Hello

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are okay in Hattiesburg. Melissa is on her way home from Alabama. They are okay. The kids are okay - they were real sick when they left out Monday night. I hope everyone is okay. I see from the posts it looks like everyone is okay, just without power. We have no power but we finally have running water back and we have HO****er since we have a gas ho****er heater and stove. So we can cook and take warm bathes. My work is amazing. They have a catering services here today and a gas truck for the employees and carriers. They have given ou****er and ice and all that good stuff. We were down to nothing here on Tuesday and I left to go and find some food. The bunny bread store had been looted and the manager was out looking at the store. She let me buy most of her stuff to bring it to the paper so we could continue to have energy to get the news to the readers. We are also on generator with air conditioner, phone and internet and it is open to our family members as well. I am so proud when I say where I work. Rhonda, I heard from Melissa that yours house was destroyed. My heart is with you and I will help you in any way that I can. Please give us an update. When can you return home? Everyone else who was in harms way, I am praying for you all. This is more than I ever ever expected!

Christine, Glad to see you've got power and such. The news is concentrating on New Orleans So I'm curious about 'south of Jackson.' Any news from others in that area? Take care and know that the whole country Is praying for everyone down there And the electric trucks and supply trucks Should be there Today. We've been seeing 'convoys' of electric trucks From other states, headed down 55 for the last 2 days. Take care. Best Wishes- Dx

I dont have power yet Dex... I am at work right now and we are on a generator. This is the only way I can check on yall. We do have gas and water at my house but no power and NO a/c... but we are alive and well and will recover. I havent talked to Melissa today but she was okay yesterday when I talked to her. I am going to her house when I get off of work today... she brought me some bread from Alabama... (A blessing)... We have seen alot of convoys here. It gives me chill bumps.... By the way--- A brother shot his sister in front of their mother yesterday over a bag of ice. Its getting really really bad here and people are getting so desperate. Yall continue to send out plenty of prayers. I know I think we have it bad but then I see New Orleans and the MS Gulf Coast and I should be thankful for what I have...

HEY CHRISTINE, I HEARD ABOUT THE BROTHER SHOOTING THE SISTER YESTERDAY.. THAT IS SO BAD... THINGS ARE GETTING BAD QUICK... IM SO BLESSED TO HAVE ESCAPED A LOT OF THE DAMAGE. WE ONLY HAD TREES DOWN AND POWER LINES DOWN, BUT WE HAVE WATER, POWER, AND PHONE SERVICES, BUT THE PHONE COMES AND GOES. EVERYONE IS COMPLETELY OUT OF GAS, BUT I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO FILL MY GAS TANK UP. JUST SO YOU KNOW, THERE IS PLENTY OF GAS IN WEST POINT, MS ,AND NO LINES! I KNOW THAT'S NOT HELPING YOU ANY, BUT IF WORST COMES TO WORST, THERE'S NOT A SHORTAGE THERE. MY LITTLE SISTER WHO IS STATIONED AT CAMP SHELBY WAS ORDERED TO EVACUATE SUNDAY, AND THEY CALLED HER YESTERDAY AND SHE IS TO REPORT BACK TO CAMP SHELBY, AND THEY ARE SENDING HER POSSIBLY TO THE GULFPORT AREA TO HELP. HOW WAS THE DAMAGE IN HATTIESBURG? MY BROTHER SAYS ITS LIKE A WAR ZONE DOWN THERE... CRYSTAL

I am so happy to see that you are okay. We lost most everything, our house was flooded. My cruise leaves on Saturday, we could not get our money back so I am still going. Julian can not go but the military said they would refund his money. So, I am going with my sisters and all of their friends. It will help me get all of this off my mind at least for a few days. When we return on Thursday, we are going to try and take a uhaul over to my house to collect some of the stuff that I may be able to save such as clothing and stuff. If I get to it soon enough, maybe it won't be all the way ruined. I had to enroll my son in school here, he will be staying with my parents while I am gone. I have no idea when we will be able to return home, as most of Biloxi does not have a home to return to. I will be back here on Friday or Saturday of next week and will give an update then. Love, Rhonda

God bless all of you who have been through so much. I pray God will give you strength during these trying times. My best advice is to hang onto Jesus during this time. He will not let you down. Rhonda, you go on that cruise and enjoy it. You will have plenty to deal with when you get back, so try to relax and renew your strength during the cruise. God bless you all. Deborah in Grenada