still praying

Been praying by the TV today. First thing this morning, hearing that the hurricane made landfall to the east of the city, I had to attribute that to Our Lady. Not that the she sent it to the other areas, but that the worst-case scenario did not play out in a way that would involve thousands of lives. For many people in New Orleans' "ninth ward," of course, it is pretty much of a worst-case scenario involving the total loss of their homes. (The same thing happened last year to the parents of one of our sisters; they are in the Pensacola region.) I understand that the on-ramps for the Interstate are being used as launches for rescue boats.

With so little news coming in directly from New Orleans, it is hard to even guess how hard-hit any of my family's properties have been, and with cell phones all out, we are still out of touch with my brother-in-law and his two younger kids (the other two family members are in the city and had to work). One of the many times I tried my teenaged nieces cell phone (only to hear the beep-beep-beep of the busy signal), I wondered if that rascal could possibly be hanging on the line with her boyfriend... But it's doubtful her cell phone is of any use at all right now.

The sisters from our book center community left on time, and they have no idea when they will be allowed back into the city or what they will find there. There is word of looting and of a flooded hospital a block from where one of my family members lives. Doesn't do much for the old nerves, but I am grateful my loved ones heeded the call to evacuate. Praying for the people who couldn't or didn't leave home.

Here are some news bits I have been able to glean from the WDSU website; if you hear any tidbits about Metairie, please post them in the comments box.

• New Orleans hotels suffered heavy damage to windows. At the Windsor Court Hotel [my sister used to work there], guests were told to go into the interior hallways with blankets and pillows and to keep the doors closed to the rooms to avoid flying glass. - AP
• A WDSU news crew just captured images of looters hauling items out of the Winn-Dixie across from the Municipal Auditorium. The video shows people using shopping carts and hand-held carts to haul off cleaning supplies, beer and other items.
• 4 p.m.: East New Orleans Underwater New video from a WDSU crew shows east New Orleans is underwater. Only the very tops of some cars can be seen, and on other streets, the water has risen past the second story of some homes. A man was seen wading through chest-deep water. He told the news crew that he was searching for injured or trapped people. -- WDSU.com Web Staff
• 5-foot flood waters at Ernie K-Doe's Mother-In-law Lounge on Claiborne Avenue and water reaching the roofs of houses in the Eighth Ward.
• The St. Bernard Parish emergency director said that the streets in the parish are filled with water 4 feet deep. He also said that levees were not visible.
• Jefferson Parish sheriff's officials said they are not able to dispatch units to respond to 911 calls. Deputies are waiting for wind and rain to subside before traveling.
• The water is not safe to drink in Jefferson Parish. Officials said any water that is consumed must be boiled. Failure to do so could result in serious health complications.
• A building in Metairie has collapsed and people are believed to be trapped inside. Rescue officials were still trying to get to any possible victims but were hampered by continuing severe weather. In addition, the East Bank of Jefferson Parish is flooded -- including East Jefferson Hospital. There are also reports of waist-deep water inside homes throughout Metairie.