BA and all,

I have to agree that NOLA will be a long road of recovery. I had a opportunity to visit NOLA twice within a week just last week My first visit to NOLA, I wish it was under better circumstances.

I am deployed with the US Army Corp of Engineers in Beaumont Texas on a "blue roof" mission. When Wilma's course was uncertain I had an opportunity on the 20th to go home to Jacksonville, FL to make sure my family and property was safe and secure if Wilma decided to track north and northeast with a exit through Jax. On my drive back to Jax I met a colleague stationed on our Gen Grear's command boat at the district office in NOLA. I can't remember the road leading to the boat, maybe River Road or Carrolton Anyhow I got kind of lost once I left I-10 and Carrolton and was easily disoriented due to the lack of street signs The brief drive to the boat showed huge amounts of destruction. For my exit out of NOLA after lunch I decided to take a "tour" and drive along Lakeshore and then try to take 90 into Miss. No luck there as the bridges were turned around and no power to bring them back into alignment. The drive on 90 and then 10 up to Slidell was characterized by So many flooded cars, homes, businesses and destruction in general. I was awe struck.

I then drove to Waveland, MS and was even further surprised by an even greater level of destruction. By then it was nightfall and I decided to drive to Pensacola for a motel stop. Sleep was difficult that night for what I had seen that day. Tears were nearly flowing. Keep in mind this is after seeing similar yet somewhat less severe damage in SE TX for about 2 weeks straight.

Ironically on my drive back to TX on the 24th the only rooms available were at the Ramada Inn in the FQ at Bourban and Toulouse. They were literally the only rooms available along the 10 corridor from Biloxi to Houston. I had a decent dinner at The Redfish Grill and a great nights sleep. On the way out I drove the cbd abd the Garden district area. Ouch, lots of visible scarring. I truly hope life gets better. Although I don't think NOLA normalcy will return in anyones near future.

Back at work today for a full day and it seems as the days go by and the program obtains more public awareness the more requests we see. Its good to see the word is getting out but it just continues to show how bad SE TX was really hit. As far north as Jasper and beyond, into China, Vidor is hosed, Port Arthur, the Groves, Neches and a host of other communities will never be the same. Beaumont was hit hard but it seems as it is the major community in the area it has the ability to absorb the hits and deal with the issues a little better than the rest.

I have a huge desire to go back and help with Wilma as Broward is an old stomping ground of mine and I have many friends affected by that particular storm. For now I'll have to stay in TX and do what I can.

Please help in any way that you can. Whether money or volunteering in some form or fashion. I'm sure it would be appreciated from SE TX to the Keys.

Sorry for the ramble. Its been the first real moment with some time to free flow with my thoughts and such. Its truly an experience that I will never forget.