Hallie_D
09-01-2005, 04:01 PM
Although we live in Chicago, DH's whole family lives in New Orleans and Metairie. They all evacuated on Sunday, most to Baton Rouge, except for DH's 83 year old grandmother, who refused to leave her apartment in a retirement/assisted living building. Needless to say we have all be going crazy trying to figure out how to get her out of there as conditions in the city rapidly deteriorate. In our last conversation she told us she had decided to stop drinking water so she wouldn't have to go to the bathroom since she can't flush the toilet. MIL and her husband were calling everyone they knew trying to find a way to get her out of there before she dies of dehydration, lack of food, and lack of medication.
About an hour ago my MIL called us to say that she had gotten a call from a man in Birmingham, Alabama. He had not been able to get in touch with his elderly aunt who lives in an apartment in Metairie. His two grown sons, who live closer to New Orleans (I'm not clear on where) decided to go rescue her. They loaded up a vehicle with food and water, armed themselves, and somehow got into Metairie.
When they got to the building they found it deserted by the staff who had initially remained. The main doors were unlocked and the smell of death was in the air. They went floor by floor, door to door knocking and calling out asking if anyone needed to be evacuated. DH's grandmother was able to open her door and allowed them to carry her out along with 5 other residents. They are now bringing them to Lafayette, where MIL can pick her up. It will be a difficult journey as they try to avoid flooded streets and armed gangs of looters who have been carjacking vehicles, including a nursing home bus.
As you pray for the people who have lost everything in this disaster, my in-laws among them, please say an extra prayer for the kindess of strangers who today saved DH's grandmother's life and the lives of the other residents of that building (including their aunt), at great personal risk.
About an hour ago my MIL called us to say that she had gotten a call from a man in Birmingham, Alabama. He had not been able to get in touch with his elderly aunt who lives in an apartment in Metairie. His two grown sons, who live closer to New Orleans (I'm not clear on where) decided to go rescue her. They loaded up a vehicle with food and water, armed themselves, and somehow got into Metairie.
When they got to the building they found it deserted by the staff who had initially remained. The main doors were unlocked and the smell of death was in the air. They went floor by floor, door to door knocking and calling out asking if anyone needed to be evacuated. DH's grandmother was able to open her door and allowed them to carry her out along with 5 other residents. They are now bringing them to Lafayette, where MIL can pick her up. It will be a difficult journey as they try to avoid flooded streets and armed gangs of looters who have been carjacking vehicles, including a nursing home bus.
As you pray for the people who have lost everything in this disaster, my in-laws among them, please say an extra prayer for the kindess of strangers who today saved DH's grandmother's life and the lives of the other residents of that building (including their aunt), at great personal risk.