Open Letter to my AR Friends in the Gulf States on the eve of Hurricane Gustav

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with CELLing Realty CalBRE #01445865

  Open Letter to my AR Friends in the Gulf States:

I have been hearing about Hurricane Gustav all day, and I am worried about you. I hear the word Gustav and my heart lurches.  I hear the words New Orleans and I think of Lisa, and  Katrina.  How could this be happening again just 3 years later.  Please don't let Gustav be as destructive as Katrina, and please keep everyone safe.   I don't know who all of you are, but even without a name my heart goes out to you.

 

If you can't read this because you're being evacuated I pray that the power of our Membership reaches you where ever you are.  Even if you're not a member of Active Rain, know that you are thought of, you are in people's prayers. 


 ***For every mountain there is a miracle.***

Robert H. Schuller

 

 

 

Respectfully and Sincerely,

Kathy McGraw and all your AR Friends

Comments (21)

Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

My prayers are with people in the area. Hope they will be safe .

Aug 30, 2008 10:34 PM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

My prayers are with them as well!!!! I know how it feels to fear a hurricane, so please stay safe.

Aug 30, 2008 11:39 PM
South Austin Real Estate Blog
Sky Realty South Austin - Austin, TX

Well said Kathy, I have been watching the developements of the evacuation and hoping everyone gets out before it strikes our Gulf Coast.  My prayers are with all too.

Aug 30, 2008 11:54 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Kathy, it is so much more personal to me in Mi now that I know folks in Florida and the Gulf Coast. My son flew home from Pensacola on Friday night, it was up and down if he was going to get his Liberty from the Navy. Now he has to call on Monday and see if they have evacuated or not. If so he stays until they return to base.

Aug 31, 2008 12:25 AM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Fifteen Years Experience in Brevard County

This will be a challenging and dangerous time for many...Hopefully folks evacuate as directed because houses can be replaced.

Aug 31, 2008 12:33 AM
Audrey June-Forshey
RE/MAX Realty Services - Darnestown, MD
GRI, Gaithersburg, MD

Kathy, What a nice note.  I was thinking I wanted to say something, but to who?  I am so glad to see so many folks are leaving and it looks pretty organized this time.  I pray for all of you too.

Aug 31, 2008 01:10 AM
Charles McDonald®
Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA
REALTOR®, Principal Broker®, Owner

My brother just called and they are out of harms way, on the way to see us in Virginia!

hope you do not mind if I link to it here:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/667942/Gustav-All-in-the

your friend in Charlottesville!

Aug 31, 2008 01:11 AM
David Slavin
Keller Williams Premier - Katy, TX
CDPE, ABR, SRES Keller Williams Premier

Thank you for your concerns.  If it comes to Houston, this wouldn't be the first Hurricane I've been through.  I guess this is what we have to deal with since we never have to shovel snow.

Aug 31, 2008 01:39 AM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker

Kathy, thank you for thinking of us.  We are safe in Nashville with the kids and grandma and hope to be able to go home next week.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers - right now they are forecasting that the worse part of the storm will be on the West Bank.

Aug 31, 2008 02:43 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Charles....this letter is an Open one.Concern for our AR Friends, both the ones we've met, and the ones we haven't.  Glad to hear your brother will be safe.


Lisa- Oh I am happier than you know just to know you are safe.  Your name has troubled me all yesterday, and I wanted to know if you were OK.  Out of ignorance from the Pacific Coast....how will it hitting the West Coast affect your home?  All of you will remain in our prayers!

Aug 31, 2008 02:48 AM
delete account
Clayton, MO

Thank you for posting this Kathy. I have been feeling the same way. I hope everyone is safe!

Aug 31, 2008 02:49 AM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Kathy,

Were actually getting the tail end of it and it's pounding us with lots of rain today...thankfully I was able to mow the lawn and secure the pool before it hit us...I hope all is safe in New Orleans which will certainly get hit hard.

Aug 31, 2008 03:15 AM
Colleen Fischesser Northwest Property Shop
RE/MAX Advantage | Managing Broker - Chelan, WA
A Tradition of Trust in the Pacific NW since 1990!

Kathy, I'm watching the news and just cannot believe this storm is as strong as it is....I feel for everyone in the area and will keep them in my thoughts and prayers as well.

Aug 31, 2008 05:20 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Kathy, I thinkyou speak for all of us here.  I was chilled by Lisa's comment about the West Bank, I do hope everyone is safe.

Aug 31, 2008 08:09 AM
Ronald Gillis
Southwest Florida Notaries (Mortgage Notary Signing Agent) - Port Charlotte, FL
CNSA Southwest Florida. Notaries, Port Charlotte, 941-7-NOTARY

Thank god Gustav is missing my area, and my eyes are on Hanna, but I hope everyone is safe from the effects!  EVERYONE - PLEASE if you remember nothing else, but this, if you have any friends or family that sustain ANY damage to their homes INSIST they hire a Public Adjuster IMMEDIATELY to help file a claim with your insurance company.  It is imperative because the insurance companies adjuster will NOT pay all that you are due by your policy. I wrote a brief blog about this HURRICANE WARNING: Please hire public adjuster AGAIN, IF THEY SUSTAIN ANY DAMAGE - TELL THEM NOT TO HESITATE TO HIRE THEIR OWN PUBLIC ADJUSTER!

Signature

Aug 31, 2008 10:19 AM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker

Kathy, if you look at the map of the LA coast...hurricane storm surges get pushed up on the right hand side of the storm - this is where I live.  The intensity has dropped from a category 4 to a category 3, but they are still expecting a large storm surge and approximately 30" of rain tomorrow. 

Aug 31, 2008 10:54 AM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hi Kathy,
Ditto, ditto to all you said.  All the people in the area are in my prayers and thoughts.

Aug 31, 2008 11:17 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Ronald- that sounds like some very sound advice.  sometimes people just don't know what to do.  Glad to hear it missed your area.

Lisa- Maybe that Miracle will happen after all....I pray all your levies hold, and whatever damage is minimal with no loss of life.  Thanks for the info about the map.

 

Aug 31, 2008 12:06 PM
Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker-Owner,CRS,CDPE,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Hi Kathy,

Seems like we're all holding out good thoughts and prayers for eveyone in the Gulf area! BTW, I love the quote you shared by Dr. Schuller. I'm a member at the CC and a volunteer there because of him.

Sep 01, 2008 06:31 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Lynda- Dr. Schuller's quote is and was so perfect for the happenings with that Hurricane.   Look, when I wrote this it was a Category 4, and now when it hit today it is a Category 2.......definitely a Miracle for that Mountain :)

Sep 01, 2008 06:40 AM

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