Hi pentax gang,
I'm back in Lake Charles, actually been back 5 days now, but I also
have a phone line that works with my modem now too. Still no
electricity.
But I'm much more fortunate than about 50% of the population here in
Calcasieu Parish. (and about 100% of the population of Cameron
parish, our southern, coastal neighbor)
A full report to follow, with pictures; as soon as I get the trees
off my roof, and tarps laid down to keep the rain out of my attic.
Structure of my house is basically undamaged. The vast majority of
the lovely old live oaks in this area survived. The "water
oaks" (what I've always called them-- a taller oak tree, with a
smoother, whiter bark, and an upright growth habit, and these are
deciduous, though their leaves don't "color" as they drop in autumn)
are what have mainly devestated the area around here. These trees
have fallen over, roots and all (and they seem to share a shallow,
weak root system) and crushed many, many homes around here. Most pine
trees that have not survived "snapped" in the middle of the trunk, as
opposed to simply toppling over as the water oaks have. These oaks
and pines are probably 95% of the trees that fell. Of the others, the
most common "fallen" varieties are sycamores, magnolias, and cedars.
Most of the pecans and other hardwoods still stand.
Well, I'm blathering on. More to follow, and more to the point, pics
for pentax people to peruse..
Sid
PS: Mark, I saw your post-- a South Louisiana pdml gathering sounds
great. I'm sure we have a few fellows within the "Houston to New
Orleans" sphere as well... Also, did you hear that Avery Island has
fairly well survived too?
- OT: Back in Lake Charles after Rita the Ravager Sid Barras
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