Surviving

I feel so blessed. All of my family is safe. All of my friends in Mississippi is safe. I don't know about the ones from New Orleans yet. The place I work is totally wiped away but all my bosses, their families, and the people I work with on a daily basis are safe. It's going to take a year for Gollott Seafood to rebuild. In the mean time, I guess I will be looking for construction jobs such as painting.

But as I said, I feel blessed. My house lost one shingle and the soffit and facia on the east and south side. All six of my pets are alive and well. My brothers house, in Gulfport, sits two blocks from the beach. The surge stopped at his door step and thank goodness they didn't stay there. My Mom and sister's house in Biloxi suffered the most damage. Most of the shingles are gone and they had water damage.

I have not been anywhere except to pick up water and ice because of the condition of the roads and the lack of gas. Ya'll probably have seen more of the destruction then I have. Just got back power today and have only had the radio to listen to.

Tips on survival without power. If you have running water, you can make it. Nothing sounds sweeter than being able to flush the toilet! 95 degree heat can be tiresome, but drinking plenty of bottled water and those oh so good showers helps out.

A special note to my military readers, picking up ice yesterday, I was given MRE's. The best I can say about them is that they are not too bad and the after gum is great.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast has alot of rebuilding to do. But rebuild we will. The places I loved to visit are no more. No more Biloxi or Gulfport Small Craft Harbor. The Biloxi Lighthouse survived. Most of the casinos were wiped out and the little destruction I have seen north of I-10 is unbelievable. I loaned my camera to my sister so she could document the damage to her house.

It's going to be tough but we are determined to build the Coast bigger and better. Thank all of ya'll for your thoughts and prayers.