My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone in the path of Katrina -- Weather Channel says it is now a Category 5 storm.

This one could be really bad -- they are comparing it to Camille.

Stay safe.

We don't get storms like this here in England. But we just watched a drama-documentary about hurricane Andrew. What a frightening prospect.

We will keep you all in our prayers !

Diane,

Not only a 5, but, heading for New Orleans, SO MUCH of that city sits below sea level ... "catastrophic" is the word all are using ...

Yes, positive thoughts for the safety of those in the path of this storm are in order.

We're here on the OBX (more on that later). It's beautiful here right now, but who knows what's coming in. Hopefully, we won't have to evacuate...though if we do, our plan is to go out to the Blue Ridge Mountains while the storm comes through, and then, if possible, come back to the Banks to finish our vacation. Even though I've always wanted to go to the Blue Ridge/Shenandoah area, I hope that I will be able to under better conditions.

My prayers are with all those in the path of Katrina...I didn't realise that it was a Cat. 5! Hopefully all those in the affected areas will be safe, and that all our lighthouses will be safe, too.

Not to get off-track, but which endangered lights will be endangered by this storm?

I'm guessing alot of Louisiana's

You know you're in trouble when the Weather Channel says its people aren't staying to cover landfall. I'm going fishing with my son's Webelos den this adfternoon and will quitely reflect on the many storms we had when growing up in NC. We had a Cat 4 (Hazel in '54) but no 5. To this day I can show you damage from Hazel. When I lived in Biloxi in '90 you could still see loss from Camille in '69, e.g, nothing but concrete front steps on a lot. The impact from this storm could likely be felt long after many of us are gone.

Think we can get OPEC to make up our oil losses as "foreign aid"?

This is VERY scary! Becky and me have been sitting by the TV all day and we are very concerned for the safety of anyone in the path of such a terrible storm. PLEASE do not take any unnecessary chances and do whatever the authorities instruct without question. Good luck and we will be praying for everyones safety!!

Endangered lighthouses that come to mind, is West Rigolets (LA) and Sand Island AL). Both have had pervious damage, not sure if Sand Island got any repairs or not since last year, but the storm surge could be a problem. West Rigolets is privately owned and have not done anything to fix the lighthouse, even when someone offered to help.

I'm not completely sure of Katrina's path, but, I'm sure Pass Manchac is in it. The Southwest Pass and Pass A L'Outre lights might be in it as well.

Just saw a shot of the Biloxi lighthouse on news coverage. She's still standing tall.

Hey people! In respect for the personal damage and deaths from this hurricane you need to quit worrying about lighthouses and start praying for the people of these areas that were hit. If you have never been through a hurricane you cannot imagine the stress that these people are under. Not only have they lost their homes and personal items that will never be able to be replaced, they may also have lost loved ones. A loss of a tower of brick, stone or wood that can be rebuilt pales in comparison to what these people are living with, and will live with, for months or years.

Rich,
I don't really think anyone means dis-respect to the victims.

I didn't mean that disrespect was being shown. I was just trying to bring to the surface that our main concerns and prayers should be for the people and not the towers. The thread started out as a genuine concern by Diane for the people and seemed to be slowly migrating towards more of a concern for the towers.

I'm sure everyone's heart is in the right place in regards to the tremendous loss of property, personal injuries, and loss of life as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

The expression of concern over the lighthouses of the area is just what this board is about. If we didn't have an interest in lighthouses in general, we probably wouldn't be frequenting the Collector Forums.

Keep the victims of Katrina in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks for the info on the lights too.

:rolleyes: Bob :rolleyes:

I'm going to try to hold back here.

I lived in Mobile for over 20 years. I went through Hurricane Frederic and the 2 weeks of no power or water that followed. I also was there for several smaller storms. I still have family there, and I haven't been able to contact them since lunchtime yesterday. I have been watching coverage of this storm for a couple of days now. It seems that this could be the worst hurricane to hit the U.S. in at least 50 years.

I thought it was worthwhile to point out one of the few positives that I have seen during the news coverage. I was in Biloxi a few weeks ago and saw the lighthouse for the first time in several years. I, for one, am happy that it is still standing. I would much prefer that the thousands of homes be intact.

On a related story, the chopper from WKRG in Mobile just showed Sand Island Light, which amazingly is still standing as well.

Those of you interested in local coverage might like to watch their stream at WKRG

Well I saw that lighthouse standing yesterday too and was kind of hoping that they'd show the lantern room but they didn't. Obviously that wasn't the point of the news story.

Before we shoot Lou in the foot for his post, let's remember that it was posted yesterday and it just wasn't quite as obvious then, as today, just how much death and destruction this hurricane has caused.

And, it is only natural for us to wonder about the fate of the ligthouses in it's path.

Well said Mombo.

Maybe someone can correct me, if I'm wrong. Maybe with all that's going on in our lives, we've missed something that I consider extremely important.

The United States of America, specifically our fellow Americans in the South, are suffering terribly from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Some families have lost loved ones. Some families have lost everything they own. Some people may never recover to where they were before this storm struck.

Where are all the countries we assisted during their darkest days? Where is the hue and cry to send assistance to the good old USA? I've heard nothing about any foreign country we've assisted in the past offering anything to relieve the misery of our fellow Americans in the South.

Bob

Very well said, Bob! Truer words were never spoken! My thoughts and prayers are with all of our fellow countrymen who are suffering in the aftermath of this terrible, killer storm! May God Bless them and all of the rescue workers who have come to help!

My best,
Paul Conlin
ALF Secretary

Thanks Bob and Paul for your question and concerns. First of all let me say that I'm sorry if I implied that people were more interested in lighthouses then people. I did not mean it that way. I just felt that the lights should maybe have been addressed in a separate post.

Having been through 3 hurricanes last year I can and am feeling some of the pain that these poor people are now facing. Our 3 hurricanes that hit us last year during a month period combined did not even come close to the destruction that our neighbors in LA, MS and AL are now facing. I guess that their utter frustrations and griefs really affected me.

Again, forgive me if I offended anyone.

Rich, that's a really good idea. I have always had difficulty trying to figure out how to word posts in the case of hurricanes or other natural disasters, to show my true concern for the people affected, while also trying to start a conversation about the lighthouses. As in this case, the lighthouse part kind of ballooned, and overtook the just-as-important-if-not-moreso people part.

Two threads would help us to express our concern for everyone affected, as well as discuss the lighthouses affected by the storm. It would allow us to also focus on each topic as much as neccessary, without feeling guilt about one overshadowing the other. This is a lighthouse forum first and foremost, whether it's the real thing or Harbour Lights replicas. It's just our nature to want to discuss them.

As for what Bob said....bravo bravo bravo! Think of earlier this year, when we sent so much aid to the countries affected by the tsunami. Where are they now? (This might be a bad example, due to the financial state of those countries, but it's a symbolic example.)

The US is there for most every major natural disaster in the world. We give them millions, billions, of dollars, to help them get back on their feet. Now, I understand that some countries might not be in the financial straits to help us, but they could at least send a statement of concern and condolence. It's a "what goes around comes around" thing....and nothing is coming around.

One other interesting point...I'm watching some TV programme that came on after the Today Show that I was watching. They were saying how this will raise prices on stuff - not just oil, which goes up if an oil worker sneezes on the job and hinders production, but also in markets like seafood (shrimp, catfish, oysters), cotton, and other products that make up the economies of the affected areas.

It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out...whole cities need to be rebuilt...homes and lives rebuilt. Places like Gulfport seem to have been wiped off the map. It's going to be a long, long time until LA, MS, and AL get back to normal.

Oh yeah, and don't forget about those in Florida who were affected by this storm before it's unbelievable turn...the media seems to have forgotten about them, but we shouldn't.

The Coast Guard has posted a new section this morning showing their current operations:
Hurricane Katrina
Watching the USCG in action yesterday...oh my gosh!

Judy

Last night I emailed long time forum member Lamar Bevil to see how he fared as he lives in a suburb of Baton Rouge. Although he hasn't posted for some time, Lamar was a member of the Wacko Pin committee and was instrumental in it's production.

I received a reply back today and Lamar reports that he and his family are ok. Their home is ok but they suffered some tree and fence damage. They have no electricty, phone or cell phone service. Lamar was in his office where services were available and expressed his concern for those in New Orleans and other coastal areas.

If we can think of others who might need checking on please try to contact them and give us a report. Thanks.

I was just addressing postcards for the PCE (special, Outer Banks postmarks for those in PCE 27!), when I came across the address for John Gaskill, the Bodie keeper's son. He lives in the US Naval Home in Gulfport, MS...which was devastated from the news footage I've seen. Anyone been able to check up on him?

Greg, I don't personally know anything as yet, but if I can find out, I will post it on the forum. Glad you thought of him. And keep in mind he loves to hear from lighthouse folks.

Hope you guys are having a great week on the OBX

Judy

I have good news about John Gaskill, son of the last keeper at Bodie Island Lighthouse. His residence is the USCG home in Gulfport.

I know he has been frantic with worry. Because of his injury at Bodie Island this summer, he hadn't been healing as he should and he was back in North Carolina with friends there this week who have been helping him.

John was able to talk to some of his friends at the USCG home, before they lost cell phone connection. Tonight on the news, there was footage of the residents at the home being removed through the roof. They are all being moved to DC to the Naval home.

Greg, thanks for asking about him.

Judy

Hey Judy, we sent our PCEs for John to the Gulfport adress. Do you think it would be wise to send them again? And if so, where do we send them?

God Bless all of you for remembering and checking up on Lamar and John. We continue to pray and support financially those who have lost so much.

Stan & Margret,

I think you posted about sending a card to John Gaskill shortly after I had posted about his injury. So I expect he did receive it. He went back to Gulfport back then, but left to return to the home of friends in North Carolina when his injuries weren't healing properly.

I think he is still in Raleigh rather than in DC, but when I hear that he is back with his friends from the USCG home (now in DC) I'll let you know. I'm sure he would enjoy hearing from lighthouse folks at any time.

Thank you for your response. I know he appreciates every card and note sent.

Judy

Judy,

Thanks so much on the update regarding John. I had asked Betty Parrish at the reunion if she had any info and unfortunately she did not.

I'm very glad to hear John is safe and sound in NC

Is there an address that we might write to him in NC? I have not mailed by PCE26 cards as yet.

Thanks!

I.O.'s son who lives and works for Immigration Control in San Diego was sent to New Orleans a couple of days ago. He and some other members of his special response team are there to help out with law enforcement. In a phone call to his sister last night he told her that the situation there is 100 times worse than it appears on T.V.

I think we really don't, and can't, understand the scope of this from the TV or newspaper or Internet. It's not because they aren't trying hard enough or reporting well enough, they just can't communicate it.