Archbishop of New Orleans remembers Katrina and Isaac; praises and offers hope to the people

Aymond praises New Orleanians' resilience and hope in recovering from Hurricanes Katrina, Isaac

 

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By John Pope, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune  

on August 29, 2013 at 12:06 PM

 

Archbishop Gregory Aymond issued this statement Thursday (Aug. 29) to mark the anniversaries of Hurricanes Katrina and Isaac:
"Eight years ago today, our city and our region was forever changed as Katrina's flood waters poured into our streets and our homes. Then, last year as things had seemed to somewhat settle into a new normal, Hurricane Isaac sent more water into our communities with devastating effects. To those still experiencing the pains of rebirth, especially from Isaac, our affectionate prayers are with you. Some might say we are a region condemned by our location, but my experience is that these flood waters have given birth to new life and a new sense of pride in our city and this region we call home.
"The people of the Archdiocese of New Orleans are truly a people of hope. The last 10 years have been difficult: from Katrina to Gustav and Ike to Isaac and an oil spill in between, but the people, the families, in the communities most impacted should serve as an inspiration to many. Their resilience and their determination to never give up hope is a lesson for those that come after us.
"I like to think this determination and this spirit of hope and generosity is born out of the strong faith and family values of the people in our region. We are blessed to live here where people help and support one another and where family is still treasured as one's most valuable possession.
The storms we have endured have made us realize what is most important: God, faith, family and friends. These waters that seemed so destructive have given us the opportunity to renew ourselves, much like the waters of Baptism. I pray we are never faced with such destruction and suffering again, but I know God is faithful. The people of New Orleans are proof of that."

A day on the calendar; 2 hurricanes; devastation; recovery

Tonight many of us in southeast Louisiana are remembering the anniversary of two land falling hurricanes: the 2005 major storm we know as Katrina and the category 1 Isaac from just last year that surprised many.  I've written about Katrina many times and we are feeling her sting less and less with each passing year.  Just the fact that it has been 8 years and New Orleans has come back so strong is amazing.  But there are those whose lives were forever changed; almost 1,900 folks died in this killer storm, many businesses and homes never came back, and thousands upon thousands relocated to new towns and communities to start fresh.  The lessons learned from Katrina have made our area safer and helped, in many ways when Isaac came ashore just one year ago.

The unpredictable nature of storms, even a category 1 like Isaac, brought surprising and unexpected flooding in communities such as Braithwaite, Slidell, Mandeville, Madisonville and Lacombe.  2 people did die in flood waters and one community is a virtual ghost town 365 days later.

So far in 2013 we have had a nice break.  Even though anything can happen and change occurs rapidly, we have managed to miss out on any storms.  Predictions seem to indicate that we will remain safe for at least another week or so.  It is still vitally important to be vigilant and prepared. 

For us southeast Louisiana Catholics we pray very fervently through Our Lady of Prompt Succor for her motherly protection and intercession for our safety.  We will continue to do so until hurricane season goes away in November.  We can remember last year how late in the season Sandy visited the east coast.

Please join all of us in prayer that everyone, everywhere be protected from the devastation of hurricanes and other destructive weather phenomena as well.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor, pray for us!

Catholic Charities still on the job 1 year after Isaac; when the media leaves so do most; Catholic Charities still there

One year later, LaPlace woman gets Isaac repairs

Updated: Aug 27, 2013

Written by: Nancy Parker

 

One year later, LaPlace woman gets Isaac repairs

 

 

• One year later, LaPlace woman gets Isaac repairs

   

   
   
 
 
 
 
  

LaPlace, La. -

This week marks a year since Hurricane Isaac brought unprecedented flooding and misery to parts of south Louisiana. Some victims have seen little in the way of recovery since the storm.

Brenda Ola finally is getting some flooring done this week. She's been walking on cement floors since Isaac. Ola has only had sheet rock a couple of months.

"The studs looked great compared to mildew. We lived in a tarped bedroom and a tarped bathroom," she said looking around the bare house.

Ola is disabled. When Isaac's storm surge gave St. John Parish a wake-up call, she was already struggling. She didn't have flood insurance, because she thought she was in a no-flood zone.

Recovery seemed impossible until Catholic Charities called her one day, having retrieved her name from an Isaac recovery group's list,

Toni Wright of Catholic Charities leads the Archdiocese Hurricane Isaac Recovery Assistance. It administers help from FEMA and community- and faith-based groups.

"We estimate right now 30 percent of our client base live in unsafe dwellings. Mold is rampant in homes, and roofs are still leaking. We're serving 1,250 families right now, with a wait list of 1,200," Wright said.

Now crews are completing Ola's tile installation. Alfredo Narvaez has been working with Ola directly. He saw the home a couple of months ago before anything was done.

"The natural inclination is to say Isaac is last year's headline, but the disaster happens in a matter of days. The recovery takes weeks, months, sometimes years," he said.

"A church group came from Iowa and they did the roof. Then a crew came and sheet-rocked, and another crew painted," Ola said.

 

It has been a group effort in giving for a woman who has weathered the storm too long.

Catholic Charities is asking for any Isaac victims who still need assistance to contact them. They also want donations of used furniture for people still struggling to recover.  For more information, go online to http://www.ccano.org.  

Hurricane Isaac one year later destroyed a small La. town; do we remember?

One Year Later: Braithwaite Silenced By Storm

• 
  by Vanessa Bolano       

 

Rachel Bazile is back in Braithwaite. She’s maintaining the vacant home Hurricane Isaac ripped apart a year ago.
“How can I come back and put money in this house knowing that at any second another hurricane or little tropical disturbance can come and take it all away from me,” says Bazile.
The community that Bazile says was once tight knit no longer exists. Now sidewalks are covered by overgrown grass, blown out windows expose gutted walls, signs warn looters, snakes invade, and the pitter patter of children at the playground has been silenced.
“Driving into the neighborhood you bring back the memories of when everything was alive, and then once you get in here you realize that those homes are empty,” Bazile says, “That’s when it really starts to hit you.”
Russell Wilson lives two miles away in St. Bernard Parish. His daughter lost her home in Braithwaite, and now he’s working on getting the electricity back up and running inside a storage shed.
“You can look around, I mean no one in this community is coming back,” says Wilson, “It’s about a 24 foot wall and that made all difference in the world, you know?”
The flood wall kept residents in St. Bernard dry. On the other side in Plaquemines Parish many residents feel duped by parish leaders.
President Billy Nungesser says his goal is to bring levee protection to all in the parish, saying they’re working on a levee on the east bank, but they’ll need three to five years without a major storm to get the job done. Nungesser says 75% of residents who lived on the east bank and flooded during Isaac aren’t coming back. In Braithwaite residents say only one has returned.
Bazile says her heart is in Plaquemines, but without flood protection she won’t return.

Read more: http://wgno.com/2013/08/27/one-year-later-braithwaite-silenced-by-storm/#ixzz2dE94FnED

How was your Labor Day? Consider my neighbors post Isaac

Labor Day, another day off from work, a 3-day weekend, the end of summer bliss and the ushering in of the back to school routine.  Labor Day, in some communities, includes big parades and celebrations.  For others, it may be a simple time of hanging with family or friends.  I hope your Labor Day was a good day for you and your families.

My neighbors to the south and west spent the day cleaning up and recovering from Hurricane Isaac.  In rural Plaquemines Parish an entire community returned to see the complete and utter devestation of their homes, businesses and even the local Catholic Church, flooded to it's rafters.  Others in far southern Plaquemines Parish were allowed to drive home, only they had to detour up onto the top of a Mississippi River levee to get there.  You see for several miles the main road, Highway 23, is still inaccessible.  For those in Plaquemines Parish who returned home, almost all encountere flooded homes, rotten and spoiled food, swamp grass and mud combining to fill the air with a foul nasty odor.  To the west, in Laplace, La. the waters receeded so homeowners went about the task of ripping out carpet, cutting out baseboards and sheetrock, doing all they can do to salvage their homes.  Just up the road in St. James Parish, many were doing the same, except for those who still can make it home because water is still high.  Here in my own civil parish, St. Tammany Parish, far to the south the scene in Laplace was being duplicated in communities of Mandeville and Madisonville.  As a friend commented today, our Mayberry is not the same. 

Consider that all this hard work and heartbreaking emotion is being played out in 100 degree heat index.  The weather, just a few days ago, so stormy is now clear but so very hot.

In Marrero today authorities found an elderly man dead in his home, still without power, felled by the excessive heat and humidity.  In that same Marrero my own sister-in-law is dealing with day 6 with no power. 

For those living to our east in St. Tammany Parish the clean up was probably not as intense but the wait and worry continue as the swollen Pearl River continues to crest and flood along it's route to the lake.  Even as late as tomorrow many are still concerned that their homes still could flood.

New Orleans is getting back to normal but not all schools and businesses are up and running although that should improve with each passing day.

So while we all enjoyed our Labor Day, this was the reality for so many of my neighbors today.  Continue to pray for the good people of southeast Louisiana as we deal with our latest hurricane disaster.  By the way, we are a resilient, strong people.  We survived far worse, we will survive this and we will persevere; with the help of God!

Archbishop Aymond offers Labor Day prayer focused on our recovery from Isaac

Archbishop Gregory Aymond

• Please join me in prayer: Lord, on this Labor Day, bless our work. Thank you for the gifts you have given us that enable us to work. May our labors make a difference in the world. Please give strength to those rebuilding from Isaac . Be their strength and give them perservance , especially those who are still flooded. Give us generous hearts to reach out to our sisters and brothers in this time of need. Through Christ our Lord.
  St. Gregory the Great, pray for us.(today is his feast)

Assumption Church in Braithwaite: devastating flood waters

This is the Assumption Catholic Church in the rural community of Braithwaite in Plaquemine Parish.  This area, located on the eastbank of the Mississippi River below St. Bernard Parish never received flooding waters during Hurricane Katrina and previous storms.  A levee failure, not to be confused with the type of levee failures New Orleans had in Katrina, forced water between marshes and lakes up to the Mississippi River levee on the other side.

This is the only church to be so completely devastated throughout the archdiocese although water was reported in other churches in Plaquemines Parish as well as Laplace, La and Mandeville and Madisonville, La on the Northshore.

God will provide!!

Early damage reports to Catholic Churches from Isaac

Abp. Aymond prays for Isaac victims

Thursday, 30 August 2012 10:21 | Written by Peter Finney Jr. | |

On the “eerie” seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Archbishop Gregory Aymond offered prayers Aug. 29 for people in the Archdiocese of New Orleans impacted by slow-moving Hurricane Isaac, which dumped more than 15 inches of rain on southeast Louisiana and caused widespread flooding but spared the fortified city itself from major damage.

In a conference call with the leadership team of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans – called to evaluate the initial impact of Isaac – Archbishop Aymond acknowledged the suffering of thousands of people in south Louisiana from flooding.

“We consciously place ourselves in God’s presence and ask him to give us his protection,” Archbishop Aymond said, opening the leadership meeting with a prayer. “God has always promised to protect us in challenging times, and we ask that God does that now, especially with those who are struggling. Bless us and help us reach those in need.”

Seven years to the day – on Aug. 29, 2005 – Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans by blowing holes in the city’s under-engineered levee system, filling more than 80 percent of the city with water.

This time, the more than $10 billion in high-tech hurricane defenses and massive pumps installed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the wake of Katrina kept New Orleans mostly unscathed. But surrounding areas, particularly Plaquemines, St. Bernard and lower Jefferson civil parishes to the south and LaPlace to the northwest, sustained massive flooding from the creeping storm, which took 36 hours to clear.

On Aug. 30, areas of St. Tammany civil parish north of New Orleans reported rising water.

Although Archbishop Aymond could not confirm immediate damages to archdiocesan property, he feared that Assumption of Our Lady Mission in Braithwaite, La., south of New Orleans, sustained heavy flooding. Archbishop Aymond visited first responders in the affected in the afternoon of Aug. 30.

Father Joseph M. Tran, pastor of St. Thomas Parish in Pointe a la Hache and Assumption Mission in Braithwaite, said the small Braithwaite church, spiritual home to about 100 families, was on high ground and had never flooded before. He received reports of 6 to 7 feet of flooding from parishioners who are first responders in Plaquemines Parish.

“That really surprised me,” said Father Tran, who was on his way back to Louisiana after having evacuated to Birmingham, Ala. “Assumption was never flooded, not for (hurricanes) Betsy, Camille or Katrina.”

Former New Orleans Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes, who was archbishop of New Orleans during Katrina in 2005, rode out Isaac at Notre Dame Seminary in Mid-City on South Carrollton Avenue. He said the timing of Isaac – the exact seventh anniversary of Katrina – was “rather eerie.”

“We have to be grateful that it was only a Category 1,” Archbishop Hughes said. “The pumps seem to be working, although we’ve had some flash flooding. But there’s no serious flooding (in the city) that I’m aware of.”

The archdiocese also received reports of flooding at Ascension of Our Lord Church in LaPlace, St. Anthony rectory in Lafitte, St. Patrick Church and rectory in Port Sulphur, Our Lady of the Lake Church in Mandeville and St. Anselm Church in Madisonville.

Catholic Charities moved 22 family members who were residing at a homeless family shelter program at Hope Haven in Marrero to a nearby hotel after leaks to the residence made it unsafe for them to remain there, said Martin Gutierrez, vice president of Catholic Charities.

Another program, Padua Pediatrics for children and teens with severe developmental difficulties, had only emergency power, but not enough to power the air conditioning.

“We have some industrial-sized fans to circulate the air,” said Samantha Pichon, a Catholic Charities vice president.
Schools in the archdiocese were expected to remain closed until Sept. 4, the day after Labor Day.

The archdiocese was making plans to get direct financial assistance to those most impacted by the storm. It set up a donations page for the CCANO Emergency Assistance Fund at www.ccano.org.

Looking forward to September

With Hurricane Isaac behind me I am still very mindful and prayerful for those experiences life's hardships due to our latest natural disaster.  While I rest comfortably at this moment I am still stunned at how many people are dealing with high water and the still hundreds of thousands without power.  For those with no access to electricity and air conditioning todays heat indicies will be north of 100 degrees.  So we must remember these good people dealing with bad circumstances as life rolls along.

I usually start feeling much better about the year when we reach the fall.  That really does not come for us til October and sometimes November.  But at least September brings us some hopeful reminders while we remain aware that we are still in hurricane season and officially, it is still summer.  For those wh may not realize this, we can get some of our hottest temps in early September.

Today we do usher in the football season.  My beloved LSU Tigers kickoff tonight as they play North Texas State and attempt to build upon their successes of 2011 that just did not end up the way we all hoped.  For those of us that want to see if that red menance from Alabama is still for real can watch the national broadcast of the red menance vs. Michigan.  In New Orleans Tulane actually seems to be acting like a real college football program again because of the leadership of their new coach, Curtis Johnson, a much beloved former Saints assistant.  All of this simply means it is football season.  And we are just a few days away from NFL football and the Saints will kickoff against the Redskins next weekend.  Unfortunately another staple of this time of year, Friday night high school football, was placed on hold as an aftermath to Hurricane Isaac.

There are many other reasons to be hopeful about September, provided hurricane season calms down.  We may get that 1st cool front.  Also, we begin a different pattern of living as the daylight ends earlier and children get more into the school grove.  That also applies to many church activities as many ministries that take breaks over the summer kick back into high gear. 

Let me get personal and tell you why I really am looking forward to September.  In just about 3 or 4 days my wife and I are hopeful that we will be new grandparents.  That's right!  I think by Wednesday my daughter-in-law will arrive at her due date and we are anxiously counting down the days.  This will be our 1st and it will be a boy!  We are excited yes but wish there was not so much distance between us as they live in N. Carolina.  It's about a 12 hour drive.  My wife and I plan on getting there as soon as possible after the birth and have already scheduled future vacations around our new grandson.  Wow!  This is so cool.

So come on September, be good to us in many ways.  Keep the storms away and bring on that cooler weather sooner than later.  And help us welcome our new grandson as we bask in the joy of new life and the opportunity to be grandparents.  And by the way you can all call me Pops!  I guess that would be Deacon Pops!

Please don't forget Isaac victims in your prayers

As is often the case, when the high drama of a breaking news event fades, so does the focus.  We are no longer under any threat of bad weather and things are getting back to normal for many.  However, those impacted by flood waters are still unsure when they can return home and in other cases, when they can finally get out of their home.  Just yesterday 2 bodies were discovered in the Braithwaite community.  And as the skies clear and the heat reaches into the mid nineties, we have hundreds of thousands still with no power.

Hurricane Isaac, a mere category 1 storm, wreaked havoc.  Louisiana is either more vulnerable than ever with it's disappearing coastline or this was no ordinary cat 1 storm.

In any event, please continue to offer prayers as so many now must face drying out their homes and their lives!

Two Louisiana Catholic Priests injured in home invasion as Hurricane Isaac moves in

5 arrested in shooting of St. Rita priest

 

Written by

Cynthia D. Jardon

 

Rev. Craig Scott

 

The Rev. Craig Scott, pastor of St. Rita Catholic Church, and the Rev. Marek Norjek were injured during a home invasion Wednesday night at St. Rita Church Rectory, according to the Alexandria Police Department.
Scott was shot and Norjek was hit in the head, police said.
Both priests were taken to Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, where they were treated and released, a hospital spokesman said.
Four Alexandria men were arrested Thursday on charges of attempted first-degree murder and armed robbery, police said.
Arrested were Paul Antonio Clark, 18, Larry Culbert, 21, Ashunti Pearrie, 18, and Cornelius Wilson, 17.
A fifth man, Dearon Tannehill, 17 of Alexandria, was arrested on accessory after the fact and armed robbery charges, police said.
"We, at the diocese, are saddened at the recent home invasion that occurred at Saint Rita Rectory," said the Rev. Ronald P. Herzog, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Alexandria.
"I am grateful to report Father Craig Scott, pastor of St. Rita Church, and Father Marek Norjek, his sacramental assistant, have been treated and released from the hospital and are in good spirits."
Officers from the Alexandria Police Department arrived at St. Rita Rectory in the 200 block of N. 17th Street around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a report of a home invasion, APD spokesman Bruce Fairbanks said.
The officers found that Scott had been shot and Norjek had received head injuries, Fairbanks said.
With the assistance of the Alexandria Police Special Response Team and patrol officers, detectives executed several search warrants in connection with the investigation, which lead to Thursday's arrests.
"We are thankful to the city of Alexandria and the Alexandria Police Department for their quick response as they were also dealing with Tropical Storm Isaac," Herzog said.
"Please continue to pray for all of those involved in this incident."

Another victim of Isaac; the men of the Catholic Community at Rayburn Prison

There have been many victims of this disastrous Hurricane Isaac.  Despite being a Category 1 storm he has left many victims in his wake.  With great sadness we have watched dozens, then hundreds, take on water and lose possesions while having to be evacuated.  Even today, almost 48 hours after Isaac struck, even more folks had to endure grief and anxiety; first in Slidell then along the Tangipahoa River.  And as we speak, still about 700,000 are without power and hundreds are awaiting flood waters to recede in order to return home.

One other group of men are victims too, in a much more different way.  The state prison in Angie, La is where the Catholic Community of offenders gathers on Wednesday evenings for Mass or communion services and some fellowship as well as some RCIA instruction.  I am happy to be their pastoral care chaplain and enjoy my visits very much.  In fact, I was with them just last Wednesday.  They truly enjoy Wednesday night; afterall, it is their Sunday.  During what they title "call out"they are allowed to leave their respective cells/dorms and come to the beautiful chapel for some good Catholic praying, the Eucharist and fellowship. 

On the Wednesday night of this week, as an abundance of caution, all "call outs"have been cancelled as they have been in the days leading up to the arrival of Isaac.  Even though I can't call them or communicate with them from the outside world, I know for sure how disappointed they are at having no opportunity thus week for prayer and Eucharist.  The storm found a way to make them a victim too.  There is, of course, some irony here as these men find themselves in Rayburn because someone once was their victim; a victim of a crime.  But unlike many who choose to do nothing productive during incarceration, these men have turned to a life of faith and the truths taught to them by the Catholic Church.  They have a choice and they choose to worship and work on improving themselves for that day when thier debt to society is paid.

I tell those who just don't get prison ministry that one day these men are released.  And when released, those who participate in ministries at the institution are much more likely to not return to a life of crime and untilmately back to jail.

So on this Thursday, having endured the hardships of Isaac, I say some prayers for all the victims of this difficult storm and pray for the men of the Catholic Community at Rayburn who now wait a week for the Eucharist and the Word.

Father-Son heroes in today's Isaac saga

Louisiana Father-Son Team Rescues 120 From Flooding

By JENNIFER ABBEY | ABC News

 

Related Content

• Enlarge PhotoLouisiana Father-Son Team Rescues …

Residents of Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana were shocked by Hurricane Isaac Wednesday morning when ocean water burst over the Mississippi River levee, covering their town and leaving thousands trapped in attics and on roofs.

Jesse Shaffer, 25, and his father, also named Jesse Shaffer, 53, both of Braithwaite, La., stayed behind in their town to rescue their friends.

While police and the fire department were unable to reach some stranded people using their vehicles, the Shaffers were able to save lives using boats.

"We rescued a lot of people, saw a lot of things you never thought you'd see," the older Shaffer told ABC News, beginning to cry.

Each Shaffer controlled a boat, in which the pair saved a combined 120 people in 12 hours, as well as animals.

Their rescue mission began at five a.m. Wednesday at a local auditorium, where they rescued 10 people including a baby and an elderly man, they said. The Shaffers had to break through the attic ventilation system to reach the victims.

"They'd call me and didn't know the water was coming up until it was late, and they'd call me to come get them," the older Shaffer said. "We had to scramble and try to find a boat 'cause none of the sheriff's department or anybody could come to this end of the parish."

The Shaffers rescued a family of five, including three children under the age of 6, from the roof of their trailer home just minutes before water overtopped it. The rescue was the older Shaffer's most memorable of the day.

"They were all on there, screaming their lungs out," he said.

The rapid rate at which water gushed over the 18-mile levee, into their town was "unexpected," the younger Shaffer said. As of this morning, their home had 12 feet of water in it and they had to stash their belongings in the attic, which was then flooded. Water rose six inches every four minutes, the older Shaffer said.

"There were a lot of houses we saw that were in spots that we know where they're supposed to be and they were maybe a half a mile down the road, floating down the highway," the older Shaffer said.

The Shaffers fought through debris, rough water, wind and downed power lines to save their stranded friends.

The older Shaffer insisted they are not heroes and they were never afraid.

"I guess we were just going on adrenaline," the younger Shaffer said.

But the most emotional part of their day was not the difficulty of their rescue mission, but the thought of knowing their town has to rebuild.

"It's just the people you know that you know that are not going to come back," the older Shaffer said.

An Isaac update as this storm just won't go away

I'm still dealing with Isaac.  For me and the wife the heavy winds and rain began around 2 p.m. yesterday afternoon, we hunkered down and made it through the night even with no loss of power.  Today, with daylight, brought more of the same; squalls, wind, driving rain.  At 3 p.m. we lost power and while expected it is a demoralizing feeling, especially when you know it may be days without power.  My wife and I drug out the generator and after a few hiccups, we got it running and were ready to settle in for a night without a/c but at least fans and lights.  Then almost miraculously, the power restored about 5 minutes after I hooked up the generator.  Thanks goodness I saw a neighbors facebook posting or I would never have known.  So off I went to undue the generator and flip the master breaker and so far so good for 2 hours.  But the storm is still churning and I am dealing still with heavy wind gusts and persistent rain.  My saga is nothing compared to my many neighbors throughout southeast Louisiana.

The main heartbreaking stories are coming from Braithwaite in Plaquemines Parish to our far south where a levee breach flooded almost every home near Hwy 39 and the Mississippi River.  Then we heard of the unexpected flooding in the Laplace community in St, John the Baptist Parish to the west.  Laplace is not far from Lake Pontchartrain when unrelentless winds blowing the right way from a hurricane come for a visit.  The final area really impacted tonight is southern St. Tammany Parish which is the civil parish in which I live.  Many miles to the south of my house waters from Lake Pontchartrain have flooded Slidell, Mandeville and Madisonville.  The Madisonville event actually necessitated rescue efforts as did the Braithwaite and Laplace even as well. 

I am literally heartbroken for those who needed to be rescues or lost their homes to flooding today as these good people endured this before, in Katrina.  And as you know by now, today is the anniversary of Katrina.

A lot of things went well today too.  The new flood controls to protect New Orleans worked although a bigger storm will be a more accurate test.  Major areas of New Orleans will be up and running as soon as the weather gets out of here.

As we recover from Isaac can we pray that Louisiana be left alone for a long time.  I say yes.

Made it through the night

Just a quick Isaac update as we made it through the night with only a brief loss of power around 10 p.m.  To my delight it restored quickly and now at 8:30 a.m. we still have power.  We have not lost satelitte or telephone service.  Now we are not out of the woods yet as the area I live in is predicted to experience even heavier rain this afternoon and the gusty winds continue.

The storm has not been predictable as it slowed down tremendously dumping more and more rain and it also is responsible for one levee break in a rural community known as Braithwaite.  I have seen some national TV reports on this and they are mistakenly comparing this to levee breaks from Katrina.  This is night and day but all our prayers and focus should be these poor folks in Braithwaite who are surviving in attics and roofs.  Beyond this incident, all levees and flood control structures have held.

Any additional reports of water in homes and businesses will be related to rain.  I must admit, this has been one hell of a rain event.  I would estimate at my house alone at least 4 to 5 inches of rain at my house.

I do know that my office in Pearl River, La is without power.  In fact, right now power is out to almost 500,000 homes and businesses throughout the greater New Orleans and Houma/Thibodaux regions.

So it looks like a day of more storm survival and watching these gut wrenching attempts to rescue fellow Louisianans from flood waters on this 7th anniversary of Katrina.  Louisiana has endured it's fair share of storms and tragedy when you add in the 2010 BP Oil disaster.  If you are so inclined, say some prayers for Louisiana and the good people who live here.

God the master of all things, have mercy on us.
Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us.

Remembering a hurricane by waiting for a hurricane

As I sit in my living room on this August 28th evening I would normally be reflecting on my Hurricane Katrina memories.  On this very night 7 years ago I was settling my family and my mom and mother-in-law into a hotel room in Cullman Alabama.  By early the next morning we were watching the devastation of New Orleans on a hotel TV and wondering what to do.  Turns out, we stayed on the road for 5 more days before coming home to many weeks of no electricity, no food and uncertain futures.  Reports from New Orleans, 50 miles to the south, were completely devastating.  But I remember most that we got through it, we grew closer and New Orleans came back strong.

Past anniversaries have been full of big events and others have been quiet.  This one is challenging.  As I write I am listening to some strong gusty winds, rain that comes and goes and listening to the reports of what Hurricane Isaac is doing in south Louisiana, in many of the same communities that took the brunt of Katrina.  It is so sad that this is happening again but make no mistake; Isaac is no Katrina.  Yet any reliving Katrina in this way, so real and so raw, is a challenge for all of us.

I'm soon to go off to bed and all the reports tell me that I will awake to even more violent weather.  So far so good for us north of the lake, but many more hours await.  Memories of Katrina will have to wait until we get through Isaac.

Pray for us, the people of southeast Louisiana.

Who's that knocking on my door: Isaac

I have always appreciated my readership on this blog as I journey along in all things.  My life is truly shaped by my 2008 ordination as a Permanent Deacon but most of you know, even Deacons have their own lives.  Part of who I am is a Louisiana resident, born and raised.  I have never lived anywhere else.  I truly am a New Orleanian that remained in the greater metro area but now live about 50 miles north in Abita Springs. 

Part of that existence here includes dealing with hurricanes.  The first one I remember as a young boy was Hurricane Betsy.  She hit in September of 1965 and I was but 8 years old.  I remember me and my family trying to ride it out at our home but sometime after midnight the roof buckled and we made the decision to evacuate in the stormy weather.  As a child I was scared to death.  We only drove 2 blocks to the neighborhood school but all I remember was the wind was howling and the rain stinging as we walked calmly to the car.  The next morning we saw the damage and we would be several weeks before we returned to that old house.

Just 4 years later we were told to brace for an even bigger storm.  Her name would be Camille.  If Betsy was bad, Camille would be bad squared.  This time we most definitely evacuated.  But Camille shifted ever so slightly and went in to our east along the Mississippi Gulf Coast with devastating results.  I remember the saying all the adults were using; we dodge a bullet.

There would be many other close calls and evacuations and storm stories.  I remember spending an entire Labor Day weekend with our newborn son at the in-laws as we awaiting a storm who's name escapes me now.  When my children we older, we waited out the arrival of Andrew which went to the west and slammed Lafayette and Morgan City. 

After I moved my family to the Northshore we had big scares in the late 90's most especially from a storm named Georges.  Then came the most amazing storm event of my life, Katrina.  We were gonna ride her out since we live so far north of New Orleans and the Lake known as Pontchartrain.  No way could this storm hurt us so the decision was made.  Then came the reports that Katrina was a Category 5; winds were exceeding 175 mph.  We decided to go.  First we traveled to north Alabama, then we kept going all the way to my son's house in North Carolina.  Little did we know.  While my house was sparred major damage, the Northshore was devastated by excessive tree damage and that led to long power outages.  We were without power for 4 full weeks.  Thanks to a generator, purchased in North Carolina, we were able to live in the house til the power came back on.  Meanwhile, the devastation and loss of life in New Orleans was heartbreaking, especially with the onset of so much chaos in the Crescent City.  I said then and I will say it again; I never want another Katrina experience ever!

Since Katrina there has been Rita and Gustav and Lee and now today Isaac.  The picture above is that of Isaac earlier today.  As I sit here and write we are experiencing occasional gusts, I would guess up to 40 mph or so, some rain and the ever present reminder that this will get worse later today and into tonight.  We will most probably lose power sometime between this evening and early morning.  Will it be for a long time?  Only time will tell.  We will experience gustier wind and may have a long period of persisitent wind in the 50-75 mph with heavy rain.  Predictions call for this to occur for a period of 12-15 hours non-stop.

Today my wife and I finished our preps.  All the stuff in the yard is picked up, gas is on hand for the generator, water is plentiful, horses are fed and we are trying to get all the things done that require power now like washing clothes and taking showers.  We wll probably be up by Friday.  Right now the air is cooled by the wind, the trees are making a nice rustling noise because it's not yet severe and everything is wait, and wait and wait.  Prayers are for all of us to ride this out with no loss of life or serious property damage.  We hope for the best.

Isaac is knocking on my door; I just wish he would go away!