News on SE Texas/SW Louisiana

[Smarty Pants Liberal]

I know that my relatives are o.k. but I'm looking for more information about SE Texas and SW Louisiana, particularly Port Arthur, Port Neches, Bridge City, Orange, Vinton, LA, and Big Woods, LA. I've read that 75% of the homes and buildings were damaged in Vinton and have seen a picture of the feed store/livery and the recreation center. :cry:

[melody]

1. Orange (where my family is from) was pretty badly damaged

Not sure about the others, though I'd imagine anywhere near it would be in similar circumstances.

[merci_me]

2. PDittie has gathered a lot of info....

I was at a sports bar earlier with him, WestHoustonDem and Lisa085. When I left, they were still shooting pool and he was waiting to hear from his mom. His dad is fine. Though PDittie lives in Houston, he's from Beaumont and as he picks up news, he knows just were they're talking about and can sort it out.

BTW, we all agreed, the best new is Channel 2 and they have news teams over there who grew up in the area, so they probably have a good handle on getting the story reported accurately.

www.Click2Houston.com

[Smarty Pants Liberal]

3. Thanks Melody and Merci_Me

[PDittie]

4. Bmt. Enterprise website has comprehensive news

from the region. It's not sounding good. No water for two weeks, no electricity for as long as a month, no one allowed back in yet.

http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.asp?brd=2287

[tammywammy]

5. This is all I really know

My aunt's house in Port Acres, off of 63rd Street, is okay, and most unless there was a tree on the house, there's not much damage. My aunt's lucky, roof intact, no tree on house. :)

A police officer from Bridge City said that Texas Avenue "looks like a bomb went off." There's a lot of damage to the business along Texas Avenue. We don't know much about a few houses there, because there's too many trees down to get to them.

I heard the fire chief (I think it was him) of Orange on the news the other night saying that every building in Orange County has damage.

Also, a friend of my aunt's (who's down there) said that it was going to take 3-4 weeks to get power up. There under a curfew right now, 6am-4pm. There not letting anyone into Orange County right now. Some refinery workers have been told to come back (including my uncle) and if they don't have their worker ID, they on a list so they can get back in.

I think my uncles are leaving tomorrow (one for the refinery, and the other to start clearing damage on the trailer park that he owns), but all the women are staying behind until later.

If I hear anything else I'll let you know.

Edited to add: Also a lot of gas lines are busted, and that's another reason it'll take 3-4 weeks and why they're not letting anyone in.

[Smarty Pants Liberal]

6. Goodness!

Thanks everyone.

It's hard to find good news on these towns and I appreciate your updates.