Hi, my friends.  Thank you all and Catie, thank you for keeping all informed.  I wrote this yesterday, but was not able to get back to all the boards.  Will write again later.  Still cleaning up and have PT today and must pick up more essentials as some grocery stores are opening for us.

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Hi Guys,

 

I'm safe and sound ...at least bodily.  The only damage here was to my body's thermostat.  :o)  I lost my sense of humor on about day 3 or 4 without power, but glad to say that I regained BOTH yesterday.  YEAH!!!!    It didn't take them anytime once they got to work on my street ...and it was 3 trucks from Missouri that got the job done.  The help here has been tremendous.  Electric companies from all over the USA and Canada have been seen working all day and throughout the night.   This one caused damage state-wide with gusts up to 91mph.  I've lived here all my life and have NEVER seen anything like Gustav.  Tens of thousands of our 100 yr. old + oaks were uprooted and fell on power lines through out the state.  All of these had to been removed to restore the power.  I lost only one tree ... it is a pear that split down the middle and was trimmed and braced until the tree guy can get back to it for removal. 

 

 I was in the dark for 7 days ...the longest I can remember.  National news is not covering the worse of it ....many parts of the state are still considered disaster areas and will be without power for possibly weeks to come.  I live in Baton Rouge, which is the capital of LA.   Everything that I've seen so far (we are under curfew) just going to my cousin's for meals and ice, etc. looks like a war zone.

None of the traffic lights were working for a few days and tempers were flying.  Most of the streets were not passable in any case.  Now most have been fixed.

Our governor insisted on "power" first and then clean up.  I thank him for that.

 

I am most grateful to have come through in good condition.  I am also happy to hear that Jane and Annie came through it safely.  Thanks for the updates.  We all continue to pray the IKE will weaken enough not to do any major harm along the coastal areas.  

 

Stay safe everyone and keep those good thoughts and prayers coming until this hurricane season ends.  Thank you all again.

 

Emmy

PS ... Ras (my 13 yr. old Himilayan)  is fine also.  He, of course, was nervous before the storm got here.  Thank goodness cats can see very well in the dark because I could never figure out how to connect a flashlight to him.