Hoping the best for Big Lou in TX

[Brian F.]

For those of you that attended the National at Columbia Lakes, TX, the last we heard from Lou McEachern was that he was on duty at his Beaumont refinery on Thursday and was told to bring a sleeping bag. His family left their Beaumont residence to evacuate North and ended up not finding a hotel until Arkansas.

Jerry Valentine, the other longcaster that was invited but unable to make the National for demonstration, lives on Crystal Beach. At one point, the eye of Rita was projected to pass directly over his beachfront home but the storm took a more northerly path though not far enough. Jerry evacuated North also.

Please keep these fellows in your thoughts and I will forward any news as I hear it.

[Jim Schottenham]

I hope all the great folks I met at the Texas meet are OK:
Nello, Robyn, Big Lou, Tom, Colby, Jay, Bryce, Joe and El (Ernest too!). I wonder if Tom cleaned out that great table he had at the cabin...^_^
Find that bikini yet El?

Stay safe!
Jim S

[Harvey]

I called Robyn's house this evening, (9/24, 6:00 EST) and spoke to his uncle. They faired out well but Robyn and others were out clearing some trees so they could leave the homestead. His uncle said he had nine to cut up so there may be a firewood sale goin' on in Woodville soon.
Harvey

[Tom E.]

It was a very anxious week. Mid week it looked for sure like a direct hit on Columbia Lakes/Lake House followed by a hit on Jay's, Bryces's and my houses directly north of Columbia Lakes about 60 miles. Did some quick prep at lake house (Yes, Phil, cleaned out coffee table), then prepared to abandon Houston for Austin. Before we could leave Rita started to shift and traffic became a nightmare. We finally stayed put, Jay went to England and left Sherry, Bryce took family to Dallas (12 hr trip!).
Turned out best place was west side of Houston - didn't even lose power. Not so good for Port Arthur area. I'm sure Big Lou did ok, now if he can get that refinery up and running we can get some gas.

Thanks to all for concern and to Chip Rice for offer of a room during the hurricane.

Thanks to good planning/mgt. of local, state and federal officials few if any injuries or deaths.

Now back to looking for goodies.

[Brian F.]

Tom, great to hear from you and hope things aren't too much of a mess to clean up down there. Sounds like everyone seems to have come through it ok. I guess the bass weren't biting with THAT storm! Still waiting to hear about Lou.

[el Lawrence]

This mornings local news shows Beaumont area (oil ref. where I imagine Big Lou is camping out) as being flooded but intact for the most part... should be about a week to dry it all out and bring it back on line. Serious injury kept to minimum thankfully... Glad it doged ya'll in Houston. My in-laws and my elderly aunt that live there boarded up their places and prepaired for worst but faired ok... Aunt took in distant family from Clear Lake area that work at NASA... Took them hours to make what is normally a 45 min. drive but all are safe now. Been difficult getting phone in there for days -hit and miss... I did talk to one or two ORCAns and all had plans for keeping safe so I didn't have any guests here though I had the guest bedroom ready... Boats were pulled from coastal areas and safeguarded; I laid in supplies and water but as Rita turned east it wasn't needed (we did go ahead and drink all the Coronas and limes as the limes won't keep).

I DID find my bikini as our temps here are hitting 102 (another dubious side benifit of the hurricane)... and just think; Hurricane season isn't over yet! Glad that rain just didn't sit on top of Robyn and the rest of East TX...But be ready... I hear ya'll up in NY and Canada should be getting the Rita rain on MONDAY.

Thanks to everyone all over for their offers of help as well as keeping us all in their thoughts and prayers... seems like it may have helped.

[Brian F.]

Lou put up a message on another board to say that he's ok but his home suffered some damage. He's been at the plant since Friday. Glad to hear he's ok.

Let's not have any more of these hurricane things, ok everyone?

[Harvey]

Talked to Robyn this morning and he says his place looks like a war zone. He lost at least 25 large trees and the roof from his stable plus fence damage. He says his cows are able to roam all over the county but seem to stay around because they love him. He still has no power and doesn't know when it will return. He laughed and said he now understands why I stay up all night wide eyed when one of those things is coming my way.
Good to hear he is OK and he sez 'Thanks" to all those that were conserned..
Harvey