Bottle up the Blue
Its like clockwork...
Today begins the first full day of college football. I hope for many this can serve as a brief distraction from all the saddness and hardwork in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. I know it will for me. Suprisingly, Katrina has made this football Saturday feel like one. How?
Well as a native of Lincoln, NE I have had the pleasure of spending each fall watching my beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers. And as a child, I remember waking up early on a Saturday morning almost feeling like it was Christmas Day, excited for the big game! The most distinct memory of each game day was heading outside early to play catch with my brother or dad and feeling that cool, crisp Autumn air give goosebumps. For some reason, those cool, crisp game day mornings had the bluest skies.
Well here we are and its another football saturday, only this time in Meridian. And as Katrina parted the area, it left us with high pressure and much drier air. As a result, I am having those same feelings this morning. If my dad were here, I think I'd take him out for a game of catch and enjoy that bright blue sky. If only we could bottle it up...
I hope you can find a distraction for a day or two, whether it be college football, a game of catch, or even just sitting down and talking with a good friend or your family. God Bless and enjoy your weekend!
Wrapping up for the Weekend...
What a week. I don't have many words left, but we all know what we've seen and witnessed. And, I fear that we will only hear more stories of heartache and human loss along the coast in coming days. Here are some things I hope we can all do...
* HELP those in need. The best way is to donate to the
American Red Cross by clicking
HERE.
* KNOW that if you only lost power from this storm, you didn't lose much at all. Many of you reading this have power, but your friends and family may not. Let them know about the complete devastation in New Orleans, Gulfport, Biloxi, and countless other cities and towns along the coast.
* THANK the hard-working men and women of our electric power companies and associations, emergency officials, water companies, and others. They have left their own families in the dark to work around the clock to make our lives better. You've probably heard two representatives from Mississippi Power on our station over the last few days. Would you be surprised to know that both of them are from the Mississippi coast and lost everything they own?
* SPEND some time with your family and loved ones. I have spoken with several people in the last few days who are in Meridian from New Orleans, Gulfport, Biloxi, or other areas. Many of them have loved ones who are missing. This is happening in America - it could be my family or your family. Time with those we love is precious and limited - be sure to take advantage of every second you can get.
* LAUGH. It will do your soul some good. Being surrounded with the tales of death and destruction for as long as we have has a profound impact. Try to disconnect for a few days and have a few laughs.
A few notes before I go...
We have setup two computers here in our lobby at WTOK. These can be used for refugees and evacuees to send e-mail to loved ones and check information. They are available during regular business hours.
Hot in the house and need to get out? Go to a shelter and talk with some people from Louisiana and the Mississippi coast. It will give you a strong sense of perspective, also some great ministry opportunities...
Heading to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to spend some time with family and friends and watch a football game...God Bless You...If I can help you in any way, e-mail me at josh.johnson@wtok.com. I'll do my best to help.
Unforgettable Story
** Got this story from John Gumm, a meteorologist at WWL-TV in New Orleans, Louisiana...
Birth and Death August 29, 2005
During the past 48 hours, I have seen both sides of life. I have seen nearly simultaneously the beautiful and the horrible. The beginning of life and the end of life. And I don't think it was any coincidence. The birth of my son Connor and the worst natural disaster to hit the US ever have shaped my life in ways I could have only imagined. Let me preface by saying I have been up about 47 of the past 50 hours. It all started on Friday afternoon. It became apparent Hurricane Katrina was likely to make a direct impact over the area my TV station serves. So I knew I had one job - present the facts and strongly suggest to people they get out if they could. So I was up and on air early on Saturday doing just that.
During the course of the day, I got an email from a guy named Brad Panovich at WCNC in Charlotte. Brad used to work at WWL and in fact, I got his job when he left. He asked me if we needed any help. I thought he may be joking, but I explored it even more. I asked him if he would come assist us for the storm since we were already short handed. He agreed. I called my boss who called his boss who made it happen.
I was on air from 11 am until 9:30 pm basiclly telling people the nightmare of all nightmares was coming when I got a call from Jennifer - she was headed to the hospital to deliver! I stayed through 10:30 - when I gave my last update on the Hurricane Center's new track - one which took the storm directly over New Orleans. I also talked to Brad who just arrived at the airport. Having him in town was like having a big weight pulled off my chest. Now I knew I could go take care of my family. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach as I prepared to go back on camera, but I was happy Jen was going into labor now as opposed to during the storm.
So I did my update and rushed back over the lake across the roughly 6 mile Twin Span Bridge to the hospital...a bridge, by the way, which is no longer standing. When I got there, Jen's contractions had begun. And they got stronger. It wasn't too much longer and we had our baby. Connor Jacob was born agt 3:20 am Sunday. At this point, I decided we would stay in the hospital and ride the storm out. But what ended up happening would have a major shape on the future of us and our baby. I will write more on that after I get a little sleep.
How My Son May Have Saved My Life August 30, 2005
So, here's the rest of the story: Leave or stay? That was the question on my mind. At the very least, I had to get away from the hospital for a while to prepare the house for a hurricane and to grab some supplies. So I left Jennifer and Connor at the hospital and went back home.
When I got there, I knew I had to do some sandbagging, a little boarding up, and turn off the water and power. I also had to grab some clothes, and baby items. Thankfully Jennifer already packed up some pictures and other important things and left them at a friend’s house further inland. So at this point, I was running around the house trying to figure out what to bring. Mostly what I brought were things for the baby. And I brought as much as would fit.
In the time I was packing the car, I also talked to three of my neighbors and hopefully convinced them to leave. I then locked up the house and left, knowing I might never see it again intact or dry. I had to go back to our friend's place to pick up Calvin (our dog) and get some other stuff Jen left there. After wishing them best of luck in their evacuation, I headed off to the hospital. They live 2 miles from the hospital, but it took nearly two hours to get back.
Traffic was gridlocked for the evacuation. I had to drive up the shoulder and in the center turn lane, or else it would have been 3 hours. But when I got to the hospital, I got some very bad news. Jennifer had Group B Strep...not harmful to her, but harmful to Connor. To combat this, they give medicine before delivery. But since hers was so fast, they couldn't give it all. And the doctor was seeing signs Connor could have this...something that could potentially kill him. In fact, the doctor recommended against us leaving.
I almost decided to stay based on this info, but I called Brad Panovich - a great meteorologist who flew into New Orleans to help us out since I just had a baby and we had a short staff. He told me the hospital would be in the eyewall and there was no way I should stay. So I decided to go. I was in constant contact with the wonderful management at WWL and my boss, Sandy Breland, even offered to try to get a helicopter to airlift us to another hospital.
I decided against that, but instead told her we would rather leave by car and she was 100% supportive. Anyway, in my talks with the doctor, she explained everything to me and tried to get us to stay. Connor COULD have this. Connor COULD be sick. COULD was the key word here. I asked her how she could expect me to stay because something COULD happen to Connor...something that was not definite....when I knew the hurricane WOULD happen and was a definite threat. I ended up winning this argument hands down. The doctor did give him an IV antibiotic treatment as a preventative but advised me he could get sick during the trip to Nashville. I said we would rather take our chances with this than the hurricane.
It took them until 7pm before we were able to leave. By this time, the outer bands and squalls were starting to move in. So we hopped in the car and headed up I-59 not knowing what we would run across. It was stressful. Especially when we hit gridlock 6 miles north of the hospital. At that point, thoughts went through my mind on whether or not I did the right thing or put my family at even greater risk. But we had three guardian angels that were looking out for us. Their names were Dan, Christina and Zachary.
They had hopped in their car earlier that day and headed due south into the hurricane from Nashville. Since Jen and I had been up for the birth and me for both the birth and storm coverage some 36 hours, we wouldn't have safely made it to far driving. But the Shafer family came in like superheroes and made it all the way to south to Laurel, MS...typically a 3 hour or so drive from the hosptial...but a drive that took us 5 hours this night. I was so tired driving, I barely made it to Laurel, but when I did, Christina took over driving my car so I could get some sleep.
We eventually made it to Northern Alabama and found a hotel room at about 6:30 AM that would allow us to stay until noon so we could get some naps in. After our naps, we loaded up again and took off for Nashville, arriving in the early afternoon. Still concerned for Connor's health, we decided to take him to the nearest ER. But the news was good. If he were stick from this Group B Strep, symptoms should have shown up already. He was eating just fine and everything else was fine too. So the doctor deduced there was no problem.
Tonight, as I sit here writing this, I realize that my son may have saved my life. New Orleans is filling up with water tonight and the town of Slidell in which we lived was pretty much leveled. My son came into the world at the exact time that set in motion a serious of events that propelled the three of us out of harms way. If he had been born earlier, I may have still been there, sending just him and his Mommy away. Any later, like during the storm, I either could have been killed covering it, or more likely, killed coming back home during it to be with Jennifer during labor. In our case, this baby came into the world at the exact right time. He has only been with us 3 days, but is already a blessing. A true blessing that helped us to ultimately stay safe.
We do not know if our house is still intact, or what, if anything, we will find when we return. But this baby has already taught me that none of that matters. What really matters is family and friends since all of that stuff is replaceable. And so far through this experience, our family and friends have been with us 100%, so for that we are grateful. As I write this, Connor is sleeping and Jennifer is watching TV. My house and one of my cars may be gone, along with all my stuff, but I am truly the luckiest man alive. It took a little boy to show me that. It took a little boy to save my life.
Patience...And Thanks
* BIG, BIG, BIG words of thanks to the brave men and women who are working literally around the clock to restore our power. I know it is hot, and I know we all want our air conditioning back up and operational...But, please be patient.
Understand that this is not a typical situation where we have one or two trees down on a few lines. The entire power infrastructure of this part of Mississippi and Alabama is having to be rebuilt. From substations to large lines to the lines that feed your home, this is a very difficult and time-consuming task.
These men and women have families of their own, who they have left in order to undertake the massive task of restoring our power. They brave adverse conditions, with working environments that can threaten their lives.
They are faces and names that we'll never know and never see, but who are giving days and weeks of their lives to make OUR lives better. And, they often get little or no thanks for their efforts...so, THANK YOU for what you do!
Remember, however long it took you to get your power was the same amount of time that someone was climbing poles to get you that power. So, be patient until it comes back on and be thankful to these men and women when it does. When you see a power lineman or woman, give them a kind word of thanks!
* Will be back at 6 AM for Good Morning Meridian...
Attn: James Shannon
* Received this e-mail yesterday...
Josh,
I read the "ATTN: Concerned Daughter in Florida" blog on your website. I have a similar situation wherein I hope you can assist. I live in Sacramento, CA and my mom is staying at the Guardian Angel Healthcare Nursing home at 6434 Dale Drive, in Marion, MS. Since the storm I have been unable to contact her, the hospital, or any relatives. She recently had a serious stroke and would like to know if she is ok.
James Shannon* Eddie Ivy and I drove the nursing home late last night, and your mother has rested peacefully through the storm. I e-mailed Mr. Shannon with the news, but never received a response - so I want to make sure that he knows his mother is all right.
* We are still working on trying to get news on the folks mentioned in the post below. I believe that the vast majority of these situations locally are related to communication issues rather than any harm to people here. But, we will continue to work diligently to locate and get in touch with as many people as we can...
We Need Your Help...
* Received a few e-mails from people searching for loved ones in our area. If you live close to these locations and are within distance to safely go check on these addresses, please let us know how these people made it through the storm. You can e-mail me at josh.johnson@wtok.com
My name is Sondra Phillips Bramlett, I live in Huntsville, Alabama and I'm looking for my sister. She lives in Stringer, MS - 356 County Road 19. Her name is Angela Phillips Eddy. Her husband is Wayne Eddy. She has a son named Joshua (Josh) Phillips. Obviously all the phones are out in the area, I've been calling her home, work, and cell numbers for two days and can not get through. Wayne owns a used car lot somewhere in the area, I'm not even sure of the name of his business though.
Is there anyone there who can tell me if the Stringer area was heavily damaged? I've tried calling the Red Cross, but since it isn't an "emergency" I can't get any assistance through them. I would appreciate any assistance you could provide. Hi there-- I live near Seattle and my very good friend and her daughter and husband live in Lauderdale...I have not heard from her at all since the hurricane and cannot find any information on how that area came out of all this...Her name is Elizabeth Hagwood and she lives at 3752 S. Flora Dr in Lauderdale...She is disabled and might have breathing problems....I would sure appreciate any info on that area of MS or if her name and address could be passed on to the Red Cross so someone might be able to check on her...Thanks so much...Shelly Moquin, * If you can check on these folks, please do...And let me know how they are so that I can pass along that information to those who are searching for them..
Talking with Refugees...
* I just did an interview with three women from Chalmette, Louisiana - a suburb of New Orleans. They are in a local hotel, with no way of getting information about their hometown. So, they came to WTOK to try and find some information. What they found was that they had absolutely nothing left. No home, no belongings - they lost everything they had. Their story was heartbreaking, and is likely the rule and not the exception. The 3 women and their families are all here in Meridian - 20 strong.
* There just aren't words to express the profound impact this disaster will have on many people. Emotional, psychological, physical...this will leave deep scars on those who lived through it. Nothing I write can adequately convey the massive loss by our neighbors in Louisiana and Mississippi. In coming days, remember that these numbers we so often focus on - billions in damage, hundreds lost, thousands affected - are not really numbers at all - they are people. People like you and me, with lives and families of their own.
* If you want to help, the best way is by donating to the American Red Cross. Here's a link:
http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html
No Traffic Light = 4-Way Stop
*** PLEASE remember that any intersection without a traffic light should be treated as a 4-way stop. People are driving through these intersections and causing wrecks across the city. Today is not a day for casual driving - be sure to pay CLOSE attention to the roadway! ***
Update from MEMA..
* Received this update from MEMA:
Jackson – Officials continue to urge Mississippi Gulf Coast evacuees not to attempt to return home. Evacuees or residents attempting to get to the Gulf Coast could be impeding rescue missions. Several search and rescue teams, task forces, incident management teams and emergency commodities from Florida are now in position on the Gulf Coast aiding other federal, state and local authorities.
Non-emergency vehicles should remain off the highways south of Jackson. Non-emergency traffic is making it extremely difficult for emergency response vehicles to travel. Generally, highways north of and including Interstate 20 are open. Interstate 55 is open, and Interstate 10 will be closed for the foreseeable future. Highway information is listed for the public by calling 601-359-7017.
Patients accounted for in Gulf Coast hospitals and special needs shelters:
Singing River Hospital: 160 patients.
Ocean Springs Hospital: No patient numbers, but operational.
Biloxi special-needs shelter: 80 patients with an additional 500 people walk-in and receive treatment.
Keesler Medical Center: No patient numbers, but operational.
VA Hospital in Biloxi: hospital full except for two beds.
Biloxi Regional: 160 patients.
Garden Park: 65 patients.
Hancock County Medical Center: treated 125 patients in last 24 hours.
Hancock special-needs shelter: 125 patients.
Gulfport Memorial Hospital: 270 patients.
MEMA is only reporting confirmed deaths from county coroners’ offices. There are still no confirmed deaths from the Gulf Coast area, but a total of 13 deaths are now confirmed from other counties throughout the state. Adams County reports two deaths, Jones County reports six deaths and one death is being reported from each of the following counties: Hinds, Lauderdale, Leake, Simpson & Warren.
Power outages will be released from MEMA at noon and 9 p.m. each day. At 9 p.m. today, power outage totals were reported from the following power companies:
Electrical Power Associations of Mississippi reported 426,000 meters without service, which is approximately 50 percent of the electric meters.
Entergy reported 268,600 meters without service.
Mississippi Power reported more than 195,000 meters are without service.
Tennessee Valley Authority: 100,000 meters are without service.
The Mississippi State Department of Health is issuing boil water notices for several communities and cities. Those notices and news releases can be found at the department’s Web site at
www.msdh.state.ms.us.MEMA and Adventist Community Services are working to establish a facility to receive, process and disburse donations to send to other areas of the state. They are seeking donation of a 50,000-100,000 square foot warehouse facility in Mississippi for this purpose.
A private corporation has begun an online survivor database for citizens at
www.gulfcoastnews.com.National Guard troops will distribute water and ice, beginning Wednesday in the following locations:
County Location City
Amite Amite County Court House Liberty
Attala Attala County Court House Kosciusko
Claiborne Claiborne County Parks & Recreation Port Gibson
Clarke Quitman National Guard Quitman
Copiah North Fire Station Hazlehurst
Forrest Bobby Chain Airport Hattiesburg
George National Guard 786 Trans. Co. Lucedale
Hancock Hancock County Livestock Arena Kiln
Harrison County Farm Gulfport
Hinds To be announced
Jackson Jackson County Fairgrounds Pascagoula
Jasper John R. Sims Livestock Facility Bay Springs
Jones Magnolia Center Laurel
Lauderdale Lauderdale County Agri Center Meridian
Lawrence Super Value Parking Lot Monticello
Leake Carthage Coliseum Carthage
Lincoln Brookhaven Recreation Dept. Brookhaven
Madison Madison County Road Dept. Canton
Neshoba Neshoba County Coliseum Philadelphia
Newton Civic Center/Show Barn Newton
Pearl River McNeill Elementary School Carriere
Pike Pike County Fair Grounds McComb
Rankin Rankin County Multi-Purpose Building Brandon
Stone Stone County Fair Ground Wiggins
Walthall Southwest Event Center Tylertown
Wayne Mississippi National Guard Waynesboro
Yazoo National Guard Armory Yazoo City
Water Information
* Here's a link to find water usage limitations - boil water notices, etc...
http://www.msdh.state.ms.us./
Back At It...
* Our coverage continues today- we begin a special newscast in about 15 minutes. It's an hourlong show on the aftermath of Katrina. Then, we will begin more coverage at 3pm.
* Time to pass along more updates from Maureen Lofton with the City of Meridian....
...The MS Emergency Management Agency reports that private citizens have started a Web site to locate family members on the Gulf Coast. Click on
www.gulfcoastnews.comAlso, FEMA now has a number for people to call and register if they have sustained damages. The number is 1-800-621-3362...
...The B St. water plant is up and operating with electricity. The booster pump is pumping water to north Meridian. We expect electrical power to the north plant about noon.
Power was restored this morning to the sewage treatment plant so it is in full operation. There is no electricity at most sewer lift stations. THEREFORE, CONSERVATION IS STILL NECESSARY BECAUSE OF NO POWER AT THE NORTH WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO OVERLOAD THE SEWER SYSTEM BECAUSE THE LIFT STATIONS ARE NOT FULLY OPERATIONAL.
Streets now cleared are 29th Ave., 23rd Ave. and the east side of North Hills Street. Crews are working on Poplar Springs Drive. Power wires across streets all over the city are slowing the clearing process.
We are setting up drop-off locations where parked garbage trucks will be stationed so residents can take their garbage there. We will notify you when those locations have been determined.
The Police Department reports no curfew violation arrests during the night. Most residents complied. No one has been arrested for looting. Our residents are working together to get us all through the critical period.
PLEASE REMIND PEOPLE TO TREAT INTERSECTIONS WITH FAILED TRAFFIC LIGHTS AS FOUR-WAY STOPS. WE JUST HAD A REPORT OF AN ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES IN THE COLLEGE PARK AREA...
...POWER UPDATE: MS Power says power has been restored to 15 percent of it customers in Meridian. About 1,000 power company workers are working in Lauderdale, Newton, Clarke and Scott counties. President Anthony Topazi said immediate progress has been made in some less damaged areas but, statewide, it may take as long as four weeks to get power to the worst hit areas. The company estimates 70 percent of its lines will need to be repaired or rebuilt statewide. By Thursday, company employees will be assisted by nearly 5,000 outside personnel from states such as New York, Maryland, Kentucky and Texas...
...Meridian Municipal Court is canceled for Thursday Sept. 1. Call to reschedule court date at 601-485-1839...
* Will continue to pass along updates as they become available...
Done For Today...
* Continuing to cover the aftermath of Katrina...Our coverage continues later this morning at 6 AM with Good Morning Meridian. Then, we'll do a special newscast at 11 AM, with more coverage throughout the afternoon.
* Putting the finishing touches on our coverage today. The toll on human life continues to rise along the coastline. I'm sure many of you saw the story from WKRG in Mobile. A man tried to cling to his wife and kids as their house split. His wife was lost to the battering sea. Powerful stuff - really brings a sense of perspective, showing us how small our problems really are. The man's name is Hardy Jackson. May God bless Hardy Jackson and all the other survivors. Let us all keep these people in our prayers.
The loss of life has not been limited to the coast - we have lost 3 neighbors here. The losses were in Leake, Lauderdale, and Newton Counties. I have to hope that we said everything that could have been said to help people prepare for this storm. The few moments available for me to sleep have been interrupted by these thoughts.
Overall, the loss of human life has been staggering - and the number of neighbors lost continue to rise. So many times, we focus on numbers - instead of people. At least 100 dead. No number explains the overwhelming loss of life. Those who we lost were fathers, sisters, mothers, brothers, teachers, cooks and neighbors.
Consider the plight of many of our neighbors on the coast when you think about not having power. If the only thing you lost in Katrina was your power, you are blessed. My power remains out and I'm a bit tired - but I consider myself blessed. Maybe you lost a tree or even part of your home. It can be rebuilt. If you have your life, you have more than many.
Sorry if this has been too emotional - I suppose I'm feeling a bit of emotional fatigue tonight. Being surrounded by continuous stories of death and destruction for
72 consecutive hours can have that impact on a person. Spend some time with your family this week and weekend...
Concerned Daughter, Your Mom is OK...
**Got this note from Captain Rick McCary with the Meridian Police Department...
I am happy to report that Meridian Police Dept. unit that went to this address finds the lady well.
The next door neighbor is keeping eye on her and she is fine.* Certainly GREAT to hear that news!
Address Found...
We know and have passed along the address of the woman on 31st Street...
Word from Meridian Police Department is that they are sending a car out to check the address...
Will keep you posted.
CONCERNED DAUGHTER IN FLORIDA!!
* Police say they desperately need your mother's address in order to check on her!!!
* Please e-mail me or leave a comment with your mother's address as soon as possible.
ATTN: Concerned Daughter in Florida
* We received this note earlier on our Storm Report and Comment area:
My mother lives in Meridian on 31st street right off of Poplar Springs Rd. Have not heard from her and can't get through on the phone. I'm her daughter in FL. 31st St. is close to the high school there. Anyone know the extent of damage and if power has been out? She relies on a nebulizer for emphysema and has no generator. She's also legally blind and lives alone. If anyone has any info, please let me know. Thanks...
Concerned Daughter in Florida* I emailed Maureen Lofton, who tells me that the Meridian Police Department is sending someone out to check on your mother. I will let you know if I hear anything else.
No More Ice at Super Stop
Super Stop reports it is now out of the ice it was giving away.
Please alert listeners and viewers not to go to the ice plant to get ice.
There is no more there.
3pm
* Our transmitter is now operational again. We will begin broadcasting continuous coverage of Katrina's aftermath at 3pm.
Curfew Reinstated..
* Got this from Maureen Lofton...
Mayor John Robert Smith has ordered that a curfew be reimposed tonight (Tuesday) from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. Wednesday morning. The decision was made after consultations with police, fire and public works officials. Mississippi Power estimates that considerable power outages will still be in place and the streets will be dark and dangerous, still littered with trees and downed power lines.
Police say they will be aggressive in stopping potential looters and others wanting to take advantage of the situation. Persons stopped who have no legitimate purpose on the streets will be arrested and charged with either failure to obey or disorderly conduct, misdemeanors punishable by fines approaching $200. If multiple persons are in a vehicle that is stopped, all occupants can be charged.
The top priority is to protect residents and businesses from suffering further harm.
Regional Highlights...
Here's a rundown of what Katrina has done on a regional basis, courtesy of Jon Pace at Thunder 92.7 in Anniston, Alabama...
LOUISIANA:
- At least two breaches in levees allowed water from Lake Pontchartrain to inundate sections of New Orleans. Dozens of people rescued from roofs and attics.
- Highest wind in New Orleans estimated at about 100 miles-per-hour.
- Some 370-thousand customers estimated without power in southeast Louisiana; number expected to rise. New Orleans water unsafe to drink without boiling.
- Entire city of New Orleans, city of 485-thousand, ordered evacuated before storm struck. Mayor Ray Nagin estimated 80 percent of the city's residents left.
_- About ten-thousand took shelter in New Orleans Superdome arena, where storm ripped two holes in the vast roof.
- New Orleans police made several arrests for looting.
: MISSISSIPPI:
- As many as 80 deaths possible, said Governor Haley Barbour. That includes estimated 50 people in coastal Harrison County, with about 30 of those at one beach-side apartment complex in Biloxi.
- At least 450-thousand customers without power.
- Casinos that dot the coast are closed. Emergency officials had reports of water reaching the third floors of some of the barge-mounted casinos.
- More than 16-hundred Mississippi National Guardsmen activated.
- Quote: ``The devastation down there is just enormous,'' Barbour on early morning television reports.
: ALABAMA:
- Two deaths.
- More than a half-million homes and businesses without power.
- Flooding reached 11 feet in Mobile, matching record set in 1917, according to National Weather Service. Water up to roofs of cars in downtown Mobile and bayou communities. Piers ransacked and grand homes flooded along Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay.
- Major bridge over the Mobile River closed after it was struck by an oil drilling platform that floated away from a shipyard.
- Quote: ``She said she was in water up to her chin,'' Kim Stringfellow said of woman and five children brought to shelter at church in Bayou La Batre.
: GEORGIA:
- One person was killed in a car accident as stormy weather moved through the western part of the state.
- Some six-thousand-300 customers were without power Tuesday morning.
- More than 30 buildings were damaged or destroyed in west Georgia's Carroll County.
: TENNESSEE:
- Flash flood warnings were in effect across western Tennessee, where up to three inches of rain fell Monday night.
- About 75-thousand customers were without power.
- Dozens of school systems canceled classes, including Nashville-area schools.
- Thousands of evacuees from Mississippi and Louisiana sought shelter in Tennessee. No evacuations in Tennessee.
: KENTUCKY:
Most of Kentucky was under a flood watch until Wednesday morning.
FLORIDA:
- Deaths: 11, according to state tally on South Florida strike last week.
- 77-thousand customers were without power Tuesday morning in the Panhandle, hit by eastern edge of storm Monday. In South Florida, 155-thousand customers still without power Tuesday morning.
: MORE SPECIFIC ON SOUTH ALABAMA.....
: -- Floodwaters that engulfed Mobile are receding today, leaving a muddy sludge on downtown streets. The remnants of Hurricane Katrina, now a tropical depression, lashed northern parts of the state overnight, leaving about 718-thousand customers without power. At Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, people are being allowed to return to their property in some places, but it could be later in the week for others at Gulf Shores because of downed power lines and extensive flooding in Orange Beach.
It's not immediately known how much of the resort would be back in business by Labor Day weekend, but wind damage appears to be minimal.
At the Dog River Bridge marina, sailing masts pointed in all directions and some boats floated into wooded areas.
In Mobile, curbsides are littered with tree debris. Police and volunteers directed traffic at intersections.
This afternoon, Governor Riley and Alabama Senators Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby plan to fly over the coastal area.
President Bush has declared parts of southwest Alabama federal disaster areas. Federal and state aid will be available to help governments in Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, Choctaw and Sumter counties.
: Crews hope to plug a broken levee in New Orleans with three-thousand-pound sand bags dropped from helicopters.
: -- The Superdome is getting more residents. Despite very poor conditions at the Louisiana Superdome, National Guard troops have brought in more refugees who are trying to escape rising water in New Orleans.
: --A spokeswoman describes Jefferson Parish as a ``very dangerous'' place.
Jackie Bauer says there's gas leaks everywhere, water needs to be boiled, there's no commercial power, no pumping stations and the water's toxic.
: --Governor Blanco says the devastation being seen today in New Orleans is worse than anyone had feared. Blanco says ``many lives have been lost,'' but there are no firm figures yet.
: MS AP....
: --As dawn broke over the ravaged Mississippi Gulf Coast this morning, rescuers in boats and helicopters furiously searched for survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
The governor says the death toll in one Mississippi county alone could be as high as 80.
: --The Mississippi Department of Transportation says the following roads are impassable due to debris and power lines blocking travel:
Interstate 10 from Louisiana to Alabama.
U-S 90 from Louisiana to Alabama.
U-S Highway 49 open only to emergency vehicles from Jackson to Gulfport.
Interstate 59 closed from Meridian to Picayune.
MDOT said Interstates 20 and 55 are open but motorists are asked to exercise caution.
Recommendations...
* Our transmitter remains without power - and our studio is running at a greatly diminished capacity on a generator. So, we'll try to use this space to get some recommendations out for your benefit...Courtesy of Maureen Lofton and the City of Meridian...***Without a serious curtailment in water usage, residents of Meridian will be without water by the end of the day. This is assuming power is not restored to the North Meridian Water Plant.
It is urgent that residents not use water unless absolutely necessary.***
***Because of the lack of power, the probability that it will not be restored tdoay and the shortage of water, the City of Meridian is asking all businesses to stay closed until at least Wednesday morning. Business owners may travel to their businesses to assess damage and secure their properties. All non-essential travel is restricted until further notice.
Medical personnel and emergency personnel continue to be excluded from this restriction. We realize some people may have special travel needs tomorrow and we will accommodate those travel needs that are reasonable.***
***The following message has been given to all police officers in vehicle patrols. They will be driving through neighborhoods delivering this message on the PA systems. This is critical information.
Please stay in your own homes.
Power is out throughout the city.
Emergency crews are working to restore power and clear streets.
They are working as fast as they can but it may be several days or longer before power is restored.
Please conserve water. Use water only when necessary.
On of our two plants cannot produce water because it has no power.
Businesses are not open.
It is dangerous for anyone to be out on the streets.
You can help by clearing debris in your own yard.
Stay off the streets and in your own homes where you are safe.
* Sadly, we have received word of at least one death in our area. A man in Meridian died after injuries sustained when a tree fell on him. There are reports of other deaths in our area, including one in Leake County and another in Newton County. Details are sketchy at this point due to poor communications.
* The loss of human life along the Mississippi Gulf Coast is already substantial. A sad, sad situation..."At least" 50 people are dead in Harrison County, with that number expected to rise. Can't help but be awfully sad about it - I can't understand why people didn't leave!
* Louisiana will also discover a large loss of life and property today. Mayor Ray Nagin says that 80% of New Orleans is under water. A levee breached there over night, and is spilling even more water into the city.
* Let's say a prayer for those affected by this storm. Truly a very trying time for many, many people...
One For The Books..
Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana, Mississippi, and parts of Alabama today. Our area felt a direct hit, with widespread power outages across east Mississippi and west Alabama. The damage has been catastrophic. As of 9 PM, there are 1.2 million people without power in the three state area.
We know the damage was bad. Exactly how bad remains to be seen - I fear that first light tomorrow will reveal a significant loss of life both in coastal and inland areas. New Orleans was flooded, and the damage along the Mississippi Gulf Coast was devastating.
Gulfport Fire Chief Pat Sullivan estimates 75 percent of the buildings in the city have major roof damage, if they have a roof left at all. WLOX (ABC) in Biloxi lost the roof on their newsroom. The Alabama and Florida Gulf Coasts also felt some serious storm surge and coastal erosion.
Major kudos to the National Hurricane Center. Their 4pm Friday update was only 15 miles from the eventual track.
At this point, only 3 fatalities have been reported in Mississippi. This number is almost certain to rise tomorrow, even in our area. The three fatalities we know of at this point were in Leake County, Hinds County, and Warren County. One person was killed in a car, and another in a mobile home.
2 more people lost their lives in Alabama in Washington County - due to hydroplaning.
We will do a barebones newscast tonight at the conclusion of Monday Night Football. Power remains out at WTOK, we are in the dark.
Time for some sincere words of thanks...
Thanks to Baron Services for their help with our radar problem. We have a serious, serious problem here with a lack of good radar data - and that problem was especially evident today.
Jason Kelley and Renny Vandewege did a fantastic job on coverage - and special thanks to Carlos Torres and the satellite truck warriors from Dothan. Those guys put in some long, long hours and really were a tremendous help.
The entire News Department was a huge help - their work certainly saved lives today. And, special thanks to our engineering staff for helping us get back on the air in some really difficult circumstances.
Our General Manager, Tim Walker, worked tirelessly to help us prepare for today. We certainly appreciate his help.
Will post again sometime tomorrow...What a sobering day.
Katrina Moving North, Effects Still Here
The worst of Katrina is moving past the 4-corner region of Newton, Lauderdale, Neshoba, and Kemper coutnties as the center of circulation moves through there. Another band of stronger storms moving through Marengo, Sumter, Hale, and Pickens counties. Still receiving reports of damage from all over. We encourage any reports you can give. You can either respond to this blog entry or send email to hurricane@wtok.com. Again, main threatened areas are Newton, Lauderdale, Neshoba, Kemper, Marengo, Sumter, Hale, and Pickens counties. To the south of the center, conditions very slowly improving. Here in Meridian, conditions not QUITE as bad, but are still very dangerous.
Please stay inside, do not drive around in this situation.
Again, a lot of trees and roofs blowing apart. It is very dangerous to venture out tonight. Please allow the emergency crews to do their job and say inside!
Reports...
* 2 deaths in Washington County, AL...Cars hydroplaned on Alabama Hwy 17...
* Other reports...Thanks to viewer email...
* Just wanted to report from Kewanee. That Kewanee road has a Large OAK tree across the road at the intersection of Kewanee road at the railroad crossing and 11/80. Its blocking the road. The RR crossing is cear.
William Gaines
Kewanee
* A tree is down at Grand Avenue just past Anderson Road.
* A tree and power line are blocking the street at 10th Street between 9th
and 11th Avenues.
A limb is blocking D Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues South.
* A limb is blocking the street at 38th Street and 30th Avenue.
Power Out
* We are running on generator power here at WTOK studio....A few lights, just got our internet operational..
* Worst of it in southwestern Jasper County...Large swath of very strong winds affecting much of east Mississippi. Gusts in downtown of 70-75 MPH in the last few minutes....
* Continuing to overspread area....Widespread wind damage will continue across our area...Power outages are likely...Please stay inside, don't venture out into this...
* More to come...
Meridian weather getting bad...
Winds really picking up in Meridian as the center moves closer, now roughly 75 miles away. Here at the station our winds have picked up, even shaking the building at times. Getting numerous reports of trees down and people losing power. Please stay indoors for the rest of today. Driving should not be an option!
Worst Weather on its way
Tornado warnings continued to be issued not for just the fact that there are tornadoes, but mainly for the main eyewall approaching the area. The worst of the weather is nearing and we expect winds of hurricane force gusts certainly. Katrina is slowly weakening but is very powerful.
People need to be off of the roads now. Lots of rain is falling and trees/powerlines beginning to come down so driving is very hazardous at this point.
We apologize for having radar problems but the JAN radar has been knocked off line and we are using mainly the MOB radar right now. Regardless, we know that bad weather is on the way and now is the time to be in your shelters and ride this out for the next hours.
More to come!
WLOX Roof
* ABC affiliate WLOX TV has apparently lost part of their roof...Story is developing...
Scary in New Orleans..
* CNN reporting that the Superdome roof is peeling - a reporter described it as a "massive slice of daylight"....Scary stuff. Roof is leaking. Very, very troubling news...
8 AM Progress Report
* Katrina made landfall this morning a couple of hours ago, in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana...Now tracking SE of New Orleans, moving north.
* NWS Mobile is issuing tornado warnings along the projected path of Katrina...Now includes George and Stone counties along the MS Gulf Coast.
* Report that pumps have failed in the city of New Orleans -- not good news at all. NO relies on pumps to remove water from the city. Also receiving reports that power has failed at the Superdome, which is being used as a massive storm shelter.
* MS GULF COAST - Gusts of above 100 mph being reported by Civil Defense and by LDCT storm chaser Greg Nordstrom...
* Track still looks much the same...Running between Hwy 15 and I 59...then into northern Mississippi...Winds here will likely be at hurricane force for a while...
* Long form coverage continuing on WTOK...Web featuring our streaming video also...
5 AM Update
* From NHC...
DURING THE PAST HOUR...GRAND ISLE LOUISIANA REPORTED SUSTAINED WINDS OF 87 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 114 MPH...A FLORIDA COASTAL MONITORING PROGRAM WIND TOWER IN GALLIANO LOUISIANA REPORTED SUSTAINED WINDS OF 79 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 100 MPH...AND A GUST TO 85 MPH WAS REPORTED AT NEW ORLEANS LAKEFRONT AIRPORT.
* Eyewall filling back in on radar imagery...Storm still very, very strong. Expect a great deal of wind damage across Mississippi and Alabama, and the possibility of extended and widespread power outages.
* Landfall is imminent along the SE LA coastline...Will then track towards the MS coast...Eastern eyewall likely affecting Bay St. Louis, and I expect major damage there.
* Tornadoes are also a concern - mainly along and east of the track. We will likely see a tornado watch for all of our area later. We already have a tornado watch in effect for Jones, Wayne, Choctaw (AL), and Clarke (AL) counties...This will probably be extended further north as the day progresses.
* Long-form coverage begins at 6:00 AM on Newscenter 11...We'll try to keep the blog updated as much as possible during coverage with our latest thoughts..
Category 4
Dry air is trying to get into the west side of Katrina and that side is looking more ragged as the night wears on. Katrina is still a VERY strong Category 4 storm with winds of 155 mph sustained. Waves have been reported over 40 feet near Dauphin Island.
It will be interesting to see how much the dry air can try to weaken Katrina. Regardless, it will remain a very strong hurricane at landfall and wind gusts of 80 to 100 mph as far north as Meridian is certainly possible. I will be continuing the hourly cut ins for a few more hours. We will begin our wall to wall coverage of Katrina at 6am and will last throughout the day on Monday and as far into Tuesday as we must go.
Again, tornadoes may be a threat along and east of the track of Katrina. Certainly something we will watch.
A special thanks sto Red Bull for helping me stay awake! Keep checking the blog and television for more updates!
Katrina Progress Report 9:40 PM
..Watching Hurricane Katrina, now about 120 miles from the southeastern coast of Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center just finished up their conference call, and here some highlights from the upcoming 10pm package:
* Latest recon flight found a bit of a rugged area in the SW eyewall. Maybe this will cause some slight weakening.
* NHC will have Katrina as a strong Cat 4, maybe even a Cat 5, at landfall. The Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coasts will suffer extreme damage. It may take years for coastal areas to rebuild...
* Pressure still at 904mb, but a recon plane will be in the storm shortly to evaluate the storm again.
* Our forecast reasoning has not changed much. Katrina will move inland across SE LA, then into the MS coast. It will track northward through east central MS, running from roughly Mendenhall to NE MS. Areas like Bay Springs, Paulding, Raleigh, Newton, Hickory, Meridian, Quitman, Waynesboro, Livingston, York, Butler and others will likely see significant wind damage, with widespread power outages. Please finalize your preparations no later than 9 AM Monday.
* IF YOU LIVE IN A MOBILE HOME -- Please make arrangements to vacate your mobile home by 8 AM Monday. If you have no other place to go, ride out the storm at a Red Cross Shelter...
* Our weather will begin to go downhill tomorrow morning. We expect the worst of it to arrive Monday evening and into the wee hours of the morning on Tuesday.
* TV COVERAGE...We will continue our hourly progress reports all night. At 4:00 AM, we will begin doing cut-ins every half hour. Then, at 6:00 AM we will begin long-form continuous coverage. This coverage is also available on the web if you are away from a TV.
* I'm going to try and get some sleep as soon as the 10:00 news is over...I'm running the "behind the scenes" work right now. Will be back up and running by 3 or 4 AM getting ready for a very, very long day.
* Say a prayer - it works.
So, who is this new guy?
Hello all,
My name is Jason Kelley, and I am the Chief Meteorologist at WJHG-TV in Panama City Beach, FL, a sister station of WTOK. Because of the seriousness of this situation and the need for enhanced staffing here, I am here to help out as best I can. I am no stranger to this area, being a native of Pickens County, AL (just up the road!) and a graduate of Mississippi State University. You will be seeing a good bit of all of us for the next few days so sit back, get prepared and we will ride this one out together. I want to thank the staff of WTOK for their hospitality and kindness so far...we are all committed to bringing you the best coverage possible during Katrina.
4:00 PM CDT NHC Update
Newest numbers in from NHC as of 4:00 pm CDT:
Position: 26.9 N 89.0 W
Winds: 165 mph with gusts to near 200 mph
Pressure: 902 mb (4th lowest pressure in Atlantic Basin History)
Movement: Northwest near 13 mph
We are watching this very closely and as previous posts have mentioned, this could have catastrophic implications. Please stay tuned here for the latest, as well as check previous posts for tips on preparation!
3:20pm Progress Report
* Katrina is continuing to barrel towards the Louisiana coastline. The storm has already become historic, and will only become more historic as it crashes into the northern Gulf Coast. This will likely be a devastating and catastrophic hurricane for the LA, MS, and AL coastline.
* Finishing up coordination conferences with various weather entities. The 4pm advisory from the NHC will shift the track ever so slightly to the west. This will have very little impact on our forecast - we still expect widespread wind damage, power outages and flooding rains. Hurricane force winds will be experienced by most, if not all, of our area.
* Please finish up your preparations today. This hurricane will likely begin affecting us tomorrow morning, and our weather will rapidly go downhill by tomorrow afternoon.
* TV PLANS: We will begin wall-to-wall coverage of Hurricane Katrina tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM. You can watch this on television and the web - we will be streaming our coverage live at
www.wtok.com!
* Renny Vandewege will be in before too long to help Jason Kelley and I anchor the weather coverage. Renny will handle the hourly cut-ins for a while tonight, before I join him and Jason for our long-form coverage tomorrow morning.
* We are posting fast and furious, but remember to scroll down to find still pertinent information!
Hourly Updates..
* We will begin hourly updates on the progress of Katrina coming up at noon on Newscenter 11...
* More blog updates to come...So far, the track forecast has been very accurate...
* Very powerful hurricane...gusts up to 215 mph..
What to Expect and What to Do....
* Going to post a few graphics with some helpful information...
* Be sure to scroll down and read my earlier statement about how this will impact east Mississippi and west Alabama...
A few graphics...
What to Do...
Katrina Update
..Just finished doing Good Morning America updates on Newscenter 11. Katrina is a very, very powerful hurricane - a Category 5.
..We need to discuss the impact that this storm will have on us. All of this is based on the current forecast track..If that track changes, the impact on us will change as well. But, we must prepare for the likelihood of a significant and life-threatening impact on our area...
Local Impacts:
* We expect our weather to begin to go downhill Monday morning. Feeder bands will begin affecting us perhaps as early as tonight - but the worst of it will definitely come tomorrow.
* We will see winds increasing to near tropical storm force by just after noon on Monday. Maybe as early as late Monday morning...Preparations should be taken care of by tonight.
* The worst of our weather will arrive Monday afternoon into Monday night...Roughly between 2:00 PM Monday until 10:00 AM Tuesday. Schools area-wide will want to consider cancellations for at least Tuesday, and possibly parts of the day on Monday as well.
WINDS:
We will likely see winds in excess of 75-80 mph with gusts close to 90-100mph across parts of southeast Mississippi - mainly south of I-20 and west of U.S. Highway 45, including places like Meridian, Quitman, Waynesboro, Bay Springs, Laurel, Sandersville, and Raleigh.
Winds across the rest of the area will likely be 60-70 mph with gusts close to 80-85mph. This includes Philadelphia, Macon, Livingston, York, Demopolis, Greensboro, Butler, and Lisman.
FLOODING:
There will be the potential for some serious flooding problems across parts of Alabama and Mississippi. The Tombigbee, Black Warrior, Pearl, Chickasawhay and other rivers will likely go above their banks.
Flash flooding in low-lying areas will also be a concern. Rainfall amounts of 6-10" are possible, so flooding is definitely a possibility.
Katrina Cat 5
* A historic and catastrophic situation unfolding along the Gulf Coast...Katrina has been upgraded to a Category 5 hurricane...905 mb...160mph sustained winds...Scary stuff. The Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast are in a very dangerous situation.
* We will be doing live cut-ins during Good Morning America from 7-8 AM.
* If you live in a mobile home here, you need to make arrangements to leave by noon Monday. For other preparations, scroll down to earlier posts...
Katrina Looking Scary
Quick statement from NHC this morning...
...AT ABOUT 420 AM CDT... 0920Z... AN AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT REPORTED THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS IN HURRICANE KATRINA HAD INCREASED TO NEAR 150 MPH. KATRINA REMAINS A DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE.
More later...
Wow. Large and powerful Katrina on IR this morning.
4:00 am CDT SUN update
Conference call currently underway with Birmingham NWS. Preliminary reports for the 4:00 am update keep Katrina at 145 mph right now, but the intensity is expected to increase to 160 mph (Category 5) before landfall. From there, it moves just east of New Orleans, within 10 miles or so, and moves north to just west of Newton by 4 am Tuesday with sustained winds of 70 mph and gusts to 90 mph, or a high end Tropical Storm.
Josh Johnson will provide more updates on the blog as well as live updates during Good Morning America starting at 7am.
Time for me to get some rest!
Cat 4
What a difference 3 hours makes. At 10:00 pm Katrina was a Cat 3 with 115 mph sustained winds. Now......Category 4 with 145 mph winds. No, your eyes are not going bad, Katrina has made a leap of 30 mph and is looking VERY impressive on Satellite.
Now is the time to prepare and here are the things we need to do:
Buy supplies:
-Water
-Flashlights
-Batteries
-Non-Parishable food items
-Medicines
-Anything else that will get you by for at least a week without power
If you are in a mobile home, it is best to leave by Sunday evening, Monday morning at the ABSOLUTE latest.
Plan for the worst, hope for the best.
When the storm arrives, driving should not be an option. We expect very heavy rains to be a major factor and flooding while likely occur. It is not safe to drive on flooded roads. We also expect downed trees and power lines which are obviously hazards to driving. The best option is get out on Sunday, buy your supplies, and ride this out. I promise if we just have patience and prepare for a rough few days, better weather will be on the way!
Please stay tuned to WTOK online and on television for more updates. Josh Johnson will be providing live updates during Good Morning America at 7am and we will begin our hourly coverage Sunday afternoon. For more information on our changed programmaing, read the previous post on Programming.
