We Are Safe!

Dear Family & Friends,
We are safe and staying at Lake Claiborne National State Park.
It is a beautiful place and the state is allowing us to stay for free (including free laundry service). Everyone has been so nice and helpful. I'm beginning to look upon Homer, Louisiana as my second home. It reminds me a lot of Sulphur.

We evacuated on Thursday afternoon due to Hurricane Rita threatening the Gulf Coast area. We made it to North Toledo Bend that night but were evacuated further north in the morning. My brother, parents, and grandmother evacuated with us. There were 11 of us living in our camper trailer.

The hurricane went upwards along side of Sabine Pass which separates Louisiana from Texas. We live in Sulphur, Louisiana, near Lake Charles. We received devastating winds that were recorded at 135-140 mph. My uncle and aunt rode the storm out and said from 1-4 AM it sounded as though a freight train was directly outside their door. They stayed in the hallway under mattresses.

The living conditions in Sulphur are horrible. My brother, husband, and oldest son drove back home on Sunday to survey the damages and try to secure the property. No flooding, only wind damage. Lost lots and lots of trees. All our homes are safe and relatively undamaged except for missing shingles. My oldest son had an apartment on the back of our property that had a pecan tree fall on the back of it. It fell on the room he had placed all his personal items hoping they would be safe.

The National Guard is there now and not allowing anyone to enter the parish.