I would have him wait until full power is restored and all the water and sewage in his area is back to normal. Also, when the police department is pretty much back to normal, as it is NOT yet. People are still not encouraged to come back yet, although I hear they are ALLOWING it within the next few days. I would have him wait until it is encouraged, because as of right now he can receive very little assistance in the Golden Triangle area. Fema, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and charities of the like are all giving assistance to evacuees: gas vouchers, food stamps, cost of living reimbursment...etc. But there isn't much individual aid going on to the residents of Beamont aside from a bag of ice here and there...Billy was going door to door passing that out today and taking adresses of damaged homes and names of people who need assistance.

So, in short, I would wait to send him back until there is help available unless he is fully self supporting and can take care of his property without full utilities and access to police protection if needed.

On a side note, please say a little prayer for my situation. My car's air conditioner compressor went out on the way up here and it will cost over a grand to repair. We are not getting ANY form of income right now, and have not been able to receive any govt assistance as of yet. Hopefully, if my car is fixed tomorrow, I will be able to go to the necessary aid stations. I've allready filled out my FEMA app, but they are S-L-O-W.

Yeah, if he has a good place to stay now I'd recommend staying. It's awful hot here, police, national guard and state troopers are everywhere, it can be difficult to get around and if any health issues pop up you go the baptist hospital (st e is closed) and they send you to houston. Gas, food, and water are a bit difficult to get.

I imagine by next week we'll be seeing a lot of progress, there's HUNDREDS (if not thousands) of heavy equipment pieces working throughout the area - some will have power over the next few days, but it'll probably be a 2+ weeks before everyone has stable utilities.

We saw the first traffic signals (at I-10 and College) working yesterday and the first railroad crossing (at major and college) the day before They're supposed to have power to the police, hospitals, and a few businesses over the next few days.

he is planning on coming into bmt for monday, jsut to secure his stuff and move that one limb and drag two items from teh no longer back bulding to the garage and of course, clean out teh fridge and freezer.

do you think it would be safe for him to come home if just for a day to do that stuff ?

If he is in good health, probably so...

will they LET him in ? we are being told conflicting things. they say he CAN come in and then leave befroe curfew and then we hear that they closed the exits off again after they let people come yesterday. what is the story ?

Finally back home, our electricity was turned on some time in the last 24 hours or so

dial up? what isthat?
so glad progress is bein g made. hang in there
nabster

Big Fat Praises! /

Be thankful for what you have Cruel...you could not have any access at all...then how would you cope...

Actually they are still evacuating people from the areas without utilities still

Broadband came back online this morning

Slowly putting things back together, Melanie has been amazing through it all

Net connection is still up and down About 80% of the area has electricity now, big improvement from 0%

and so I thought I'd gotten off ok...so what if my neighbor's tree crushed my new fence and landed in my yard...and it's my responsibility to remove...ummm...ok..my pools a cess pond again...pool furniture a slimy mess fit to be burned...shed with the back roof in the pool...ummm ok...no biggie...lots of unknown junk everywhere...no snakes noted...yet anyway...got the AC repaired...electricity on, water semi-clear, cable's working..so I'm sittting here under curfew unable to do my night stalking ...and look up at my fireplace....two large cracks from ceiling to floor on both sides...separating the wall ...the wall over toward the garage...a crack down the middle from the ceiling...um..maybe that's why neither of my garage doors are working...they were working up until 2 days ago when I found the pulleys and chains in both laying on the floor...strange...so I go outside...and around the house and heck there are several cracks in the brick structure around the house....and I thought I got off ok.... ...I know nothing about this stuff...the adjuster's due out next week...any tips on what I should be looking for? I'm not house/construction saavy...and I don't want to get ripped off...Allstate's giving everyone a hard time too....

You might get a foundation company out to check it out for you... they can tell you if it's related, broken, etc. Without seeing it it sounds like there's an issue with the foundation - not sure what could have caused that, unless there's a change in the water level in the soil due to the tree/pool/whatever.

Oh well...went up on the roof a few minutes ago...and there went my chimney...tumbling over...now I have not just one hole in the roof but two!!!So it's off to find a tarp...or whatever to put up there...and lotsa cracks around the pool!!!Thanks Al...the adjuster's suppose to be out next week...and I know not to sign anything

So sorry for your troubles Haze. Keep focused on Jesus, He ALWAYS provides./

I'll be praying, you be coping. :-)

Thought I would weigh in with my storm report.
On Thursday, my ex-husband came to pick the kids up and evacuate with them to the Texas side of Toledo Bend. His parents have a camp up there and they figured it was a safe place. The casino called me and told me that they were closing the smaller boat, and that I would be off Saturday. But, for me to "expect business as usual" Thurs, Friday and Sunday. I have perfect attendance at work. But, I seriousily wanted to be with my kids to ride the storm out. Hours passed...then my stepmom called telling me that they closed the casino (she works there too) and that all of Calcasieu Parish was under mandatory evacuation. So, I gave Bill's doberman a good bath, loaded up my car with what I could....loaded the dog and left for North Louisiana. (Side note: I haven't seen Bill in appr. six weeks. He left me a note while the kids and I were at church to "please feed his dog for a few days". I didn't have the heart to leave the dog behind. So, I planned to take him and give him to my sister in Dubach, LA) Gangus and I travelled well. I took LOTS of back roads. And didn't get stuck in traffic the first time. I had extra gas cans with fuel and we had plenty of water and sodas. When I got to my sisters....her Minituare Pincher thought he was bullet proof and tried repeatedly to kill Gangus (full blood dobie). He was miserable. And as bad as Lisa really wanted him, it was obvious that the dogs would never get along. So, Friday morning, I headed towards Many, LA. My ex-inlaws camp is easily accessible from Many. That is where my kids were. But, I knew that I would not be able to bring Gangus because of there being so many people at the camp (like 15). So, I began looking for a vet that could possible board him til Rita passed. I finally found one. But, they couldn't take anymore animals. I was at the brink of tears because, I knew that I was running out of time to unite with the kids and I had no place for the dog. The lady at the vet called another lady that was taking evacuees animals. She lives in Florein. She said that she would keep Gangus. So, I backtracked even more, to go drop him off. Very, very nice lady. She barrel races and does the whole rodeo thing. Big horse farm from what I could tell. She had a little boy that instantly thought that I had dropped off his new best friend. Finally, that was taken care of. By the time I arrived at the camp....I was crying. My ex mother in law, (In case you all are wondering, I am still very close to that family....I hope that never changes. And, even my ex husband and his wife were there. We all rode it out there together. I thought that it was good because Carl and I could both be there with the kids.) hugged me, and tried to calm me down. They were all worried about me. Carl had gone to the store to call me...but my cell had no service. I was crying because, I was racing Mother Nature's clock...and all I wanted was to make it to my kids. And I cut it so close that I thought it wouldn't happen. Finally, Rita came in. We knew that where we were would still get some bad weather. But, no of us expected that she would still be a Hurricane after moving so far onto land. It took many, many hours for then to downgrade her. We got lots of bad weather. You could hear trees "pop". And look out and see the tree broke off. Thank God, nothing catastrophic to where we were staying. Lots of trees down. And several camps damaged badly. But, the next day brought conflicting news reports. I was just sick about what I was hearing about my job. One report said that one of the riverboats sunk. Another said that it broke in to two pieces and hit the I-10 bridge. None of which happened. One did break away from the dock. But, the captain brought her back. The casino across the lake took a bad beating. It will be a year or so before they reopen...if then. One of their boats looks like it is sitting on the Beach.
Finally, reports started coming in about different one's homes. Carl and Letitia found out that theirs was ok. His mom and dad, lost several trees and had some roof damage (minor), His brother had a cedar tree on his roof....minor damage. I couldn't get any information on mine. Two days later....we caravanned into Vidor. Everyone in the group looked at their homes...and decided to go on out to West Texas. Ex inlaws have 100 acres out there. I didn't join them. I told them that I still didn't know if my home made it or not and that I didn't want to be over eight hours away to find out. So, the kids and I went back up to my sisters. I had to register with an evauee center to get some needed supplies and food. The photo ID that they made me...was a reality check. I have to tell you that the center was so well managed and organized. I had never been in need like I was up there. And whatever church was sponsering that....I hope they each have a special place in Heaven. They were even friendly...offering hugs and smiles. I even observed signs that said..."Love your neighbor as yourself....-God." Then you would see another one that said "We Are". Anyway, we enjoyed staying with my sister. We tried to make the best of it. And I trully enjoyed my kids. The parish asked that we NOT enroll our kids elsewhere. So I didn't. Emalie has NEVER missed a day of school. She is working on her fifth year of perfect attendance. Sheldon is, too. So, I wasn't in a rush to make them go. Besides, this was a first for me to get to spend that much time with them. Even when they are out of school, I still have had to work.
After more than a week...I got to see my place. I had excepted that I would probably come back to devastation, as I live in a mobile home, three miles from the Sabine River. And I live in the country...lots and lots of trees. I told Carl and his family, that if this storm wiped me out, then we were moving to Oregon. They didn't give me any trouble. Well, we pulled around the curve to see our home....can you all believe that not even a single shingle is missing from my roof??? I couldn't believe my eyes. I would say that 70% of my trees are gone. But, my home is in tact. My son said, "God is SO GREAT!"...and Emalie said, "Aw, man! I wanted to move to Oregon!" So, I told her that God wasn't done with us here yet. For unknown reasons...we are supposed to stay.
So, God made it possible to be with my kids and to protect our home. For that I am most thankful.
I went back to work last Saturday. I got power restored Sunday. Still can't get the awful stinch out of my icebox and freezer. Tried cleaning products and charcoal. Any ideas?
Oh, yea...and about Gangus, when I called to make plans to go pick him up....the little boys heart broke in a million pieces. He wanted very badly to keep him. So, his mom got on the phone and told me that "they just fell in love with Gangus and would like nothing more than to keep him." She said that he has slept at the foot of Kyle's bed every night that he has been there. So, guess what? Gangus has a new home. I gave him to them.
About Bill, well, he didn't even call to see if the kids and I were ok...or if we had a place to go....or if we needed money....nothing. He had over $10K in his possession from the insurance check that he got from his wreck. I am guessing that the money clouded his judgement. The kids and I survived on a little over $200 and was sweating that until we got the FEMA money (thank God). On Oct.6, He left me a voice mail on my home phone saying that he had just gotten back into town, that I could call him if I wanted. Please!!! I am so DONE with that situation. And, NO, he still doesn't know that he doesn't have a dog anymore. Something tells me that he just doesn't care. Matter of fact, I doubt that he even comes back for any of his things...which are, by the way, packed.
Oh, I also got in a wreck. My pastor backed into my vehicle a week ago. Messed up my vehicle hood pretty bad. But, it still drives. When things calm down, I will get it fixed. He said he would pay for it. But, it makes me sad...because our church got beat up and no tellings how many of the members lost their homes. And now...he has to fix my car? My car can wait.
Coming in from my sisters to go back to work, my battery died. I drive an O2 Escape...and it was the factory battery. So, it was time. I stopped in DeRidder and bought a new one. And I'll be, if the battery in my watch didn't go out the very next day.
All in all....I am still BLESSED. Just minor things...minor losses....minor damage. My heart just aches for the damage that is so widespread right now.

Saphy

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can't get the awful stinch out of my icebox and freezer. Tried cleaning products and charcoal. Any ideas?
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've heard that you can wipe it down with vanilla and that will take care of the smell. It's cheap and wouldn't hurt to try

We finally removed the boards from the windows yesterday

You are right....it is cheap. And I will give it a try. Thanks.

Saphy

Allen, try taking a baking pan and filling it with fresh ground coffee and putting it in there, we did it and i think it worked pretty well on my dad's fridge. and i am sure his is worse than yours. just an idea.

Baking soda also absorbs alot of odor as well...and so does kitty litter, for that matter. Coffee, huh? What an idea! I'll have to try that.

our fridge is fine, saphy could use some help tho