Well, Lake Charles was smacked hard by Rita, but she was thankfully a Cat 3 by the time she made landfall. Still, there is no power in Lake Charles so if Cheryl stayed, she won't be heard from for a while. Supposedly they are not even going to start trying to fix the power lines until the wind has died down so that will probably mean not before Monday or so. I live in Moss Bluff just north of Lake Charles, but we high-tailed it to Baton Rouge. We talked to our neighbor and we seemed to come out of it okay, my purple martin house is down and we've lost some facia boards from the front, but otherwise we seemed to weather it okay. South Lake Charles did get some flooding from what I hear, and they want us to wait at least 48 hours before trying to come home - again to no water, or electricity. It could have been a lot worse, I am very thankful and counting my blessings. Thanks to everyone who kept all of us in the area in their prayers! Bless You!

I am very glad to hear that you are ok!
traci

I didn't get a chance to call Cheryl today because we've had a rough day of it too. BUT I promise I will call her in the morning to check on her. I hope I can get through to her. I'll let everyone know!

Now I know what it feels to be on the East side of a hurricane. Thank God it was NO where near as bad as Katrina hitting Mississippi!!

So glad ya'll friends from TX are ok!!! I have a lot of family in Lake Jackson, TX & they have already gone back to their homes. Everything is fine there.

Keep lifting those prayers up for Cheryl!!!
PS.. I made another post under the other hurricane post about the weather we go here in La....

Well thank God the storm was not as bad here as we thought it might be. We had about 80 mph winds, lost some huge tree limbs, about 12 in the back and 2 in the front of our home but no trees fells on our home or vehicles.....2 doors down my neighbor had a tree come stright down the middle of her house. It was bad here for a while, not as bad as we had thought though. We were without power for about 24 hours, and some parts of town are still without power. I think all in all we were extremely blessed here in Lufkin, TX. Thank you all for your prayers. Has anyone heard from ntertayneme ( Cheryl) yet??

Yes, as Cindymm4 said, not near as bad as what we feared here in Lufkin. We had some big limbs down but we never lost power! I don't know how. They said around 45,000 in our area were without it as of last night. Now the lines are long again waiting for gas so people can get back to Houston and Galveston.

Thanks everyone for your prayers! Hope everyone made it through ok!

Im back! Im soo glad to be home! Everything is fine here. No damage at all! Other than the traffic we were stuck in things went pretty smooth. We evacuated to ElPaso and went in to New Mexico to check out the sights. Thanks for all your prayers!

What a beautiful pic!! If we have another hurricane I'll have to remember to go to New Mexico!! Glad you & your family are fine!

Thank you and Im still wishing eveyone a safe homecomming! Drive slow and safe!

Please keep us updated and let us know if anyone hears from Cheryl.

It looks like you chose a great place to get away...the view is gorgeous! Glad you are safe!
traci

We made it through ok.

Glad you made it through safely. Gorgeous picture!
Hugs Squirrelly

So far everyone has made it throught this storm fine, but we still have not heard from Cheryl. Anyone heard from her yet?

I LIVE IN NEW YORK AND I WAS WATCHING THE NEWS FROM THE CITY AND THEY HAD A REPORTER DOWN IN CHERYL'S LAKE CHARLES. THEY GOT HIT PRETTY HARD FROM THE NEWS REPORT. I WONDER IF TC HAS HEARD ANYTHING, PROBABLY NOT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM HER(TC) YET. PLEASE KEEP US UPDATED. I AM GLAD THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS OK.

Sorry ya'll, I haven't heard from Cheryl & I don't have her # like I thought I had. I was watching the local news tonight at 6 & saw a lady that favored her & her last name was the same! The lady was up here in Bossier. Turned out it wasn't Cheryl. I know they do not water, sewage or power in Lake Charles so theirs no way to hear from her.

SPQ_Stefi_B,
Don't you live close to Cheryl's sister Helen? Did you evacuate? If so where are you & is everything ok with you & family? Hope all is ok with you! If there's a chance you could find out some info for us we'd appreciate it.

I'm worried as usual!! Cheryl's last email to me got me worried!! That's why I want to hear from her so bad!!

Keep praying everyone~

I called Cheryl today and talked with her. She is okay and her family (a whole slew of them) are with her. She lives north of me so she had no flooding but the same kind of wind damage. She says there are trees down everywhere. She had about 30 oak trees in her yard before the storm and now she has 30 oak trunks - the tops are gone. The only structural damage was to a shed she had in the yard. She has water but no electricity and phone reception is hit and miss. I know she appreciated being thought about and I know she wishes she could post to you. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers. We who evacuated are stuck not being able to return to our homes, we are hearing October 3rd as a return date which is very frustrating. I had family evacuating from Katrina in my house for 3 weeks so I can empathize with them so much better now!

Thank goodness she is ok. One less worry for us now.

Elise,

Thanks for calling her!!! I'm so glad you did get her! Where in the world are you? I think I have your number but I misplaced Cheryl's. Would you PM me with it please? I'll try giving her a call & see if I can do anything from here. Do YOU need help? Let me know Elise ok!! If I can help I will~

Thanks again for the update!! Wonderful news!!

Thanks so much for the update. I am so glad to hear that Cheryl is ok. That must be just miserable not having power. It has just been so terribly hot!

TC...please let me know if there is anything that Cheryl might need. You can PM me if you want.
traci

I just sent you a PM Traci! Your a wonderful lady!

Well it appears as if we all made it through another one. It seems strange to say WE made it, but that is how I feel. This board feels like one big cake family that truly cares about each other. We may not "know" each other, but that doesn't stop the worry and consern. This board has really restored my faith in humanity, and the power of prayer. At a time in the world when all you see on the news is the negitive, having somewhere to come and see strangers willing to open their homes, give until it hurts, and PRAY for each other is a truly wonderful thing. Thank you Jackie for this special place and its wonderful people. I am very grateful!

Glad to hear that she is ok, yes, pretty amazing to know that it looks like everyone made it through safely!
Hugs Squirrelly

Very glad to hear Cheryl is ok, been very worried about her. Hopefully she will be up and back on CC soon. Also glad to hear most our big CC family made it thru Rita with little damage.