Crumpled Notebook

Update: "http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=3895697">Here’s another
article.

CAMERON PARISH _ Fishing communities in were reduced to
splinters, with concrete slabs the only evidence of homes that once
stood there. Debris was strewn for miles by water or wind.
Holly Beach, a popular vacation and fishing spot, was
simply gone - white caps on the Gulf of Mexico lapping where camps
had been.

Another article says: “The hurricane swept Holly Beach, a community
of crabbing and vacation camps, off the map. Rows of concrete slabs
show where houses once stood.” "http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/25/national/nationalspecial/26cnd-storm2.html?hp&ex=1127707200&en=c6f51f2dc7952dcc&ei=5094&partner=homepage">
This New York Times article, about mid way down talks more
about Holly Beach and it’s neighbor town, Johnson Bayou.

Still, the storm caused extensive damage in some areas.
In Louisiana, along Highway 82, which runs parallel to the Gulf of
Mexico, houses were “gone,” said a Navy helicopter crewman, Ken
Smith. Johnson’s Bayou and Holly Beach were apparently devastated.
“No people, no nothing,” Mr. Smith said, referring to Holly Beach.
“We keep hearing reports that basically it’s non-existent,” said
Tracy Webb, a volunteer for the Cameron Parish Office for Emergency
Preparedness, of Johnson’s Bayou.

I’ll just keep posting in this entry when I learn new things about
what is going on down there and get some pictures, etc… CNN has a
good "http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/24/rita/index.html">article
about what’s know about the damage in Lake Charles right now.
They’re saying the Lake Charles area was hit the harderst (and I’m
guessing everything between it and the Gulf). Another "http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/24/rita/index.html">article
I read has reports of 9 feet of water in Holly Beach. I’m guessing
at this point, it’s probably been hard for many to get into much of
Cameron Parish so more will probably know about the state there
later. Supposedly the whole parish evacuated with the exception of
3 hold-outs. It seems I read somewhere that Louisiana is one of the
states where even if they make evacuation mandantory and order it,
they can’t legally enforce it. I guess they sent the military down
to try and get these 3 guys to leave, but was unsuccessful. I’m not
sure where in Cameron Parish they were, there are several small
communities down there. "http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/24/rita/index.html">More on
Lake Charles. Also on that page, there is a video showing some
damage to one of the buildings there, a bank I think. Anyway, I
actually worked in that building for a short time for Sprint (there
are lots of other businesses in there too). The video is in the
right hand section of the page about 1/4-1/2 way down. There is a
green heading that says “watch” and it’s the 2nd video there that
says “Damage in Downtown Lake Charles.” It’s got a java link, or
I’d link directly to it.