John Stocks: Power back in Slidell

From John Stocks…

It is early in the morning on Thursday.

SLIDELL-Electricity Restored Prompts Celebration

We take for granted the importance of electricity to our daily lives. What it does for us, how much it costs and how it is produced. Working with electricity produced by a portable generator has its limitations. Without the generator we purchased in Wisconsin and hauled down to Louisiana, we might not have beaten the mold.

Itinerant Roofing Crews

The US Corps of Engineers provides a valuable service to people with damaged roofs. They install blue tarps over the damaged areas for free.

Yesterday three itinerant roofing crews showed up in the neighborhood. One crew was black out of northern Mississippi, one crew Hispanic out of Texas and the other crew was white out of northern Louisiana. Each crew working in the boiling sun on our roof and others in the neighborhood. I was struck how these crews were segregated by race but not by class. I wondered if there was a Ceasar Chavez, Dr. Martin Luther King or a Mother Jones in their midst who could cross the barriers of race and ethnicity and lead them around their common economic self interests. Maybe someday.

I brought them cold water from our ice chest. They finished their jobs and moved on.

Falling Hazard Trees

Fell two pine trees with broken and dangling limbs in the backyard. First tree fell perfectly between the neighbors fence and the house. Bucked it up and hauled it away.

Cut the second tree. It was a perfect notch and the hinge wood on the back cut was going to lay it down in the target zone.

Just my luck and stupidity. I hung it up in a neighbor's pine. A faller's worst nightmare. They don't call them 'widow makers' for nothin. Got the truck...Becky bought a tow strap and we jerked it out of the neighbor's tree. Bucked it up and there it lay. I think I will keep my day job.

NORTH TO JACKSON

After packing up the drying equipment, I will leave for Jackson, Ms., the Comfort Inn and the long road home. Adam and Becky are in better shape. They can manage the chaos now.

It is time to refocus my attention on the Ewell's and their impending decision about where to relocate. Lois and I have discussed it briefly but I need to be a sounding board for her and the family as they process their options.

Last night New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said on Larry King Live that he would announce a phased in repopulation plan for the city tomorrow. I pray it doesn't raise false hopes. These people have gone through enough.

RELIEF FUND CONTRIBUTORS AND PEOPLE SENDING PACKAGES

First, a big thank you to all who have contributed and will contribute to the relief fund. The bulk of the remaining funds and additional funds contributed will probably be used for the costs of relocating the Ewell families. More on that later.

Also thanks to the many people around the country who have sent packages to the Ewell's at the Comfort Inn. networks of colleagues, friends and family.

[If you want to help, go to Saving Hope, a new website.]

THANKS TO THE NEA

My deepest appreciation to Reg Weaver, John Wilson and others at the NEA for allowing me to take this time to assist my family. I am truly blessed to work with such kind and caring people.

BIGGEST FEAR

My biggest fear is that as soon as Hurricane Katrina 'comes off the front page' the families of New Orleans will fall victim to America's 24 hour new cycle and short attention span. Witness the Iraq War. Please help us make sure that this doesn't happen.

John Stocks