USM.edu is down, and WLOX's website is having o be updated by sister stations because the station's building is flooding and part of their roof is gone (that's according to the WLOX website). Don't rely too much WDAM, their website says the storm is still a category 5.
Hatiesburgamerican.com is best source of local info for parents of USM students
I can only saw what I've seen on the major networks. . . the MS coast is getting far less coverage than N.O. or Mobile, but they've been showing the regular hurricane pics on NBC -- flying debris, swinging street lights, downed lightpoles, etc. Apparently US 90 is under about 9 ft. of water at the moment.
My wife and stepson are OK, having evacuated out to Tuscaloosa Sunday morning. Given the CNN, FOX, Weather Channel descriptions of the storm it's almost inconceivable that Gulf Park--or much of anything else south of Pass Road--is even standing, let alone capable of being up and running by 6 September.
I've heard from only one colleague so far, Damon Franke of the English Department. Anybody else out there? Finally, if someone could see his/her way clear to put us up for a few days, it'd be greatly appreciated. The Hampton Inn is apparetnly fixing to kick hurricane refugees out to accomodate the Saturday football crowd, and I'm assuming that my house, 10,000 books and everything else in Long Beach, has been obliterated.
Will: I'm glad to hear that you and your family got out. Eric Nelson and his wife fled to his parents house in Tampa and they're doing fine. Doug Bristol and Dwight went to Hattiesburg. I've not heard from them since the storm.
Did Kay Harris and her husband leave before the storm?
My wife and stepson are OK, having evacuated out to Tuscaloosa Sunday morning. Given the CNN, FOX, Weather Channel descriptions of the storm it's almost inconceivable that Gulf Park--or much of anything else south of Pass Road--is even standing, let alone capable of being up and running by 6 September. I've heard from only one colleague so far, Damon Franke of the English Department. Anybody else out there? Finally, if someone could see his/her way clear to put us up for a few days, it'd be greatly appreciated. The Hampton Inn is apparetnly fixing to kick hurricane refugees out to accomodate the Saturday football crowd, and I'm assuming that my house, 10,000 books and everything else in Long Beach, has been obliterated. Thanks
Will,
I tried to send you an e-mail through your USM address. Let me know if you received it.
Late Sunday Night, I was still able to get on USM Webmail, and I heard that Kay Harris was staying with Jameela Lares in Hattiesburg. No one I have talked to has heard about Elaine White on the Coast. I've seen aerial footage from Waveland to Gulfport, and the area has been leveled, perhaps, a mile inland. Amazingly I think that I have seen Hardy Hall on the Coast Campus fairly intact. There is a distant photo of this building, I think, in a series of photos on the Sun Herald website. Go to photos of Long Beach, and look for the ones of the supposedly "hurricane proof" Catholic church next to the coast campus. In the sixth photo beyond the rubble, I think I see Hardy Hall intact. The windows may even be there. Perhaps someone could verify this?
Will, Damon, so glad to see you sign on!!! I'd heard that Kay was with Jameela--
Damon, what you say is heartening. Like Will I couldn't imagine that anything at all was left.
Please send more word as you learn things. There's no reliable news reaching those of us far away except for broken cell phone conversations, the American updates and the few postings here.
I spoke briefly to Ellen Weinauer this morning, or rather she talked to me--she couldn't hear me very well. She and Jonathan, kids and dogs, are ok, and are thinking of maybe leaving for a while when they can (roads still mostly impassable I understand).
Becky Woodrick is safe at her folks' home in Philadelphia MS (serious storm action there too); Mark and Laurie Kleindinst rode out the storm in Greenville but hope to be back in the Burg soon. Phil Gentile reached his folks in Ohio (by phone) and is ok, still in the Burg.
That's all I know. Keep posting as you can, please--
Late Sunday Night, I was still able to get on USM Webmail, and I heard that Kay Harris was staying with Jameela Lares in Hattiesburg. No one I have talked to has heard about Elaine White on the Coast. I've seen aerial footage from Waveland to Gulfport, and the area has been leveled, perhaps, a mile inland. Amazingly I think that I have seen Hardy Hall on the Coast Campus fairly intact. There is a distant photo of this building, I think, in a series of photos on the Sun Herald website. Go to photos of Long Beach, and look for the ones of the supposedly "hurricane proof" Catholic church next to the coast campus. In the sixth photo beyond the rubble, I think I see Hardy Hall intact. The windows may even be there. Perhaps someone could verify this?
Am way too far away to verify but it sure looks like it to me.
Perhaps this and the friendship oak are the real emblems of what USM is.
Will, I am glad to hear that you are safe. I flew out on Saturday to Philadelphia where I am staying with friends, and I am flying to Chattanooga on Friday and plan to stay there indefinitely. Arbor Station completely lost the buildings in the front of the complex. Mine is apparently still standing, but severely damaged. Looking at the picture of the damage, I thought at first that the second floor was gone, but it is just that debris is piled up to the second floor.
A newspaper in California, The Mercury News, Reports that USM-GC has the only structures that are basically left in Long Beach, and that surprisingly the Friendship Oak is still there.
From aerial footage provided by WLBT in Jackson, it appears that the Gulf Coast Reseach Facility did not fair as well.
This afternoon my family and I have made it by car to Charlottesville, Virginia where I have family. We had to travel west on 98 then north on I55 to Memphis because of road and power outages. Anyone reading this who has access to anyone in Hattiesburg, tell them that the town of Brookhaven on I55 just north of McComb has electricity. That may be about the closest town that does. I am increasingly worried about all folks in Hattiesburg and surrounding areas as the heat is stifling and those who had some water and food are rapidly running out. People there need to know that current estimates are a 2-4 week window before power is restored to the area. We left without knowing that timeframe but it strengthened our belief that we made the right decision when we did find out - our deciding factor was our two kids aged 2 years and 3 months and the heat. The most frustrating thing about being there is the complete lack of information - where do we go to get water, ice, food, medicine, etc.? The Hattiesburg American website has great information we now see (as does this message board), but we had no way to access it there. Rather than wait any longer, we left. But not everyone has that option, so please keep folks in Hattiesburg and surrounding areas up to date if you are able to communicate with them - I know that is a big if. May we all get through this safe and sound, but I really fear the news over the next few days.
I'm glad to hear that you and your family are safe and sound. Have you heard from Doug Chambers? Doug Bristol and Dwight were headed to his house on Sunday. What does the Liberal Arts building look like? Here's my working email address: lmk@unc.edu
I'm glad to hear you and your family are safe. I feel like all I can do right now is worry and yearn for news. I'm sure you are well-tended in Charlottesville, but if we can be helpful in any way while your in Virginia, let me know.
Glad to hear you got those babies outta there. We are in AL. Andy has rounded up the Airforce...litterally...to bring in supplies to the burg and manpower and he and my dad are armed with chainsaws to help out. The Walmart where we are is stocking every 6 hours with gas cans and water and food. Every one is here waiting to get in the the South AL and MS region.
Hi. My kids and I evacuated to Savannah, but I just talked to one of my neighbors by phone and he saw Doug Chambers, the other Doug, and--is it Dwight? a guy from Bay St. Louis--out and about in our neighborhood (the Oaks in Hattiesburg). So they are fine. Apparently everyone was outside watching a Mississippi Power crew pull trees off some apartments....
Though there's not much good news from the Burg, it's encouraging to know that crews are working and some phones--both cell and land--are now working, too.
Fox or CNN shot some footage of the main drag in Long Beach yesterday. It showed that the Public Library and the City Hall were intact, so claims that USM-GC is the only thing standing in Long Beach are exaggerated.
The NOAA satellite image that Louis K posted shows that the VP's house at Gulf Park has vanished. On a lighter note, this means that the $4000 Tub Provost of lore and legend is no more; or perhaps it has remained intact and will be salvaged. The damn thing looked almost bullet proof . . .
High resolution photographs of the coast counties (not Hattiesburg, unfortuntately) are at this website. http://alt.ngs.noaa.gov/katrina/KATRINA0000.HTM
I don't know the layout of the coast campus incredibly well, but as far as I can tell, this is the image that shows what happened to the coast campus.
I was interested to see how the new library fared. Though it doesn't appear that debris blew out the back side with the water surge, I'd assume there is water inside to some degree. But, the building is there.
If anyone else knows more about the coast library and the welfare of its employees, please reply. Thanks.
Barton--I'm glad to see you. Tisha and Kyle Zelner headed up to Michigan after the storm. I am now in Fairhope, Al. Paul, Shirlene and Ann are together in Shirlene's apartment. Have you heard from anyone else at the library? My USM web mail seems to be working now so e-mail me if you can.
Hi Adrienne & Barton -- I left Hburg after the storm and am staying with family north of jackson. Kalani, Danielle, and Jennifer are all fine. I also saw Sherry and she came through without damage. Maybe we need a library thread? I hear that usm employees might report thurs. or fri. but this info isn't advertised anywhere that I can see. -- Peggy
Adrienne - it's good to hear that you are okay - my family and myself are in Alexandria LA and we are okay. If you could or someone could get me Paul or Shirlene's or Ann's cell phones, I think I could help them out tremendously.. I 'm so glad to hear that Barton and hist family are okay, and I read a communication from Francis Coleman that Kay and her family are okay, but have lots of home damage. Sherry L and her family seem to be okay, and their home was surprisingly not touched - surprisingly becasue our neghborhood was absolutley devastated - all those big pines in everyone's yard. Has anyone heard from Peggy or Jennifer or Diane or any McCain folks? I also heard that Ed McCormack was missing, but I am unsure of the veracity of this information.
Hey Steven -- see my post above. Jennifer was probably going to head out to Kentucky. Haven't heard about Diane and am pretty concerned. I'm not sure when I'll get back to Hburg.
Thanks Peggy - had a tree down on it, but damage is not as bad as my neighbors. I am worried about Diane as well. Glad to hear that everybody else is okay. I read a COB post from Doty that the admin wants fac to report on the 7th or 8th for a head count, to see who is able to do what. I am unnsure as to what I'll do - my n'gbrhood may be electricity-free for some time as just about all of our transformers and lines are down, and I certainly can't have a 4-year old and a pregnant wife living in that condition, nor do I want them in potential danger from a lack of police protection. How about yourself and your crew? Have you heard about anyone else from the library? How did McCain fair physically?