soggybloggy

A welcoming place to point younger survivors towards the light.

Name: Earl

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This blog exists solely because of Hurricane Betsy's effect on me, and my wish to warn you of the possible effects Hurricane Katrina might have on you. If you are young (3-16) you may not yet realize the powerful effect of such a devastating event on your mind and emotions, even your physical comfort. Although I was only 3 years old at the time Hurricane Betsy rolled through "The Parish" the event had a powerful and lasting effect on my life. I have suffered from anxiety, sleep disorders, worry and depression. And over the years I've come to realize the major effect of Hurricane Betsy was to instill in me a deep lack of trust. Trust in the security of my surroundings, trust in my father, and even trust in God all suffered in my reaction to the destruction of '65 and, later, with Hurricane Camille in "69. I needn't imagine what it is like for a child to have to live with the constant fear of such a thing happening again, especially with the annual hurricane season always posing a very real threat. You may not feel that my musings have anything at all to do with you and your situation, but then neither did I for many years. It was only after researching Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that I realized the root cause of my troubles was indeed Betsy (Who would think an event that happened when I was 3 years old could have such an effect on my adult life?. Over the years I had learned to suppress the anxiety and " be strong for others." I also drank too much and tried not to think about the past. Well, as we all learned from Katrina the fear of waking with your bedroom filling with 8-10 feet or more of water is a very real one. I urge anyone who plans to rebuild in the still very vulnerable areas of New Orleans or St. Bernard Parish, especially if you have kids who have gone through Katrina, to take seriously the possible long-term effects of such a decision. At least take the P.T.S.D. test at left under the "Helpful links" section, or let your kids take it... and consider seeking professional help if any of the symptoms apply to you. I am not doctor or professional health provider. I simply wish to help others avoid my demons by sharing my story. God bless, Earl

Monday, October 03, 2005

Pics On The Way

Pics On The Way
Originally uploaded by Gna42.

Hello everyone. I've noticed a lot of traffic from the former St. Bernard Parish residents and I appreciate it. I've received much help from the St. Bernard Forum users in helping me locate missing relatives and friends. Again, thank you.

My sister Denise shot approx. 50 shots of our house on Benjamin St. and the surrounding area. I will either post the best of them here, and or post them all on a separate page ASAP as soon as I get them.

My sister could not get the pictures developed in Mandeville because of a huge hurricane backlog, but she did get them developed while picking up my parents in Wisconsin. I'm now just waiting for the e-mails.

Hang on, they are coming!

My Mom saw them and said the destruction was just unbelievable (My sister had to tell her which room she was looking at)! I really think these pictures will be useful in helping convince people (My parents included) NOT to return to the area, Understandably they are having a hard time realizing that Arabi is GONE... just totally destroyed and never to be the same.

Check back soon for the pictures.

God bless all of you who are struggling to deal with this enormous tragedy. - Earl

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