The news from Pearlington after Hurricane Isaac

**Cross posted at my personal blog**

I heard from Mr. Ben today.  The conversation went something like this:

Cell phone vibrates.  I look at Caller ID and answer with, "I've been waiting. What's the news?"

The answer on the other end was "I really didn't want to call you with this but I told you I would check in."

"What's going on Ben?"

"I really don't want to tell you this but I'm just going to tell you like it is."

"Ok, Ben.  What's the news?"

"Well, I really don't want to tell you..."

The news finally came out.  This time it's Mr. Ben's house.  The laminate floor in the small bedroom needs to go.  That's not so bad.  All the sheet rock in the downstairs of the house needs to be torn out from about the 2 foot mark on.  Dang.  The siding on the outside of the house needs to be replaced from about the 3 foot mark on down.  Double dang.

Then the news on the pretty house (aka yellow house). While the water has receded from Mr. Ben's house, the yellow house now has a lake.  Underneath the house and surrounding it.  Lovely.  The sheet rock needs to come out from about the 2 ft. mark here as well.  The sheet rock that we put up two years ago.  DANG IT!

While a part of me wants to just get on a plane and go right now, the logical, practical side of me is sitting and praying for a moment.  Do we go or do we send the money we would have spent on the plane ticket to help with repairs?  That will be tomorrows conversation with Mr. Ben...which will start off something like this..."so what is it that you need the most?"

--As a side note, I've heard comments, already, from some who say "why would you live there?  This is just going to keep happening."  They are right.  It will keep happening.  But why do I choose to live on  a hill that could give way with one good rain storm (Ala 1982-83 rainstorms and floods), that could be wiped out in an earthquake (um 1989?) or burn down in a fire (just a few summers ago there was a close one!)?  We choose to live where we choose to live and deal with things as they come to us.   

A little news

Still waiting on news but here is a little tidbit to, well honestly, it made me a little more worried about what has happened in Pearlington this time around.

I'm also curious as to where this house was in Pearlington.  I didn't think Pearlington was 6 miles wide either direction!

http://www.sunherald.com/2012/08/30/4154790/at-least-75-rescued-from-isaac.html

Hurricane Warning

It's been quiet on this blog.  The work in Pearlington came to a halt and so have the stories.  That doesn't mean those of us who spent so much time in Pearlington have forgotten the town or the people we have met.  We talk about our time there often, with joy and hope of one day returning.  We don't want to return because of another hurricane, though.

Tropical Storm Isaac is on path to becoming a hurricane and the Gulf Coast is now in the projected path.  Tonight I am praying the storm dies out...because changing paths just puts other towns in the line of potential destruction.  Praying that the rain and winds cause no harm and that the next time we go to Pearlington it's for vacation!

June 1st

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects this Hurricane season to be "active to extremely active", with 14-23 named storms, 8-14 Hurricanes of which they anticipate 3-7 will be major Hurricanes.

Between the BP disaster and Hurricane season, I'll be holding my breath until November 30th. Praying for the Gulf Coast!

Fundraiser Report

The Jambalaya Dinner was successful. I've heard great things about the food, entertainment and ambiance. Thanks to all the team members who came to help out. It was good to see you work as a team...hints of things to come!We brought in approximately $1000 (profit). A few generous people helped out with that (Thank you!). It will be divided up amongst the team members who worked and put on their "sponsor" reports for next week's meeting (Sunday @ 12:30pm).
Thanks to our talented musicians for sharing their gifts with us! So awesome!

In other news, I was remiss in declaring Hurricane Season over, so that post is gone. It's not done til the end of the month, hence Hurricane Ida heading toward the Gulf Coast. Here's hoping that Hurricane Ida calms down and is downgraded before reaching the Gulf Coast.

It's June 1st...

That means the hurricane season has officially begun. According to NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) it's going to be a "near-normal Atlantic hurricane season." Here's hoping and praying that the season is quiet and uneventful.

The names, though, for any potential storms are already locked in.
Here's the list for 2009:

• Ana
• Bill
• Claudette
• Danny
• Erika
• Fred
• Grace
• Henri
• Ida
• Joaquin
• Kate
• Larry
• Mindy
• Nicholas
• Odette
• Peter
• Rose
• Sam
• Teresa
• Victor
• Wanda

Bill--please don't become a hurricane! :)