[ Famous Quotes ] Katrina: "God has made us equals"

"God has made us equals in birth, life and death," Nimal Premasiri, 51, a victim of the tsunami in Sri Lanka after seeing television video of the devastation Hurricane Katrina Caused in New Orleans

A Survivor Story

My wife, Beth, had tried to talk her sister into coming to stay with us until Hurricane Katrina passed. We're about a 10 hour drive away from her Slidell, LA, Home. Joan decided to gather her children and grandchildren to her home and ride out the storm there. She checked in with us by phone Sunday morning, then silence.

Beth repeatedly called Joan's cell phone and home phone trying to get some word on their condition. Finally, Tuesday evening a very tearful Joan called us.

As the water rose, she told us everyone scrambled up a retracting stairway into the attic. They managed to knock a hole in the roof and scramble out to avoid the rising floodwaters. Fortunately, her ex husband had left his boat parked next to the garage. They managed to lower everyone down and paddle over to their SUV parked on high ground. They then made their way to a neighbors abandoned house that had a second story. They got in the upper floor and manged to survive.

During the tear filled telephone conversation, Joan told beth that she had, "Lost everything." Beth reminded her that everyone survived, that that's proof she didn't lose "everything."

Joan's youngest son and daughter went to stay with their Father farther inland. Her oldest daughter is staying with nearby friends. Joan isn't sure where she'll be staying. We've invited her here, but she says she wants to stay somewhere closer to her home to see what she can salvage. She believes water was six to eight feet deep throughout the house.

Tonight, on our local news there were several stories of local people who still have not heard from loved ones on the Gulf Coast. One guy says if he doesn't hear from his son tonight, he's heading down there to look for him.

Let's all be in prayer for victims of the storm and contribute what we can to the Red Cross and other relief efforts. Let's especially lift up those who haven't heard from family members in the storm's path. For many, the news will not be what they hope.

To contribute to the American Red Cross you can call 1-800-HELP NOW or go to www.redcross.org.

Source: www.sermonfodder.com

Hurricane Katrina Disaster Response http://www.worldfamousrecipes.com/index.php/688

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