Stressing over Katrina

[Guest guest]

Guys, I'm really stressing big time over hurricane Katrina. If it

takes the path they are predicting right now, family members are in

and around the direct path of the hurricane.

My niece lives on Eglin AFB in Florida, with her husband and baby, which is

right on the panhandle. With the path they are predicting right now, 's

town is just to the right of it. My brother lives in Houston, which is just to

the left of the path.

If the path of the hurricane veers either to the left or to the

right, it puts my family members in danger. It worries me that they

can't more accurately predict this close to landfall what path the

hurricane will take, because no one can really fully prepare to

evacuate soon enough, at least not the people on the fringes.

Please keep my brother and niece, and their families, in your

prayers, and also everyone else in Katrina's path. Let's hope she

loses strength before hitting land, although from what I have been

reading, the storm is continuing to build in intensity, rather than

weakening. Right now, Katrina is a category 3, but they're

expecting it to be a category 4 by the time it hits land.

I just spoke to my other niece, who is 's sister, and they

haven't been put on evacuation standby, which eases my mind a

little, but not a whole lot. Normally, they get notification 24

hours earlier than the civilian world, but she's had to evacuate

with 12 hours notice before. I'm hoping that since both of them are

on the outer edges of the predicted path, all they will get is some

hard rains!

I'm beside myself with worry though...it's hard going through this

every time a hurricane moves up into the gulf! All this watching

and waiting, not knowing what's ultimately going to happen is so

stressful!

Thanks in advance for keeping my family in your prayers!

Jen

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,

I will keep your family and everyone in the hurricane's path.

Hang in there,

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks...you're very sweet. We've been following the updates all day,

and thankfully, my brother in Houston is out of the path. However,

, my niece, isn't out of the woods just yet. They lengthened

the hurricane watch area to cover the Florida border, so I'm worried

that it's going to go more to the east than they originally thought.

I'm fairly certain they aren't going to see the eye of the storm, but

still, it's scary stuff. I worry about everyone who is in it's path,

and the destruction and mayhem that's about to come.

Jen

[Guest guest]

I agree, it is scary. It has been a bad couple of years in terms of

hurricanes. Hopefully this hurricane will lose some of its strength and

there won't be too much damage when it finally comes ashore. I know several

people down in that area and everyone is keeping a close eye on the weather

channel.

Where do you live?

[Guest guest]

,

I hope it does lose some strength too, and have been trying NOT to

watch the updates for a while. I've finally gotten it through my head

that will call the family if she has to evacuate, and being a

military wife, on a military base, she will be safe.

Also, the updates were starting to make me worry for all of the other

people, and what they will lose. Yesterday, they were showing places

that had just rebuilt from other hurricanes, and they were talking

about the poor and indigent in New Orleans who CAN'T leave because

they have no way. The city of New Orleans was talking about using

their city bus lines to take those people to places like their

superdome...and I'm thinking " How sad that even in a catastrophic

event, these people are left behind to ride it out. " I sure hope this superdome

is a strong building!!!

I live in Ohio by the way. The town I live in has never seen the

devastation of a real tornado, we don't have hurricanes, earthquakes,

etc. The worst we've had is some moderate flooding along the River

that runs right through town, and we got hit with an ice storm this

past winter that did some damage. But in comparison to what happens

around the country and around the world, my little town has been

pretty lucky. I think that's why there is so much compassion that

comes out though. Whenever there is a hurricane, some sort of group

leaves to help rebuild, our red cross sends out local funds and

supplies, church and civic groups raise money to send, even the kids

at school do. It's always been that way...I think everyone here

realizes just how fortunate we've been.

Let's all keep our fingers and toes crossed, say our prayers, chants,

light candles, whatever it takes and whatever we believe, to make sure

Katrina does as little damage as possible in every way!

Jen

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,

My husband and I have been watching the weather channel all day. I am

very worried for the people in the path of this awesome storm. I just

really hope that people are taking the mandatory evacuation orders serious

and evacuating as soon as possible. This is not a storm that you want to

try to ride out though I know there will people that will try to do just

that. I will never understand why people do that. My families lives are so

much more important then any house or property. We have been praying all

day that people are able to get out safe and sound and that Katrina loses

some of her strength. This is definitely going to be storm that goes down

in the history books.

I really hope that your family stays safe. A lot of people are praying for

the people in Katrina's path.

Hang in there,

[Guest guest]

Hey Jen,

Hope they are okay...it already hit Florida right? I haven't been keeping up

with the news too much lately (my mom hates watching TV in the hospital).

My brother in law and nephew are in New Orleans and can't get out due to

traffic. Hoping they get out before the storm hits too.

Caitlin

Jen wrote:Guys, I'm really stressing big time over

hurricane Katrina.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen & Caitlin,

I hope both your family's are okay. We're expected to get the rain from Katrina

tonight and the next couple of days in southern Indiana. I remember when Katrina

started out as just a tropical storm (my how things change At least the

latest news -at this time- is that Katrina is now down to a catagory 1

hurricane.

I hope you and all those in Katrina's path are okay.

H.

Caitlin wrote: My brother in law and nephew are in New Orleans and can't get out

due to traffic. Hoping they get out before the storm hits too.

Jen wrote: Guys, I'm really stressing big time over hurricane Katrina.

[Guest guest]

Cait,

I'm so happy your mom is doing better sweetie! Katrina hit southern

Florida first (Miami, Key West), and then threatened to come back up

and hit the panhandle. My niece was in the tropical storm watch area,

being just on the outside of the fan of the storm, so they just got

heavy winds and rain. I'm glad it didn't swing further to the right or

left, but I feel bad for all the people who got hit by it! Did your

family make it out okay??

Love you!

Jen