got this email from my dad today. BUSH pissed off a LOT of residents down there. Good thing it's already bush country.

We have electricity, telephone, water (we can not drink the water) and sewer (our sewer has an electric pump, no electricity no sewer). FEMA is doing a great job. They give us bottled water, ice (to cool the water; all the food has spoiled) and MREs (three thousand calories a day). The city, FEMA, Salvation Army and Baptist church have portable kitchens serving three hot meals a day. FEMA has a emergency clinic with a doctor. The Red Cross is not here; no surprise to us. We all hate the Red Cross as all they do is raise money.

We have martial law with a curfew from dawn to dusk. The National Guard patrols with loaded rifles. The TV cable is out so we only get three stations, if you have an antenna. We get CBS, NBC and FOX. It's interesting as we have not seen these channels in years. We now know why nobody watches them. We can not go to most places on the island as the destruction is so bad it is not safe (mostly on the beach). We have two gas stations and I heard the grocery store is open (no meat or fresh vegetables, can goods only).

FEMA says we had sustained winds of 135 MPH with gust to 160 and 180 and a storm surge of water 20 feet high. The only damage I got was some shingles blown off my roof ridge vent and some tree damage. The house was built to with stand 140 mile an hour winds, I guess it worked.

President Bush visited. What you did not see on TV was that it was the first day we were allowed back on the island and they held us up until he left. I sat in my truck for two and a half hours (four miles back from the entrance) in the sun along with several thousand others waiting for him to leave. No telling how many votes he lost. Tom Ridge visited the island; thank heaven he didn't come here, there would have been a lynching.

The word is that homeowners insurance will cover none of the damage. We all have a deductible of two percent of the insured value so my deductible is $2600. I guess the lawyers will be here later this week as I can see law suites forever. I told Betty the insurance companies will try to tie everyone up in court until we get tired and quit.

Everyone is working to clean up the debris. Seems like every few minutes someone with a chain saw and a pickup truck stops by offering to remove my trees, for a price. We need one of those devices that gives out numbers to each person so we can keep everyone in the correct order.

The last picture is a new addition to the property courtesy of the storm. As this is a resort we are sensitive to what we call things so as not to offend the tourist. This is not a port-a-potty, it is an exterior comfort station. Betty thinks with a few repairs and some new wall paper it will be a valuable addition to the property.



The new addition he is talking about is a complte and in tact port a potty that was mysteriously placed in their yard.

A little note to ALL politicians... Stay the fuck out if your visit is going to further hinder the residents of a DESTROYED area.

from what i have heard it sustained SEVER damage and they are not sure it will reopen. Franly it should have collapsed years ago on it's own

Quoted: Where does he live?

He is in Orange beach just east of gulf shores.

mike

Quoted: Quoted: President Bush visited. What you did not see on TV was that it was the first day we were allowed back on the island and they held us up until he left. I sat in my truck for two and a half hours (four miles back from the entrance) in the sun along with several thousand others waiting for him to leave. No telling how many votes he lost. Tom Ridge visited the island; thank heaven he didn't come here, there would have been a lynching. How FUCKING PETTY. Aw, he got stuck in traffic. He obviously has a working computer. Maybe the $$ Bush sends down will make daddy feel better.

Are you shitting me? Making the residents that live there have to wait to return their homes, that they have not seen and have no idea if they are destroyred or not is a good thing to do? Are you an idiot or just an ass?

Yes sir i am sure bush needed the photo op more than those folks need to see what was left of their homes after they had been displaced for several days.

For the record that is hard core bush country and we are both supporters. What GW did here was WRONG.

mike

Quoted: Quoted: We have electricity, telephone, water (we can not drink the water) and sewer (our sewer has an electric pump, no electricity no sewer). He HAS electricity. Why is he bitching about his sewer needing electricity?

he has electricity most of the area around him does not. The sewer system and water treatment facility does not. Therefor no water. no sewer.

mike

Quoted: and if Bush didn't show up, you all would be bitchin that he didn't care. He visited so he could argue for the Billions of MY dollars he will be giving these people.

Noone there gives a shit if he makes a personal appearance. Hell most politicians made a flyover. Caring does not involve inconviencing people whose lives have been detroyed. Sorry but that was a shitty move. I am sure you would have been happy to sit there while the pres got a photo op at your expense. I am guessing you have never lived through a major disaster.

mike

Newbhunter,

i was happy to do it. Under those circumstances anyone down there needed help.

mike

You live in a coastal that is prone to hurricanes and do not have hurricane coverage?  I am guessing that many people just chose not to pay the extra premium. I feel for your loss, but I don't get a discount for living a hundred and fifty miles from the coast, I don't get a discount for living on high ground that won't flood, There may be some poorly written policies out there, but I would imagine that if you read the contract it will state that hurricane damage is not included unless you have an extra hurricane coverage policy.

As far as Bush tieing up traffic, if you are so mad about it then don't vote for him and refuse all federal aid in protest.