- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
This is an email my friend sent me. He was attending school in Loyola New Orleans, I just wanted to post it so that people can read first hand how some people are being affected.
Due to the incredible amount of phone calls to my house in Tulsa, I just
wanted to let everyone know that I am safe. My girlfriend of 3 years is also
here in Tulsa with me. I heard about the Hurricane on Saturday lmorning. I
went directly to the airport w/ a bag of clothes--6 pieces of
clothes--nothing else. No flights until Tuesday, which obviously would have
done me no good. I had friends pick me up from the airport, drive me to
houston, where I hopped a flight to Tulsa. The drive took 10 hours. It
usually takes 5. I seriously brought nothing. No pictures, paintings,
poems..nothing else that I owned. Everything that I had begun to start my
life with is more than likely lost. I know that 80% of New Orleans is
flooded. I also know that fires were reported in several houses near the
intersection of Fontainebleau and Nashville. I lived 5 houses from said
intersection. My house is atleast 100 years old, no storm windows, no
shutters, nothing. I live in a huge white house w/ gorgeous columns..who
knows what will be standing. Friday night we were celebrating being named
#10 party school by Princeton Review. (Next door at Tulane was ranked #11,
we were proud we'd finally beaten them.) The next day, my entire life
turned around. Imagine two days prior to starting your senior year of
college, suppsosedly the finest year of one's life--with so many things to
look forward to--then you find out your city is under water and that you
cannot return for an unidentified period of time. I was preparing to hold
several positions, including chaplain and sorority relations of Phi Kappa
Psi, Advertising chairperson for the Unirersity Programming Board, Rush
chairperson for the entire fraternal council, and a student government
representative. I had been doing things all summer to prepare for the
upcoming school year. The other day my parents made me write down lists of
everything that I could recall being in my household with estimated prices.
New Orleans has been an absolute warzone. It is unbearable to watch. I
can't believe that this is really happening, it is still surreal. Every
single memory from my college career is now just that--a memory. Even if I
am able to return for the Spring semester, none of the establishments or
landmarks or districts which I frequented will still be around and or
functioning. Just try and take a moment to imagine that with the school you
are now attending. Like I said, it's still surreal. I can't even fathom
the actual situation. I know that one of my best friends' families, who is
from the New Orleans area-has nothing left. His grandfather had to be
removed from the hospital to evacuate, and will more than likely pass.
Another of my best friends fathers' has Parkinsons disease. He can't get
any medicine, and is in Alexandria, Lousiana. He more than likely will
pass. I don't know how many of you have actually been watching the
television, but New Orleans is like a third world country, it's
unbelievable. I haven't heard from several fraternity brothers who are from
the area. I'm incredibly worried about them and am so lucky to be have
gotten out. My mom took me shopping today, and after looking at everything
I had gotten, I felt guilty. I should have seen a shed of light, but I felt
guilty because of how many people had absolutely nothing, who would be
displaced in a sporting arena or worse for several months. I am so lucky to
be from a family who has the means to replace items. I'm lucky that I'm
still in school, and have other options for that. I was scheduled to
graduate on time while double majoring in Management and Marketing. I am
now looking at possibilities such as TU. The majority of folks don't have
these possibilities. They have no hope. New Orleans will liklely be flooded
for 3 or more months. Please, I ask all of you--do whatever you can to
help, New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast really needs everything
that you can do. Thanks to everyone for your concern, please, if possible,
organize something at your university to help. My, and everyone else from
the area's, lives will never be the same. I look forward to going back, and
am keeping hope that the city, and the school, will recover. I hope that my
great friend Arthur Loyd and I can continue our lifetime goal of attending
Mardi Gras every year for the rest of our lives. If there's one this year,
Y'all are invited--it truly will be the best party the world has ever seen.
I'll keep everyone up to date about what I'm going to be doing. Again,
thank you--and please do whatever you can. If you're a praying type of
person, please keep the affected people and areas in your prayers.
-Greg
home: 555.492.1132
cell (left it in New Orleans but I still can recieve voicemail):
555.344.3049