See you all on the other side (of Katrina that is)

[Walt]

Well, I'll be unplugging and stowing the PC's in a few minutes in preparation for the absolute stomping my area of the state is about to receive. For any of you that have never looked at the left side of my posts, I live in Missippi (yes the spelling is intentional). Mize, MS, to be precise. My workplace is in Magee, about 15 miles west of Mize along state highway 28. There is a good chance that the eye of Katrina may pass between/over/destroy Mize and Magee. Either way, if it comes within 50 miles of us, we'll probably get atleast 80 mph winds.

We haven't gone as far as folks on the coast in preparing, like boarding up windows, but we're taking the necessary precautions...plenty of nonperishable food and water, flashlights, candles, mosquito spray, etc...

Hopefully this wont be a repeat of Camille, who's eye passed right over Mize and did some major damage, but who knows.

You know things are getting bad when your local Wal-Mart closes

It'll probably be a few days or even weeks before I can respond due to power outtages and such. My father-in-law works for the local power company, and he said that they're preparing for the absolute worst in this area. He said we could be without power for several weeks if things get bad enough.

Anyways, Reed, be glad you're not and farther south than you are now. If things seem to take a turn for the better and slacken up, I may reconnect my PC and give everyone an update, but if not, I'll update as soon as I can. I plan to get some video footage (hopefully) that I can post online for everyone to see. It's amazing to see 20-30 year old pines bend over


Be safe!

[HenryJ]

...Be safe!

NO, you be safe! I'd offer a place to stay, but by the time you get here it would be all over

Let us know as soon as you can that everybody is OK.

[Walt]

Will do. I thought I'd check things again before I pulled the plug

Brule, It would take me atleast a day to get out of the state, and that's avoiding major highways and interstates.

Peace!

[Rusty]

Wow! I realize you probably won't get this now until afterwards but good luck anyway and I hope everything and everyone is Ok when it's over!

I live in northern Virginia and the projected path might bring it fairly close although there won't be much left of Katrina when it gets here. Still, we might get a few good storms out of it and (knowing this area) maybe even a tornado or two so I need to stock up on gas for the generator and other stuff.

Hope to hear from you soon!

[BADs Crew]

4 days no word yet.

[F9K9]

The silence has been deafening and heavy on my mind. I am sure most of us are feeling the same way.

[barch97]

If mississippi is anything like what I've been seeing of new orleans... best of luck to you, wamason. If there's anything we can do to help please don't hesitate to ask.

I cannot believe the happy face that network news is trying to put on all this. With their human interest stories of the families that stuck it out. Why are they trying so hard to hide the fact there are roving gangs of armed criminals moving about the city taking whatever they want from whomever has it? From what I understand, if you are alone on the streets of NO right now you are in immediate danger of being robbed raped and murdered.

Be safe, wamason.

[F9K9]

If mississippi is anything like what I've been seeing of new orleans... best of luck to you, wamason. If there's anything we can do to help please don't hesitate to ask.

I cannot believe the happy face that network news is trying to put on all this. With their human interest stories of the families that stuck it out. Why are they trying so hard to hide the fact there are roving gangs of armed criminals moving about the city taking whatever they want from whomever has it? From what I understand, if you are alone on the streets of NO right now you are in immediate danger of being robbed raped and murdered.

Be safe, wamason.

I dunno what news you are watching but, Fox News Channel is not painting a pretty picture. It was a little flowery when everyone thought New Orleans basically survived but, that soon disappeared when reality sank in. They are now showing bodies of those that died trying to make it to the suoerdome, MS was hit harder but, New Orleans is drawing all the media attention.

I echo Barch in the offer of if there is anything we can do please let us know.

[barch97]

Yeah, I may have spoken a little too soon there. Hadn't seen a tv since I left for work this morning. It appears they're coming around now.

[adrenalnjunky]

Looking at where Mize is in MS. - THey probably weathered the storm decently - but there was still a cat 2 hurricane at that point - large chunks of Mississippi are still without power - which is the most likely reason we haven't heard back.

IF gas didn't cost so dang much, I'd almost take my 4 day weekend and roll out that direction - would have been a 3-4 hour drive for me.

[Rusty]

I prefer to think Wamason is Ok and just can't get access to the internet to let us know. Think positive!

[bwenny247]

everytime i see CNN or that area in the news i wonder if he's ok.
Our thoughts are with you wamason
come back safe

[HenryJ]

He is hopefully out enjoying some really good mudd'n

[kf6kmx]

I prefer to think Wamason is Ok and just can't get access to the internet to let us know. Think positive!

I know locally several people have been trying to get through on HAM radio to that area and are running into the power outages.. the IRLP links on that end are down (no power for the internet link, even though most of the repeaters themselves are rigged with emergency backup power, usually solar so it will recharge itself w/o fuel).
And a few people locally have made sporadic contacts through HF radio directly, but a lot of the hams in that area are either busy with cleanup, didnt have backup power to their rigs or took damage to the larger HF antennas and arent back on the air yet.
I've been on 12+hour shifts out here at the base this week, so I havent even turned my radio on in over a week.. need to fire it up and see if any of the links are back online (and try the link back to Rusty again and see if its working

[Rusty]

I've been on 12+hour shifts out here at the base this week, so I havent even turned my radio on in over a week.. need to fire it up and see if any of the links are back online (and try the link back to Rusty again and see if its working

Oh? Does that mean I need to turn my radio on again? I've tried calling you a bunch of times (not lately though) and got nothing but dead air. Ray did say the link works and it does seem to.

By the way, I changed my callsign. I'm now W4GSK. I got tired of the KI4KLU sign. I don't know what it was but even when I spelled it out phonetically, people got it wrong. I think "Whiskey Four Golf Sierra Kilo" works better.

Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled topic

Wamason! Where are you?!?!?!

[kf6kmx]

I've been on 12+hour shifts out here at the base this week, so I havent even turned my radio on in over a week.. need to fire it up and see if any of the links are back online (and try the link back to Rusty again and see if its working

Oh? Does that mean I need to turn my radio on again? I've tried calling you a bunch of times (not lately though) and got nothing but dead air. Ray did say the link works and it does seem to.

By the way, I changed my callsign. I'm now W4GSK. I got tired of the KI4KLU sign. I don't know what it was but even when I spelled it out phonetically, people got it wrong. I think "Whiskey Four Gold Sierra Kilo" works better.

Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled topic

Wamason! Where are you?!?!?!

Yeah, I'll probably turn my radio on some this weekend at least Going to be doing a redesign of the website for my church, so I'll probably turn on the radio that sits on my desk this weekend.
I like the W4GSK call.

On the regular schedule topic, what town is he in? I'll see if any of the locals on HF have gotten any responses near there for a condition report.

[Rusty]

On the regular schedule topic, what town is he in? I'll see if any of the locals on HF have gotten any responses near there for a condition report.

He was in "Mize" which looks to be right in between, Jackson, Meridian and Hattiesburg. About 50 miles from each according to Mapquest. Of course where he is now is anyone's guess. Don't know if he stayed or split town.

[HenryJ]

WORD FROM OUR LOST BOY!

Hey brule, it's walt. This is my cell phone email. just letting everyone know that we're ok. no phones or power, but we're alive.

[Rusty]

WORD FROM OUR LOST BOY!

Hey brule, it's walt. This is my cell phone email. just letting everyone know that we're ok. no phones or power, but we're alive.

GREAT!!!!

(And to give some credit where credit is due - )

[barch97]

YAY!!!

[HenryJ]

hey dood. im typing this from my phone. I can check this address from my phone periodicaly. Tell the folks on the forum to please contact the red cross or other help orgs. People south of us are in real trouble! Ill try to keep in touch. You can mail me back at this address. -walt

I will pass the word. Stay safe. Is there anything that YOU need?

[BADs Crew]

All rite!!!

[F9K9]

TY, HJ

[bwenny247]

Thank God
's have been answered!
Thanks HJ for letting us know