How's this for irony?
Seven people from Louisiana lost their lives due to Hurricane Gustav this week. Two of those were from my home town of Abbeville.
Four people who had evacuated to North Carolina died in an automobile accident. One man from a neighboring parish was killed 2 days before the storm when he fell from a tree while cutting down branches that he thought might fall onto his home. The two people who were killed from my home town were two of my mothers' closest friends Mary Ann and Richard Broussard ( same last name but not related.) They had, ironically, left Abbeville to go to Baton Rouge to stay at their daughter's house. Baton Rouge was supposed to be spared the brunt of the storm and yet the winds were higher there than here in Abbeville. While Mary Ann and her husband were sitting around visiting with her daughter and her husband a huge tree crashed through the roof and killed them instantly. Their daughter was also injured but did not have life threatening injuries. She broke two ribs and was pinned under the tree debris for over two hours before rescue workers could cut her free. My mother is devastated. She is 90 years old while Mary Ann and Richard were in their early seventies. Mom and Mary Ann belonged to the same bridge card game group and have been playing cards together for 22 years! They spoke on the phone almost daily. Richard was a huge LSU football fan, as is my mom, and he and she would often exchange LSU paraphanalia and spend countless hours talking LSU football. I have known Mary Ann for a long time and see her often as she plays cards often at my mom's house and I often drop by for a few minutes to say hello to everyone. The entire week has just been surreal.I saw Mary Ann just last Thursday the day before my mom and I evacuated to my sister's home in Hammond.
My mom and I returned home yesterday. The electricity was still off after 4 days. Everything in the freezer and refrigerator was lost. Smelled pretty good too. All it takes is 35-40 miles per hour winds to knock out your power. No A/C. I'm complaining and seven people lost their lives. I spoke to my sister this morning and they are still without power in Hammond. I'll never wish a hurricane on anyone. Ever. But I've been through several and now there is a very good chance that another one, Ike, may well be headed for the Gulf Of Mexico! Go away Ike!
Four people who had evacuated to North Carolina died in an automobile accident. One man from a neighboring parish was killed 2 days before the storm when he fell from a tree while cutting down branches that he thought might fall onto his home. The two people who were killed from my home town were two of my mothers' closest friends Mary Ann and Richard Broussard ( same last name but not related.) They had, ironically, left Abbeville to go to Baton Rouge to stay at their daughter's house. Baton Rouge was supposed to be spared the brunt of the storm and yet the winds were higher there than here in Abbeville. While Mary Ann and her husband were sitting around visiting with her daughter and her husband a huge tree crashed through the roof and killed them instantly. Their daughter was also injured but did not have life threatening injuries. She broke two ribs and was pinned under the tree debris for over two hours before rescue workers could cut her free. My mother is devastated. She is 90 years old while Mary Ann and Richard were in their early seventies. Mom and Mary Ann belonged to the same bridge card game group and have been playing cards together for 22 years! They spoke on the phone almost daily. Richard was a huge LSU football fan, as is my mom, and he and she would often exchange LSU paraphanalia and spend countless hours talking LSU football. I have known Mary Ann for a long time and see her often as she plays cards often at my mom's house and I often drop by for a few minutes to say hello to everyone. The entire week has just been surreal.I saw Mary Ann just last Thursday the day before my mom and I evacuated to my sister's home in Hammond.
My mom and I returned home yesterday. The electricity was still off after 4 days. Everything in the freezer and refrigerator was lost. Smelled pretty good too. All it takes is 35-40 miles per hour winds to knock out your power. No A/C. I'm complaining and seven people lost their lives. I spoke to my sister this morning and they are still without power in Hammond. I'll never wish a hurricane on anyone. Ever. But I've been through several and now there is a very good chance that another one, Ike, may well be headed for the Gulf Of Mexico! Go away Ike!