Friends missing in Hurricane

[Poohbear]

I can't sleep. I am worried and it is aggravating my POTS symptoms, which is frustrating because I don't want to worry when there isn't anything I can do about it. I don't want to be my own cause of aggravating the POTS. My two best friends live in MS (around Jackson area) and they are okay; they have no power and can't get anywhere, tree damage and such but given the situation they are doing well. One of my friends has relatives in Gulf Port, MS who were not able to get out in time. The roads were grid locked because these folks weren't prepared for the storm since it took a "last minute" shift. Anyhow, the area her relatives live in is devastated and we don't know yet if they survived or were able to be rescued. There are reports of bodies seen floating in the water but rescue workers still can't get in to do searches. Some of the casino's had flooding reach the 2nd and 3rd floor in that area. There were about 30 people found dead at an apartment complex in Biloxi. Some are dead, some are trapped and even many shelters have damage and no power---very devastating.

Please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers in the days and weeks to come. I've lived in "hurricane territory" for a long time and I've never seen anything like this in those areas. I'm hearing horrible stories from people in MS about the devastation. I was around when Andrew hit but this is much worse than that was.

Thanks for your thoughts and for letting me share this. It's heavy on my heart and I know you guys are supportive.

[futurehope]

May God bless the rescue and recovery efforts and may your friend's relatives be found safe and sound.

[Rita]

All of the family's affected by this storm will be in our thoughts and prayers. It is so great to see your care you have for these people. It is very difficult for many at times right now with the economy being so bad let alone having to deal with storms. I can only pray for these family's as will many and help is on the way for them.

God Bless,

Rita s

[taylortotmom]

It is so sad and I know everyone feels helpless. I, too grew up in a hurricane prone area and now live in the Florida panhandle. We all thought New Orleans would be destroyed with this brutal storm but it seems Gulfport got the brunt. I will definitely pray for your loved ones. God bless and keep you!

Carmen

[michiganjan]

I am holding all those in the hurricane area in my heart today. I am praying for everyone.

Michigan Jan

[DancingLight]

Pooh,

I'm glad you shared your heavy heart with us...as you already have sooo much on your plate. Please remember that the worry won't help anything but to make your POTS symptoms worse (with that no sleeping thing...) so try to take care of yourself as much as you can through this. Easier said than done, I know...I just know you are walking a fine line health wise right now (and I"m soooo knowing what it means to NOT sleep for weeks on end!)...Hang in there, and know many others are with you during this time...Emily

[corina]

Pooh,

I'm so sorry and I'm sending you my best thoughts for your friends/relatives. I've been following the news about the hurricane. I'm very sorry for everyone who has to deal with this, nature can be very cruel at times.

Corina

[morgan617]

Pooh, I will keep everyone affected by this devastation in my prayers and thoughts. I hope and pray you will hear good news. morgan

[tracy]

Pooh, and to all the family and friends of the affected areas, you are all in my thoughts and prayers.

[blackwolf]

i pray for everyone there and best of luck in finding your friends.

blackwolf

[LisaColumbus]

Hi Poohbear, the Salvation Army will try to help locate missing persons.

Connect with Loved Ones:

> SATERN - The Salvation Army's Team Emergency Radio Network has been activated. Click here to send a health and welfare request regarding family and friends you otherwise are unable to locate...

http://qso.com/satern/emailfrm.htm

I hope this helps. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. What a tragedy.

[Guest Julia59]

I'm so sorry to hear about your friends being impacted by that devastating hurricane.

I will keep them in my prayers for them to be found in a safe place, and to by Ok.

I woke up in the middle of the night. I had CNN on the TV. I heard the woman reporter talking about the devastation----and she was so shaken. She saw the floating bodies----and some other things that no one should ever have to see.

I broke my heart listening to her----she was crying. I kept praying for the hurricane to not be as severe as they were saying it would be. It did turn out to be a little less severe for New Orleans, but the flooding was devastating. MS got hit real hard. I continue to watch for updates on the people who were impacted.

My aunt who is a nurse went to Florida a few years ago with the Red Cross, and to South America for some flooding. She said it was hard to see peoples lives turned upside down like that. she never talkes about it much.

Hang in there Poohbear-------------

Julie :0)

[Eli6596]

Hi everyone

I haven't written in awhile. When I feel badly I tend to gravitate back and at least read some messages. Even when I am feeling OK, it is nice to know that this site is here, and I think of you all frequently. It is so nice to know that I am not alone with this darn disease. You know what I mean.

Pooh, I know exactly how you feel. I am worrying myself sick for the same reason as you. I live in Illinois. My grandma and uncle did not evacuate from a house in New Orleans only one block from the levy. My grandmother passes out too, and is nearly bedbound. I don't know how she could get to a rooftop for rescue if she survived.

My mom, dad and brother were in a house in Mississippi just 5 miles from the beach near Biloxi. Both my parents have diabetes. My mom requires morphine for severe chronic back pain and only had a limited supply left. I have not been able to contact anyone since 9am monday when the hurricane was starting to hit the house.

My POTS is definitely suffering. I have cried just a few times for just a few seconds. Crying used to be a nice release before my POTS became severe with my second pregnancy. Now I get a migraine and significant worsening of POTS symptoms if I have a "good cry". I feel that I cannot even indulge in extreme emotion. Do you know what I mean?

Lisa, thank you so much for the Salvation Army idea. I will try. I called Red Cross today and they could not help me find my family. I felt so sad when I opened my refrigerator tonight and saw all my food, knowing that my loved ones could be hungry or much worse.

Karyn

[morgan617]

Oh Karyn, I will keep you and all your family in my thoughts and prayers! Hopefully, with all the red cross and ems there, people will be okay. I am sorry you can not let it all out, as it makes you worse. Please try to take care of yourself in this difficult time...morgan

[LisaColumbus]

1-866-GET-INFO

I just saw the above number on CNN. They said this is the number to get info on the missing

[Jillybeanbme]

Poorbear,

I'm very sorry to hear about your friends. I live in Pensacola and the reports we are seeing on local channels are not good. The devestation over there is far worse than what we went through last year with Ivan. My prayers are with you and everyone else with family and friends in that area.

God Bless,

Jill

[Poohbear]

Karyn, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family as well.

Lisa, thanks so much for all the info to try to help us locate loved ones.

To everyone, thank you for your support. It's a tough emotional time. I do hope all our AL members are safe....please check in when you can.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to focus my energy on not falling apart but rather, moving into action. I'm trying to organize a food/personal items drive through my church where we will ship supplies directly to the open shelters. I know red cross takes $ but they don't take food to distribute because it's costly to ship, hard to get in etc.

Plus, I need to do something to occupy my mind/time so this is a way for me to do that.

This afternoon I kinda had a crash but I'm trying to sleep a little, work a little. It's not the best routine but it's better than not sleeping at all and therby getting myself sicker.

Thanks again everyone for your care and compassion!

[Sunfish]

pooh & karyn -

you & your families & friends are definitely in my thoughts & prayers. it's completely understandable that you would be upset & that it could be carrying over into more symptoms, so don't beat yourselves up for reacting normally to what is such a terribly scary situation.

pooh it sounds like your "plan of attack" is a great plan.

hang in there,

melissa

p.s. big (((HUGS))) to both of you

[Sue]

Hi

We have been watching the devastation on TV for the last two days. Its so hard to watch as people are losing everything they have.. I will be praying for your friends as well as everyone who is affected.

Take care all

Hugs

Sue

[sallyann]

your family and friends will be in my prayers. i am sorry sorry you are going thru this

sallyann

[Eli6596]

Hi

Thanks to everyone for your prayers. I really think they work.

My parents and brother are alive in the Mississippi gulf coast. I finally heard from them yesterday morning. Their house is flooded to the kitchen countertops, and their cars floated away. My dad and brother saved my mom from drowning. My brother went back into the house and rescued his cat. My dad said, "your brother is a hero"

I still don't know if my grandmother and uncle in New Orleans are alive.

I have to go watch my CNN fix for the day, and get a huge bolus of sleep tonight. I am exhausted. At least I have a 3 day weekend to recooperate.

Pooh, how are you holding up?

Karyn

[JaneEyre9]

Karyn-- it's so good to hear that your family is alive! My thoughts and prayers have definitely been focused on the people suffering down south. Thanks for keeping us posted. Hope that you hear from your grandma and uncle soon

Poohbear-- sounds like your food drive is a great idea. it will help as well as get your mind focused in a positive direction. it's so hard to feel helpless and watch the images on tv.

Kristen

[hockeykid]

Karyn-It is great that part of your family is ok! I hope the same for your uncle and grandma!

Pooh-My thoughts and prayers will be with you. I hope you are able to find your family! The food drive is a great idea!

My thoughts and prayers will also be with anyone else who can't find family.

[Lukkychrm42]

I'm so sorry, guys. My thoughts are with everyone.

[Poohbear]

Thanks everybody! It has been a really tough week for many many people. I have heard from some friends and their family members but there are still friends and former co-workers that have not been heard from.

I just learned about 15 minutes ago that one co-worker is confirmed dead.

Another good friend (who works for the army cor in MS) will probably be sent to New Orleans to work. He says they are setting up tents/camp to work out of.

Locally in my state there are numerous shelters open, hundreds of hospital patients have been flown into the AFB and then sent to various hospitals all over metro atlanta. The shelters say most of them are prepared to be open for at least 4 months. Lots of children have been registered to start school here on Monday. Most of the schools around here started up a month ago but it's still early enough in the school year and LA schools start early Aug too so hopefully the kids can integrate with relative ease and will give them some sense of normalcy and stability. It's going to be a rough road for many many months to come. Atlanta is already a crowded place but we feel fortunate and blessed to help these people. It's wonderful and amazing to see people come together like they have to help out.

Tension among people is high.... many stations have no gas, there are people trying to get here into shelters and can't find gas, hospitals are asking people not to come to the ER unless it's life or death otherwise they want people to call their on-call physicians or go to urgent care centers. (I'm thankful I have home health set up for IV's when I need them at this point). Definately very far reaching aftermath from this Hurricane.

It's tough but I try to stay focused on what I can do to help and keeping my energy focused on that eases the worry some.

Thanks again to everyone for your support! I hope all our board members in the affected areas are safe. I notice we still have not heard from some of them.