Tidying up the site a bit

Woah! This thing looks totally different than last time I visited! Yeah, I just totally changed the look. I know that this whole "blogging" thing is new to some of you, so we are trying to make this as easy and user-friendly as possible. Let me know if we you have any comments or suggestions on the site.

Here are a couple of tips if this is your first time visiting:

• Browse through all of the posts. The newest posts are up top, not necessarily the most important. Be sure to scan the whole page, not just the top.
• Check out the links. We have listed the websites that have provided the best information on the Hurricane. If you want us to add any websites, let me know.
• Post Comments. We are all eager to find out where everyone is! Your posts will mean a lot to us all. Even if it's just, "I'm alive. I'm in Baton Rouge."

Thanks!

Doug

Starting the long process of getting help

I had to copy the entire text of this email from Sharon Kelley. It has some extremely helpful info:

Greetings again!

I hope this day has gone well for you. I've spent the day on the phone trying to get "stuff" going for Ernie's services as well as our survival "stuff." I found out some information I wanted to pass along, as far as things you can be doing now instead of staring numbly at yet another horrific scene from the homeland.

1. Call your insurance company, or go on line and find a website. There are often FAQ sections that will prevent you from waiting on the telephone indefinitely, and you can often submit a claim via the internet.

2. Call FEMA, at 1-800-621-FEMA (or 3362). I was on hold for less than 10 minutes, submitted a claim over the phone to an extremely nice and compassionate gentleman, and even got connected to the SBA to request an application for a small business loan. Lots of good info also on the FEMA website, at www.fema.gov. Regardless of your insurance situation, go ahead and call FEMA. There is loss of wage reimbursement and some other aids available.

3. Some car finance companies, like GMAC, are offering deferred payments. There are numbers online to call to request this service, but I don't have the web address.

4. Call your mortgage company if you want to request a deferment on your mortgage payment. FEMA told me that some companies will do that in these situations.

5. Disaster unemployment assistance is available through the LA State Unemployment Office. The fed. govt. makes this service available, even if you are self-employed and do not pay unemployment.

6. Another helpful website is www.SBA.gov/disaster for small business loans or information. The interest is deferred for 1 year, and is less than 3% when you begin payments. Loans are usually processed in about 45 days, and you will probably get a check before the insurance pays up.

7. One more website....www.irs.gov. Publication #2194 is a Disaster Loss Kit. You may be able to claim some of your losses on taxes next year. The toll-free number is 1-800-829-3676 if you don't want to get the information online.

Please forgive me if I have insulted your intelligence by mentioning these options, but they are all new to me! I told you the gentleman at FEMA was very helpful! I've been on the phone or the computer most of the day. We're still trying to get info from LA medicaid for Ernie, so that he can get the meds and supplies we will need for an extended stay abroad.

I do hope you all are feeling better today; I've had a better day, possibly because I've busied myself with these business issues, and partly because I heard from so many of you after my email yesterday. Thanks for the messages. We'll all get through this by sticking together and lifting each other up.

From Birmingham,

Sharon

Post your support here

If you are not a current member of Berean, and you want to let us know that you are thinking about us, then please post a comment on this message. Maybe you know someone from Berean, maybe you are a former member of Berean, maybe you were just looking for information on the storm. Regardless, we would love to hear from you.

Post your damage reports here

This post is for us to share information on how bad the damage is. I talked with Lawrence today and he actually was able to get onto the Westbank for a bit yesterday. He took 90 into the city, got on the Westbank Expressway, took the Stumph exit and checked out his house. He said that he did not see any standing water on the Westbank (He drove through parts of Marrero, Westwego, Harvey, Gretna. He did not see Algiers). He said that there were huge trees down everywhere. His house was okay. He told me he took some pictures. I will try to get them and post them on the blog.

All of the reports that I have gotten seem to indicate that the Westbank is in good shape, especially Algiers. The Eastbank, on the other hand, is devastated. Any parts that did not take in water initially are filling with water due to the levee break. All areas of the Eastbank (St. Bernard, New Orleans East, Lakeview, West End, Metairie, Kenner) have serious flooding.

Post your prayer requests here

This post is for people to post prayer requests related to the storm. Just click on the comments to add a request to the list...or to read the prayer requests.

Here are a couple from me (Doug):

• Pray for my Dad. He did not evacuate. He lives in Gentilly and I am sure his house is under water. We have not heard from him. Please pray for his safety.
• Pray for our students, especially our high school seniors. Pray that God will give wisdom to families as they try to figure out how what to do about their children's education. I know of a couple of families who are seriously considering enrolling their children (Seniors) in school in other cities so that they can graduate on time.
  

Welcome / Post your whereabouts here

Hello all! We wanted to come up with a way to communicate information to everyone in our church in light of the Hurricane...and this is what we came up with. This is a blog (or a weblog) where you can come to get information and to communicate with other people from the church. Pastor Brad and I (Doug) will be the two primary people to post here. BUT you can contribute by posting comments on our messages. In fact, post a comment on the bottom of this message that lets us all know who you are and where you are so that we know you are okay. As for Crystal and I, we are in Birmingham staying with good friends.

Doug