Hello All, Just wanted to say a quick hello to all my AVSIM friends -- I and the family and nags are all alive and have survived this mess, We're abotu 150 miles from the coast and got hammered pretty bad, but we're still here. Borrowing a computer from a neighbor who seems to have the only phone working in miles, and he has a generator . . . boy, appreciate your air conditioning and electric, cause when you don't have it, it hurts.We're without water, electric and phone, but we're alive and thats more than some can say. Again, I had a ton of emails in my box, from a bunch of AVSIM friends . . . thanks all, and a few prayers from whichever God you worship would help . . . not only for myself and my family but for all in New Orleans and Biloxi too . . . those two areas look like a war zone.We'll recoup, and when the power comes back on, (they say about 2 weeks), I'll be back, satire as usual. Bless you all, Clayhttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"

Glad your ok Clay. Need anything sent to ya??

Hi Clay:Good to hear you and your family are safe. Hopefully, help is headed your way. I have family that lives on the Westbank in Marero but I still haven't heard from them. It's hard not knowing.

Hello Clay,Glad to hear you all made it thru in relatively good shape. The first sentence of your note left me with the impression that you practiced polygamy---then I realized you keep horses! Should have known, since I live in the Thoroughbred Capitol of the World. If you don't already recognize that as Ocala, FL, I'm sure not going to tell you!I've enjoyed some periods sans electricity and was ecstatic when the next opportunity to pay my utility bill finally came. A trick I learned as a Boy Scout finally paid off---rub two sticks together until the lights come on. Don't know if that did it, but I stayed out of trouble for quite a while.We're looking forward to your return to AVSIM.Take care,JackD

Glad to hear you're okay, Clay. We (in Miami) tried to slow her down a little, but it didn't last long enough. Bless YOU and everyone else affected by this disaster. Everyone - keep donating to the Red Cross, whenever and wherever you can.

Good to hear from you, Drac!Jaap.

Clay great to hear you and the family made it out safe and sound... :-)

Hey Clay, glad to hear you guys are ok. *:-* Hope you will get yourselves set up again soon. :-hahBest wishesEtienne :-wave

Glad to see you back. Sorry to hear the power will be out so long. I am one of the fortunate ones that had power back in a few days. I live in West Mobile, which is heavily populated and I assume is why power was restored so quickly.For everyone else, please try to donate something. You can donate over the internet to the American Red Cross using your credit card at:https://give.redcross.org/?hurricanemastheadThanks to everyone!

Glad you're OK"Those two areas look like a war zone."A reporter from a Swedish paper who's there sais it's worse than either Iraq, Bosnia or Croatia...

Hi Ken!I tried to do so, but it seems they have no provision for Europeans to donate. For example, there's no way to circumvent the (obligatory) box where one needs to pick the American State one lives in, and neither is there a way to simply enter N/A or non-applicable.Oh, well... there are many other ways to donate money, but I'm sad that, at the very moment that contributions from all over the world are most neeeded and many non-Americans want to spontaneously give whatever they can afford (in fact giving BACK, the Americans always having generously donated to us in the past when we were in dire circumstances), the American Red Cross apparently doesn't provide that option.As I said, there are many other ways to donate, but I would like to be sure the small sum I am able to give to go to a GOOD and SOUND organization. Would you by any chance have another link to a serious and honest American relief organization that might be willing to stoop low enough to accept money from myself and any other sorry bunch of wops, wogs and dagoes? Be well!Jaap Verduijn.

Hi Jaap:Please check the pinned post at the top of this forum. I have listed other organizations to donate to.Any if anyone out there knows of other organizations, please add to that post.

Thanks mate, will do!Jaap.

Hello All, First, Ken, Glad you are yours are OK -- and everyone else in our community who lives in the surronding area. UPDATE: I guess we in Lauderdale, MS are some of the fortunate ones, as I look upon my shattered barns, downed trees and ripped roof, it's pretty difficult to feel anything but Praise for God and thanks that we only got hammered that much. Thinking of all the others on the coast who have gone through emmense suffering -- well, my barns and such just pale to all that horror!They say we might even have power by tomorrow, and water this afternoon . . .wow, a hot shower and electric -- you don't know how good you have it until it's gone. the wife and I have stayed pretty busy hauling water for our neighbors and their animals, and gas for the elderly who despertly need it for their generators -- Gas is now the gold mark around here, it's like manna from heaven.I would like again to thank all my friends who have inquired about myself and my family . . . thanks, you're hopes and well wishes have been reassuring and helped keep my spirits up. Once I get my power and computer back up I will respond to each and every one of you. Again, this is perhaps the largest natural disaster that has hit our conuntry, and will take many years to rebuild and fade from our memories. I watched a bit of news on the TV last night at my one neighbor who lets me use this computer and again I was shocked at what I saw down on the coast -- my prayers are with all those less fortunate.My very best to all, Clayhttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"