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updated on Sunday, August 06, 2006 09:24 PM

 

From Your Editor:  So many of our classmates live in the devastated areas of Hurricane “Katrina”, and I know we are all worried about them and want to help in any way we can.  This issue is just an attempt to keep you all informed and let you know of the needs, if any, of our classmates.  I will not attempt to put the replies I have received in any specific order (class year), but will put all information I receive in this issue.

 

If we should find some that are in need of our assistance we will need someone to coordinate the efforts.  I would do it but, as a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, I have been alerted to standby for duty in New Orleans. No telling how long I will be gone if I go and this may effect the time you receive the regular October issue. Is there anyone who would like to coordinate the effort if it is needed?

  

From Arlene Costello Marcley

 

Monday, 7:36pm

 

Hi, I called Carol in Biloxi yesterday morning but have not been able to get through to her since.  At the time Dave was boarding up their house and they were getting ready to board up a friend's house.  I told her they needed to get out and she said, "We may hunker down."  I have other friends living near Biloxi -- when I called them right after I talked to Carol they were already under a mandatory evacuation, so I'm hoping Carol and Dave were told the same thing.  Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.  Love, Arlene 

  

Tuesday 8/30   12:00noon

 

Hi, Folks,

 

Carol was able to get a cell phone call to a friend in Texas who then called me.  Carol and Dave are fine...house intact, but trees down and massive debris all over.  They stayed at home during the hurricane!!!!   They went into the nearest town this morning and found nothing but devastation, but that was where Carol was able to make a cell phone call.  They don't expect power for 4+ weeks, but they have a generator.  I just hope they have a water supply.  Bill and I may drive to Mississippi with supplies.  They were coming to Greenville for a few days on September 9, but obviously that is now postponed indefinitely.  And, Dave was supposed to give the bride away at a wedding this coming weekend.  I will keep you posted.

 

Would you mind forwarding this update to our other Bushy friends? I don't have everyone's address on my laptop and I am sure others are concerned.  Take care, Love, Arlene

 

From Judy (Risler) Covington (60)

LCHS1960@aol.com

 

Mike and I have an elderly couple staying with us from Slidell, La.  We rescued them from the Holiday Inn, after they'd driven all the way up here on evacuation orders.  They lost their house and all their possessions. He's a retired AF colonel, a dentist.  They're in their seventies, and have no idea what they're going to do next. I told them they could stay here as long as they wanted to, but their son, who also drove up with his family, and who also lost all, insists they go back down to Alexandria and rent a house.  It must be a horrible feeling to know that everything you had in the world is gone.  They only packed for three days, so have had to buy clothes, etc. I'll keep you posted.  Meanwhile, has ANYBODY heard anymore from Carol?

 

From Suzanne "Snookie" Garrison (54)

Sgmayo54@aol.com

 

Hi Gary, A great idea. I was wondering who all we have in those hit areas also that we could personally help.  Thanks for your thoughtfulness in getting the word out.

 

From David Mangold (57)

dmangold27@yahoo.com

 

Gary, we're in NW FL (Crestview, FL) and dodged this one for once. Have been in contact with Carol Albert Yacavone re: Gulfport/ Biloxi alumni. I think that there are 3-4 as I recall. Carol is a close friend of Robyn Rudat Allen '58 (Gulfport). I'll let Carol pass on her news as she knew first hand while there with Robyn and family. Joyce Knapp Holland and Penney Knapp Lester both live in Ft Walton Beach down the road. Assume that they are all well. As you can imagine, we have folks from LA, MS, and AL in our area now. Our Wal-Mart parking lot has become a motor home, trailer, etc. "city" for now. Viv's nephew and his family lived in Pass Christien, MS and they lost their home. (they were among those interviewed by Lester Holt on Date Line last night!)They're enroute here as we speak.

 

From Jim DeFrees (58)

jkiller2945@cox.net

 

My wife, mother and family pet evacuated to Austin, TX. As of Thursday morning all property left behind is dry with no structural damage. A blessing for sure. Please remember those far less fortunate in your prayers.

 

From James Stein Sr. (57) J.steinsr@worldnet.att.net

 

Jim Stein (Gouveia school name). I live in Bay Minette, Alabama. We were about 150 miles from New Orleans. This is my third hurricane this year. Getting a bit edgy about them now. To show you the depth of this Hurricane, We had winds up to 100 miles per hour. As the two other hurricanes ripped down all my weaker trees, we did not lose any here this time. But it did bring down a ton of limbs and leaves. I have no knowledge of any of our classmates on the coast. But my heart and prayers goes out to all over there. Having lived on the coast for most of my life. I have many friends and relatives living there. They all had damage to their homes but thankfully none were demolished. 

 

From Gail Kelly (Faculty) martha.kelly@virgin.net

 

What about Mike and Judy - where do they live? And the Williams girls? Hope Carol Yacavonne escaped the worst of this one - Florida has had it's share - but this whole storm and repercussions are so terrible.

 

From Rob Lyle (54)

Robvlyle@cs.com

 

Thanks for taking this initiative. We don't know anyone immediately affected. But let us know if there is anything we can do.

 

From Coralie (Guertin) Lajoie (55)

Mondo19341@aol.com

 

If you hear from anyone about our classmates on the Gulf Coast, please let me know what I can do.  This is a major catastrophe and I will help in any way I can.

 

From Nancie (Anderson) Weber (55) nanciet@verizon.net

 

Gary, that is a splendid idea. We have a lot of retired friends down in the area of the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, etc. Not really Mobile or New Orleans; nevertheless, we've been tracking the weather channel. So far, all queries have come back that they're all right, but who knows among our greater Bushy community.

 

From Aaron Sheldon Peters (57)

aaronosb@hotmail.com

Haven't heard anything so far. But then many may not be able to communicate.

 

From Tom Ackerman (62)

TMAckerman@aol.com

 

We here in Niceville, FL (about 80 miles East of Mobile) dodged a bullet with respect to Katrina. Winds were under 60 MPH and only a couple of inches of rain. More damage to the beaches and a few roads washed out but I am unaware of any fatalities in the area. This is the 4^th TS/hurricane to hit this area since June and the season is only half over.  It’s hard to comprehend the damage, destruction and personal hardship brought about by this one … and we thought we had it bad with Ivan last year.  The best of luck to everyone in the area.

 

From Carol (Albert) Yacovone (57)

CYaco149@aol.com

 

Will be glad to fill you in on Robyn Rudat Allen (58) and her family all from Gulfport, fortunately they are all ok...they left today for

Alabama, there is so much damage and the whole area has been devastated.  Robyn is recovering from heart surgery just a few weeks ago.  I was there for a week with her and her family and cannot believe that the area I drove daily to the hospital no longer exist.   Robyns house suffered damage but is there...secured for now and she and her Mother of 88 years of age along with daughter Wendy and husband and grandchildren have all gone to Alabama to stay with Robyns son Ed.   Robyn and I plan to be at the reunion...lord willing and her recovery goes well...having gone through last years Hurricanes here in Florida and still have many neighbors out of their homes...can not even imagine what it must be like in that area with nothing for some to come home to and even be able to repair...Think the news from Mississippi and Louisiana will only get worse...pray for all those people and send support through the American Red Cross....

From Bill Cooper (57)

liammail@erols.com

 

I'll check to see if there's anyone I know involved.

 

From Harold Fergusson (57)

HaroldFergusson@aol.com

 

Count me in if a plan is made. 

 

From Raymond Chandonnet (54)

RayChan36@earthlink.net

 

Ray Chandonnet here in Stuart, Florida with no problems and the same goes for John Meuerer in Orlando, Florida.  If I hear of anything or anyone in trouble I shall let you know.  Keep us informed if any information comes your way.  We may be able to help in some way or other. Hurricane Katrina passed me by down here on the East Coast just above

West Palm Beach at my Mother's home with no problems to speak of. Stay in touch.

 

From Martha Connor Bartsch (56)

Talon3811@aol.com

 

What a great idea!   We are all obviously thinking in a BIG way about those poor folks in this last hurricane.  Too many times we had to evacuate our home on Wrightsville Beach, NC because of the hurricane situations here.  I HATE to think of anyone going thru that same misery.   Good luck.

 

From Susan Miller Dalberg (62)
wolfpaw81@aol.com
 
If any of our Bushyites were impacted by the storm and need help, count me in.  I don't have much but am sure willing to help.  I can certainly scrounge up some household things.  Don't have much financially, but will sure make contributions to any fund we set up.  My son's home in Alabama was barely missed, so I feel a great deal of relief, but certainly concern for our buddies in the Gulf Coast!
 
For those of you who know Carol Iverson Condron-Coles (62), I received the following information from Nancy Oberliesen this morning.  She asked that the information be passed on.  Pat

Hi, Folks,
 
Carol was able to get a cell phone call to a friend in Texas who then called me.  Carol and Dave are fine...house intact, but trees down and massive debris all over.  They stayed at home during the hurricane!!!!   They went into the nearest town this morning and found nothing but devastation, but that was where Carol was able to make a cell phone call.  They don't expect power for 4+ weeks, but they have a generator.  I just hope they have a water supply.  Bill and I may drive to Mississippi with supplies.  They were coming to Greenville for a few days on September 9, but obviously that is now postponed indefinitely.  And, Dave was supposed to give the bride away at a wedding this coming weekend.  I will keep you posted.
 

From Thyra Caldwell (61)
Thyra_c@msn.com

Just a note - Carol (Condron Coles) and I just got off the phone - I've been trying her number for several days with no luck -- today she was able to get through to me on a cell phone.  She and David are fine - house is intact but with lots of outside damage.  Many of her very large trees are gone and the yard, etc. destroyed.  They have a generator so they are in much better shape than most of their neighbors (many of them have no homes) - their generator is being used very sparingly; on and off to pump their well and keep their deep freeze from thawing - most roads in and out are closed so they are staying put for the moment -- she is feeling very blessed!!! - National Guard in the area (guess looting is really bad all through the area) -- Thought you all would like an update -- I'll keep you posted.

 

From Dian Drude Clayton (62) DiSC@aol.com

Hi, Carol Condron Cole is okay.  Their house is intact...tress, etc., blown down.  Thank the Lord.  I don't know of anyone else.  I've tried to get a hold of Carol many, many times with no luck.  Willing to help in anyway I can.

 

From Arlene Costello Marcley (60)

amarcley@charter.net

 

Friday, September 2, 2005 7:15 pm Greenville, SC

 

Gary, I have received two messages about Carol and Dave Coles through a friend who lives in Texas.  Carol is able to make an occasional cell phone call, but I have not been able to get through to her from this end and haven't talk directly with her since last Sunday before the hurricane hit. They live in the country about 20 miles inland from Biloxi and they stayed at the house during the hurricane.  They are fine, the house held up, but their property is utter disaster.  They don't expect power to be restored for 4+ weeks.  They have a generator that is pumping fresh water from a well, and for now they have food.  However, when they run out of gas for the generator they will probably have to leave...problem is...how much gas do they have for their car and how far will it take them???  They feel very fortunate to have water and their own bed to sleep in each night.  I told our mutual friend in Texas that when Carol calls again to be sure and let her know all her Bushy Park friends are praying for them and wishing them good luck.  Carol and Dave were to come to Greenville next week to visit us.  After the hurricane hit, Bill and I were going to pack the car with supplies and head for Biloxi to help them.  However, we have friends in the emergency medical field from Charleston, SC, who happened to be in New Orleans for a conference when Katrina came ashore. They were in several Charleston County ambulances and decided to stay put so they could help in the aftermath. Their message to us? "Don't come."  Their rigs were turned over and ransacked by thugs and they had to flee for their lives.  If I hear anything further I will let you know.  Love to all

 

Saturday, September 3, 2005 10:10pm Greenville, SC

 

Hello everyone.  I just got off the phone with Carol Coles.  Their power was restored this afternoon!!  She said air conditioning is wonderful, but she feels guilty having power when so many others across the region don't.  The neighbors have pulled together sharing food, water, gas, etc. She said she has never been more proud to be a Mississippian.  The Florida State police are there to help; water, ice and food are being distributed; Alabama power company guys restored their power; and tomorrow they will be able to buy $30.00 worth of gas.  Carol said her goal tomorrow is to be in the gas line at 7:00am!   She and Dave plan to stick close to home for the next few weeks, but will then head to Greenville for R&R.   It was so good to hear from her.  I told her everyone has been concerned about them.  I know you all are as happy to hear this good news as I am.  Love to all, Arlene Costello Marcley ('60)

 

From Ila Newsom Brunson (60)
ila.brunson@hummingbirdking.com

Pretty empty is how we're feeling around here. I have cried more today as friends were getting in touch with me.  Every time I think of Carol Coles, I cry.  Biloxi is so devastated.

I live in north Louisiana, but travel often to the New Orleans area for close relatives who live in New Orleans proper and in Kenner.  I haven't yet heard from my niece or her mother yet. I have a friend that is going down and will put a note on their door for me. My cousin and his wife flew out early Saturday to visit my aunt with return tickets for Monday evening.  Their home, cars, business, are all in the flooded area. Almost everyone I know has family and friends in the greater New Orleans area.

We Louisianans just have to feel confident that we can somehow find jobs for all these people who now are unemployed, that we can feed the "refugees" that are coming into our area, that our state officials and as well as their constituents can be very creative in figuring ways to help replace the loss of revenue our state will sustain.

Come see us in north Louisiana, and spend your vacation bucks here!  We need them!  Right away! 

As a matter of fact, here in Shreveport we really do have a wonderful arts festival the end of September, first of October.  And there are lots of things to do in Shreveport/Bossier. Pass that information on, please.

Thanks for the thought behind this email.  I am sure I will get another email with some more information on it.

I also want to tell you that as a "Bushy Parker", I was pretty emotional seeing the recent bombings in London, right in our old stomping grounds. It just keeps getting worse.

I am forever grateful for having known New Orleans as it was. I am sad that so many people I have invited down will probably not get to see the same city at all.  New Orleans is a culturally unique city as well as a physically unique city, not to mention the whole south Louisiana area.  My father took my brother Bruns there for our first look at the French Quarters and all the surrounding bayou country just before we went to England in 1959.  He said that people in England would identify anyone from Louisiana with New Orleans, so he wanted to be sure we could talk about it.  He had grown up there after his father died when he was a young teenager, worked on the wharf to pay his way through Tulane/Loyola prep school before going into the service during the war.  I had better get back to work.  It has been a hard workday for me. Accounting is one of those jobs that you can really get lost in, or you can really find it hard to focus on.

From Larry Burns (62)
doowop1943@verizon.net

This is not a classmate but a music legend from our era.  Even the famous were not spared.  This is way sad. 'Fats' Domino "Missing in New Orleans".
 
To begin with, one of the city's most important legends, Antoine "Fats" Domino, has not been heard from since Monday afternoon. Domino's rollicking boogie-woogie piano and deep soul voice are not only part of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame but responsible for dozens of hits like "Blue Monday," "Ain't That a Shame," "Blueberry Hill" and "I'm Walking (Yes, Indeed, I'm Talking)."

Domino, 76, lives with his wife Rosemary and daughter in a three-story pink-roofed house in New Orleans' 9th ward, which is now under water.

 

From Mike Murphy (58)

Oldsalt1223@aol.com

 

Forwarded from Thyra Caldwell. We are fine.   Mike

 

Just a note - Carol (Condron Coles) and I just got off the phone - I've been trying her number for several days with no luck -- today she was able to get through to me on a cell phone.  She and David are fine - house is intact but with lots of outside damage.  Many of her very large trees are gone and the yard, etc. destroyed.  They have a generator so they are in much better shape than most of their neighbors (many of them have no homes) - their generator is being used very sparingly; on and off to pump their well and keep their deep freeze from thawing - most roads in and out are closed so they are staying put for the moment -- she is feeling very blessed!!! - National Guard in the area (guess looting is really bad all through the area) -- Thought you all would like an update -- I'll keep you posted

THY.

 

From Carol Coles

ccoles@bellsouth.net

 

Family and Friends

 

Where to begin?  Emotions are running rampant right now.  One moment we're grateful...joyful...to have our lives, our animals and our home, the next, we're overwhelmed by the enormity of the devastation.

 

We pull ourselves up from the "down" times by helping our neighbors in which ever way we can, then cleaning up the debris until we drop from exhaustion.  Every day is getting better.  I've never been so proud to be a Mississippian.  The resilience of the people here along the Gulf Coast is unbelievable, their strength and determination is matched only by their hospitality and faith. 

 

We spent the first 5 days with no power, heat index 90-105 degrees.  With several cans of gas, we were able to run a small generator for about 2 hours in morning and 2-3 hours in the evening to pump our well and to keep our deep freeze from thawing.  But, how do you describe the odor of a defrosting refrigerator in 90 degree heat with 89% humidity in an e-mail?  Sleeping at night was next to impossible, and we had to learn to make our way around the house with flashlights and candles.  Regarding hygiene, we scooped saved water from the bathtub and washing machine for brushing teeth and sponging off, and David set a rule for the toilets, "If it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down".  During the 2 hours at night we ran the generator, we treated ourselves to a cold shower and the national news (until we couldn't stand it anymore).

 

Communicating with the outside world was next to impossible right after the storm, and as you all now know, I caught a short burst on my cell phone while in Ocean Springs the day after the storm and gave Sherry Love a list of family and friends to phone.  Thank you, Sherry.  Some time later I was able to reach Arlene Marcley and Thy Caldwell (also by intermittent cell time) and they got e-mails out to so many of you.  Thank you both so much.

 

Twenty-one trees came down in the yard--pine, oak, dogwood--but the Lord was watching over us.  Not one came down on our roof or the RV shelter.  Our chimney tops flew off, but Dave was able to put them back into place (more or less) with the help of a neighbor.  He had to hoist two ladders to reach the chimney tops; the upper story has a 12/12 pitch.  Even though he had a rope around his waist, I couldn't watch.  I'm glad he did it, though, because the next day we had  a huge thunderstorm with 5" of rain.  That's when two of our neighbors lost their roofs and water and insulation caved in on their living rooms.

 

For 5 days we shared "survival chores" with four of our neighbors.  One of us would make the ride to Ocean Springs, bringing back ice and water to distribute, another family would make a gas run to Alabama, waiting 3 hours in line.  We had a well, so we shared water with those who didn't.  We put our meals together as best we could--cooking on the grill and all of us sharing the contents of defrosting refrigerators and freezers.  We huddled around our battery-operated radios, hungry for news of POD locations (Points of Distribution) for ice and water, which gas station might pump a limited amount of gas the next day, or which grocery store might allow 5 customers in at a time with limited purchases.  Gradually, things got better.  Power companies from all over the country came pouring in.  We even had the Florida State Police directing traffic at intersections in Ocean Springs. 

 

The power came back on--first in parts of Ocean Springs, then up here in Vancleave, in the country (probably because our damage was minimal compared to Biloxi and Gulfport).  The crew that brought our power back up on Friday night and Saturday morning was from Georgia.  We brought them left-overs from our neighborhood shrimp boil Friday night.  To borrow Judy Covington's phrase, "They thought they'd died and gone to heaven".

 

After we got power, we pulled the RV over to one of the neighbors who'd lost his roof.  He's thrilled to have air-conditioning and a place to live until he can make repairs.  We're also housing another couple here in Vancleave until they can get power and make basic repairs to their roof.  The folks directly across the street are living half in an RV/half in their damaged house, so we're offering them a respite from time to time, too.

 

Today I saw things getting better at an exponential rate.  Last night we got our house phone back, and about noon today I discovered I could get back on line.  I spent 45 minutes in line at the Credit Union this morning to get my $200 cash limit, but their computers were not operating, so everything was done by hand.  Still...more traffic lights were operating, Marines and Air National Guard were on the road, power trucks were everywhere, and I even saw the NYPD Search and Rescue.  (We still don't know who and how many we'll find in beachfront subdivisions like Gulf Park Estates and Saint Andrews.) 

 

Nonetheless, we are so fortunate.  We fared so much better than Biloxi, Gulfport, Pass Christian, Bay St. Louis and points West.  Keep the relief effort going for all these folks.  It is really making a difference!  One example:  when and if mail delivery starts back up, Diane Drude Clayton will mail me baby clothes.  I plan to distribute them amongst the church supported shelters.     

 

To answer the question burning on everyone's mind: "Why didn't you evacuate?"  let me put it in perspective for you.  None of our forecasters knew exactly where this storm was going, only that it was huge and ferocious.  We couldn't go West because Katrina was predicted to hit in the New Orleans area (maybe); we couldn't go East, because she could turn north at anytime and hit as far as Pensacola, Florida.  We could have gone North, but not unless we packed up the animals, boarded up our house, a widow friend's house, and drove out 2 days ahead of the storm.  The few evacuation routes going north here in Mississippi were inundated with evacuees from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.  We feared getting stuck on the Interstate with no place to go when the storm actually hit.  We were trapped!  So...we decided to batten down the hatches and pray.  Glad we did.  We would not have been allowed to return for at least 4 days and by that time our home would have been looted and we

 

I'll try to send some "before-and-after" pictures (not as good as Anita's) by separate e-mail from Picasa.  That way I can send them in a smaller format.

 

Thank you all for your phone calls, e-mails, support and prayers.  We're going to be fine now, and to quote the Mayor of Gulfport, "We'll emerge as a shiny new penny!"

 

Love, Carol & Dave

 

From Barbara Huffman (??)

bobbiejeanla@yahoo.com

 

We live about 200 miles north of N.O., in Pineville, LA and didn't receive any rain, or wind to speak of.  We were very lucky it didn't come ashore farther west of N.O.

 Gary Schroeder (55), Editor gschroeder4@houston.rr.com

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