To our Gulf Coast/Florida TeAm mates: God bless and be safe!

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Soggysocks
Sorry OD. I sometimes get irratated at people when someone elses problems or needs
interfears with there comforts. And your right i should have taken it to the political forum.

Dave...anything we can do as a group to help you out down there? Parts ....software...?

Thanks, I'm OK. I was a little better before the engine in my Van died. It was little scary as it died in East Baton Rouge in what the two police that came said was their worst neighborhood. I hope it is just a clogged fuel filter or fuel pump in the gas tank died and not the engine itself. It still turns but will not catch.

An update, they have the majority of the city evacuated. There are no more people here at the evacuation point and the amount of helicopters has slowed down.

We are getting more sites on the air including downtown New Orleans.

 

[RaySun2Be]

Dave, you have a PM.

Be careful. Things are still kinda rough in New Orleans.

 

[dmcowen674]

Well I am here till tuesday. I only brought an extra pair of undershorts and a T-shirt.

We have more sites up than down including just brought up City Hall a few minutes ago.

I feel like I can sleep a week.

 

[RaySun2Be]

Hey Dave,
IF you have a spare minute or two , stop in at:

Intercosmos Media Group, Inc.
650 Poydras Street, Suite 1150
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
USA

They've been there since before the storm, keeping the company running, as well as a blog and webcam showing Poydras street.

I'm sure they would enjoy a visit from a fellow techie!

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: RaySun2Be
Hey Dave,
IF you have a spare minute or two , stop in at:

Intercosmos Media Group, Inc.
650 Poydras Street, Suite 1150
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
USA

They've been there since before the storm, keeping the company running, as well as a blog and webcam showing Poydras street.

I'm sure they would enjoy a visit from a fellow techie!

I have been holed up here since I got here. I'm hoping I can get out for a bit tomorrow.

I could not look at the webcam because the proxy at the Company I am at says it is porn and blocks it. They block a majority of the Internet.

If they have a T-Mo phone it should be working now by the way for them as we got a site close to that location working today.

 

[RaySun2Be]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: RaySun2Be
Hey Dave,
IF you have a spare minute or two , stop in at:

Intercosmos Media Group, Inc.
650 Poydras Street, Suite 1150
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
USA

They've been there since before the storm, keeping the company running, as well as a blog and webcam showing Poydras street.

I'm sure they would enjoy a visit from a fellow techie!

I'll pass on the info. And be careful out there.
I have been holed up here since I got here. I'm hoping I can get out for a bit tomorrow.

I could not look at the webcam because the proxy at the Company I am at says it is porn and blocks it. They block a majority of the Internet.

If they have a T-Mo phone it should be working now by the way for them as we got a site close to that location working today.

It's not porn, for sure. No problems, sounds like they are keeping you very busy.

Would be interested in details of your visit there, once you get out and things settle down.

 

[petrusbroder]

I am very concenrned about what is going on at the Gulf Coast - many people suffering and losses of lives and property; risk for epidemics, etc.

Therefore I am very surprised at the following:
The Swedish state has offered help to the US, and many charities have also chipped in. There are two fully loaded Hercules airplanes standing by for start at Landvetter Airport in Gothenburg, and they could be @ gulf area within 12 - 16 hours with supplies - which I am convinced would help. Not only food but also hardware such as powersupplies, pumps atc.
At other airports in Sweden and in the European Union there are at least 10 more airlifts ready.

US foreign office has asked the EU's and Swedish efforts to halt, since "there is no possibility for us to recieve the airplanes doe to logistics problems". Members of my church and I have contributed quite a lot of cash. We are asking ourselves: what is going on? How can it be that the help - which if I look at the reports in the papers and at the sites on the net is very much needed - can not be recieved? Not that it will spoil, but ...


Edit: spelling

 

[Wiz]

There's always more confusion than you think possible in these situations.
First they have to concentrate on Search & Rescue, then evacuation, then assistance for the survivors, cleanup & rebuilding. Right now there's nowhere for those Hercs to land within the stricken area.
Outside of that area things are fine, and there are a couple hundred million of us Americans who would pour stuff in there if it could get to the people who need it. Right now those guys have been blasted back a couple centuries in terms of survival & technology & infrastructure and there are not many roads in - and even if you could get "in" there's not much of an organized way of helping all of the people yet - they are spread out over a very large area coving several US States. Compund this by the growing hostility towards authority in certain areas and you've got a pretty difficult situation on your hands.

The Red Cross does help, and there are other organizations that are helping - but be careful, there are low lifes already taking advantage of the situation who are posing as helpful charities only to take your money.

Make sure that if you are led to a web site to give that it is indeed the site that you think it is. For example there's an email going around asking for donations to Red Cross that takes you to a site that looks just like the Red Cross but it is in fact owned by someone else who will take your money and it will not get to the victims.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: RaySun2Be

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: RaySun2Be
Hey Dave,
IF you have a spare minute or two , stop in at:

Intercosmos Media Group, Inc.
650 Poydras Street, Suite 1150
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
USA

They've been there since before the storm, keeping the company running, as well as a blog and webcam showing Poydras street.

I'm sure they would enjoy a visit from a fellow techie!

I'll pass on the info. And be careful out there.
I have been holed up here since I got here. I'm hoping I can get out for a bit tomorrow.

I could not look at the webcam because the proxy at the Company I am at says it is porn and blocks it. They block a majority of the Internet.

If they have a T-Mo phone it should be working now by the way for them as we got a site close to that location working today.

It's not porn, for sure. No problems, sounds like they are keeping you very busy.

Would be interested in details of your visit there, once you get out and things settle down.

I never did that book on what happened to me but I will write about this experience.

I have to dispell a lot of disinformation that has been spun out there.

Today was toughest day for me work wise so far. Clean up crews cut crucial Fiber Optic Lines early in the morning, you guys can imagine what that meant.

I came up for air around 6 pm when I was taken to the Police Command center for a hot meal. John Travolta and the Scientology Volunteers were working their butts off manning the facility. They also gave Tetnus shots. I don't know anything about Scientology other than some kind of ranting I heard with Tom Cruise but these people were awesome.

9-5-2005 Actor, pilot John Travolta delivers food, vaccines to Katrina victims

Yes, I have pictures and will be able to upload when I get a chance to get out here.

I'm tired and going to bed down on my cot.

 

[dmcowen674]

I almost died today.

They came and got me out of New Orleans today after 5 days.

On my way back to house where we are staying the tire of the truck of the guy I borrowed (last thursday the engine on my van died) left rear tire blew out. I could not steer the truck as the tire was coming apart made it like ice skating and it fished tailed all over the road until it hit the grass on the side and then started flipping.

At least 20 people stopped to try and rescue me as I was hanging upside down in the crushed cab. I managed to push myself up to undo the seat buckle and barely made it out the passenger window area as the driver side was crushed down.

The Trooper, Paramedics and everyone couldn't believe I was alive.

That is one ride you do not want to make.

Pics are up on my mcowen.com website under Katrina.

 

[RaySun2Be]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
I almost died today.

They came and got me out of New Orleans today after 5 days.

On my way back to house where we are staying the tire of the truck of the guy I borrowed (last thursday the engine on my van died) left rear tire blew out. I could not steer the truck as the tire was coming apart made it like ice skating and it fished tailed all over the road until it hit the grass on the side and then started flipping.

At least 20 people stopped to try and rescue me as I was hanging upside down in the crushed cab. I managed to push myself up to undo the seat buckle and barely made it out the passenger window area as the driver side was crushed down.

The Trooper, Paramedics and everyone couldn't believe I was alive.

That is one ride you do not want to make.

Pics are up on my mcowen.com website under Katrina.

dang Dave, that is horrible. :Q Glad you came out of it ok, though.

 

[Wiz]

I am Glad you made it out of there Dave - YGPM.

 

[Smoke]

Dave,

Really glad you are still alive and kicking.

The cause of the blowout is unknown, of course, but one of the big problems after a hurricane are the roofing nails that are scattered all over the place. When roof shingles and entire roofs get blown away the roofing nails get thrown unbelievable distances.

SOP is to have several cans of FIX A FLAT in the trunk.

Of course, a can of FIX A FLAT is no help in a high speed blow out. :roll:

Where did the accident happen? I guess your route back to Covington was through Baton Rouge and then over on I-12?

 

[dmcowen674]

Thanks guys. No nails up here.

I was pulled out of the Switch Center and had left the Baton Rouge Command Center and heading north where we are staying. I was on Highway 61 near Zachary in front of the Georgia Pacific Paper Mill when the tire started shredding.

It was like being on ice skates.

On top of all this Ida and I are losing our 14 yr old beloved Cat Creola. She was diagnosed a few days before thstorm with terminal renal failure and since the storm she has detiorated fast. Today she doesn't even recognize us, she is already gone until her body quits.

 

[RaySun2Be]

 

[Assimilator1]

Damn that was a bad blow out you had! :Q ,glad to hear your ok.
I'm surprised you don't have bad concussion with the cab roof stoved in like that!.
Btw is it my imagination or is the blown out tyre bald?
Is that a Toyota Hi Lux?

Sorry to hear about the cat too

 

[CheesePoofs]

wow :Q
Glad to hear you made it out of that accident!

Sorry about your cat, though

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Assimilator1
Damn that was a bad blow out you had! :Q ,glad to hear your ok.
I'm surprised you don't have bad concussion with the cab roof stoved in like that!.
Btw is it my imagination or is the blown out tyre bald?
Is that a Toyota Hi Lux?

Sorry to hear about the cat too

Thanks guys. The tire wasn't bald, it just shedded off the tread.

Insurance company (Geico) said that it is an "At Fault" wreck that I should've been able to control the vehicle even those it was shedding and down to metal on roadway.

Who gets to determine this impossibilty? I supposed gravity makes things go up to according to them.

It was a Tacoma.

Good news today is that I took the distributor cap off my van and found that the rotor had self destructed causing the distributor to get torn up. I got one out of the salvage yard and good to go.

Thanks about Creola. I suspect she will pass tomorrow

 

[Wolfsraider]

Dave,
Our thoughts and prayers go out to each and everyone of you.I have heard some amazing stories through out this ordeal, both good and bad.Yet it is like a bad dream to us and a nightmare to those of you there.

I am sorry for your losses. I am deeply saddened and know it will take a long time to heal from the scars inflicted from the storm as well as the after effects. Hold in there brother, the storms of life will pass.

There are many that strive to understand what is happening there, thank you for your efforts in bringing us hopeful news.

I am glad you are ok, I know things will never be the same, so ok may be all we can wish for untill the future offers us hope.

Please hang in there, we are praying for you all.

My condolences to you and Ida for your friend and family member Creola.

Mike

 

[Freewolf]

Originally posted by: Smoke
Dave,

Really glad you are still alive and kicking.

The cause of the blowout is unknown, of course, but one of the big problems after a hurricane are the roofing nails that are scattered all over the place. When roof shingles and entire roofs get blown away the roofing nails get thrown unbelievable distances.

SOP is to have several cans of FIX A FLAT in the trunk.

Of course, a can of FIX A FLAT is no help in a high speed blow out. :roll:

Where did the accident happen? I guess your route back to Covington was through Baton Rouge and then over on I-12?

hey Smoke you forgot the Walmart plug kit to fix the tire with. I've saved a lot of cash by plugging my own tires since Ivan came around.
Glad to hear all you guys seems to have came through in fair shape so far.
Sorry to hear about your Family cat. We had to put ours down a couple of years ago and the wife and little girl still puts flowers on his grave.

 

[Assimilator1]

Insurance company (Geico) said that it is an "At Fault" wreck that I should've been able to control the vehicle even those it was shedding and down to metal on roadway.

Had it been a 'normal' on road vehicle they might be right (also assuming a straight road),though with a very high up off roader with tall tyres & long relativley soft suspension you've got no chance unless your doing less than 20mph! ,they're talking out of their arses!.You should ask them if they were aware its an off roader.
Tell them you'll take your buisiness elsewhere if they don't give you 'no fault'
Also was the road surface damaged? ,that would make things worse naturally

Bloody insurance companies :|

 

[RaySun2Be]

Bloody insurance companies :|

the bastages.... :|

Good news on the van, glad it was something simple.

 

[Pokey]

Bloody insurance companies :|

ditto that.

Glad your OK and was able to get the van up and running.

I hate to think of all the people who are going to have to deal with insurance compainies to replace and repair their homes and cars down there.

 

[Assimilator1]

Originally posted by: Pokey

Bloody insurance companies :|

ditto that.

Glad your OK and was able to get the van up and running.

I hate to think of all the people who are going to have to deal with insurance compainies to replace and repair their homes and cars down there.

And who probably won't get what they are owed :| (if they are anything like many UK insurance companies)

Greg
I take it your outside of the 'forced' evacuation area?

 

[Smoke]

Only New Orleans has forced evacuation ...

Katrina evicted many, many folks from Slidell, LA to Ocean Springs, MS.

I ventured out a little today and I wish I would not. What a miserable sight.