Word from the Sharps in Hurricane Land!!!

Heidi ho… from hurricane alley,

We have the generator going intermittently, running our elderly neighbor’s fridge & freezer; and our:

Fridge
Window a/c
Fans
Bread maker!
Microwave
Computer
Internet router
Radio
Scanner
Ham radio (also on 12 volt back up)

Yet to run the washer & dryer!

The only problem is the price of gas and availability­the generator takes about a gallon an hour! The freezer is getting down to 4 degrees, but the fridge is having a hard time getting below 58 degrees since Mitch and Leah brought everything from their freezer and fridge over…we had tried to rotate generators among the three houses, but that was not too efficient. Ashley and Jared are bringing their fridge stuff to his parent’s today, and sleeping over here tonight­Leah and Justin went to Lafayette today­her sister has power over there­Justin’s asthma started acting up. We get to take care of Shelby while they are away. Mitch is the only one back to work so far. School and work for everyone else is tentatively Monday…but that is contingent on A LOT!!!

Only about 95% of our parish has power…large generators are running at some gas stations, thankfully. We were able to fill four 5 gal gas cans this morning (~$85) at our neighborhood Wal-Mart about 8am in a walk up line after waiting about a half hour­that will last a couple of days depending on how much we run the generator. We have a full tank in the van, and about 3 weeks of diesel for the Jetta­that we got before the storm. Apparently diesel is at a premium due to all the emergency uses for it, Apparently the only reason we have water pressure is due to back up diesel generators the water company has here in Baton Rouge, and the fact that they own their own tanker truck to pick it up from the refinery themselves!

An assessment team from the Church came by yesterday­they are canvassing all the members to assess damage and needs. Elders Amott and Lyman went to the mission office yesterday. One was flying home today, the other was sent on assignment. Both BR and NO airports are functional now.

So I have baby Logan on my lap, a doggie to on each side, and Aurora is helping Grandpa sweep! How much better can it get?

Love, Marg

Power still may be days to weeks away here.