Weds., August 29, 2012, Nashville, Tennessee, 2:29 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

I sit here at work, on break, with tears running down my face, as I watch the lates information regarding Hurricane Isaac (since downgraded to a tropical storm, with top winds now at 60 mph, barely under hurricane force; it is moving slowly northwest at 6 miles an hour).  There has been heavy flooding up and down the Gulf Coast; one wonders if there will be any loss of life with the system (I'm sure there will be).

I have friends in Louisiana (family, too); I pray they are okay or have gotten to shelter way before the storm was due to land (she made landfall early this morning; she was a Category 1 storm).  While there won't be the catastrophic damage and destruction like Katrina, there will still be significant damage and flooding concerns as the rainfall totals  continue to pile up.

I have been trying to contact my friends and family but so far, nothing.  I know it is probably because the power is out, but I am trusting in God that I will hear from my loved ones soon, as well as my friends who live that way.

I also cry because seven years ago today, Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans, Louisiana, killing over 1,000 people when it was all said and done; Hurricane Katrina was a Category 5 storm.  While the storm was bad enough, what really did the damage was when the levees gave way and flooded New Orleans once again after Katrina's waters had started to recede.  People were trapped in their homes and in the Super Dome; the whole Katrina deal was a national disaster that will probably be felt for years to come.  

It was a disaster that should have never happened.

I do know this much: my daughter, Ronee', and her fiance', Michael, who live in Lafayette where they go to school and work, went to New Mexico; they knew Hurricane Isaac was coming, so they beat a hasty retreat and took an unexpected vacation to New Mexico, where they will be for a week.  I am hoping they get to their destination safely; I should be hearing from them sometime today or tonight, if there are no problems.  So I don't have to worry so much about Ronee', but I do have to worry about Dwerlina, who lives in Breaux Bridge, near Lafayette; I pray Dwerlina and her family are safe and sound.

I haven't heard a peep from her.  I am starting to get very worried, especially when I see all the latest news about Isaac on the televsion screen (I have it tuned to the Weather Channel).

I have taken care of several people who were in Katrina; some have since become very good friends.  Just about all of them made homes elsewhere outside of Louisiana (and New Orleans); they decided that once was more than enough; Katrina did something to them emotionally and I am sure some (if not all) still suffer from PTSD, or have continuing nightmares or memories, especially now with the anniversary of Katrina.  And now you have Isaac to contend with, so it's like reopening old wounds to those who were directly affected by Hurricane Katrina.

I will have to pray harder like I have never prayed before; we don't need another Katrina like disaster!!