Slowly Getting Back to Normal

Well, it's been a week since Ike hit. I was lucky, besides the power going off a couple of times, and tornado warnings in effect all night, I didn't get any damage. However, that being said, 13,000 homes were flooded and a lot of businesses were destroyed just to the south and west of me.

FEMA came to town and we had a couple work from the library. I had calls all week from patrons that lost library materials in floods, fires, ect. I feel for these people that have lost their homes and their jobs (most, if not all, of the oil-rigs off-shore were destroyed).

Wal-Mart finally got their shelves restocked, after being pretty bare for 2 weeks, and I finally got to go buy milk and butter...(One of the many things I've learned during all this is that shortening is a poor substitute for butter and that I can drink powdered milk if I really have too! :-)

Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update and let you know that I'm okay.

'Til next week!
Lonnie

Here We Go Again...

Just a quick note...We're closing the library at noon, all the schools have been cancelled, and there is an mandatory evacuation for everyone below I-90 (which, is only a mile from my house).

Of course, the day after I decide to put stuff back together in my apartment, I have to turn right around and put things a way again! Hurricane Ike is causing tornadoes in our Parish, along with the storm surge (there is already 7 feet of water at the Carmeron Parish capitol!)

I'll try to post after the storm.
I love you all!
Lonnie

Getting Back to Normal

Note: The following was written last Friday. However, we haven't had Internet available until today, so I haven't been able to post.

On Wednesday, after Gustav, Louisiana got pounded by thunderstorms and tornadoes. There was a tornado just northwest of us, where 2 people were killed. We had to check out of the hotel by 11am, so we drove to Opelousas to get Bill’s RV to stay in Wednesday night. Opelousas was bad-they had trees down everywhere… and right after we left they had a tornado! We were lucky...At 12pm Wednesday, Iberia Parish said that people could return home if they were self-reliant. We got to New Iberia around 12:30 and what a difference a day makes! On Tuesday, the water was up to Stephanie’s knee (12 to 20 inches) and by the time we got there Wednesday, the flood had receded off of the roads. Luck stayed with us as we discovered that both the Davis family and I had power (half of the city is still without power though). At my apartment the carpet by the front door was wet and I had two huge water spots on my ceiling where the rain started coming through the roof…however, it wasn't leaking, so that’s good.



Thursday I got my belated day off…The library was still closed, so I spent the morning cleaning my apartment (including sweeping up all the debris on my stairs and porch). Then, I relaxed for a while and finished reading Breaking Dawn…I loved the ending! After lunch, I went to Stephanie's to help them unpack and clean their house (Jared's mom and sister were flying in on Friday from Utah for a visit!)

Friday, it was back to work. Some of the Branches still didn't have power, but Main did, so we were open to the public. We still didn't have Internet though, so I couldn't do much.

Now, we’re just keeping an eye on Ike…

P.S. It's now Wed., Sept.10th, and it looks like Ike is headed to Texas, so the worst we'll get is a heavy rain storm.

Things are slowly returning to normal. The grocery store shelves are still pretty bare and it's hard to find a fast food restaurant that actually has food, but trucks should be coming into the city soon.

Lonnie

Hurricane Aftermath

This morning, I stayed with Rosie at the hotel while Stephanie and Jared took the truck and went to see if they could get back into New Iberia. They were gone for about 5 hours, but finally made it back, cold, wet, and hungry. They got into New Iberia and they said that the power is still out and a lot of the roads are flooded, but all in all, things are looking pretty good. We're thinking that we'll be able to go back tomorrow!



Stephanie took my camera and got some pictures for me.

Jefferson Terrace, the road that runs along the side of my apartment.

My apartment parking lot

The Wal-Mart behind my house, all boarded up and closed.

The library on Main Street and some damage on East Main.

Flooding on Center Street

Stephanie stopped by my apartment and she says that everything looks good. I'm on the second floor, so I didn't get flooded and none of my windows broke, so I'm very fortunate.

All is well!

Lonnie

Gustav Continued

We survived the eye of the hurricane. It's 6:30 and the rain has stopped for the moment here in Lafayette. I just wanted to share some pictures I got during the Hurricane.

Before

During

...and After

The next two pictures are images from the news of New Iberia. The first one is just off of E. Main St. by my work.

Stephanie and I went outside at one point. The wind was up to 75 miles per hour

and then there was me, blowing away...

I love you all and I'll keep in touch.

Lonnie

Gustav

The eye of Gustav just hit Houma and New Iberia at 110 mph, which makes it a Category 2 Hurricane...one more mile and it would have been a Category 3. Up here in Lafayette, the rain is pouring and the wind is blowing.

More later,
Lonnie