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Today's date: February 8, 2010

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When will it end? Those suffering from the effects of the nasty sisters, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita continue in their struggles


	By: JoAnn Biren, staff writer	October 5, 2005

	The madness was the unwanted visit by Hurricane Rita who came into town like an uninvited guest with no manners. The Mayor of Mandeville, according to Toye condemned 70 businesses and homes.

The pain and loss continue to be felt as people in the Gulf states struggle to get a firm grip on what the future does and does not hold for them after the destructive forces of Katrina and Rita left many homeless and jobless. Colleen McDonald Toye, the Slayton High School alum, Class of 1966, who shared her story about Katrina in the Murray County News a couple of weeks ago, continues to forge ahead as she keeps her classmates apprised of what is happening in Louisiana and Texas.

Last week classmate Jean Abrahamson Pelikan emailed Toye with a request for an update. There was concern in the tone of Pelikan's email message. The images that continue to headline the evening and morning news didn't give much hope for those living in New Orleans. More classmates have responded also showing a concern for the victims of the hurricanes.

On Tuesday, September 27, Toye wrote to her classmates, "I haven't written for a week because things have been so crazy around here."

The madness was the unwanted visit by Hurricane Rita who came into town like an uninvited guest with no manners. The Mayor of Mandeville, according to Toye condemned 70 businesses and homes. "I have walked in the neighborhood and I have yet to find a house without any damage," she writes.

"Everyone seems in a daze and everyone has a story," Toye continued. She spoke of visiting with a 70 year-old woman who has lived in five places since Hurricane Rita took her entire house and belongings.

People in New Orleans are not allowed back to their homes, according to Toye. "As of today, only people with businesses are allowed to get into the city, and then only with a pass. The water isn't safe and the medical facilities are not up and running."

"One area of New Orleans not only has trees still in the streets, but the houses came off of the foundations and are in the middle of the streets. It's been a month since Katrina and these people haven't been allowed back into their homes."

One can only begin to imagine the troubles that befell Toye, her friends and family. "We had been staying in Friendswood, Texas," Toye writes. "We were staying with our daughter Jennifer." Then, Rita decided to approach and the family was told they must evacuate. They left their home at three in the morning and drove for 38 hours, arriving in Austin, Texas on Saturday morning, exhausted. "The trip usually takes about four hours," Toye explained, as she cautions her family and friends aren't the only ones who are in such a predicament.

"Hurricane season is until October 31," Toye writes. "I don't know how much more any of us can take here this year."

As soon as she writes something negative like the above, she is quick to remember the good that has come out of the heartbreak. "One of the wonderful things about this situation is that there are so many people helping people. So many people from all over the nation and the world are helping us get back on our feet again," she writes with optimism, as she adds, "Please, keep everyone here in your prayers, especially the children who are still lost from their parents."

Recently, another classmate, Sue Saxton Gass, who lives in Slayton emailed Colleen with a request. She wanted to send a donation and wanted to know where to send it. "We are going to a wedding on October 8, and the couple has requested in lieu of a gift to give to our favorite charity."

Toye emailed back to Gass, "There are so many in need here. Today I brought two bags of clothing to two school teachers from New Orleans and gave them each $40. They have a job but no clothes as they lost everything. It's heart wrenching to hear the stories.

"There are so many lost children and adults from the area. They are still looking into houses that flooded for bodies. It seems like September never came to Louisiana."

She concludes her email to Gass on September 28 by stating; "I want as many people as can to get some kind of an understanding of what this is all about. Some people in Washington have dubbed our two senators the "Louisiana Looters" because they have asked for so much money. These people have no idea how we are living!"

On the 29th Toye writes, "Contractors, roofers, electricians are all in great demand. Those from out of the area have a rough time finding a place to live. Even many of our police officers, fire fighters, etc. are living in their stations until they can find housing. It's crazy!"