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Our mutual friend and colleague, Sid Parfait (Domainut, Dropwatch.com), has not been heard from since Hurricane Katrina walloped the Gulf Coast. His home in Slidell, Louisiana was hit by the eye-wall of the storm and is inundated under 15 feet of water, which spilled over the levy and sent Lake Pontchartrain pouring into Slidell.
I spoke with Sid as he was preparing to evacuate, but he got a very late start and may not have gotten far. Highway traffic in all directions was at a virtual standstill. He had assured me that he would call me when he reached safe haven. But he's not been online since then, nor have I heard from him, nor have I been able to reach him on either his or his wife's cell phone. None of those closest to him have heard from him either. Of course, the possibility remains that he may have elected to stay put in or quickly return to Slidell if the outbound traffic was impassible. This, of course, is likely the worst-case scenario. CNN is reporting that 85% of all homes in Slidell were destroyed and that the mortality rate is likely going to be high.
Sid had originally intended to head south on I-10 toward Destin, Florida, which I discouraged because of the gridlock and in the event the storm took a turn toward the panhandle. I suggested Texas. Nevertheless, I have no real indication of which direction he headed, nor how far he and his family may have gotten, nor whether or not he was able to caravan with other family members, as he had hoped. I'm presently trying to locate his wife's family in New York, but it's a slow, tedious and frustrating process.
With him is his wife, four children and two Great Danes.
I'm hopeful and optimistic because Sid's a wiley, tough-ass Cajun redneck and an accomplished survivor. But realistically, if he and his family got snarled in the nearby traffic gridlock, stuck on a back-road or were unable to leave Slidell, he and his family are likely in trouble big. Or worse, G-d forbid.
In the unlikely, but possible event that any of you might be heading toward the Gulf Coast to locate your own family members and/or assist in the relief efforts, I've posted a printable 8.5"x11" MISSING PERSONS POSTER (link), featuring a photograph of Sid and Kristen taken in February 2005. I would be most grateful if you would print-out a few dozen copies of the poster and tack them them up wherever possible and practical.
I'm not a devoutly spiritual person, but I have nevertheless immersed myself in prayer, in the absence of being able to do much else. Whether or not you believe in the seeming power of prayer, I ask that that each of you bend a knee and pray for the safe return of Sid and his family, in particular, as well as all families who have been imperiled in the catastrophic aftermath of the hurricane.
Although unlikely, should anyone happen to hear from him, PLEASE CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY.
I spoke with Sid as he was preparing to evacuate, but he got a very late start and may not have gotten far. Highway traffic in all directions was at a virtual standstill. He had assured me that he would call me when he reached safe haven. But he's not been online since then, nor have I heard from him, nor have I been able to reach him on either his or his wife's cell phone. None of those closest to him have heard from him either. Of course, the possibility remains that he may have elected to stay put in or quickly return to Slidell if the outbound traffic was impassible. This, of course, is likely the worst-case scenario. CNN is reporting that 85% of all homes in Slidell were destroyed and that the mortality rate is likely going to be high.
Sid had originally intended to head south on I-10 toward Destin, Florida, which I discouraged because of the gridlock and in the event the storm took a turn toward the panhandle. I suggested Texas. Nevertheless, I have no real indication of which direction he headed, nor how far he and his family may have gotten, nor whether or not he was able to caravan with other family members, as he had hoped. I'm presently trying to locate his wife's family in New York, but it's a slow, tedious and frustrating process.
With him is his wife, four children and two Great Danes.
I'm hopeful and optimistic because Sid's a wiley, tough-ass Cajun redneck and an accomplished survivor. But realistically, if he and his family got snarled in the nearby traffic gridlock, stuck on a back-road or were unable to leave Slidell, he and his family are likely in trouble big. Or worse, G-d forbid.
In the unlikely, but possible event that any of you might be heading toward the Gulf Coast to locate your own family members and/or assist in the relief efforts, I've posted a printable 8.5"x11" MISSING PERSONS POSTER (link), featuring a photograph of Sid and Kristen taken in February 2005. I would be most grateful if you would print-out a few dozen copies of the poster and tack them them up wherever possible and practical.
I'm not a devoutly spiritual person, but I have nevertheless immersed myself in prayer, in the absence of being able to do much else. Whether or not you believe in the seeming power of prayer, I ask that that each of you bend a knee and pray for the safe return of Sid and his family, in particular, as well as all families who have been imperiled in the catastrophic aftermath of the hurricane.
Although unlikely, should anyone happen to hear from him, PLEASE CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY.
