Hurricane Katrina, August 2005

[Climber]

Hello every one.
This is my first post. I'm very excited about it. Sorry if it's in wrong location.
I'd like to go south with my crew to do some cleaning work. Is any one want to share information about Hurricane Katrina. FEMA told me I need to talk to local authorities. I tried to contact county clerks and town halls, but phones don't work. My company registered in New Hampshire. Do I need to register in LA and MS to work where? Any one with previous experience? Thanks

[Jeff]

this is your 4th post climber.    This is ALL the forestry forum. Lets move this to the general board. It might be a better place for it. 

[DonE911]

I'll send you a PM with alot of info.

[twoodward15]

Climber, where are you going?  Are you driving any company vehicles?  Pm me the name on the side if you want.  I might be there soon!

[Rockn H]

Hello Climber,  thinking of going ourselves.  We're waiting to here back more from a contract service i know.   Communication is still pretty much none existant.  We are thinking about going in as an independent comp. , If we do it will be at least next week.  Mississippi is pretty tore up from I20 south.  What are y'all thinking, as for as going in for cleanup?

[Climber]

Thanks to every one for replies.
I am owner of my company witch is registered in NH.
I do have insurance – 2M
I am thinking to go with my body, whose company in MA. He is insured too.
We were thinking to take one or two more guys with us. They are working for us.
Equipment: dumper, chipper, rigging, winch and Stihls.
Destination: Unknown yet.

I am trying to establish some kind of commitment from authorities, but no luck us of right now.

[DanG]

Hi, Climber.  They are still too busy looking for survivors and bodies in the principle areas to worry about chipping up tree limbs.  One thing you might do is contact some of the cities 50 to 100 miles inland.  They are the ones that are likely to need tree work.  The ones on the coast don't have any trees left.  You could start at Jackson or Montgomery and work your way south.  This storm didn't lose Hurricane strength until it reached Tennessee.  There is plenty of work in the inland parts of the coastal states.

If you do come down, do your soul a favor and donate an hour or two a day to the poor folks that can't pay your rates.  You'll sleep better, and create some goodwill for yourself, too. ;)

[LSUNo1]

I'll be in it tomorrow. I work for the local government in Jefferson Parish which is only a few miles from New Orleans. Many trees on the streets in our area. I know clean up has already started. Not my area but I am sure there have been emergency contracts issued. The usual protocal is waived in these situations. I dont know if this event will go as past lesser hurricanes where FEMA did not have as strong a presence so I dont know if you need to talk to FEMA or to our purchasing people. All the water has been pumped from our parish back out in to the lake beleive it or not. We did not have as many areas where water was up to the roofs though.

I'll find out more in the morning and will try to get back on line if power and phone lines permit.

If you want to PM me with your contact information I'll try to give you a call when I know more.

[Fla._Deadheader]

HEY, Good to hear from ya LSU.   8) 8) We were concerned you were in really deep.  ;D

[Jeff]

Thank goodness.  8)

[Tom]

Glad to hear you are OK.  Prayers are still in order. I dont know what else to do.


Just thought of something morbidly funny.  Is that water y'all pumped back into the lake headed for the breaks in the dikes in New Orleans?

[Climber]

You are absolutely right.
I'm always thinking how can I help to people and Mother Nature.
And if some person can't afford my services, I am asking to pay me by praying for my guys and me.
In the other time, if I can be paid well, why not?

Any way, before we going there, I have many questions, like:
What do I need to take with me? Gas, diesel fuel, water, food maybe RV to live in.
Where to go?
My LLC certificate and insurance. that else?

I don't want to go to ground zero, however people and government in regions of national disaster area needs my capability the most.

[DonE911]

Climber, you'll all of that stuff, cept the RV unless its your tow vehicle. Although the RV would be nice.

You'll need a generator for sure. You should plan on all the food you would need for the entire trip as food will probably not be to your liking the farther south you go.  Bring lots of high calorie stuff.
Cash, you can't count on atm's or gas stations with operating credit card machines for fuel.

I sent you another pm

[LSUNo1]

Thanks for the well wishes fellas. My family and I got out of Dodge for this one. I normally have to work through storms but they let most of us but skeleton crews go. Turned out to be a good selling point to my friends and family to go and go now!

My feeling is that anyone who had the means to leave, but did not, has performed a truly selfish act. Look at the dollars and manpower now devoted to saving folks that should not even be here. This was the storm we have dreaded for decades.

Tom, its a BIG lake. The water pumped out of Jefferson Parish had virtually no effect on the lake elevation. As of a few minutes ago they are making good headway on the repair of the breech. And the lake elevation is slowly but surely dropping and should continue until the elevation reaches sea level. 

The breech is on the New Orleans side of that canal. That canal and its levees forms the boudnary between Jefferson and Orleans Parishes so our drainage basins are segregated. Jefferson Parish is also a little higher and will be up and running again much sooner.

I hope to have some pics and more info tomorrow from ground zero. I already have a story about a hero. My brother in law who tried to leave but waited too late. Have to go for tonight. On dads computer and his phone doesnt work when Im on.

[DanG]

Thanks for checking in, LSU!  And thank GOD you and your's are ok. 8) 8)  Take care and keep a good journal.  You'll have lots of stories to tell us when things settle down. ;D

[Tom]

Lord yes!  Make a journal.  We need some stories real bad.  Heck, I've almost come to the point of having to make some up.  ;D

[Furby]

You too Tom ???

[Rockn H]

Climber, sounds like our situation and thinking are pretty close.  If I find out any information I'll PM you.

[metalspinner]

LSU,
I came to this forum to get away from the bad news on the TV.  All of my family live in Jeff. Parish.  Most are here with me in Tn. now.  Your news is the first good news I have heard from that area.  I will have the whole family reading this thread.  I know that bad news keeps the televisions networks in business, but plenty of us would rather see some good news and a vision of hope for our future.  I will keep a watch on this websight for more info. Thanks, LSU!!!

[Kirk_Allen]

LSU, My son was in a Hospital downtown during the storm and I have not heard anything from him.  His name is Nicholas Allen.  Do you know the names of any of the downtown hospitals?  I have a couple numbers but still no connection to be made. 

If by the Grace of God you are near a downtown Hospital during your efforts PLEASE inquire about my son.  Ypu cant miss him: (21, 6'6" - 250lbs White Male) If you do come across him, make sure you SLAP the CRAP out of his mother for refusing to leave. 

I have been told through some military friends that if I dont hear from him by Tuesday that I had better come down packing hardward and start looking for him on my own as they are terribly under manned to do the job at hand and that numerous gangs have taken over many parts of the city. 

Thanks so much for any and all information you can provide. 

[katie-did]

Hey everyone I just want to say thank you for all the good stories on the hurricane . I have the news on most of the day and I just get tired of the same old stories over and over and over   I think that they should be reporting on some of the good stories in between. Gives more people hope instead of despair.
Thanks  to you all in Florida that have been through it giving us a really wake up to what is important. Just can't wait to get on and read the new stories. They are a really inspiration to me.
Kirk my thoughts and prays are with you and hope you hear for your son. There was a doctor on today from one of the down town hospital and I just wondered if Kirk son was there. Everyone down there are in our thought just keep your chine up.
Thank again everyone.

[DanG]

Kirk, this may not be much help, but go to www.msnbc.com and look for the missing persons segment.  Also find the Red Cross site and post his description and a pic there.  They have forums set up for this.  Good luck, and we'll be praying.

[Stamp]

Kirk, the "downtown" hospitals would be University, Charity, or Tulane. 

There are also a few on the outskirts: Memorial Medical Center, Meadow Crest, East Jefferson, West Jefferson and Oschner (sp?).

We're praying for a safe return of your family members.

[DanG]

I think the downtown hospitals have all been evacuated.  I know I heard that Charity has.

[tnlogger]

Kirk send me all the contact info for you  and his name and I'll put it on http://survivedkatrina.proboards54.com/index.cgi
I'm one of the admins there and i'll post it where needed.  gene