The Axe is in the Attic

Exactly seven years after Hurricane Katrina visited the Gulf Coast, another massive storm is vexing the area again. Many of you have contacted me for word of our friends there. Here’s what I know:

 1. Brianna Hardy, our own SMC alum who has re-relocated to New Orleans, has evacuated northward to her aunt and uncle’s house in Covington, where she had power most of the day (but expected to lose it soon). She, then, feels like the storm is a pesky hindrance but not a dire threat. She has caught up on Mad Men viewing.

 2. The Parkway Partners folks are riding out the storm, partially to be quick on response. They had just announced a huge new initiative last week in honor of their 30th anniversary: http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/08/parkway_partners_will_plant_15.html

3. Joan from Catholic Charities is staying put, heading up the evacuation of several major areas.

4. Don Palmer (the dad) is staying to continue working, but the power is out both at work and at home. Troylyn (the mom), little Don, and other family members are evacuated to Houston.

 5. Mr. and Mrs. Pitts and Red have evacuated. Not sure where.

 6. Sarah is unreachable at the moment but called me a couple of days ago to talk about "those poor people in Haiti," wondering if we were going to go help them. She didn't mention her own possible need for help at all.

7. Two of Lisa's kids (Lauren and Andrew) are evacuated to Houston and another (Amanda) is boarded up in the city with her husband and baby to try to protect their new business (the nature of which I don't know).

 8. Lisa is riding out the storm with Bruce in their house. They lost power last night. A couple of days ago the plan was for Lisa to follow Bruce to Arkansas where his job was taking him for a few days but that gig got cancelled so they stayed put. They tied down everything outside, got lots of water and food stockpiled inside and -- the part that broke me -- put the axe in the attic.


 It is very hard to make (and keep) a cellphone connection, so I am sure that Sarah is fine, even though I can’t connect with her. I’ll keep trying.

 I’m not quite ready to see words like “overtopped” and “breach” in my daily correspondence again, but the eerie recollections that I have are nothing compared to the traumas of the folks who are reliving memories of Katrina. I’ll keep you posted.