Message for Ashley (Tyson, etc.) & Donna Barstow

More on my situation in the next post. But, I saw a post from Donna several pages down about a family that evacuated from New Orleans to Pensacola and who need a place to stay. I have a big house and can take in at least 2 families. Same for Ashley and Tyson, etc. I live in Mandeville, which is right by Ashley's parents' home in Covington, so if their home was severely damaged, they are welcome too.

My phone numbers are (cell) 985-778-8670 and (home) 985-624-8101. However, so far as of Saturday morning, I cannot receive or make phone calls from my home. Can only do so when I can round up enough gas to drive 40 miles away to get a signal.

But, they are welcome to just drive on over if they have transportation. I only ask that they try not to arrive at night if possible. There is a lot of looting going on and the few of us who are back at our homes are well armed. It gets pretty scary at night and I usually have a gun in my hand when I step outside at night. So, if you do pull up at night, please be sure to shout my name so I will know it's not a looter.

Here are directions to my house, which is pretty easy to find. I-12 is very passable from the west. Not sure about coming in from the east, tho I know it's passable from at least Slidell going west towards me.

Take the Abita Springs/La. Highway 59 exit (same road, has two different names). Go south on that road (if you coming from the east, that means go under the I-12 overpass). Keep going south for about 5 miles or so until you get to another road that also has two names, tho I think the street signs call it Florida Blvd. (it's also known as Highway 190 east). You will come to a big intersection that has a Shell station/mini Cracker Barrel to your left and a BP gas station to your right. Turn left at that intersection (as of last night, the traffic light was not working).

After turning left, go down about another 2 to 5 miles. You will pass a used car lot on your left, then a boat dealership a little further down. Keep going and you will see a green sign on your right that says "Mandeville Middle (or Elementary) School." Just a hundred feet or so past that sign, you will a two lane road that crosses over the street you are driving on. It is called "Soult." It looks like it goes right thru woods, which it did until the storm blew away a lot of the woods. Take a LEFT on Soult. Go down about 3 to 5 miles. You will pass two subdivisons that are on opposite sides of Soult. The one on the right is called New Canaan Hills, the one on the left is called Woodlands Terrace. My subdivision comes right after New Canaan Hills, it is called Quail Creek. Take a right into Quail Creek. That street is named Sycamore. Right after you turn into my subdivision, there is a side street on your left that is part of a cul-de-sac, the next street on the left is the exit from that cul de sace. The third street on your left will be called Octavia. Turn left on Octavia and go until it's end, which is about 10 to 15 houses. Octavia ends on my street, South Ridge. Turn right on South Ridge. My house is at 1315 South Ridge. I have a long front porch with 3 big white pillars on it, red brick on the sides, and gray stucco on the front (not sure if my address label is still on my mailbox). If I am home, you will see a white Mazda SUV in the driveway. If you arrive when I am not home, feel free to sit out on the front porch.

One down side is that I don't have electricity yet. I do have a generator but it will only run about 10 hours on a tank of gas, and it's a problem getting gas, tho so far I have been able to run it every night. Afternoons tho can be hard. But, I do think we will have electricity again soon. There was no flooding anywhere near me.

If you have a small fan you can bring with you, that would be great. I have 3 right now but that won't be enough if 10 people show up.

Dogs, cats, birds, and any creatures other than lawyers are welcome. I have a lot of water on hand, plus the water is running, tho I am not sure if it is safe to drink. I have showered with it tho and so far have not grown a second head.

Good luck to everyone.