Medical Update from our Starfish, aka Karen

Click on the link above to read the full report. I continue to be amazed at her incredible attitude in the face of a second surgery coming on September 16th.

Karen, you are one courageous lady. Our entire team will keep you close to our thoughts and deep in our hearts. Take care my dear friend and Godspeed.

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Latest Red Cross News

Updates as they come in on Katrina

7:59 P.M. - Mayor Nagin: Pumps at 17th street canal has failed and water will continue pouring into the city. Nine feet of water is expected on St. Charles Avenue that will be nine feet high. Water is expected to spread throughout the east bank of Orleans and possibly Jefferson Parish.

6:41 P.M. - Efforts to stop the levee break at the 17th Street Canal have ended unsuccessfully and the water is expected to soon overwhelm the pumps in that area, allowing water to pour into the east bank of Metairie and Orleans to an expected height of 12-15 feet.

6:03 P.M. - N.O. Councilman Oliver Thomas: "What you see on TV, you have no idea what the level of devastation and frustration is on the street."

5:57 P.M. - Jeff Parish schools chief Dianne Roussel says two months is probably "optimistic" to get schools back and functioning.

Andraxian Stats

Our stats are completely up-to-date on the grid. Deep heart-felt appreciation for everyone on this great team. As a whole, since 11 Jan 2005, we have a combined total exceeding 38 years of volunteered CPU time and have send back 27, 679 results to Oxford. Hats off folks. Outstanding job. Wunderbar!

Go Here for our team roster Stats

Devastation 'overwhelming'

Jeff Parish President. Residents will probably be allowed back in town in a week, with identification only, but only to get essentials and clothing. You will then be asked to leave and not come back for one month.


80% of New Orleans Under Water

3:13 P.M. - Governor Blanco: A lot of people have lost their lives, but we have no numbers because the priority is saving those who are alive so we don't have more casualties.


2:41 P.M. - Jefferson Parish officials say schools could reopen by Dec. 1.

Governor says entire city needs to be evacuated

Levee Breach!

Break in 17th Street Canal Levee is now 200 feet wide and slowly flooding the City of New Orleans. Huge sand bags are being airlifted to try to stem the rush of water in that area. The expectations are that the water will not stop until it reaches lake level.

Best local coverage from New Orleans with live feed ----> WWL-TV

11:53 A.M. - Two dead in Slidell in rising waters after attempting to get back to their homes. The victims had initially evacuated. (15' of water in downtown Slidell)

Please stay put. Jefferson Parish is locked down. No one admitted until Monday and only with proper ID. There is no electricity, water or working facilities. Officials will and are turning away anyone trying to return.


11:58 A.M. - Homeland security chief optimistic that 3,000 pound sandbags can plug 200 foot levee break at 17th Street Canal.

Happy Birthday Granny!

Flowers for my Grandmother, who turned 81 yesterday. She lives in Baton Rouge. The flower shop called me this morning saying they still could not deliver and didn't even know when they would be able to receive another shipment of flowers.

So granny, until later, enjoy the beautiful tulips to the right. We'll get real flowers to you as soon as we can. Happy Birthday!

My mother and grandmother in a photo taken just a couple weeks ago on St George Island. Both my mother and grandmother were able to join us for vacation. We all had a wonderful time and so good to have everyone together for an entire week.