Links to my video taken during & after Hurricane Katrina:

[merh]

I finally found a site that allowed me to upload the video I took during and after Hurricane Katrina. Below are the various links to different video clips.

Beginning of Katrina winds from inside the house, looking out:
http://media.putfile.com/Beginning-of-winds

Katrina waters coming into the 1st floor of the 2 story house I had "evacuated" to. I took this from the stairwell:
http://media.putfile.com/Katrina-waters-coming-into-the-house50

Video of Katrina winds and waters taken from the 2nd story window of my sister's house looking out:
http://media.putfile.com/Katrina-waters--winds-from-2nd-story

Video of Katrina storm waters receding:
http://media.putfile.com/Katrina-waters-still-receding

Another video of the receding waters:
http://media.putfile.com/Katrina-waters-receding

Video of the inside of my sister's house after the waters receded, after the storm.
http://media.putfile.com/Sisters-1st-floor-after-storm

Video of my sister's yard and my truck:
http://media.putfile.com/yard--truck

Video of the remains of my house, what Katrina left me:
http://media.putfile.com/remains-of-my-house


Website that allows for the uploading and storage of video clips: http://www.putfile.com>Upload Video and Images - Putfile

[no name no slogan]

1. Wow

I'd seen one of these already, but they're still very powerful.

I am so glad you survived. I hope the future goes better for you. :hug:

[merh]

2. Thanks for the hug and good wishes.

I know I am blessed to have survived and I know I owe a lot to DUers for my continued successes.

The support and love and encouragement provided to me by you and so many others have made a huge difference for me.

thank you. :hug:

[Suich]

3. Wow...I'm speechless, Merh.

It's one thing to hear the stories and see the photos but to see the video is something else. How far is your place and your sister's from the Gulf?

:hug: Susan

[merh]

5. My house was on Biloxi Back Bay, if you look at my journal, you

will see the before and after photos.

My sisters house WAS NOT on the Biloxi Back Bay, it was inland about 10 miles north of me, located about 2 miles off the marsh and about 1 mile from a very small creek of two rivers. It was also built at 17 foot elevation and the waters came 9 feet into the house.

I thought I had evacuated to a safe place. :shrug:

Live and learn.

thanks for the hug :hug:

[babylonsister]

4. merh, my friend, I knew you were

affected by Katrina, but had no idea to what extent. These videos really tell the story. Your strength speaks volumes; I don't know what I would do if faced with devastation like this. I'm so very glad you and your sister are safe, and I want to give you both a giant hug! :grouphug: And thank you for sharing.

[merh]

8. I haven't uploaded it yet, but I have images of my brother's house.

He lived next door to my sister in a one story house. We had to help him, his wife and 2 & 4 year old, his MIL & FIL and SIL and her husband and 7 year old from their house during the storm to the safety of my sister's 2nd story.

Thank God that Katrina hit during the day, we had decent visability and were able to climb over and under the downed trees and debris. Had this storm occurred at night, there would have been thousands of more deaths.

We all survived the storm and that is indeed a blessing.

Thanks so much babylonsister for all of your support and for the hug. :hug:

[RevCheesehead]

6. Recommended - everyone needs to see this!

:hug: I'm so glad you're alive. :hug:

[merh]

10. Aw, you are so sweet

Though you better pick up that phone when you have times like you had last night. :hug:

Don't make me slap you with my trout.

I'm very much alive and doing well, thanks to friends like you. :hug: :loveya:

[nytemare]

7. What evidence of human resilience.

:hug: :hug: Bless you, Merh.

In Orlando, 2004, we were hit by three of the damned things, but all combined were not as bad as Katrina. My heart truly goes out to you after such devastation, and you have my admiration for pulling through such an awful time.


on edit: I recommended as well.

[merh]

14. There are thousands just as resilent as I am, who are not

as fortunate as I am to have the support that my friends, so many DUers, have given me.

I appreciate your hugs, I really do. :hug:

So many here need help and support, they are not as pig headed as I am.

[nytemare]

17. That is one thing that truly stands out to me after difficult times.

I saw it in Iraq in '91, people who were devastated. They were left with barely anything.

It just strikes me so much how strong human beings can be. People should not have to go through this devastation, but they do. And they make it.

It is good that you have support. I wish the administration cared more for the victims of this storm.

[merh]

25. The administration has failed miserably.

FEMA and all of their subcontractors are a joke, a waste of money and the perfect example of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing.

The administration and our legislators, both federal and state, have allowed the insurance companies to get away with theft and fraud.

See this article in LBN - it will make your blood boil.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2175029&mesg_id=2175029

For all of the resilience, Katrina is still taking its toil, the elderly are dying from broken hearts and suicides are up.

What is so sad is, most folks in the nation don't realize how easily this can happen to them. :(

Again, thank you for your kind words and concern. :hug:

[nytemare]

29. You are quite welcome.

That article is tragic. We are in the midst of Corporate fascism. The folks with the money will get all the breaks.

Gas just jumped 30 cents in two days, and I wonder how anybody making minimum wage can support themselves, let alone a family. The government could put a cap on how much the oil companies can earn per gallon over the cost of crude oil, but they won't do it. Gas should probably be about 1.80 now.

It ticks me off to see good people just trying to make a living get screwed over.

I agree with you about people not realizing it can happen to them. They said last year was the warmest ever on record. These past two hurricane seasons have had more and stronger hurricanes than ever recorded. It is craziness.

[AirmensMom]

9. Why can't I see them?

:cry: I get "The page cannot be diplayed" when I click on them. :cry:

Anyone know what would cause this? I'd like to see them.

Thanks for posting them, merh! You have my admiration for getting through this ... and this is BEFORE I see them. :hug:

[Suich]

11. For some reason

it worked better for me when I clicked on the links in Merh's journal. :shrug:

[AirmensMom]

13. Oh, thanks, Suich.

Don't know why I didn't think to try that. :hi:

edit: Won't work from there either. :( But thanks for the suggestion.

[merh]

19. Try this link to the homepage of the site that allowed the uploading

http://www.putfile.com/determined

:hug:

[AirmensMom]

24. Nope.

Didn't work either. Must be this computer. I'll try the other one tomorrow. Thanks. :hug:

[bigwillq]

28. The links

don't work for me either. :(

[merh]

44. Do you have windows media player?

That is the format they are in. (Or so says Redstone in a post below.)

[bigwillq]

45. I'm at work

I don't think they have it here (Windows media player).

[merh]

49. Sorry

I sure wish I could be of more help with this. :shrug:

I was just so excited that I finally found a way to upload the images.

[bigwillq]

50. I'll check it out tomm.

from home.

:hi:

[merh]

54. cool

:hi:

[bigwillq]

59. Have a good night

I am leaving work soon. :hi:

[merh]

62. I hope you have a good night, too.

Be careful. :hi:

[merh]

15. And you have my admiration and love, AirmensMom.

I hope that the links in my journal do allow the viewing.

I'm not sure how else to link them.

thanks so much for your love & support :hug: :loveya:

[AirmensMom]

23. Aw, merh ...

I really don't know if I'd have had the strength to deal with what you got handed to you. I freaked out over a few roof tiles and torn screens!

The links don't work for me from your journal, but I will try on a different computer tomorrow. I want very much to see them.

You're welcome ... and thank you. :loveya: :hug:

[FuzzySlippers]

12. Thanks for posting this, merh.

:hug:

[merh]

21. Thanks for the hug, Fuzzy!

:hug: :loveya:

[merh]

118. kick

[merh]

119. kick

[bigwillq]

16. Cannot find server

:shrug: :(

[merh]

20. Can you watch the videos at this link?

http://www.putfile.com/determined

[bigwillq]

22. Giving it a shot.....

Nope, cannot find server

[Whoa_Nelly]

18. Thanks for this, merh!

Have bookmarked it.

Damn.......

:hug:

[merh]

26. thanks for your support and encouragement, Whoa_Nelly

:hug:

[graywarrior]

27. Holy crap!

Does it freak you out to watch those, Merh?

[merh]

30. Not anymore.

It did the first few times that I watched them.

I was never afraid of dying, I was prepared to go out the roof and swim if we had to. I had gone all through out the 2nd story finding objects for folks to use as floation devices.

It was a long day of watching as the 1st floor was destroyed and all I kept thinking was, what a mess we would have to clean up. I feared my house was going to be gutted, just like the 1st floor of my sister's house, but I never thought it would be flattened and washed into the street.

Bad weather, heavy rains and winds, tornado warnings, those freak me out. (Not to mention being inside this travel trailer (femansion) is being inside a kettle drum.) Many here have held my hands through such storms.

I am so blessed to have DU to come to, many of DU held me up and continue to kick me in the ass when I am down.

:hug:

[graywarrior]

32. We were all relieved to hear you were ok.

I'm planning on getting out of here at the end of May. Hope we don't have a season like the last two, but the predictions are scary.

[merh]

34. I was so moved by the outreaching of DUers

I truly believe that DUers helped me survive, kept me alive.

The predictions are frightening. It's been way to warm of a winter, no freezes worth mentioning. That Gulf is going to be so hot, storms will just come and build and :scared: I know my evacuation plans have changed, I am going to go 30 miles inland, up on one of he highest hills in our area and stay with my other sister. I guess the femansion will just blow away. :freak:

Good luck to you graywarrior, and thanks so very much. :hug:

[lizziegrace]

31. Mehr

The houses behind you, were they spared or did it just look that way? Those of us who haven't been down there cannot fathom that kind of devastation. I hope that this country - with it's notoriously short attention span - will come through for all of you.

Merh, your perseverence is inspiring.

:hug:

BTW-we're still getting donations for the Katrina fund at our Habitat office. But the need is so great!

[merh]

37. The houses behind me or across the street from me took on

6 to 7 feet of water, they were totally gutted. Our neighborhood is on a penisula, the waters came in from three sides and it was like one huge toilet flushing action. Pieces of my furniture were found in the gutted houses across and down the street from me.

Personal items are still being recovered. I came home yesterday and there was a plastic bag of papers on the steps of my trailer. It contained the still soaked and mud covered remains of the birthday/holiday cards and report cards that my parents had kept over the years. When they died, we each took our own report cards and greeting cards we had given them. They are all stuck together and most of the writing is faded, I won't be able to salvage much. :(

The neighbor who found them thought he was doing me a favor. They have only reminded me of all that I have lost. I used to find solace in reading these things, now, I can't hardly tell what they are.

But, it's just stuff. We survived and I do have hope that I will rebuild. All is not lost, I still have my hope and faith.

If you post a link to where folks can donate to Habitat in this thread, I will be sure to send this information out to all I know. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=360&topic_id=471&mesg_id=471

My perserverance is just doing what I have to do to survive, mixed with hard headedness. Thank you, though, for your kind words and support. :hug:

[lizziegrace]

40. To donate to Habitat

Send a donation to your local Habitat office and indicate Katrina Fund on the check. If you don't have a local office, go to www.habitat.org

Also, Habitat put together a video so we don't forget those affected by Katrina

http://www.habitat.org/videogallery/

:grouphug: Merh

[merh]

43. Thank you, lizziegrace.

I posted that information in the Hurricane Survivor's forum too. :hug:

[EFerrari]

33. Wow again. We need to send these to mogster.

In some form.

Do you have plans for these clips, merh?

:hug:

[merh]

38. I sent mogster the link to this thread.

What type of plans should I have for these links. They are just a history of our Katrina experience.

:shrug:

:loveya: :hug:

[EFerrari]

46. I don't know. Your journal. A photo or film essay.

What you want, when and if you have time, energy or interest.

:pals:

[merh]

53. I've linked this in my journal.

Beyond that, I'm not sure what to do.

:pals:

[Redstone]

35. Do you know what format those videos are in? They don't work on a Mac.

Redstone

[merh]

39. Try the website

http://www.putfile.com/determined

I am challenged when it comes to technical stuff, I just now was able to figure out how to upload this video.

Sorry :hug:

[Redstone]

41. Aha. Windows Media. No worries, I'll start Virtual PC on the other

computer, because I want to see them.

Redstone

[In_The_Wind]

36. Darn it! I've tried everything but I can't see!

x(

[merh]

42. try the website

http://www.putfile.com/determined

:hug:

[In_The_Wind]

91. Nope. That didn't work for me. : (

http://media.putfile.com/Beginning-of-winds

[merh]

94. It works for me, the link you posted.

Do you have Windows Media Player on your computer? Redstone said below that is what is needed.

[In_The_Wind]

120. The links you sent in your PM worked for me. Thanks.

Wow!

[merh]

121. ...

:hug:

[EstimatedProphet]

47. I can't see them either

It says buffering, then it finishes, then never plays. When I click play, it does it again. I've tried the direct links and the homepage link both. I have windows explorer too. Weird.

[merh]

48. That is weird.

I don't know what to tell you. x(

I'm not very astute when it comes to technical things. Sorry.

[SeattleGirl]

52. EP, I just watched all of them, and noticed that they buffered

several times before playing, sometimes 3 or 4 times. Try again and see if you can get them to play.

[EstimatedProphet]

58. OK, maybe that's it. I'll try again.

[EstimatedProphet]

60. Nope

They buffer, then go to 'ready', and if I click play, they re-buffer. Repeating cycle.

It may be Firefox.

[merh]

64. Sorry, EP, I don't know what to tell you.

Maybe someone more computer literate can help me with these links and make them easier to view.

[EstimatedProphet]

66. It's weird

I tired it using Internet Explorer too-same result.

[merh]

68. Mine does it on dial up, if its really busy.

x( Maybe someone will come along and give us some pointers.

[EstimatedProphet]

73. Hey, thatnks for posting though-even if I can't view them!

[merh]

74. thanks for taking so much time trying to view them.

Sorry for the frustration. :hi:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

51. I saw them! Intense.

[merh]

56. Intense - how about two packages of popcorn then?

:popcorn: :popcorn:

And a shot :beer:

:hi:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

61. I saw your post at DemocraticWarrior too!!

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

http://www.democraticwarrior.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=442

[merh]

63. You guys needs hugs over there.

:hug:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

70. BigJerr said he'll see what he can do. Check tomorrow late AM.

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[merh]

71. Will do!

Thanks ;)

:popcorn: :popcorn:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

77. Did you see the Brazilion joke competition thread? LOL.

http://www.democraticwarrior.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=443

[merh]

79. LOL, that is a hoot!

Thanks for pointing it out to me. I'll have to watch that one. :rofl:

[SeattleGirl]

55. Oh merh

I had seen the before and after pictures you had posted awhile back, and was shocked at the total devastation on your property. But these videos....oh my God.

I makes me even happier (if that were possible) that you and so many others survived. But it also makes me even sadder for what people lost, and especially for the horrid loss of life.

And finally, it ratchets my anger against the Bush Administration and all the government officials that SHOULD HAVE and STILL NEED TO do something! There is no excuse, none, for the shit you and all the other survivors have been and are going through. I completely believe in helping our fellow human beings to the best of our ability, be it through time, talent, or treasure, but the government has a responsibility too, and they have failed you and all the other survivors in ways beyond measure. They are beneath contempt.

My friend, I have the greatest admiration for you, and for all the other survivors who are trying, bit by bit, and day by day, to get by, to rebuild their lives, to get on with living. You said in an earlier post you were just doing what needed to be done. That is true, but the physical, emotional and mental effort to do that has to be overwhelming at times.

I wish you many, many blessings, my friend, now and always. :hug:

[merh]

57. If posting these helps folks to understand the immensity of the

destruction, then they serve a purpose greater than I had anticipated.

Yes, the administration has failed us, the daily frustrations that come with their efforts would challenge a saint and our normal is so very different than what it was on August 28th.

Thank you SeattleGirl, for the good wishes and blessings, love and support. :hug:

[SeattleGirl]

85. merh, you can be assured that I have not forgotten, and neither

have many others. And we will NOT LET THAT HAPPEN. All of you are my sisters and brothers. :hug:

[merh]

86. Thanks so much SG. ((((hugs))))

If you see post 75 below, you will read of someone in worse shape than I am. There are hundreds in that situation. :cry:

We have to help them.

:hug: :loveya:

[SeattleGirl]

88. OMG. I don't know whether to cry or scream after reading that.

I missed that post. Thanks for pointing me to it. I wish more than anything that I could go down there and help, but right now I can't.

But one thing I can, have, and will continue doing is speaking out, reminding people, not letting people forget the survivors, and not letting those who should also be taking responsibility for the cleanup and for helping the survivors forget that either.

:loveya: :hug: :loveya:

[merh]

90. And that is doing an awful lot.

Thank you so very much. :hug: :loveya:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

65. Oh, my dear merh.......

I just have no words for these images.......

Thank you for posting them.......It really helps me understand what you endured...

:hug:

[merh]

67. Thanks CP.

:hug: Understanding is what we need down here.

We can't be forgotten, not yet, too much still has to be done. :hug: :loveya:

[lavenderdiva]

69. merh, I am so very, very sorry for all that you have been through...

watching your videos just now has brought me to tears. I am from New Orleans myself, but moved away in 2001 to get married. It is my home, and always will be. 4 of my dearest friends came and stayed with us for a month and a half after Katrina. 1 of them lost everything, but is in the process of trying to rebuild. She won't let me see pictures (she was my next door neighbor, so you know what happened to my old house), because she says I would just be too upset. So seeing the devastation you lived through and survived, is just heartbreaking. Thank God you are alive. I am so sorry about your current circumstances. It just makes me absolutely furious at the ineptitude of * and his cronies. All the wasted money. Not getting to those who so desperately need it.

You will be in my prayers. May God bless you, and keep you close, and provide all your needs. :hug:

[merh]

72. Thank you lavenderdiva

Thank you for your prayers and good wishes.

More importantly, I thank you for understanding the magnitude of the destruction. It is so hard to get folks to understand.

Maybe these videos will help in that regard.

Thank you for taking your friends in and caring for them when they needed safety. :hug:

You are in my prayers. :hug:

[lavenderdiva]

75. I don't know why people 'out there' just aren't getting it...

Its not rocket science, for God's sake! It was a horrific storm, and devastated the coastlines of several states. All they have to do is open their eyes, and see the remnants and devastation. I think people shut their eyes and minds and hearts to things that are just too powerful, and may require more than they feel comfortable knowing. (For example * and how he is screwing up the country, and they don't want to hear 'censure', much less 'impeach')

How anyone can just stand by and do nothing is beyond me. I did what my friends would have done for me, had the circumstances been reversed. One of the people who stayed here, we didn't even know before, but she was a friend of one of our friends, and she had nowhere else to go. Of course, you open your home and help. That is what I hope someone would do for me. They just needed a placed to go and feel safe. Some returned to things just the way they left them. Some returned, and nothing was the same. My former N.O. next door neighbor lost her house, her job- she got fired because her company moved away. She is trying to rebuild, and then she will move somewhere else. She has decided she can no longer stay there. She wants to rent her home, if it is possible, and find a new life elsewhere. Since last August, she has had no trash pick up. All the trash that washed up to her house is still there, along with every thing that was in her house that was taken out to rebuild it. All just sitting in the front, and no trash pick up for oh, now going on 7 months. She has had no television or internet access in 7 months. They have been to her house repeatedly to try to hook her up, but won't dig to find the problem. She has had no mail in 7 months, no paper delivery in 7 months. Since she hasn't seen television or a newspaper, she doesn't even know current news sources other than what they talk about at work, or what she tried to hear on the radio. She hasn't had a kitchen to cook dinner in 7 months. She has a little dormitory-style 1-burner cooker, and a dormitory refrigerator. That's it. She has been sleeping on a blow-up mattress for 7 months. She is tired of living this way, and doesn't see it changing anytime soon. So she wants to move to where she can have a normal life.

Its weird, because the 3 other people who stayed with us, just drove back home and picked up their lives where they left off. Same jobs, same houses (only lost 2 shutters from their houses), they have TV, mail comes to their house every day, they can drive around without fear of getting nails and flat tires. And these people only live across town from each other. But its very different worlds....

You will continue to be in my prayers, merh. Do not lost hope. You are in a lot of DUers thoughts. Thank you for posting your videos. They are powerful reminders of what happened. People need to see them, and see for themselves just what happened and how difficult handling the aftermath is.

Peace, love, and hope to you...:hug:

[merh]

76. Oh dear God, I am so much better off than your friend.

I have the femansion and I was too stubborn to not get electricity and cable to it.

There are hundreds in far worse shape than I am. Your friend is one and she, like the others are in my prayers. Please check the Hurricane Survivors forum for the thread I posted today. It lists the volunteer groups that are helping survivors, just like your friend. They will come in and help her clean up. The Hands On America volunteers are setting up a camp in New Orleans. Have her contact them.

Thanks so very much for the prayers and the good wishes and love. Thanks for caring. :hug:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=360x471

[lavenderdiva]

78. Thank you SO much for the info about the clean-up help...

That is JUST what she needs. She has called the Army Corps of Engineers repeatedly, and they have actually come out to her house and REFUSED to pick up the trash around her house!!!!!!!! She has been sleeping in the 2nd story of her house, while the whole downstairs was torn out. I don't think I would have been that brave. I will definitely call her tomorrow, and get her the info to get her some help. Thank you again, merh.

[merh]

80. A DUer, intheflow, is working with the Hands On America folks

here. If you need any help, pmail her. I am sure she can point you in the right direction and/or tell you who it is your friend needs to talk to.

Good luck to your friend. :hug:

[lavenderdiva]

81. will do, thanks, merh! n/t

[jus_the_facts]

82. After havin' to download an updated version of WinMediaPlayer....

....I'm finally gettin' to watch them...so sorry merh...thanks for sharing them with us. :cry: :hug: :loveya:

[merh]

83. I didn't realize the links would cause so many such trouble.

Thanks for caring enough to go through the trouble just to view the videos. :hug:

thanks for the hug too :loveya:

[jus_the_facts]

84. No trouble...just takes a long time on this old computer....

....you're most welcome for the hug...here's a couple more...you take care of yourself! :hug: :hug: :hug:

[fooj]

87. (((((((((((merh))))))))))))

I'm always here for you. Anytime. Day or night.:hug:

Peace to you, my friend.

[merh]

89. I know you are, fooj. ((((hugs))))

Thank you so much. :hug:


:loveya:

[mogster]

92. Kick!

Thank you, merh! :-)

I'll be sure to put these up at KU! What a horrifying storm that was!

Big :hug:

[merh]

95. If you put them up at KU, will folks have a better chance of

seeing them without all the snags that folks have had here?

There are several unable to open them.

It was a heck of a storm, had it been dark when it hit, more would have perished for sure.

Thank you for the big :hug: and giving it right back to you Big :hug:

[merh]

151. I'm uploading them to that site.

I'll let you know when I'm finished, it's slow on dial up, but it is working. :hi:

:hug:

[Call Me Wesley]

93. I can only invision

what you felt when you filmed all that; and I am still stunned that it has happened as bad as it did, regarding where it happened. It looks like 3rd world footage, but it's not.

And I can only slightly invision what strength you have within you to carry on and to let go.

:hug:

[merh]

97. There weren't a whole lot of other options.

You just have to do what you have to do to survive and go on.

Can you help with the viewing of the video issues some are having? Joani and Estimated Prophet can't see the videos and I don't know why, if it is something I did or the site or what.

Thanks CMW for your support and thanks for the :hug:

[Call Me Wesley]

100. Worked fine for me,

took a long time to load though. How big are the video files?

[merh]

101. The largest one is about 13,000 KB

from what I can tell.

I don't understand why some folks can't see the images. I guess I'll always be technically challenged.

Thanks CMW. :pals:

[Call Me Wesley]

103. Hold on a second ... (nt)

[billyskank]

96. You should upload these to Google Video

https://upload.video.google.com/

They will then be found by anybody searching. :hi:

Edit: unfortunately your video is not viewable by me. :(

[merh]

98. Sorry billy, I'm working on that, not google necessarily.

hopefully something will work.

thanks for trying :hug:

[bridgit]

99. FYI = my hugs to you sweetheart...

To: merh
Date: Mar-19-06 07:24 AM

everyone says while only perhaps knowing it 2nd, or 3rd hand, that nature is awesome...but to live it 1st hand is a whole other story.

peace to you, merh (((big ole hug)))

[merh]

102. (((hugs)))

And everyone says that the power of prayer/positive energies from DU is awesome ... I can attest to that too. Without this place, without the support of DUers, like you, I'd be in such sad, sad shape. I truly believe this place, and all the love and prayers and energies, has helped me be strong, to make it beyond the blow nature gave me.

thank you for the hug, thank you for your support and caring.

(((((((big ole hug))))))))))

[understandinglife]

104. Thank you for posting these links, merh. Recommended.

Be The Bu$h Opposition - 24/7

[merh]

107. thanks UL

:hug:

Peace!

[LaurenG]

105. I can't wrap my head around the videos.

I don't have words to express how sad it feels. I can only imagine how strong you are. Thank you Merh for posting this.:hug:

[merh]

106. The thing I hope folks get out of these videos is that this is just

one family's experience out of thousands of people's experiences. We were not the only ones that had to go through this on the 29th, we weren't the only survivors that had these experiences. There are thousands of walking wounded on the Gulf Coast, thousands that went through similar, if not more horrific struggles that day.

Each of us had our own experience, each of us share the same nightmare and the same dream, to rebuild our lost lives and to put our nightmares to rest.

thanks OhioBlues, thanks for the hug and the support. :hug:

[uppityperson]

108. Thanks merh, I missed this and wanted to see

Is it ok to link to these on my blog? I get only a few hits a day, but still some people will see it (my parent and the people who did a recent benefit here are checking in as well as some random people). So far I've seen the winds begin. Are your family local also? :hi: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[merh]

109. Please link these.

You have been so helpful and have given so much to help me and so many others.

Thanks so much for all of your help and your support. :hug:

Call Me Wesley is actually trying to set this up so that the viewing is much easier. You may want to wait and see if he is successful and use his links. Several folks are having trouble with these links.

(((((((hugs)))))))))

:loveya:

[uppityperson]

110. OK, I'll be patient and I read through the rest here, see about family

where they were and all. Hang in there, amazing pictures. I am glad it was daytime and that you are ok.

[merh]

113. Please use those links

And be sure to give credit to putfile. :hi:

thanks again! :hug:

[Catherine Vincent]

111. KR&B!

:hi:

[merh]

116. (((hug)))

:hi: :hug:

[uppityperson]

112. Merh, am glad your sister's house was as strong as it was.

Oh my. Few words. hugs

[merh]

115. So am I!

Actually, we stayed mainly in one room upstairs, certain the other was taking the brunt of the damage. All of the large pieces of furniture were battering rams with the waves and were beating the hell out of the walls and the ceilings.

When the waters finally receded, we did make it downstairs and realized the room were were occupying was the weakest room. :crazy:

There were just a few 2 by 4s keeping the floor, the weakened and drooping, plywood in place.

We all were very, very lucky.

:hug:

[NNadir]

114. Thank you for putting the reality on our doorstep.

[merh]

117. and thank you for caring

:hug:

[MissMillie]

122. Thoroughly horrifying

I am so glad you made it through that w/ your life. You lost a lot, to be sure, but we're glad you're still with us.

[merh]

123. thank you, MissMillie

:hug:

I'm glad to still be around too. So many good folks around here and way too much fun.

:hug:

[Shine]

124. Wow, stunning images, merh.

:kick: Thanks for sharing. Kicked and recommended!

You are a powerful and resilient woman and you have many who love you, merh. :loveya:

We all stand with you, in friendship. :grouphug:

[merh]

127. thank you Shine

:hug: :loveya:

[dolo amber]

125. That last clip....damn.

Wow. Damn. :( :pals:

[merh]

126. thanks

:hug:

[AirmensMom]

128. They're working for me today, merh. I can finally see them.

Shocking. Have I told you how much I admire your strength? :hug:

Thanks for posting. :pals:

[bigwillq]

129. They still don't work for me.

And I'm at my home computer this time.
The other day when I tried to view them, I was at work and I don't think we have Windows Media Player at the work computers.


But I now we have the Media Players at home.

I don't know what's wrong.

[AirmensMom]

130. I'm not sure what I did.

I updated my Windows Media Player. But then it still didn't work. Now it does. It's a mystery to me.

[bigwillq]

131. merh sent me a PM

with links that another DU formatted for her and now they are working.
I can send you those links if you would like me too.

[AirmensMom]

132. Oh, good!

I'm glad you can see them now. Sure, send them to me in case my stuff stops working again. Thanks. :hi:

[bigwillq]

133. I will send them to you

A few didn't work for me, it said URL Couldn't be found but the rest worked. Pretty scary stuff.

[AirmensMom]

134. Got them, thanks.

I agree, it's pretty scary. :scared:

[Feron]

136. Please PM the links to me as well..

Linux and Windows Media Player don't work well together. ;)

I can view wmp files however.

TIA!!

It would probably be better if the links were posted here if bandwidth is not a concern.

[merh]

137. bandwidth is a concern

that's why they are not posted here.

Welcome to DU and thanks for the interest. :hi:

[merh]

135. thanks AirmensMom

:hug: I'm pretty fond of you too. ;)

We warrior women need to stick together :hug:

[AirmensMom]

138. That's nice to know.

Still, I don't think I could have handled what I saw in those videos. I know you do what you have to do ... but just imagining it makes my head spin. In our case, it was merciful that we couldn't see what was going on around us (the view was blocked by the hurricane panels). It wasn't anything like what you saw, but the neighbors told us how scary it was seeing things flying around and having the windows broken, etc. The "unveiling" when we finally went outside was unbelievable -- the neighborhood was unrecognizable, even though the houses were all standing. My heart sank ... but seeing your video was ten times more shocking. Wow.:cry:

Let's hear it for warrior women! :bounce: I liked that. :hug:

[merh]

139. Warrior women is Heidi's term.

I just think you and I both fall in the category. :hug: :loveya:

[Tellurian]

140. Got it, merh...

God almighty!

The water flooding through your windows is an awesome sight.
I don't know how you do it, merh-

I'm nowhere near as brave as you, thats for sure..

I can't imagine if it were me here, watching our livestock penned in their
stalls and paddocks with no way out, swimming for their lives
not knowing their fate is hopelessly sealed.

Me thinking... Noah's Ark. Too much to bear!

{{{Hugs}}} to you dear friend-

As Always-

[merh]

141. ((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))

Thanks Tellurian, thanks for all you have done for me to help me get through this adventure. :hug:

:loveya:

[Generic Other]

142. Nothing prepared me for those videos of the water rising

You brave souls! ((((((HUG))))))

[merh]

143. We were sort of caught off guard by it ourselves.

Never in a million years would I have thought the waters would have come up to the house, let alone come that high in the house. I mean, for pete's sake, I evacuated to what I thought was the safe place to be.

Thanks for your support and the hugs :hug:

[Generic Other]

144. It just looks so frightening to see it on video

I used to live in the tropics. We had terrible typhoons but nothing like this. You must have been petrified. I'm amazed you got the videos!

It doesn't look like you would have made it if you didn't have a second floor to retreat to. Wow. When you multiply that devastation by 3 states! It's overwhelming. From news reports, it doesn't even appear as if anything has really been done to fix the situation.

Our military forces should be doing work detail to help you folks. The failure to do this is in my opinion is proof that the US government has collapsed. We are without any real central leadership.

Unbelieveable. I hope things are looking up somewhat. I don't know. It's not like you can even start the rebuilding when the clean-up is still so slow.

You Southerners are pretty tough folk. I can't believe * IS ABLE TO VISIT THE AREA WITHOUT BEING TORN LIMB FROM LIMB.

[merh]

145. LOL - it's a classic case of Stockholm's Syndrome and thousands

in our nation suffer from it, especially down here. :(

They love their captor and fear angering him will mean their tough times will be even tougher. :cry:

[Generic Other]

146. You'd think he'd be more hated than General Sherman

after burning Atlanta!

[merh]

147. They will once they figure how how much red tape

is before them, into next year and beyond

It is a never ending cycle of frustrations and heart ache that the government could put an end to if they required the insurance companies to live up to the contracts they have/had with us.

[Generic Other]

148. Red tape in red states! Some people just have to learn the hard way!

I don't know where * finds his handpicked audiences. Maybe at a school for the blind. For some reason those I hear defending him do it because they feel SORRY for him. Imagine!

[Generic Other]

149. I am freeway blogging today (painting the signs)

I think if I was in your neighborhood, I'd go spray paint "You are in Bush Country" on every loose piece of board I could find. Keep reminding people who's to blame.

[merh]

150. Sorry for him??!?!!!

Damn, who wants a president, the leader of the "toughest" nation in the free world, to have citizens feel sorry for him???

I want my nation back :cry: