MISSISSIPPI RECOVERY EFFORTS...continue

Friday, October 21, 2005

Wow what an experience this has all been for me.  I have learned a lot in a week!  It seems like you learn something new each and every day that you are out in the field.  There are so many wonderful people involved with the Red Cross.  True American Heroes!  I believe I have met people from almost every single state :) and then you have to add in the ones from Canada and a few other countries.  Everyone working together for the same purpose.  :)  You can't go wrong there.

I spent some time yesterday working with the Salvation Army on a project in Pearlington.  We were working things out so that the Red Cross and the Salvation Army could work side by side on a feeding project.  :)  It was nice to see everyone working as one.

Today I am going to a new town - Picayune.  This is located north of Pearlington and Waveland.  It is on the Louisiana border.  I believe Picayune is pretty close to where part of the eye went over.  Lot of wind damage and flooding hit that area.

Pearlington is being covered now by two ERVs and we have set up the Salvation Army to feed at the school/shelter.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE SENT ENCOURAGING EMAILS!  I ALWAYS LOVE TO READ THEM!  THEY MAKE ME SMILE AT NIGHT AND CERTAINLY HELP END THE DAY ON A HAPPY NOTE!

CATASTROPHE IN MEXICO

CANCUN IN THE NORTHEAST PORTION OF THE EYEWALL OF CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE WILMA

EXTREME DAMAGE TO BEACH RESORTS AND THE CITY OF CANCUN...

EYE PASSES RIGHT OVER COZUMEL AND STALLS...


Images from Cancun this afternoon



Cancun under water


RADAR SHOWS HURRICANE WILMA THIS EVENING
CANCUN IS BEING SLAMMED  -

Visible satellite image of hurricane Wilma - hitting the Yucatan

HUGE WAVES POUNDING CANCUN - EARLIER ON FRIDAY - AP PHOTO

Very concerned tonight about my friend Louis in downtown Cancun.

----DAY IN BILOXI :)

Another day of feeding!  We fed over 300 people today.  We hit a new area - Pearl River County - north of Pearlington.  Lot of tree damage.  I was able to see several forests where 50% of the trees were snapped.  It was an odd sight to say the least.  Today was a 13 hour day!  Better than yesterday.  heh :)

TIRED TIRED TIRED!  HAVING FUN THOUGH!

SATURDAY MORNING

EXTREME DAMAGE IN MEXICO FROM WILMA

EARLY REPORTS OF SEVERE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AROUND CANCUN INCLUDING BUILDING FAILURES...

RESCUES ARE ONGOING IN THE HOTEL ZONE...

AT LEAST 30 PEOPLE IN MEXICO  HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THE HURRICANE - EARLY REPORTS

Some blog bosts from Cancun - and area

From another Cancun forum, about 2 hours ago:

We have some very troubling information coming from our team in Cancun. Police and military are reporting the following:

The Boulevard Kukulcan where all of the hotels are located is no longer visible. The Caribbean Sea has crossed over and met the Lagoon and the waters are rising. All hotels in the hotel zone are flooded and taking water.

The Hyatt Hotel (not sure whether it is Regency or Cancun Caribe) has suffered "extensive structural damage". If you remember earlier images in the thread there were some photos from Televisa of the Hyatt Hotel taken from The Mall Forum by the Sea.

The Hurricane has provoked tornados in the region as well as in Cuba where 4 tornados caused some destruction there.

80% of Cancun is flooded with 3 to nearly 5 feet of water.

The Mayor of Cancun and the Committee for Hurricanes made a tactical decision about 2 hours ago to evacuate some of the areas as well as some of the shelters that are in danger of flooding. The governor of Quintana Roo said in a press release just an hour ago that Cancun and the Riviera Maya has received unprecidented damage and the worst is yet to come.

We do not know what areas yet or whether they are locals or tourists.

Again the downtown area is flooded as well and Gaby is reporting that our friends from Televisa are trapped in a hotel downtown and are awaiting rescue from military staff.

There has still only been one reported death in Cancun and the 9 injured in Playa Del Carmen so far.

Susana Lopez is reporting that they are not able to leave the hotel where they are in downtown called the Handel Hotel because of high water and currents passing the hotel.

Military Troops have arrived from Veracruz and Tabasco with Boats and equipment prepared to move in and evacuate or rescue after the storm has died down.

State Police reported just a short while ago that the area of the Hilton Cancun and the Marriott is "out of control". We don't know what that means as communication in Cancun is minimal.

and

~~~~~~~~~
"Update from Playa Del Carmen:

This is information that we are receiving via 3rd party because we don't have communications with Coral nor Veronica in Playa Del Carmen but here is what we have.

Currently the Eye of the hurricane is still passing over Playa Del Carmen and the Northeast of Cozumel and there is a calm. Not a complete Calm but emergency personnel are on the street evaluating damage and looking for anyone that may need assistance.

The worst is yet to come... National Weather Service in Mexico just issued a bulletin that states the following.

Within the next hours Cozumel, Playa Del Carmen, and parts of the Riviera Maya will be struck with the worst of the storm. 12 hours more of a pounding is expected in the Cozumel and Playa Del Carmen area with an expected 36 hours more of storms.

Wilma continues to move only 7 kph which is just over 4 mph.

Playa Del Carmen has sustained extensive flooding, trees, signs, poles, radio and telephone towers down. Streets like Constituyentes and Juarez are Flooded and not passable. The highway is Flooded and has debris blocking the highway.

A family of 7 were injured when their Propane Gas tank exploded, two children suffered burns over 85% of their body and an adult suffered burns over 65% of his body. The other 4 were burned but over less than 40% of the body. All were transported during the hurricane to Cancun for treatment.

2 Others were injured from flying glass in the afternoon and their injuries were severe enought to be transported as well to Cancun for treatment.

2 babies were born in different shelters one boy and one girl. Medical staff is taking care of them at the shelter.

Again, Playa Del Carmen is in a calm as is Cozumel that is expected to end in about an hour or 2.
.........
"36 hours more for Cozumel and Playa Del Carmen and the worst hasn't come yet. The back end will hit then the rest of the 400 kilometers of the storm which will take til late Sunday afternoon to pass.

Governor is saying that this is going to register as the worst disaster in Mexico's history with damage and records set.

Some Details:

So Far 55 centimeters of rain has fallen on Isla Mujeres since 2AM (a Record)
Stan dumped 36 centimeters and killed 1,500 people in Mexico this month.
Paulina in 1997 Paulina dumped 44 centimeters.

Wilma is 800 kilometers wide
Katrina was 400 kilometers

Some bad news just in, sorry if I posted it already but I was trying to confirm the information. It is confirmed...

The caribbean sea crossed the beaches, into the hotels and has met with the lagoon. The road no longer exists as it is now just one big ocean. Worst yet between 3 am and 5 am the water is expected to rise to 30 feet or 3 stories in the hotel zone causing obviously unmentionable damages to property there. Again, that is a direct quote from the information passed at the 11PM briefing.

Also, doesn't seem we are getting a break right now. The evacuation of the shelter we talked about is now confirmed that the 2,500 evacuated were tourists. Evacuation was because the ceiling tiles were falling.

All of the shelters, homes, businesses, are taking in water because of the pounding rain hitting the buildings.

Winds currently in Cancun are at 260 kph and Wilma continues to move at 7 kph.

We are still translating and will let you know if there is anything else new."
~~~~~~~

end

SATURDAY NIGHT IN BILOXI...

Hi everyone :)  Extremely tired and starting to become worn out.  The hours down here are similiar to Houston.  13-16 hour days are the norm.  I do have Monday off - that is nice :)  I can rest some.  I am SCHEDULED to be interviewed for the morning NBC 6 News.  I believe the interview is between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. and then they will play it again through the morning and maybe at noon.  Not sure about the evening newscast.  That is the current plan at least.

Had a very long day - good day though.

No new news out of Mexico.  Bad situation down there :(  Waiting to hear from a friend in Cancun.

ALPHA HAS FORMED IN THE CARIBBEAN...SHOULD HIT HAITI.

What a freakin season this has been!  Unbelievable.

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