H2Ofwlklr- Who's your brother?
Shadman, unlike some democrats in New Orleans after Katrina, we pride ourselves on helping neighbors. All of the families that were left homeless are staying w/ family members and Ducktrickster has got a rent home that we will help get him set up this week. As far as I know, everyone has clothes, but of course they will have needs as the days go by and realize they don't have this or that. I will let them know that I can post on Saltycajun for needs as they arise.
They help from the community is remarkable. I spent 13 years working as a paramedic/firefighter and have seen alot of crap over the years. It was the first time I ever "witnessed" a tornado. The power was undescribable! I was in nothing but boxer shorts when I opened a window only to have my screen sucked out. The air in my brick home was sucked out like a giant vacumn cleaner was in the window. I immediately see the funnel cloud and it was an horrible black color. Almost immediately, I see different colors from the debris. I instantly knew it was debris from homes. I call to my 15 y/o to get clothes on so we can head out to look for victims. I get my Rhino out, throw in my chain saw and some hand tools and peel out within minutes of it touching down in the neighborhood. The first two homes I get to tell me they are ok, and don't need anything, although they had damage. I turn the curve from Attwood Drive to see Ducktrickster's home barely recognizeable. I could not even get to it via the Rhino. We exit the ATV and take off running on foot, to arrive to see both vehicles in the driveway, and I know they are home at the time it hit. His house is basically gone, but two bedrooms are still standing, although structually they are barely standing.
I enter through a blown out window, and have my 15y/o behind me. We are screaming their names, hoping for a response. But the response never comes and I am scared of two things- 1) not knowing what is safe to walk under and 2) not wanting my 15 to witness what I think may be waiting for us in this home. They have two small children and we are not getting a response from them at all. I was scared, like I have never been before.
About the time I am telling Holden to get back to the Rhino and bring it to me so I can go in w/ a saw, Brandi (Ducktrickster's wife) shows up behind me. She went out the window with the two little girls before I got there and brought them across the street. I was so relieved and we hugged but we were both shaking. Only then did I learn Ducktrickster was in the duck blind. My legs got weak knowing what they had been through and it started to sink in they had cheated the unthinkable.
Within minutes of this reunion, I hear the best sound one could hear at a time like this. It was sirens and I look out across the fields to see a line of emergency vehicles coming from town to help in the emergency. Within a 30 minute window, not only were emergency vehicles present, friends and family were showing up in large numbers. The APSO did what any agency would do, and closed the neighborhood in an attempt to keep the responding agency vehicles mobil. That didn't matter to our friends and family members, they were parking on Hwy 13 and walking in to the neighborhood to help.
I met one man named "George Stelly" and asked if he was related to the homeowner where we were located. He said, "no, I'm from the country south of Lyon Point. Heard they had a storm and some people needed help so I came".
A number of us made the comment numerous times since this incident. Simply put:
" I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER PLACE TO LIVE THAN HERE IN CAJUN COUNTRY"
Thanks to all that came out to help, thanks to all the responding agencies, and thanks to everyone here for your thoughts and prayers.
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