Lake Charles has suffered severe damage!

[McNeeserocket]

Judging by CNN and Fox News, Lake Charles appears to be hardest hit by Hurricane Rita. Winds, rain and storm surge continue in Lake Charles. Have not seen enough pictures to see how badly damaged McNeese State is at this point. A lot of structural damage to buildings due to winds and thousands of downed trees.

I am in Shreveport, still wondering if my animals have survived in my home which is 1 mile from the university. All I am praying for is that my animals are all right.

[JMU Duke Dog]

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all down there.

[bobcatfan06]

All the Bobcats are praying for our SLC brothers in Lake Charles. Hope you guys can get back on your feet in near time.

[ChickenMan]

Judging by CNN and Fox News, Lake Charles appears to be hardest hit by Hurricane Rita. Winds, rain and storm surge continue in Lake Charles. Have not seen enough pictures to see how badly damaged McNeese State is at this point. A lot of structural damage to buildings due to winds and thousands of downed trees.




I am in Shreveport, still wondering if my animals have survived in my home which is 1 mile from the university. All I am praying for is that my animals are all right.


I know how you feel... good luck

[skinny_uncle]

Best of luck to you and yours.

[Coastal89]

http://www.newsmax.com/images/headlines/RitaFlood-1.jpg
Harrah's Casino in Lake Charles

[McNeeserocket]

I know how you feel... good luck

Tears of Joy after finding out both my home and animals are fine. Damage on property, but house is fine and animals are none the worse for wear.

Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts.

[ISUMatt]

THATS GREAT NEWS WE ARE SO THANKFUL HERE EVERYTHING SEEMS OK!!!

[Tod]

Tears of Joy after finding out both my home and animals are fine. Damage on property, but house is fine and animals are none the worse for wear.

Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts.
:hyped: :hyped: :hyped: :hyped: :hyped: :hyped: :hyped: :hyped: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :nod: :nod: :nod: :nod: :nod: :) :) :) :) :) xprost2x xsmoochx

[GeauxLions94]

Tears of Joy after finding out both my home and animals are fine. Damage on property, but house is fine and animals are none the worse for wear.

Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts.

Glad to hear the house and pets are fine. Had the same situation here in Slidell with Katrina (family pooch went four days before we were able to get back).

Heard on WWL that Cowboy Diamond took a hit. Any truth to that?

[blukeys]

Damage on property, but house is fine and animals are none the worse for wear.

Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts.

So the dogs met you at the door with wagging tails and with every indication that they were happy to see you. The cats held back and were clear in their sentiments. "So you ran away and came back. Big Fat hairy deal! :p When are we getting fed so we can curl up and take a nap." ;) ;) It is amazing what our animals can handle. :D :D

[blackfordpu]

Tears of Joy after finding out both my home and animals are fine. Damage on property, but house is fine and animals are none the worse for wear.

Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts.

Glad to hear it. :) :nod:

Anyone know how our friend buck is doing? :confused: :(

[Kill'em]

http://www.newsmax.com/images/headlines/RitaFlood-1.jpg
Harrah's Casino in Lake Charles
Wow, Lake Charles is literally a lake! My thoughts and prayers go out to you.

[Proud Griz Man]

I am watching the news and fear that you McTeam boys suffered the worst of the storm. You guys down in Lake Charles, tell me what is best, but ...


I have been thinking about this for several hours and wish that the AGSers can band together and help you out.

I was thinking about funnelling my donations to the:

United Way of SW Louisiana
EIM #72-0456901
Organ.# 200909
715 Ryan St. Suite #102
Lake Charles, LA 90601-4200

When you get power restored and can tell us where to send our $$ support, please let us know how to help you.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you. :o

[Kill'em]

Sure couldn't get I-A'ers to do that.

[McNeese72]

Heard on WWL that Cowboy Diamond took a hit. Any truth to that?

Well, that might save on the fee for demolition. The center section of the stands was condemmed during last season because of deterioration of the steel beams below it. They were trying to get money from the state to tear them down and build some new stands.

I'm still in Pine Bluff, Ark. But I have heard that a tree just barely clipped one corner of my house but that my office building was undamaged. But I still want to see it for myself. We will, hopefully, be heading back Monday or Tuesday.

Hey Jeannie, I guess your husband is going to be busy for awhile. :) I am sure glad I had him cut down that big oak tree right next to my office last year.

Doc

[Ronbo]

What is the condition of the stadium? Anyone know? Where would McNeese play if the stadium needs a few weeks to get back in shape? How did the new scoreboard come through?

[JaxSinfonian]

I am watching the news and fear that you McTeam boys suffered the worst of the storm. You guys down in Lake Charles, tell me what is best, but ...


I have been thinking about this for several hours and wish that the AGSers can band together and help you out.

I was thinking about funnelling my donations to the:

United Way of SW Louisiana
EIM #72-0456901
Organ.# 200909
715 Ryan St. Suite #102
Lake Charles, LA 90601-4200

When you get power restored and can tell us where to send our $$ support, please let us know how to help you.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you. :o

Just another thought here, but Ralph's got that nifty PayPal account set up for us to donate to AGS. Perhaps we could use that to collect everyone's cash right here and then have Ralph send a big check to wherever it's going? If, of course, Ralph and everybody else thinks that would work.

[McNeese72]

What is the condition of the stadium? Anyone know? Where would McNeese play if the stadium needs a few weeks to get back in shape? How did the new scoreboard come through?

All I heard was tlhat the field was full of water. There is a reason why we call it The Hole and evidently the pumps weren't working.

I haven't heard anything yet about the new never been used yet scoreboard.

[Eaglegus2]

CNN had a short blip on the news about McNeese having substanial damage.

They didn't report any details.

A lot of us Georgia Southern fans were talking about helping our friends from McNeese. We will post on the www.tscsports.com board concerning where to send donations when someone lets us know.

We feel honored in helping our 1-AA brothers & sisters.

Buckp and the rest of the McNeese posters; let us know how we can help and how you are doing.


Our prayers are with you.

[Proud Griz Man]

just bumping this thread to the top.

[McNeese72]

A lot of us are in limbo right now. We won't know what we are facing for sure until they let us go back. I'm lucky in that my brother-in-law is a Captain in the Sulphur Police Dept and stayed behind in the Command Center in Lake Charles. He was able to a chance to check on some of our properties so I know a little about what I'll be facing when I get home and I'm getting very antsy to start back. If I was by myself I think I'd go now but I'm traveling with 17 people in 8 cars. So we are hoping to head back tomorrow or Tuesday.

[pennyguin2005]

We here in the Youngstown area send our thoughts and prayers. If there is anyway we can help: Please let us know.

[beerkat]

that picture from the casino in the water is in the parking lot where I always park at harrahs, its about 3 or 4 feet above lake level at normal times to no surpise that its flooded

[rcny46]

Tears of Joy after finding out both my home and animals are fine. Damage on property, but house is fine and animals are none the worse for wear.

Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts.


HANG IN THERE!

[McTailGator]

A lot of us are in limbo right now. We won't know what we are facing for sure until they let us go back. I'm lucky in that my brother-in-law is a Captain in the Sulphur Police Dept and stayed behind in the Command Center in Lake Charles. He was able to a chance to check on some of our properties so I know a little about what I'll be facing when I get home and I'm getting very antsy to start back. If I was by myself I think I'd go now but I'm traveling with 17 people in 8 cars. So we are hoping to head back tomorrow or Tuesday.


Doc,

Did I hear right? Are they telling us we have to stay gone until after October 3rd?

[89Hen]

Has anyone heard from Buck?

[McTailGator]

Glad to hear the house and pets are fine. Had the same situation here in Slidell with Katrina (family pooch went four days before we were able to get back).

Heard on WWL that Cowboy Diamond took a hit. Any truth to that?


Yea, Cowboy Diamond was flattened.

[McNeeserocket]

Has anyone heard from Buck?

If you are talking about Chris Buchanan, he is fine. He rode out the storm with his mother in Lake Charles, but has since moved to a fellow geauxcowboys friend in Lafayette, LA (about 80 miles east of Lake Charles). He has a nice dry, cool place to stay with all his family members.

[CosmoVixen24]

I'm glad to hear that you all are okay.

[JoltinJoe]

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you on the Gulf Coast.

I'll feel a lot better when Buckp checks in.

[Husky Alum]

We at Northeastern have very close ties to McNeese (after all, y'all gave us our basketball coach and we're VERY thankful for that), and our thoughts go out to our counterparts in the Southland Conference.

I heard there was terrible damage on campus and the Burton Coliseum's roof suffered some damage to boot.

I'm sure there will be some friends of the Everhart's from Lake Charles up here in Boston, and I've asked Northeastern to reach out to the leadership at McNeese to see if we could do anything to help. I suggested that if Tic Price needs a place for his basketball team, we should do anything and everything to help the Cowboys.

If there's anything we can do from up north, please advise.

[McNeeserocket]

We at Northeastern have very close ties to McNeese (after all, y'all gave us our basketball coach and we're VERY thankful for that), and our thoughts go out to our counterparts in the Southland Conference.

I heard there was terrible damage on campus and the Burton Coliseum's roof suffered some damage to boot.

I'm sure there will be some friends of the Everhart's from Lake Charles up here in Boston, and I've asked Northeastern to reach out to the leadership at McNeese to see if we could do anything to help. I suggested that if Tic Price needs a place for his basketball team, we should do anything and everything to help the Cowboys.

If there's anything we can do from up north, please advise.

Thanks so much for your university's concern and thoughtfulness. In addition to having our X-basketball coach, you now also have one of our athlectic trainers. Tony T. is a wonderful guy and will bring great things to your program. We at McNeese miss him and wish him all the best.

It will be some time until McNeese posters can let you know what our status is, as most of Lake Charles residents are not in Lake Charles and can not return for at least a week (from what official sources are saying). In the mean time I will thank you on behalf of all the Cowboy fans, players, coaches and administration for your thoughts, prayers and expressions of hope.

[McNeeserocket]

The kindness expessed on this message board by so many people from all over the country helps to offset the stress of what has happened in Lake Charles. I want everyone to know how very grateful the McNeese Cowboy community is to all of you who have expressed concern and a willingness to help.

It is hard for most of us to answer questions about how McNeese State and its facilities came through the hurricane, as 99% of our residents are not in Lake Charles at the moment and may not be allowed back in the city for another week at least. There are major problems with some of Lake Charles' basic infrastructure that the media is not elaborating on as of yet. Most of the info I and others have heard about has come from CNN, Fox News and other media sources. I suspect many of you in other parts of the nation have actually seen more than we have of our damage in Lake Charles. My uneducated guess is that several of our athletic facilities are damaged or destroyed. I have heard that the baseball field is destroyed (which was in severe need of renovating anyway), that the basketball facility has severe roof damage (which will probably mean it will not be usable this season, and that the football stadium has suffered some damage as well (pressbox damage and stadium lights definitely are in bad need of repair now).

What many of you probably do not know is that with the cancelation of our first 3 home football games (assuming that our game with S. Utah will have to be canceled this coming weekend) that McNeese's athletic budget will be bankrupted. If the state or feds do not deliever aid to offset some of this revenue loss it could seriously change things at McNeese (may put our athletic program in jeapordy in the future). I and others are very concerned for McNeese athletic program.

However, the needs of the McNeese Athletic program pale in comparision to the loss of so many who have lost their homes and businesses. I and others are very happy to know that the lives of our loved ones and friends are safe and intact. I will ask for you prayers now and thank you for all the thoughtfulness and love you have shown the McNeese community.

[henfan]

I'm so glad to hear most of the folks came out unscathed, but sick to my soul to learn of the terrible disruption to your lives and those of the people you love.

If we can't set up a fund through AGS, let's donate directly to the McNeese State athletic department.

The very best to all of our friends at MSU and in Lake Charles.

John

[Grande Rosso]

It is hard for most of us to answer questions about how McNeese State and its facilities came through the hurricane, as 99% of our residents are not in Lake Charles at the moment and may not be allowed back in the city for another week at least.

Jeannie,

I tried to call you last week, no answer. Maybe I have an old phone number? Anyway, it's good to hear that you and Greg and Doc and the others got out in time to get to shelter.

I haven't seen any messages from Retro. Any idea how he and his store fared?

Hopefully damage will be minimal and you can get life back to normal soon.

My sister lives just outside of Gulfport, so I have a good idea what you will be going into when you return home. I don't know what we can do to help, if youhave any suggestions later on, please let us know.

Give my best to everyone and let them know that we are thinking of you and praying for you.

Jim

[Husky Alum]

Rocket,

I hope you don't mind, but I excerpted some of your text and sent it directly to Coach Everhart and a couple of members of our Board of Trustees and asked them if there was anything we as a university could do.

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

[kats89]

Well, the Greater Houston and Galveston areas got VERY lucky since the storm all along was to hit in that area. I hate that our McNeese faithful had to take the storm head on. Even with me being at least an hour and a half away from where it made landfall, I was still without electricity for a little over a day and a mess left in my yard from fallen branches and leaves. We had gusts to 70mph in the NW Houston area.
I hope we are able to play our game in Lake Charles later in the year. I was really looking forward to the game and the tailgating. Hopefully ya'll can get back on your feet soon. Everyone in Bearkat Nation will do what they can to help. :nod:

[McNeeserocket]

Rocket,

I hope you don't mind, but I excerpted some of your text and sent it directly to Coach Everhart and a couple of members of our Board of Trustees and asked them if there was anything we as a university could do.

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

Of course I don't mind you passing on anything that I wrote. Your thoughtfulness is much appreciated.

It appears that Lake Charles and Beaumont have power company infrastrure problems and both cities may be without power for as much as a month. Hopefully this is not true, but it appears that Entergy (the power company for both cities and much of the gulf coast), has had massive destruction to the local power distribution sites. FEMA is trying to get to the areas and access what needs to be done.

If power is not restored for weeks or months then McNeese will ofcourse not be open and athletic events will be terminated until further notice (nothing official from university on this but logic would dictate this assumption). Many homes and bussinesses were damaged and many were not, but with no electricity or other utilities there will be no life in Lake Charles and surrounding towns for quite a while. Both Lake Charles and Beaumont (probably other cities adjacent to these) are not allowing anyone back into the city. In fact, armed guards and police are maning every entry into Lake Charles and strickly enforcing a no entry to the city order (I understand this is true in Beaumont also).

My husband is in Lake Charles and is working on removing trees from homes (this is his business as he owns and operates a tree business). There is no water to bath with, but he is coping. He is also taking care of 14 cats at our house with only a small generator to run power for part of the day. In addition, he has no crew to help him as his crew has not been allowed back into city.

I know the university is asking for staff, administration and student athletes to check in, via univeristy website, inorder to make sure everyone is ok. I know very little at this time about Lake Charles, only hearing bits and pieces from my husband and news sources.

Please continue to pray for all affected people in the Gulf Coast region as pray and all kind of aid is needed for the people who need love and basic needs.

[89Hen]

There is no water to bath with, but he is coping. He is also taking care of 14 cats at our house
Cat bath! :p Sorry, rocket, just trying to get you to chuckle.

http://homepage.mac.com/shelobmarian/crafts/cat_bath_cs.jpg

[GeauxLions94]

It appears that Lake Charles and Beaumont have power company infrastrure problems and both cities may be without power for as much as a month. Hopefully this is not true, but it appears that Entergy (the power company for both cities and much of the gulf coast), has had massive destruction to the local power distribution sites.

Please continue to pray for all affected people in the Gulf Coast region as pray and all kind of aid is needed for the people who need love and basic needs.

That is what they said about power on the Northshore and New Orleans following Katrina. Power was back on in most places (including my home in Slidell) about two weeks. Will keep praying for you guys in Lake Chuck and look forward to seeing you guys in Hammond in late October.

Really sad to see the destruction in Cameron Parish. Spent many weekends on the Cajun Riveria in Holly Beach when I was a kid and my dad, when he worked in the oil fields, was based for a while in Hackberry. Add hunting in Pecan Island and trips to Abbeville, Erath and Delcambre (home of the best shrimp in all the land) and I see a lot of my childhood gone.

Speaking of my dad, he lives in St. Martinville and came out OK. A few trees down, but his house (near the Atchafalaya Spillway) is on land that didn't go underwater in the '27 flood.

[blackfordpu]

Any word from buck yet? I hope he and all of our McNeese bothers/sisters are doing alright.

[McNeese75]

Just checking in. Evacuated to Monroe and today moved to Baton Rouge. Will be heading to LC in the morning to try and tarp my roof where a tree is leaning on it and check on my son's truck that is setting under another one.

I missed my second week of voting Ralph and will probably miss another one so I will be back (to vote) next year. Smile

Thanks for all the kind thoughts

[GSUAlumniEagle]

Thoughts go out to the MSU family.

Even if you guys did beat us. :D

[Proud Griz Man]

Today's newspaper front page shows a picture of the demolished coastline town of Cameron, LA and the sight is disturbing. The newspaper article also focuses on the substantial devastation of Hackberry. These towns appear to be about 25-35 miles south of Lake Charles.

I made my charity contribution today to the United Way of SW Louisiana. I urge everyone else who can spare a few $$$ to do so (please). I don't know the McTeam fans personally, but feel that this is important. :nod:

[McNeeserocket]

Thank you for your generosity and thoughtfulness.

Cameron Parish suffered almost complete destruction (I am talking about an entire Parish/County). Every structure in the town of Cameron was completely destroyed (yes I mean every building) with the exception of the City Hall building which was badly damaged. Every home, business and farm structure is gone. Vermillion Parish has significant damage also. Cameron Parish had beautiful marsh land, farm land and thriving fishing communities. The reality of such loss continues to wound my very soul!

Louisiana people are a happy, helping, and caring people who love to work hard and party harder. However, the loss of so much for so many has caused a happy people to literally become numb. We are beginning to feel hopeless and need prayers to boost our belief that we can rebuild all that we know and love. Continue to send your encouragement in whatever form you can.

There are many stories of courage and selflessness here and although things look very bleak, our culture will not give up and we will rebuild.