Hello Everybody from Hurricane stricken Lumberton, Tx

[lbelle1214]

Well, Beaumont is under lockdown....you can't get in unless you're part of the disaster relief or response team...the military is there, locked and loaded...there has been only 5 incidents of 'attempted' looting. They've told everyone in Jefferson, Orange, Hardin counties, Calcasieu and Cameron parishes that if you return home, you're on your own. There are so many people trying to get back in to see the condition of their property (you can't blame them), but are only coming home to conditions that are next to impossible to exist in. There are no hospitals open...no 911 service, most all land line phones are down....it's like we're isolated from the world except for this one radio station with 5 guys who have been transmitting nonstop since Thursday to provide info to locals. But the national channels are only scratching the surface and sensationalizing the minor events. Yeah, when CNN was showing Lumberton, that was 1 block from my house. They estimated that it would probably be at least 3 weeks to a month before we have power, then after that they could restore cable and communications. So, I'm reporting (venting) now while I have the chance. I don't know when I'll get to come back. Heading back home in the am because as soon as the hospital gets the fuel to kick in the back up generators, water and sewer, we'll reopen....and we'll all be there. The funniest thing about this situation....I collected all my kids pictures....then spacebagged all my FM/Stevie collection and locked them in Rubbermaid containers, grabbed my jewelry and dogs and slept on a mattress in the hallway on the interior of my house. Funny....what your priorities are....