NOLA Fan Update

The latest from Guy Lillian:

Hi -- I'm sending this by BCC to as many people as I can who know Dennis Dolbear. He is ALL RIGHT. As of Thursday afternoon he is ensconced in the Cajun Dome in Lafayette, Louisiana, a genuine refugee. He sounds in decent health and spirits.

Apparently he and his mother were trying to ride out the storm at their very pleasant and solid home in New Orleans East when Katrina made her entrance -- bursting in through the front doors, tearing the doors not only off their hinges, but out of the walls. DD and his 85+ year old mother survived by clinging to the OUTSIDE of the house, since he had too much sense to climb up into the attic -- whence they might not have escaped. There are more details about their rescue and escape to follow.

He has been separated from Mrs. Dolbear -- she is apparently in Baton Rouge. That's the next step. I know he won't mind if I tell you that he needs some financial help right away. Contact me for details on that end of things: ghliii@yahoo.com.

Dennis' lovely house is now so much papier mache.

Justin Winston is apparently still in his house. Annie Winston is safe in Alexandria, Louisiana. John Guidry went to Covington (across Lake Pontchartrain) for the hurricane, and we have heard nothing. We have no news of Peggy Ranson, Robert Neagle, Joey Grillot, Rebecca Smith or anyone else, but we will let you all know when we know something.

NOLA Fan Update

The latest from Guy Lillian:

Hi -- I'm sending this by BCC to as many people as I can who know Dennis Dolbear. He is ALL RIGHT. As of Thursday afternoon he is ensconced in the Cajun Dome in Lafayette, Louisiana, a genuine refugee. He sounds in decent health and spirits.

Apparently he and his mother were trying to ride out the storm at their very pleasant and solid home in New Orleans East when Katrina made her entrance -- bursting in through the front doors, tearing the doors not only off their hinges, but out of the walls. DD and his 85+ year old mother survived by clinging to the OUTSIDE of the house, since he had too much sense to climb up into the attic -- whence they might not have escaped. There are more details about their rescue and escape to follow.

He has been separated from Mrs. Dolbear -- she is apparently in Baton Rouge. That's the next step. I know he won't mind if I tell you that he needs some financial help right away. Contact me for details on that end of things: ghliii@yahoo.com.

Dennis' lovely house is now so much papier mache.

Justin Winston is apparently still in his house. Annie Winston is safe in Alexandria, Louisiana. John Guidry went to Covington (across Lake Pontchartrain) for the hurricane, and we have heard nothing. We have no news of Peggy Ranson, Robert Neagle, Joey Grillot, Rebecca Smith or anyone else, but we will let you all know when we know something.

Molly Ivins on Politics & the Hurricane

Interesting column about the consequences of political decisions.

Molly Ivins on Politics & the Hurricane

Interesting column about the consequences of political decisions.

Another Hurricane Report

A friend just forwarded this heartbreaking mail from John Barnes, which contains a mention of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, a local charity that has set up two funds: one to aid the many refugees who fled to Baton Rouge, and the other to rebuild infrastructure in New Orleans to provide basic civic services to residents there.

Friends -

I survived Hurricane Katrina. ( details of destruction )

Please tell your friends that the displaced citizens of New Orleans, many of whom lost their homes after literally escaping the hurricane with just what they could fit in the car besides their kids and pets, desperately need help. We have a half million of them (!) here in Baton Rouge (and I even have several of them in my house), and many of them are suffering terribly. They need clothes, food, shelter, and medicine. Many of them are poor urban blacks who have never lived anywhere but New Orleans. Please urge all your friends in the strongest possible manner to please contribute tax deductible donations to the Hurricane Katrina Displaced Residents Fund online at www.braf.org or via check to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (marked Hurricane Katrina Displaced Residents Fund) and sent to BRAF at 402 N. Fourth St., Baton Rouge, La., 70802. Please tell them that if they could see the damage and these poor, suffering refugees and the wretched state that most of them are in that they would be as moved to tears as I have been.

Please tell them that this is the worst natural disaster in American history, and that its victims urgently need whatever help they can spare.

Thank you.

Best,

John

P.S. Please pass this on. You have no idea how badly help is needed.

Another Hurricane Report

A friend just forwarded this heartbreaking mail from John Barnes, which contains a mention of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, a local charity that has set up two funds: one to aid the many refugees who fled to Baton Rouge, and the other to rebuild infrastructure in New Orleans to provide basic civic services to residents there.

Friends -

I survived Hurricane Katrina. ( details of destruction )

Please tell your friends that the displaced citizens of New Orleans, many of whom lost their homes after literally escaping the hurricane with just what they could fit in the car besides their kids and pets, desperately need help. We have a half million of them (!) here in Baton Rouge (and I even have several of them in my house), and many of them are suffering terribly. They need clothes, food, shelter, and medicine. Many of them are poor urban blacks who have never lived anywhere but New Orleans. Please urge all your friends in the strongest possible manner to please contribute tax deductible donations to the Hurricane Katrina Displaced Residents Fund online at www.braf.org or via check to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (marked Hurricane Katrina Displaced Residents Fund) and sent to BRAF at 402 N. Fourth St., Baton Rouge, La., 70802. Please tell them that if they could see the damage and these poor, suffering refugees and the wretched state that most of them are in that they would be as moved to tears as I have been.

Please tell them that this is the worst natural disaster in American history, and that its victims urgently need whatever help they can spare.

Thank you.

Best,

John

P.S. Please pass this on. You have no idea how badly help is needed.