still horrified for you and what you went through. That was a seriously traumatic experience and you don't just get over that.

I just hope that Gustav just fizzles out and doesn't hit anyone else. :(

[dreamflower]

It was a lot more traumatic for both the DH and I than we realized at the time.

"Fizzling out" sounds very good to me.

[addie71.livejournal.com]

I've been watching and it is frightening. *hugs*

[dreamflower]

They just can't take anymore down there. They don't need this.

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

I will definitely keep your friends and family in my thoughts and prayers. It would be too cruel for them to suffer another blow like this.

[dreamflower]

It's horrible to contemplate. When I think of how bad it still is down there, it just makes my stomach clench up. They just can't take another hurricane...

[mumstheword54.livejournal.com]

*hugs you big-time*

I'm still speechless when I think about it all.

*hugs and prayers for all of your loved ones*

[dreamflower]

((((((hugs back)))))))))

Thank you, Mum!

[obeliamedusa.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking I'm glad my dad isn't down there right now.

*hugs for you and prayers for your friends*

[dreamflower]

I'm glad he's not, too! I wish we could persuade my s-i-l to move.

(((((hugs back))))))

[elandulin.livejournal.com]

I read your hurricane diary before I actually knew you--it was very powerful. I sincerely hope the wind shifts (to use an understatement) and the Gulf Coast doesn't have to go through all that again--though it does seem that they are evacuating this time, which lessens the threat to individual lives.

The point has been made in recent days that we as a country are better than this--better than to let cities drown and their empty husks rust away--and that we will not let it happen again. We can't control the weather, but I'm betting the response this time will be quicker, better and far more long-lasting than it was the last time.

I'm so sorry you have so much to worry about, Barbara. :(

[dreamflower]

Well, in NO, at least, they *have* to start evacuating early, because many of the roads leading out are still one lane from being fixed.

No, we can't control the weather. But there's no excuse for a government that as Obama said "sat on its hands and allowed a major American city to drown."

But for my part, I just want this one to go away and leave people alone.

[maniac1.livejournal.com]

Sounds like someone watched Obama's speech *grin*

[dreamflower]

He was right, too!

[isil-elensar.livejournal.com]

I had heard that it had already reached Cat. 4, but I just saw that it's only a Cat. 1. But they are expecting it to reach 3 in the next couple days. *sigh* As I understand it, evacs have already begun. And now there's another storm right behind Gustav, Hannah, which is aiming for the Atlantic coast...

*hugs* here's hoping Gustav slacks off some before landfall.

[dreamflower]

((((hugs back))))

Slacking off would be a Good Thing.

[tracey-claybon.livejournal.com]

H ye - Dream - let us know that you and your friends are alright - I'm keeping an eye on Gustav too b/c my family got brushed by Rita (Lufkin TX) and this time they WILL be evacing if it looks like it's coming there... you and yours are in my prayers now too.

T

[dreamflower]

Well, I'm fine, since we've moved to OK, but I still worry about my friends and family still there.

Thank you dear!

[tracey-claybon.livejournal.com]

Read the Katrina diary - man that brings back many not so good memories -

I remember worrying Katrina would hit Galveston and worrying that my family in Houston might not get out.

I remember that I called my grandmother when Rita was coming thinking she was going to evac and she DIDN'T - decided to ride it out.
She'll not do that again - region lost power and all comms pretty much for 9 days....

I also remember worrying about my Houston relatives again.

I hope I never see anything like those scurvy wenches Katrina and Rita again in my life... and I hope Gustav fizzles out.

T

[dreamflower]

It brings back an awful lot of not so good memories for me--just listening to all the anniversary stuff makes me antsy. And even though I'm now hundreds of miles from the Coast, I feel like I should be *DOING* something.

I hope I never see anything like those scurvy wenches Katrina and Rita again in my life... and I hope Gustav fizzles out

Me too.

[thebeecharmer.livejournal.com]

It breaks my heart, especially for you and DH. I do understand why many moved away. And yes, our government totally screwed the pooch with Katrina...but so did Nagin and the Governor. I don't think Jindal will stand for that, nor will the American people. I hurt for the victims still suffering. I ache for the unknown still being buried. I pray this storm will die down, go somewhere else, something...but whatever happens, the coast will have to rebuild, it has no choice, being one of our biggest ports. But I do think the feds could have done far more than what they did. Hurricane season isn't over. I live in that territory, too, and it's a terrible feeling. People wonder why we live in these places. Move where? There are tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, ice storms, mud slides, forest fires...where are we guaranteed safety? I cannot leave my home. I may evac...but abandon this area forever? Never! I just can't. Something inside me would die forever. So I do understand the people who do not move away as well as those who do. My heart goes out to both...

For now I can only pray for you and yours and for the gulf coast...

[dreamflower]

You are quite right, Ginger. (((((((((hugs)))))))))

And now it looks as though Hannah might be coming in *your* direction. I hope you do evacuate if you need to dear! Please stay safe!

I liked what one guy said on the radio, when people were saying "why rebuild it when there will just be more of the same every hurricane season?" And he answered and said "No one ever said that they shouldn't rebuild San Francisco after the earthquakes just because it's build on the San Andreas fault."

((((((more hugs))))))

[thebeecharmer.livejournal.com]

That attitude just pisses me off, quite frankly. Why rebuild *anywhere* there are natural disasters? Geeeeeeeeeez! *rolls eyes*

And yes, we will take our nutty dog and run inland to Hinesville. Or further, if we have to.

(((hugs you)))

[lilybaggins.livejournal.com]

That was such an awful time... thank goodness you and your DH don't have to worry about that anymore.

But I really fear a repeat of that for the people of LA and MS right now.

*hugs you*

[dreamflower]

Well, considering the uncertainty of this morning's weather updates, I'm a bit worried about *you* right now as well--they are saying he may veer west as he hits...

You take care!