Post Katrina in East Alabama

Auburn Alabama, USA

Some readers may realize that one member of the “webmaster” team (Beth Nicol) for this site lives in Alabama. Fortunately for us, Katrina passed west of us. We had a day of multiple tornado warnings, some rain and wind as the outer bands of the storm passed over, but no real damage. For this, I am thankful as 10 years ago Opal was still at hurricane force when she came through Auburn. That was an experience I don’t care to repeat.

Our experience of the storm in this part of the state was primarily watching on the TV or the internet as the reports of the storm came in. It was rather like watching a train wreck in slow motion. At one point the storm covered the entire state of Mississippi and half of Alabama.

We have friends in Mobile, and at this point it seems that “no news is good news.” I know that there was damage at Gulf Shores from the storm surge. The Gulf Shores area, on the eastern side of Mobile Bay, is where the eye of hurricane Ivan came ashore last fall. The damage from Ivan was just beginning to be repaired.

The most frustrating thing is wanting to help, and not knowing what to do. A local church is sheltering some 100 people who fled the storm, and we will contribute to that effort. There are people here who can’t go home yet, but will not have any hotel rooms available come the weekend, as the rooms were booked long ago for this weekend.

The other frustration is that the predicted, or perceived, coming gasoline shortage sent people scurrying to fill up cars (and depleted the local gas supply) as gasoline prices jumped $.30 to $.50 per gallon between this morning and this afternoon. There are many places where the pumps are empty.

So, it looks as though there will be many opportunities to share the gospel and serve those in need in the coming days.