omastoy's Journal

Journal Entry for September 24, 2007 Mood

Monday, September 24, 2007

PART 2---- The Hurricane came on shore at about 2 o'clock in the morning. Lake Charles weather station reported 90 miles a hour winds clocked in our area about 9:30 the evening before. This storm stayed out in the gulf as a category 5 for a long time and stirred up waves in the gulf. We believe we had at least 11-12 feet of water come in on our property. We didn't get to go there until the following Tuesday because the highways were covered with water. The pictures I have posted were taken that day (Tuesday Sept.28). We were out of electricity at my home for over a week. It was so hot and humid. The Red Cross were out all over the parish giving water, ice and Army rations. It was like a dream. This is farmland and it was so sad how it put so many farmers out of business. They lost their crops. There equipment was ruined with salt water from the beach. Their cattle drowned. The day we drove down there I was in shock looking at these people trying to find their homes-it was all washed away. Our loss was a great loss for us but it was our second home. It was not our livelihood like so many but my husband is in the farm loan business so his job was affected because so many farmers had to stop farming. Luckily their were no human deaths. This was because everyone evacuated (unlike so many in New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina). We also suffered a tornado at our camp. Because their was evidence of this our Insurance company on the barn covered the damage and our Home owners covered a little of the contents of the camp. I quite adding the loss when the figures went up to $200,000. Any way we aren't going to build that cabin. We purchase 2 used travel trailer, poured cement and had a canopy built over them. This is all we plan to do for now. We still haven't rebuilt the barn, put up fences again and redo the boat dock. It all takes so much time. We only have week-end and that is if the weather permits or if we aren't at a activity for one of the grandchildren. We plan on being there this week-end-the weather forecast is nice. The pictures you see on the news can not justify what it is to see all of this in person. I had never experienced anything like this and it was so so sad. Many are rebuilding-many fishing and hunting camps in that area. Well I think I have told the entire story. I really get antsy when a storm gets close to the gulf. But now we can move out our travel trailers north where they will be safe. Hope no one has to experience this.

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Comments

this is just amazing for those of us who have never be in a situation like this.
i love the choices you've made to move forward and enjoy your famlies in the trailors that are there to enjoy.
god bless your courage.
lvoe judy

JudyL
Thanks Judy-it took me long enough to write this. It being the 2 year anniversary, I told my husband I better tell it today. It is so quite and relaxing there.In the future it is possible to close in the top of the canopy (walls are already there-front would be a screened in porch) and have the camp 12 feet up where the water couldn't get to it. But we just aren't ready to make any more decisions now. We will try to rebuild the barn soon.My husband wants to put up fencing around the property first (Hurricane torn all that down too.) If the camp isn't built in our lifetime, the shell is their for our children if they choose to do it.

omastoy
We were very fortunate in that storm...we live just a little further east of where omastoy lives. I am so glad that the people in the lower area of western Louisiana heeded to the warnings and went to higher ground. It was a horrible mess down that way...when we were finally able to ride down to see the damage it was heart breaking...this was an absolutely beautiful area.

I love your new canopy....and for now the trailers will be a great retreat, where you can enjoy your children and grandchildren.

Hugs

ladywinger
So sorry for your losses... I haven't had to deal directly with a hurricane, but i certainly have helped those who have.... Katrina and Rita saw to that. I hope that you can go and enjoy your camp, I know that it is not the same as it would have been, but at least it is there and you and the family can head down and enjoy it still. Thank you for sharing this with us, I know how hard and devistateing the storms must have been, and continue to be! Love ya, Lollie

Lollie
I love what you did as an alternative, and your thinking of the future with your kids and grandkids to enjoy it is wonderful of you too. I never lived through a hurricane, but have seen floods and tornadoes in my life and the damage that wind and water does is just mind-boggling. Thank God it wasn't your primary home. It is good you wrote it all out while it was fresh and the initial shock wore off-this is a good record for your family to keep too. Take care, Love & hugs, Robbin

gluless