Welcome, Gustav Evacuees

DeFuniak Springs, FL – The American Red Cross has opened a host shelter at the First Baptist Church, 216 East Live Oak in DeFuniak Springs, Florida (32435) to aid evacuees of our western states leaving their homes to avoid Hurricane Gustav.

Evacuees coming to the area from Interstate 10 can take the DeFuniak Springs exit (Exit 85), then head north on U.S. Highway 331 at the end of the exit ramp. Go approximately 1.5 miles. Live Oak is off of U.S. Highway 331 in DeFuniak Springs and is marked with a flashing directional sign in the median of the highway.

Also, the state has activated the Florida Emergency Information Line. Residents and visitors can call 1-800-342-3557 for more information on shelter locations and directions to shelters in Florida.
Additional shelters will continue to be added and advertised as needed.

For additional information on Hurricane Gustav and the State Emergency Response Team, please visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management online at: www.FloridaDisaster.org. For specific information related to Walton County, Florida, please visit the county’s website at www.co.walton.fl.us.

I think we need a good activity idea...four boys, ages almost 2, 3, 7, and 10. I think they are bored and little stir crazy.

I could learn a lot from the ten year old. I think at my age doing the whole evacuation 3 years after Katrina, when life was finally getting normal, would be too much. He's just taking it right in stride....

I wish we were still there and we could play!! Bikes are our savior. We ride all over the place. When we left this morning we put them in the house -- Now I wish we hadn't and I could give you the code, but it might be worth it to rent them. We discovered this morning what a great place treetops is for our 5 yr old to ride his bike -- no cars! Literally and absolutely no cars! It was great. We also rode over to the butterfly park this morning in Rosemary and found one butterfly! The adults were dissapointed to only see one. But the kids thought it was great that we found one!

For those folks wanting local weather and news coverage from NO, DirecTV channel 361 is broadcasting WDSL channel 6 continuously. A nice break from the national outlets.

I think we need a good activity idea...four boys, ages almost 2, 3, 7, and 10. I think they are bored and little stir crazy.

I could learn a lot from the ten year old. I think at my age doing the whole evacuation 3 years after Katrina, when life was finally getting normal, would be too much. He's just taking it right in stride....

Where are you? I've lost track. My SIL & her almost 6-yo boy and 4-yo girl are in Seacrest at our house. They just came in from Covington today. Knock on the door and tell 'em I sent you. Playdates are a great thing! Also, we have PS2 for the older boys. You can always borrow it ... let me know if that would help.

gotta' love the peeps from NOLA!

Evacuee Cockroach Invades Dallas, Infests Double Wide

Posted on September 3rd, 2008 1:31pm by Glenn Hunter
Filed under Local News, Nightlife

Like hundreds of Louisianans, Leonard Lavigueur and his girlfriend, Michelle Marchand, sought refuge in Dallas this week from Hurricane Gustav. But unlike the others, Lavigueur spent much of his time here dressed in a giant, foam/latex cockroach costume. Find out why after the jump.
Lavigueur, who?s known around New Orleans as the Nola Roach, thinks cockroaches are misunderstood.
?I like ?em because nobody else likes ?em,? he said, decked out in his costume yesterday in Dallas? Merriman Park neighborhood. He and Michelle were staying there temporarily with Michelle?s brother Gary Marchand and Gary?s wife, Dee.
Cockroaches ?aren?t out to hurt anybody,? Lavigueur went on, waving one big roach claw at a passing car. ?If you find them in your house, they really just want to stay the night.? When he spots the insects outdoors, he even feeds them the likes of ?regurgitated icees,? fried foods, pizza, maybe some chicken wings.
Lavigueur comes by his preoccupation honestly. Back home in The Big Easy he?s a movie prop master, having worked on such flicks as Mardi Gras (with Carmen Electra) and Open Road (Jeff Bridges, Justin Timberlake). His career goal: to be a late-night-TV horror host, like Elvira.
Monday night found him at the Double Wide Bar on Commerce Street. Much revelry was reported as many Dallasites had their photos taken with the oversized evacuee from New Orleans.
And, here you thought everything was bigger in Texas.

Thanks for bringing that NOLA spirit to Texas!

BTW...it is 66 degrees here this morning, thanks to Gustav!

Did you get your picture taken? You can take it to housekeeping in October. I'd pay to see the looks on their faces. :funn:

It was a little nippy here this morning too.