Hope all recovering from weather

[South]

Good morning all,

Hoping all here are recovering from the several weather emergencies; Mick and others re Gulf Coast rains, the Pennsylvania floodings, hurricane recovery of Atlantic seaboard (my area), etc.

Remember the ol' lesson: debriefing. Consider what must be done NOW for the next emergency.

We've got another hurricane brewing the the Caribbean, Maria ("Maria, Maria, I've just met a girl named Maria" [musical "West Side Story", early 1960s]) and again, madam and I will probably have to evacuate. We live in a forest and a tree on top of house is akin to sailors and merchant mariners having a collision at sea. One's social calender must be changed because of these events.

(In my case, my social life is enhanced when Frau and I are at highway rest area nibbling on unsalted nuts in plastic/aluminum zip-loc pouches.)

Warm regards,

Bob

[Mick Stewart, AFCWA]

Bob,

Glad to know your doing well.

I just got back from Austin, Texas, having driven through Bastrop, Texas where the horrific site that awaited me was truly amazing: The devastation is incredible. The area near Hwy 71 (east and west) is burnt black from the fires, houses that were in the path of the firestorms, fed by Tropical Storm Lee's 30-mph winds, are gone. Only the tree's stand, completely bare of limbs and leaves. The ground is still burning. As I drove past the downtown area, smoldering embers still burned on the side of the highway. I also noticed a large portion of firefighters and ground personnel putting out smaller fires. Texas DPS troopers were everywhere, controlling the access in and out of the various neighborhoods - stopping all citizens, as the area is still smoldering and burning, although the fires, at least in this area was contained. Although the signs on Interstate 10 said that Highway 71 (through Bastroop) was closed, it is, indeed, open and one can drive directly to Austin using 71. There are still fires burning off the smaller Farm to Market (FM) roads, and last night, as I drove back home, FM1488 was closed by troopers due to smoke from the fires.

The Allied Forces Cold War (1945-1991) Association sends our thoughts and prayers to those in Bastrop and around Texas where fires are still burning (especially here in Montgomery County, 45miles north of us in Houston).

Mick Stewart
Secretary, AFCWA
11 Sep 2011
1258 hrs

[South]

Good morning Mick,

Appreciate thoughts and, likewise, glad to hear you're home safely.

It's been years since hearing the term "FM roads"; most refreshing to my fatigued mental state.


Warm regards,

Bob