It started out bad and only getting worse. Along with billions in damage. The flooding in New Orleans is only getting worse as the levies are breaking from Lake Ponchatrain. Looters have been reported breaking in a stealing anything they can get their hands on including guns from pawn shops that they are using to shoot at authorities with. So far sense the last report I heard that 10 were dead from being shot by police. Another group has also opened fire on a police helicopter but I haven't heard the out come on that situation.
If you are going on vacation or anything that requires traveling of any kind try to avoid Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, and the panhandle of Florida. I just got in from Troy, AL where Wiley Sanders Truck Lines (WSTL) is based. We made our first run from Dallas, TX. to Lafayette, LA. after the storm passed and we came home for the night. We took Interstate 49 south to Lafayette, LA. We dropped our load there then went to Opelousas, LA. (which is only about 30 miles north of Lafayette) to pick up another load. We took it to Birmingham, Al. where it was dropped and we were sent about 45 miles west of Decatur, Al. to pick up another load that went to the Troy, AL. yard for WSTL. We stayed the night on the yard and left out with an empty for Meridian, MS.
We picked up a load there and ran on down Interstate 20 to the house here in Shreveport, LA. and will head for Dallas in the morning to deliver it. Despite all this we've seen nothing but chaos. I haven't had the chance to see the news and what they have to say but the states listed above are in a fuel crisis. The hurricane has shut down the main supply source of all petroleum product. 80% of Mississippi is without power. Not many places to get a hot meal, shower, and fuel. hundreds of emergency vehicles along with the national guard, Asplundh and other tree companies, electric companies and everything else you can think of has been seen headed south on all inbound roads south to New Orleans and the surrounding area's from every direction in the country.
AS we made way across I-20 we've seen car's upside down, slammed into trees, stuck in mud after being blown off the road by the harsh winds that did a lot of damage between Jackson and Meridian, MS. Truck driver's reported on the CB of dodging full size trees, power lines, billboard sign as well as the big green road signs and many other objects. I kept track on one item I saw was huge chunk of a steel billboard sign about 20 miles east outside Jackson, MS. The main part of the billboard was found roughly 15 miles down the road. Tractor trailers have been blown over, slammed into various objects and visa versa along with cars and other objects as far inland as Jackson. AS for the fuel crisis, fuel is running short.
truck stops and gas stations are back up for miles on and off the interstate in every direction with people who have been waiting in their cars for days. Phones are not available in the state of Mississippi. Only about 2 out of 20 cell phones will work in the area because towers have been knocked out. Phones have been reported to been able to call outside of the state to places like California, etc., but very few have been able to make calls within these states. The death toll is racking up more and more as children are dying from not eating in 3 or more days and people at the Dome stadium are getting badly sick. Police have made it aware that ANYONE caught looting will be shot. No Exceptions. As they have said if you end up dead. To bad. It's your problem. They are not toleration this in anyway and will use any and all force required.
But, as I was saying on the fuel ordeal. Gas has gone up to $3.19 a gallon so far and still rising. It's been reported that gas and fuel have gone up in Georgia as high as $6.00 a gallon from people price gouging. Innocent people are being robbed of what little money they have. Two of our yards for Wiley Sanders has no fuel what so ever. The massage came in over the computer in the truck yesterday evening that those two yards are bone dry and working on a third. I'm surprised a wide spread panic emergency hasn't been set because this part of the U.S has turned into a living hell. We've seen as many as 12-15 state troopers in Mississippi at one gas station trying to keep things in order because of people breaking out into fist fights and people hitting cars with other cars fighting to get to the gas pumps which don't work and haven't worked sense the day the storm came threw.
I'm leaving out in the morning but we have to make some more miles so I'll check back with an update sometime this weekend when I get home. Oh and I'm not sure which it is but I believe the main bridge on HWY. 90 is completely gone and the roadway covered with boats and ships along with a casino boat that is on the roadway. The following interstate/hwys are shut down to New Orleans. I-55, I-59, HWY. 90, I-12, I-10, HWY. 49
