Well it's about 6:30 pm and were almost out of it here. We are still getting some feeder bands carrying wind and tornadoes. We have had a few close calls near my home but most of them have landed out in pastures. Tomorrow I am venturing out into surrounding areas. Baton Rouge got hit pretty hard with wind damage and there is a big need for chainsaws. So we will see.
For anyone that has tried calling me at my 985 number I had it changed to 225-368-5223. Guy with my old number says I must have alot of friends cause he has gotten many calls. Anyway just letting everyone know we are ok. Thank you for all your prayers.
brendan
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
The next few weeks...
Tentatively I think we can still plan to send a team down to Louisiana or Mississippi this coming weekend. If you wish to go, please email me or call Melinda at the numbers on the blog. Work will primarily be chain saw work cutting up trees and tarping roofs. Accommodations are not yet secured for more than a few people so the team may need to take a camper or two with them. More details as they are available.
I have not heard of a need for supplies to be shipped down at this time. However, tens of thousands of low income New Orlineans have been shipped to shelters across the country. Churches are hosting them as close as Louisville Kentucky. There may be a need to assist them until they can get back home, depending on some decisions the Red Cross will have to make.
More details on Gustav relief as they are available.
Many more storms are coming. Hanna is aiming at Charleston South Carolina, Tropical storm, soon to be hurricane Ike formed yesterday and is following Hannah, Tropical depression 10 formed overnight out past Ike and is in line following it and Hanna West.
Also, another area of activity between Hannah and Ike as well as a 2nd area of activity North of the train may still develop into storms. We are facing a huge increase in activity that may still require responses to other parts of the country. Keep posted for updates.
I have not heard of a need for supplies to be shipped down at this time. However, tens of thousands of low income New Orlineans have been shipped to shelters across the country. Churches are hosting them as close as Louisville Kentucky. There may be a need to assist them until they can get back home, depending on some decisions the Red Cross will have to make.
More details on Gustav relief as they are available.
Many more storms are coming. Hanna is aiming at Charleston South Carolina, Tropical storm, soon to be hurricane Ike formed yesterday and is following Hannah, Tropical depression 10 formed overnight out past Ike and is in line following it and Hanna West.
Also, another area of activity between Hannah and Ike as well as a 2nd area of activity North of the train may still develop into storms. We are facing a huge increase in activity that may still require responses to other parts of the country. Keep posted for updates.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Brendan's OK and already looking for help
Greensburg where he's at presently was hit hard all day by heavy storm bands. Many tornadoes have been reported throughout the area all day long. Lots and lots of trees are down. They lost power at 10:00, cell service at 11:00, and landline phone service at 1:00 today. It's still storming hard there now. He drove 15 miles up the road to get cell service to check on family and get word out.
The area he reports is most heavily effected by the wind damage and downed trees is in the yellow on this map.
He's working on a place for chainsaw crews to stay and work for next week.
The area he reports is most heavily effected by the wind damage and downed trees is in the yellow on this map.
He's working on a place for chainsaw crews to stay and work for next week.
Monday night update on our friends.
I've heard nothing from anyone in New Orleans. My cell showed a connection to Brendan's phone in Greensburg, LA, but just static on the line. Not sure if he heard me or not. Sent a text. That area has had a lot of tornadoes and strong storm bands all day. I'll put up a new post when I hear from him.
Talked to Daphne German in Bayou La Batre Alabama. The surge was not bad there. There was water and waves over the park we stayed in there last summer, but they could drive through it at noon today. She reports there is not much damage that far east.
Heavy storm bands went through the Mississippi coastal area between there and New Orleans. I expect if we are needed it'll be for chain saw crews to work in that area and north of New Orleans for a few weeks. As of now, just on the back side of the storm it appears that massive amounts of prayer have paid off.
Talked to Daphne German in Bayou La Batre Alabama. The surge was not bad there. There was water and waves over the park we stayed in there last summer, but they could drive through it at noon today. She reports there is not much damage that far east.
Heavy storm bands went through the Mississippi coastal area between there and New Orleans. I expect if we are needed it'll be for chain saw crews to work in that area and north of New Orleans for a few weeks. As of now, just on the back side of the storm it appears that massive amounts of prayer have paid off.
More on the way
After Gustav, there's a train of storms incoming.
Hannah is projected to land on the Georgia North Carolina border Friday as a Category 1 or weak 2. Tropical Storm Ike gained that status today after becoming a tropical depression just this morning. It is heading for the Caribbean islands.
Projections of both Gustav and Hannah are showing they will impact our weather here in Ohio.
Hannah is projected to land on the Georgia North Carolina border Friday as a Category 1 or weak 2. Tropical Storm Ike gained that status today after becoming a tropical depression just this morning. It is heading for the Caribbean islands.Projections of both Gustav and Hannah are showing they will impact our weather here in Ohio.
Gustov Drops to Category 1
Gustov came ashore around 9:00 this morning Central Time. It has now dropped to a Category 1 level as it moves further onshore oblique to New Orleans exposing that area to the heaviest rains and tornado risk. Tornado warnings are up out through Mobile Alabama and up to Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Storm surge is hitting 9' and a little more in peak areas, but the New Orleans Industrial Canal is at the top of the flood walls and waves are being blown over. There is still a good possibility that continued surge and runnoff from the heavy rains up stream can push the water level over the wall and begin to flood areas West of the canal.
A barge and two decomissioned Navy ships have broken loose and are pinned against a bridge, but may damage the flood walls if they break loose.
It isn't yet as bad as expected, but there's still a lot we don't know and it isn't over yet. Please continue prayers. They are working!
Storm surge is hitting 9' and a little more in peak areas, but the New Orleans Industrial Canal is at the top of the flood walls and waves are being blown over. There is still a good possibility that continued surge and runnoff from the heavy rains up stream can push the water level over the wall and begin to flood areas West of the canal.
A barge and two decomissioned Navy ships have broken loose and are pinned against a bridge, but may damage the flood walls if they break loose.
It isn't yet as bad as expected, but there's still a lot we don't know and it isn't over yet. Please continue prayers. They are working!
Gustav Update - Monday Morning
Just woke Brendan Hendrix up checking on him. He says it's picking up pretty good there in Greensburg, LA. Gustav is just off Houma, Louisiana and has degraded to a category 2 storm!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Update from Brendan Hendrix
Friends,
It's around 8 pm now and the outer bands have started hitting where we are. I am located about 25 minutes north of Hammond, La. no way of tellin' what it's gonna do as to the erratic nature of this storm. It is currently a catagory 3 with winds of up to 115 mph. I have been steadily trying to arrange things here for immediately following the storm. For those of you not privy to this the northeast side is usually the worse side of the storm for winds and tornadoes. Thankfully through prayers from you all this storm has lost alot of its power between Cuba and here. Just continue to pray for the storm to dissipate.
I will keep you all updated as best I can.
god bless
brendan
geaux tigers!!!!!!!!!!
It's around 8 pm now and the outer bands have started hitting where we are. I am located about 25 minutes north of Hammond, La. no way of tellin' what it's gonna do as to the erratic nature of this storm. It is currently a catagory 3 with winds of up to 115 mph. I have been steadily trying to arrange things here for immediately following the storm. For those of you not privy to this the northeast side is usually the worse side of the storm for winds and tornadoes. Thankfully through prayers from you all this storm has lost alot of its power between Cuba and here. Just continue to pray for the storm to dissipate.
I will keep you all updated as best I can.
god bless
brendan
geaux tigers!!!!!!!!!!
Oh to be as prepared as Southern Baptist Disaster Relief
Here's their latest email update:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight”. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief continues to plan for Hurricane Gustav. For the second time in three years the worst-case-scenario could be in store for the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Southern Baptists, along with our national partners, are planning for and anticipating the worst.
Terry Henderson and an Incident Command Team are en route to Camp Garaywa, located in Clinton, Mississippi. Camp Garaywa is owned and operated by the Woman’s Missionary Union of Mississippi. Also staging at Camp Garaywa will be mobile units that will move to the coast as soon as appropriate assessments take place. A second Incident Command Team is in route to Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, Louisiana.
Southern Baptist liaisons are located at the National Headquarters for American Red Cross and the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, D. C. They will assist in providing close coordination and communication with these agencies. American Red Cross has also provided a liaison to the North American Mission Board’s Disaster Operation Center (DOC) located in Alpharetta, Ga.
Meals are currently being prepared by Southern Baptist Feeding Units at shelters housing evacuees in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and, Texas. Chaplains are serving with the Feeding Units to provide ministry and support for the evacuees and volunteers.
A combined capacity of more than 575,000 meals per day has been activated and has begun moving toward the anticipated impact area. A total of 39 Feeding Units from 23 Baptist state conventions are moving toward the central Gulf Coast and are expected to arrive over the next three days. Each Feeding Unit will be accompanied by chainsaw, communication, and shower units as well as Disaster Relief trained chaplains. A conservative estimate is that more than 4,000 Southern Baptist volunteers will be traveling with these units.
Ministry sites in the Gulf Coast area have been pre-identified by state Baptist convention, American Red Cross and Salvation Army leaders. Once Hurricane Gustav has cleared the area, Disaster Relief leaders will assess the viability of these sites to provide accommodations for units and volunteers after which units will be deployed to begin ministry to persons impacted by the storm.
While the east coast state Baptist conventions are continuing to watch Hurricane Hanna, they are also releasing assets to respond to Gustav’s affected area. State Baptist conventions located in the Northern, upper Midwestern and northwestern United States are expected to be in the second phase of deployment. Following Hurricane Gustav’s landfall and assessments provide by Southern Baptist leaders and our partners decision will be made about future deployments.
NAMB’s DOC has moved to a Level IV, the highest activation. NAMB staff and volunteers will be manning phones and entering data to support the affected and responding state convention units. Tomorrow’s hours of operation for the DOC will be 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Day Light Savings Time.
Florida Baptist Convention continues to respond to needs caused by Hurricane Fay. The response have move to local area churches and associations ministering in their area with Florida Baptist Convention’s leadership closing their command centers.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight”. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief continues to plan for Hurricane Gustav. For the second time in three years the worst-case-scenario could be in store for the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Southern Baptists, along with our national partners, are planning for and anticipating the worst.
Terry Henderson and an Incident Command Team are en route to Camp Garaywa, located in Clinton, Mississippi. Camp Garaywa is owned and operated by the Woman’s Missionary Union of Mississippi. Also staging at Camp Garaywa will be mobile units that will move to the coast as soon as appropriate assessments take place. A second Incident Command Team is in route to Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, Louisiana.
Southern Baptist liaisons are located at the National Headquarters for American Red Cross and the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, D. C. They will assist in providing close coordination and communication with these agencies. American Red Cross has also provided a liaison to the North American Mission Board’s Disaster Operation Center (DOC) located in Alpharetta, Ga.
Meals are currently being prepared by Southern Baptist Feeding Units at shelters housing evacuees in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and, Texas. Chaplains are serving with the Feeding Units to provide ministry and support for the evacuees and volunteers.
A combined capacity of more than 575,000 meals per day has been activated and has begun moving toward the anticipated impact area. A total of 39 Feeding Units from 23 Baptist state conventions are moving toward the central Gulf Coast and are expected to arrive over the next three days. Each Feeding Unit will be accompanied by chainsaw, communication, and shower units as well as Disaster Relief trained chaplains. A conservative estimate is that more than 4,000 Southern Baptist volunteers will be traveling with these units.
Ministry sites in the Gulf Coast area have been pre-identified by state Baptist convention, American Red Cross and Salvation Army leaders. Once Hurricane Gustav has cleared the area, Disaster Relief leaders will assess the viability of these sites to provide accommodations for units and volunteers after which units will be deployed to begin ministry to persons impacted by the storm.
While the east coast state Baptist conventions are continuing to watch Hurricane Hanna, they are also releasing assets to respond to Gustav’s affected area. State Baptist conventions located in the Northern, upper Midwestern and northwestern United States are expected to be in the second phase of deployment. Following Hurricane Gustav’s landfall and assessments provide by Southern Baptist leaders and our partners decision will be made about future deployments.
NAMB’s DOC has moved to a Level IV, the highest activation. NAMB staff and volunteers will be manning phones and entering data to support the affected and responding state convention units. Tomorrow’s hours of operation for the DOC will be 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Day Light Savings Time.
Florida Baptist Convention continues to respond to needs caused by Hurricane Fay. The response have move to local area churches and associations ministering in their area with Florida Baptist Convention’s leadership closing their command centers.
The only power we have right now is prayer
Tonight at Westerville Christian Church at 6:00, Greg Bondurant, has planned a prayer time to ask God's mercy to dissipate hurricane Gustov and protect the gulf coast from the massive destruction we saw after Katrina. Against the models, the storm has been weakening and projections are on their way down. To me, knowing the prayers that are being asked of our Lord, that is an answer. There's nothing else we can do right now. We cannot stop a hurricane with our own efforts. We can only ask the creator of the heavens and the earth to cover those in harms way with his grace and mercy.
Please join us tonight at 471 College Avenue in Westerville, organize your own church or group to pray for the continued weakening of Gustov, or join us from where you are at 6:00 eastern time tonight to ask God to block and disperse this storm to His glory.
Please join us tonight at 471 College Avenue in Westerville, organize your own church or group to pray for the continued weakening of Gustov, or join us from where you are at 6:00 eastern time tonight to ask God to block and disperse this storm to His glory.
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