Hurricane Katrina: ROLL CALL

[Miss BK]

The devastation down south is just unimaginable. :(

I was just thinking about all the boat racers I know who are from the Louisiana/Mississippi Gulf coast area, and really have been worrying that they are all ok. So I thought maybe we could do a roll call here - seeing if these folks have "checked in" with others letting them know they are fine.

Mike Tilton of Luling, LA: Safe & currently in Kankakee at the OPC Nationals. Status of building they own unknown & probably underwater. Won't be able to return home for weeks.


Here are just some of the other people I've been really concerned about. If anyone knows the status of these members of our boating family, please let us know that they are OK:


Byron Harris of French Settlement, LA: CHECKED IN - AT HOME BUT SAFE
Jay Price of New Orleans, LA:
Tony Terry of Ocean Springs, MS:
Phillip Bond (Crown Leisure Marine) of D'Iberville/St. Martin, MS:SAFE, but business suffered much damage
Wally Ross (Ross Propellers) of Biloxi, MS:
Max Toler of Baton Rouge, LA:
Milton Balser of Kenner, LA:




John Shewbrooks reports the following inboard racers escape unharmed:
Don Mashburn, Randy English, George English, Doug Beynon, Mike Allen.

Doug Beynon explains that “The Lafayette group made it through the storm unscathed, and feel like the luckiest people on earth compared to our neighbors to the east. This was a bad one - It will be years before life returns to any semblance of normal there; many small coastal towns literally do not exist anymore. I just heard from Ralph Baker, and he was on duty with the Red Cross in Pensacola but is now in Baton Rouge helping set up the Relief headquarters. He said they had a meeting this morning, and the gist of it was that they better get used to the fact that the New Orleans area will be evacuated for months. Most of Nicky Pellerin’s family rode the storm out here in Lafayette.” I hear that the Allen family (Judy, Billy, Mike, etc.) are safe in a campground."



God be with you all.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I have been wondering about some friends also and was going to put up a post, but you have really come up with a good idea with this roll call Val.

Bruce Nicholson-Slidell and Glen Hopkins-Covington live right in the middle of the storm path. Don't know if they left before or rode it out.

Reles and Ricky LeBlanc from DelCambre were further west and are OK. Joe Rome talked to Reles a couple of days ago.

[Miss BK]

Update from the Inboard racing group:



From Joey Nolan:

I spoke with Joe Hartdegen last night. Many of you remember Joe as a long
time racer from the N.O. area. Joe was residing in St. Bernard which took the big hit. Joe and his wife Cathy made it out and are now in Texas with his sister. He has a daughter safe in Baton Rouge and his son and son-in-law who are police officers in St. Bernard are safe also, although they are
stranded in St. Bernard as they stayed to do their duties as public servants.
Unfortunately Joe and Cathy have not been able to account for their 22 year old daughter who did not evacuate. We are all staying positive that this is only due to the fact that there is no communication whatsoever in that area. I ask that you all keep Joe, Cathy and their family in your thoughts and prayers that they will hear from her soon. Preliminary reports Joe received is that they lost everything.
Please keep all down here in Louisiana in your prayers.
God bless to all,
Joey


Added:

John Ballero: Safe in Houston but more than likely lost his home.

Joe Hartdegen (E-78 Stiletto and former S boat Wildfire) is safe in
Texas with his wife Cathy. They lived in St. Bernard which took the
big hit. I spoke with Joe last night and we are certain Joe has
lost everything. There is no possible way anything he had is left.
The biggest concern right now is he has been unable to make contact
with one of his daughters who stayed behind. We are staying
positive she is alright and that it is simply the fact that
communication is zero down there. As soon as Joe hears from her he
is going to call me and I will forward the news. His spirit remains
high and he asked me to thank all who have asked about his family.

Nicky Pellerin and family are all safe.

Please keep Joe and his family along with all others down here in your prayers.

I am in law enforcement here in Baton Rouge and have been providing security at one of the shelters. For those of you who have never seen the
sight of hundreds of people left with only the dirty clothes on their backs, it's a sight I hope you never have to see. We're getting clothing and food for them but it's hard to look at the children realizing what is ahead for them.
Joey Nolan Y-707 Caribe

[Miss BK]

I am also learning that quite a number of people from the various region boat racing rescue teams are also members of FEMA who have been activated and sent to the Gulf region.


This is from Brian Small:

Mark Proulx from Manchester NH: a key member of Reg 3 rescue team, was activated immediately and sent south. He is with an emergency medical services unit which also handles search and rescue.

Tam and Karen Beavers with Box 21 Rescue in Region 6 are also a part of
FEMA and they were dispatched and left the race in Celina on Saturday
night.



Keep them in your prayers as well.

[Miss BK]

UPDATE:
I just got the following message from Byron Harris in French Settlement, LA:



Checked in: BYRON BIGFOOT HARRIS

VAL WE JUST GOT POWER 9/1/05
YOU DON T KNOW HOW GOOD THAT IS.
WE DIDN T GET ANY DAMAGE TO HOUSE
BUT LOST A FEW TREES AND SHEDS COULD
HAVE BEEN WORST THANKS FOR CHECKING
ON US GOD BLESS
BIGFOOT

[David Mason]

I hear most of the kneel downers are accounted for. HR had a thread and most of the ones folks were concerned about being down there have checked in. To many to list.

[Miss BK]

UPDATE from Inboard discussion list:


Many of you know Ralph Baker as a referee, turn judge, pit manager, and hard
working crew member. Some of you may know that he has been working for the Red Cross. We heard from him last night and he is stationed with them west of Baton Rouge. He started out the week doing rescue work and is now in charge of training shelter volunteers. It sounds like he will be doing this
for quite some time.

He wanted to let everyone know that being there in the thick of it, what you
see on the news does not give a clear picture of the environment. He said
that for every act of looting there are 1,000 acts of kindness by the people
there. Residents who still have something left are bringing what food they
can to the shelters and are opening up their houses to strangers. And the
volunteers and people there are just amazing.

Please keep Ralph, and everyone else that has lost so much in your thoughts
and prayers....they need them very much.

Elizabeth Wolfe

[B VALACHOVIC]

Our Snowbird C130 aircraft from the Stratton ANG in Schenectady shed their skis and left for New Orleans today to deliver supplies and personnel.

[Miss BK]

Phil Bond owns Crown Leisure Marine on D'Iberville Blvd. in Biloxi - he is a long time boat racer, both outboard circle racing and drag racing, including the Havasu World Championships. His son Chris has been drag racing for the past 10 years or so. They have been long time Allison dealers. Their boat shop is located very close to where you see all that terrific damage on TV. :(

But here is the news I've been waiting to hear; They are ok!!!!
This was found on another board;

September 2, 2005
phillip and chris bond are okay!!!!! evolution marine brought them supplies today. they have a lot of damage but they are okay.

[Miss BK]

Thanks for posting that David.

I know there are friends who live in Louisiana from the drag racing side, but I'm not sure exactly where. I know Tommy Hughes is down there somewhere too. The Robin's of Henderson (Robin's Seafood) is much further west of NO, so I think they should be ok. People in Baton Rouge and Lafayette seem to have made it through pretty well too. But I keep thinking about folks I know that are somewhere over there - just not exactly sure where.

The storm didn't seem to do massive wind damage in New Orleans, but the levees breaking is what caused the catastrophe we see. The most stucture damage from Katrina hit in the Ocean Springs/Gulfport/Biloxi area. I sure hope those folks are all getting attention too. :(

[Miss BK]

Here are more updates from our Inboard counterparts...still no word yet on the other folks.

I'll keep everyone updated on any developments of donations going directly to the racers. There is a message on the APBA website regarding one of our own who is running a shelter at a church and gives the address for sending donations - he will be posting some specific items needed at the www.goboatracing.net Inboard site shortly.

Here is a message on the Yahoo Inboard group today, from Mike Weber:


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Steve,

Please forward this to the Inboard group:

I received the e-mail below from Roy Wilson..... great news that the Wilsons
are safe and sound in Picayune, MS!

************************************************** *******

Hey Mike,

We are still here things are torn to hell, no power and no water in
places still, I just got power here at the shop. Mom and Dad's house had major damage it will probably be months before they have power in their area. I was lucky I am across the street from city hall so that is why I got power. I guess this will put racing on the back burner again for a will because not only don't I have the extra money now but most if not all of my customers are gone at least for along time, and my paper supply houses are under water in N.O. Might have to go and look for work somewhere else. Well gotta run need to go do some more clean up. Tell everyone hello.

Roy

************************************************** ******

I also got a call from John Bolero yesterday and, though he feared the
worst, it appears the damage at his house was minimal. Mike and Billy may have gone home yesterday (?), but will be there soon. Mark Boos and his family are fine. Mark and Billy's shop had the front and rear doors blown off but not much other damage. I have not heard of looting being a problem for any of these folks. Thankfully, the Morgan City, Lafayette and Baton Rouge folks are fine. I heard someone had asked about Thad Miller. He and Michelle are fine.

It even appears that we might have some Louisiana 5 Litre representation in
Nashville this weekend. We are crossing our fingers that they can make
it.... maybe step #1 in the rebuilding process!

The news is not so good for many. Roy Wilson (Sr.) and his wife had
extensive damage to their home. Ronnie LaHost and Joe Hartdegen's family losteverything. Billy Allen still has not heard from his sister, 2 neices and
uncle.

Louie Andrews probably suffered extensive damage or total loss.

Now that other folks are returning home, I think the reality of all of this
will start really sinking in. Damage to homes and possessions will be felt.
John Bolero said he is not sure how he will ever get rid of the smell coming
from his refrigerator. Things like that used to seem trivial will now
become reality.

I guess this is where we all come in. I know Patti Hayes has been heading
some fund raising. Others are collecting clothes. I will see what I can do
in Nashville. My suggestion is that we funnel this money thru Billy Allen and
the New Orleans Power Boat Association. Billy can handle helping members,
neighbors or other folks in need wherever he can. NOPBA has made Christmas
for hundreds of underpriveleged children over the years so maybe we can all
help return some of that kindness! Please contact me if you need to know how to get donations to Billy.

And please be generous wherever, or however, you choose to donate! Keep our friends like Joey Nolan and Ralph Baker in your prayers as they put
themselves in harms way trying to help the people of Louisiana and Mississippi.

Mike Weber
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