Vicki & others in Rita's path

shelbynteg · #21 09/28/05, 08:23 AM

I traveled to Orange yesterday, it is a pot of misery there with no power or water. I had to bring fuel for myself to return, and my cousin's car as well, and I had excess which I was able to share with some local folks there. The hurricane eye passed over orange, the police chief told me that the city has 90mph winds for NINE hours. They're clearing the streets of debris, a lot of it is being pushed to the side of the streets, a lot of streets have brush 'snowbanks' , 6+ feet high lining each side. They are getting some fuel into there now, and an occasional store is open so people can get some necessities.

I was not able to go north as I had hoped, I am glad that Vicki is ok, am also concerned about the Findleys near Conroe as well as many other friends who aren't on the board. I think for the most part people are ok, but miserable with no basic services. Beaumont had national guardsmen at each exit off the freeway, and I saw both FEMA and Red Cross disaster stations in both Beaumont and Orange.

All prayers are appreciated.

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #22 09/30/05, 01:07 AM

Corky we are 17 miles north west of Interstate 59 in cleveland. We got the brunt of the storm in the east, as it went up north. Just 20 minutes to the west of us you would have thought it was a nice summer day, no rain even, but for some downed limbs, from south in Port Arthur, up through Cleveland, Livingston and further north it's a big mess. We got our power on today.

Glad you did well Shelby, I knew Gil was staying, and couldn't get ahold of him today, will try tommorrow. We only have phone lines sporatically. They are saying east of Cleveland may be 4 to 8 weeks before they get power. At least a cool front came in today!

Lost the whole 40 feet of raised ridge vent off the roof, and about 10 foot of roof, nailers rafters the whole thing...the barn was a mess, the girls were in mud and you couldn't even see the cement in the milking room. I scraped and bucketed water to clean it all, than bleached it...no powerwasher

just elbow grease, just couldn't stand it. Thank god for my inverter, I am the worlds laziest farmer, and the idea of milking by hand??? Nope not me

We are lucky with stored food, 12 volt and also a generator, it could have been alot worse. Alot of folks around us are older, living generations in the woods, on disablitiy, food stamps, this couldn't have hit at a worse time financially, end of the month or with it being soo hot! And of course the local churchs which are numerous did absolutly nothing, just like normal! It took about 3 days for everyone to even hear how really bad it was on the news, we had really quick FEMA relief and they are doing loans and since our county is in a diasater area we will get the guest house fixed...it took of the back.

The buck barn roof was damaged, we had to fix it because rain was forcasted, and there was no place else to put the bucks, you can always move around does, but not bucks. Breeding season for us starts tommorrow with PG600 shots in the AM and CIDRs being removed Saturday, Bose shots that are late...the barn is slated to be fixed this weekend, the yard.....that is going to take a very long time, it rivals the mess of when we originally moved out here in the virgin woods. Limbs, trees, tops, everywhere, there isn't one clear place in the yard, that doesn't have something that needs to be picked up. At least firewood is right in the yard for the picking, we will not be cutting in out woods and hauling it out this year!

Hope everyone else came through the storm fine. Appreciate all the prayers and personal emails! Vicki

Corky · #23 09/30/05, 07:31 AM

I am sure glad to here you are ok. I had heard you were, in a round about way but it is good to hear it from you.

I know it will be a long time before you are back to normal. You probably have a bunch of trees on fences too. At least you didn't get hurt and your goats are all ok. That is a miricle right there.
I am glad that there are several of you in the same area so you can be there for each other and will understand each others needs better than anyone else can. God is with you all.

Laura Workman · #24 09/30/05, 09:42 AM

Hi Vicki! It's great to hear from you. I'm glad you came through pretty much OK.