AA5AU Hurricane Katrina Damage
Updated 11/05/2005

AA5AU Hurricane Katrina Updates

November 3, 2005 - This afternoon I replaced the lower radio tower.  I built it to 40'.  This weekend I hope to put an antenna on top of it but have problems rebuilding the A3S from scrap.

October 8, 2005 - Today FEMA contractors arrived to re-tarp my roof.  Although I have up to 17 tarps up there, I have opted to have them tarp the entire roof.  It hasn't rained much since Rita, so I didn't know if my tarp job would have kept all the water out.

September 24, 2005 - Today was a good day.  Last night I got to enter the CQWW RTTY contest as single band 40 meter and it was fun to be back.  Today I started cleaning up the antenna mess in the back yard.  I was able to strip the two A3S and the A3WS antennas of all reusable stainless hardware.  The 80 meter inverted vee was salvageable with no damage and my 3 element 6 meter came out with only one element slightly bent which is very strange since the tower fell on it!  I then picked up about 10,000 pieces of shingle out of yard.  Tomorrow I hope to move the 50 foot tower which is still hanging at the break point and start disassembling both towers.  My goal is to be back with a full set of new antennas and defend my ARRL RTTY Roundup low power title!

September 22, 2005 - We evacuated the nice confines of the Holiday Inn Express in Lafayette and drove home due to Hurricane Rita.  The QTH is a mess, but we will get by.  Hope to be active in CQWW this weekend as single band 40 meters only with my HF2V, the only antenna is survive Hurricane Rita.  Thoughts & prayers to those in the path of Hurricane Rita.  My brother George evacuated from Seabrook, TX and is safe with his family in upper Texas.

September 17, 2005 - Today I drove back home to do more work on the house.  I left Lafayette at 2:30 a.m. and got home around 5:30 a.m. after a brief stop at my St. Rose office to drop off equipment.  The electricity had been restored during the week.  I pulled the rest of the carpeting in the spare bedroom, Shay's computer room and the hall way along with the carpet strips.  I treated the spare bedroom, master bedroom and living room for mold using a 50-50 bleach-water solution.  I also cleaned up shingles from my front yard and my neighbor David came over and cut my grass, but only in the front.  There are hundreds of pieces of shingles and other debris in the side and back yards.  I left Harvey at 6:00 p.m. and drove back to Lafayette.  It made for a long day but feel very good because I got a lot done and did not see much mold on the walls or baseboards.

September 13, 2005 - Jefferson Parish president Aaron Broussard today announced that 3 westbank communities will be allowed to come back permanently beginning at 5 a.m. tomorrow morning - Westwego, Lafitte and Gretna.  Since Harvey is between Westwego and Gretna, it could mean that it will be only days before I can return to do more work on the house and try to make it livable.

September 10, 2005 - Thanks to Charlie, KI5XP for allowing Shay and I to do our laundry at his house in Lafayette and for buying us lunch.  Also, thanks to Dave, W4YDY, who found this aerial photo of my house showing the fallen tower on my neighbors roof, which we removed on Thursday 9/8.

September 9, 2005 - I spent the last 3 days doing initial repairs on the roof of my house.  I have major roof damage, causing rain water to come into the attic.  The ceiling fell in 4 rooms - foyer, main bathroom, Sharon's computer room and the back spare bedroom.  The radio room was spared!  Both towers are destroyed.  Pictures here.  More pictures to come as I have time.  Ran out of time.  Could not clean everything up.  House is not livable at this time.  Was able to pull carpet out of main bedroom & living room.

September 5, 2005 - Jefferson Parish is allowing residents to return to their homes beginning today to assess damage, do minor repairs & retrieve belongings.  I've decided not to go in today, but to wait until tomorrow.

September 4, 2005 - We relocated to Lafayette, Louisiana yesterday.  Still unable to get home, but reports are that my house is still standing.  Anxious to get back to confirm this.  I now have Internet in my room at the hotel.

September 1, 2005 - still in Shreveport. Looking for accommodations closer to home. Trying to relocate to the Lafayette area.

August 31, 2005 - I have evacuated from Hurricane Katrina. I am safe in Shreveport, Louisiana. I do not know if I have a home to go back to. Please pray for all of us affected by Hurricane Katrina.