Katrina

[flamy78]

batten down yer new boat.






edit: moved post to its own topic in proper forum - admin

[Hoopty]

I know... this thing was supposed to turn and go up FL's west coast.

The bad news is that the Weather Channel's Jim Cantore is already here in Biloxi.  He's usually not far from the main action.

The wife and kids split this morning.  When New Orleans evacuates, it really wreaks havoc on the roads.

[flamy78]

I'm watching Jim talk to the Mayor now.  "they aren't gonna leave as soon as the casino's open" - aj holloway

says live .

edit.

I'd just like to say that I and others were there in '98 with Georges or horhay or jorge. Be prepared to eat burgers and dogs at the chow hall and see hundreds of airmen around with trash bags picking up stuff and raking like no tomorrow.

[Hoopty]

10:00 am Sunday morning  -- Category 5 @ 173 mph winds

This ain't gonna be pretty...

[Hoopty]

I'd just like to take this opportunity to vent a little and thank my squadron commander for making all this possible.

If not for his "all active duty personnel in my squadron are mission essential and will shelter on-base" policy, I would be long gone from this joint.  His logic for the policy is that he wants to get training back up and running ASAP.  It would be one thing if it was a wing or even a group policy, but we are the only squadron doing this! 

Well, I got news for him, when the entire base is destroyed, there won't be any training going on.  Hell, there may not be anybody to train after this one because I'm pretty sure that the buildings that we'll be in aren't rated for this magnitude storm.   And even if we survive unscathed, there is going to be massive cleanup to follow that will require everyone to be involved.  So guess what?   There won't be any training going on then either!  WTF?!?

Anyway, this may be my last post... if so, it was nice knowing ya.  And thanks again Major Williams.

[OlDave]

Bullsh!t like that is one of the reasons I am "former" military.

Ask some of the oldtimers around that rode through hurricane Andrew on base as it devestated Homestead AFB around them. It ain't gonna be pretty!!

All I can say is good luck and God bless you all.

[MIRCS]

Anyone heard from Jesse???

[Old-Navy]

I hope he and his family are okay.  I would hate to be down there...  but if I was was, I wouldn't want to be active duty from what he posted.

Sheeeeeeeeesh.

[flamy78]

I was tempted to send an e-mail to the major but I'd think a decision like this will be a career ender or prevent him from seeing any higher rank if he survived and perhaps send him to greenland.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123011495

[Thraxas]

After seeing these pictures, I hope they made it through the storm okay.

[Hoopty]

Well folks, thankfully I am still alive.  My family is fine and they are with our relatives in Tulsa indefinitely.  I am now living in the dorms where our students used to be.  They moved to Sheppard AFB for the most part.  Only about 1/3 remain as support and cleanup personnel.

I took over 4 ft of water in the  house so the entire downstairs is ruined.  I am working on getting the upstairs stuff out.  Kind of difficult to do logistically these days, but I think my father-in-law and brother are coming down with a trailer to haul it out.  Oh yeah, and it turns out my renters insurance doesn't cover water damage... more to come on that one.  Last dime I ever give Geico, I tell you that.  USAA is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better come to find out.  Lesson learned the hard way I guess.

The passenger window on my truck blew out and the salt water blowing in shorted out everything in the dash.  The lights, radio, everything came on and ran the battery down.  It was still shorted when I tried to jump it two days later.  I've got it running and can use it at least, just had to remove some fuses. 

On the other hand, the one item that I own and don't need, my boat is in fine shape.  I took it to a friends house and tied it up to a pretty sturdy carport.  It fared just fine.

Little things that I took for granted before, now take on a whole new meaning.  A cold drink, a warm meal, a shower... the list goes on.  I've got it way better than most do right now though.  So it is hard to complain.  Every thing will work out eventually, I guess.

I'll try and get some of the aftermath pictures that I've take posted.  I've just got to get them off my phone another way since I lost my card reader.  I'll probably have to e-mail them to myself and then download them.

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

Jesse

P.S.   Yes, please don't take up my fight with the commander.  I've got the situation under control and it will be fully addressed from the top down.  There was no reason for 6000 people to be in harms way.  I'm not the only one addressing that particular issue either.  Again, thanks for the thought though.

[flamy78]

And how did you come across net access? Mini bx?

[Hoopty]

The base LAN is up and running.  I just came over to the office to see what was up and thought I'd try it.  I was surprised, but I guess everything is underground so it was ok.

Here's some pics...

[Hoopty]

More pics

[Thraxas]

Glad to read that you are alive and well.