[From Chrissy at Fistful of Fortnights]
My mom and my best friend's (Susan's) mom are in DeRidder, Louisiana, a small town just above Lake Charles.
I have confirmed with the local electric company they will be out of power for two to three weeks.
Cameron and Lake Charles have been laid to waste.
I'm told by people there that DeRidder looks like a war zone.
My mom is freaking out a bit. While she has weathered many storms, none have come this close or caused this much damage. Then, there's that thing about being alone without my father (he died in December) standing over her to tell her what to do.
Susan's sister also lives in DeRidder and her house took a tree through the roof. Her mom took a tree to a shed.
Susan and I have been networking trying to figure out the next step. We need to get both of our moms out of the area until the power comes back on. There's still major power outages and gas shortages from Houston to Lafayette with roads also being closed through Houston, Beaumont, and Lake Charles.
If Susan's uncle from Tyler, a police officer, is not able to get enough gas to them in the next day or so, I will put together a truck with enough extra gas cans to take to the back roads to head that way. Both my mom's vehicles have gas we can syphon once I get there.
If anyone is between Houston and Lake Charles, please speak up and let me know what the gas situation is where you are.
Many thanks.
P.S. I'm also checking into getting a flight out of Alexandria to San Antonio for her.
Posted by Beth at September 25, 2005 05:48 PMThank you!!
Posted by: Christina at September 25, 2005 10:55 PMI know that Houston is pretty much recovered and almost all the stations have gas again, but we are being told by the mayor to only fill up when our tanks are next to empty (no topping off) or they may have to institute rationing. My husband's grandmother says that Beaumont is still spotty.
Posted by: epiphany at September 27, 2005 04:27 PMIf you can get to them, there are a few things that will make their lives much better.
A propane powered refrigerator - friends who endured no power for weeks after Hurricane Andrew in Miami said this was great. Much better than trying to run the frig on a generator - requires very little propane and will for a long time on a 20 pound tank of LPG.
A propane BBQ.
A goodly supply of propane.
Fresh food - they can buy meat when available at market and keep it fresh in the frig. BBQ steaks and veggies while others are having canned ravioli can make a big difference.
(The frid won't be cheap, but most run on either propane or electric, so it isn't like it becomes useless when the power is back on.)
Posted by: Zendo Deb at September 28, 2005 05:35 PM