Thanks so much for your efforts. We need to see those pictures in order to at least get some idea of how these people were affected. Pictures speak more than words could ever say. Thanks again!

Was wondering if anyone had news on how Orange, TX faired Rita?

According to KOGT radio emails from Orange, Texas
Most of the city has considerable damage. Most all
roads and homes have downed trees on them. Movement
in the town is very limited. Thousands of pine trees are snapped off midway and many Oaks are just laying down. They need train saws, front end loaders and labor.

Thank you for reporting on "no-name" areas. My entire family is from Orange, Tyler County, Hardin County and have evacuated to my home north of Little Rock. We are desperate to see what has become of our area and are getting frustrated by hearing only about New Orleans and how Houston was spared. Please help. Thank you for caring about the rural areas. We feel that everyone has overlooked us because it was not a major city.

Thank you for this story. I was so tired of hearing we dodged a bullet. I have family and friends in DeQuincy,LA and know that nobody dodged any bullet in SW Louisiana. Thanks again.

Unbelieveable. Absolutely unbelieveable...all of it. How much more can WE as a collective people take? Not sure the answer to that. God Bless to all who have been touched by Katrina and Rita. Pray hard that this is the end of it for this year.

How could it be worse for some of those who lost everything but their lives? What of those lives lost and yet to be found? These past events are so very tragic and should never be forgotten. They should serve as a strengthening of the resolve to look after our neighbors (for those poor neighborhoods where people began finger pointing blame as to why their neighbors did not get out. ALSO, the mayors of every town throughout the US should learn from this and have better evacuation plans such as using school busses, city busses (working and NOT with mechanical issues), or other forms of transportation IN PLACE for when things are looking bad enough to order evacuations. Also, to be sure to have a variety of baby care needs such as diapers and various formulas such as Soy for those babies that are unable to drink regular formula, and other needs from food, water and medicine such as asthma and oxygen, etc. I heard that Noah's Wish, an animal rescue organization, did a FANTASTIC job of getting set up to rescue animals (and they helped people too), so perhaps their methods could be looked at by FEMA?
If there were those with cars (and we have been very homeless poor and living in poor neighborhoods there was ALWAYS someone with a car, so why did they leave and not make room for those without? We know that some neighborhoods both alright financially and even some not so well off financially, people helped each other and made sure their neighbors alright, but other neighborhoods, well hopefully they will learn NOT to blame others and pick themselves up and help each other. It is very, very difficult thing to do, but when evacuation orders are given, people need to look after themselves too, and not sit back and expect the government to babysit them. Planning for emergencies is essential especially in areas prone to such natural disasters. We live in Califonria, a wonderful example of where we ALL should be sure to have emergency supplies, water, and we even have camping and cooking gear for if the "Big one" should happen, also a family emergency plan. Our neighborhood apartment management engages in emrgency preparedness training regularly. Again, busses and cars should be made available before things get so bad that those without ability to drive or no car CAN get out, but the people that refuse to leave, look at what has transpired and get out, and please take your pets. The local and federal government need to make sure that pets, being considered FAMILY to so many especially those with physical and/or emotional challenges these "pets" are essential to their humans' well being so should be with their human companions during evacuation. If there are those with allergies, sorry but in extreme circumstances take heart, or better yet have one bus for people and pets and one for those with no pets or allergies.

Andrew and Bob, glad you are safe, we truly appreciate the news you bring us but our prayers for your continued safety from the human element that may be lurking out there waiting to take advantage and the lost, abandoned and scared animals that are likely about as well as the hazards of power lines and mud and airborne health hazards too.

For those without power, we hope that it does not take too long to get that back on. Hopefully those with generators can keep them running at least to help with cleanup and keeping their food items fresh for the time being.

We cannot even imagine what this would be like. You are right Bob and Andrew, pictures are one thing like looking at a television movie, but this is no movie. Our prayers are for one and all they they can be strong during this time, once again in their person, their families and their neighborhoods. Assalamu alaykum (peace be upon you)-all of you.

Everyone know by now that the east side of the hurricane produces the most damage. However, most of the media coverage was on the west side of the storm. I have property in Jeff Davis Parish. I have been searching for information and there is very little. There are many who have lost everything in the areas that recieved NO coverage.
I think this is unfortunate. Although less populated, we are no different.

Are there any pictures of information on Bridge City, TX (just west of Orange)? I live there and have yet to see a single picture and little to no information. This is a city of 8000+ residents and yet it seems to be being almost totally ignored.

The past month should have taught this nation a very hard hard lesson. We are not ready. Not for natural disasers nor terrorist attacks. Every community from the individual citizens on up to the "big boys" in DC need to learn from this. Being a wife of retired Air Force, we were always told, make sure YOU (an individual) have plans and enough food and water for at least a week, for any emergency, local or national. I think it's time we all take a good look at ourselves, our communities, our local, our state and fed officials and say, enough is a enough!

Like the others I'm very concerned about Orange TX. and the Stark Foundation Museum, Theater and Homestead in downtown Orange.

there needs to be more attention focused on the southeast Texas coast where there are a lot of smaller towns such as Winnie, Hamshire, Fannett, La Belle, etc.. so these residents know how their areas are and what to expect. We are located in the Winnie area and we took a pretty hard hit there, but nothing like what Port Arthur got. Winnie has no power, food or gas so expect to bring that back in town when you return.

Nederland Texas is another "no-name". I too have family that really could use an update on how they faired. Nederland is just between Port Arthur and Beaumont west of Orange. Any information you can give is greatly appreciated.

For exclusive reporting about Orange County you can go to www.kogt.com.
gary stelly has been an angel through all of this to have stayed and risk his life and going through the hardships he is facing to stay in Orange to keep us all updated.
Access in Orange at this time is very limited, if at all, as the gas leaks are posing a dangerous threat.
The more people email the big news stations and ask for coverage of these smaller places that DID get hit, the better chance we have of finding out about them rather than continued coverage on those that are allowed to go home and continue about life normally. Also, there are online forums that are very helpful. We have all got to stick together and use all the communication we can. A majority of reporting will be from ourselves contacting and posting online. God Bless all!!!! The Golden Triangle will rise again and so will the Louisiana coast- scenes we all have grown to love and call home.
OH- and to some of the stations that have been referring to us as a sparsely populated swamp between beaumont and lake charles- please, do your research before you report it to others. how insulting. just as insulting when we were being told how lucky we all are that the storm moved east and spared houston and galveston. please, choose your words carefully and know what you are talking about!!

There has not been a lot of information about Port Neches and Nederland which is in between Beaumont and Port Arthur. My family is from Port Neches and Groves and is currently staying with me. We've heard that some parts of Port Neches and Nederland were leveled by tornadoes. Is there any idea when there will be any sort of normal life in that area?

Does anyone know how Lake Arthur faired, it is a town 36 miles southwest of Lake Charles, a town of 3,600 people

My wife and I have lived on a boat in Orange for the past 5.5 years. We have heard that the boat has broken free and floating in adams bayou. If anyone can confirm this please reply. It is our home and we do not know when we can get back in. if anyone can get on the water and secure the boat it would be wonderful.

Her name is the Grand Cou.

Any news about Orangefield TX. about 3 miles north and west of Bridge City, and 8 miles south and east of Orange TX ?

Yes, your comment about the media - specifically TV - was right on. However, MANY people are aware of this, and are as frustrated as you, KNOWING there are communities that have been devestated and yet are not receiving the coverage. You are just confirming what we know, yet can't access. Thanks!!

Thank you for reporting on these smaller town. Most of the officials there don't have the time or expertise to get the word out about the extreme devistation. I live about 100 miles from the area directly hit. Some here are still living without power & utilities & we suffered only a small amout of what our neighbors to the west & a few weeks ago, east have gone through. We are grateful to be getting back to "normal" so soon. Our prayer are with them. Thanks for showing the nation that Houston, Galveston & New Orleans do not make up the entire population of the Gulf Coast Region.

Do you have any information or photos of the Holly Beach area? We have stayed at a cute RV Park there many times in past winters and have said many prayers for those folks down there.

I have family in Orange Tx. and I know thier home was severly damaged. We are still trying to get word on some of the neighbors but I do know thier whole neighborhood has quite a bit of damage. any new news will be helpful. Thanks for any info. A.Miller,Dallas Ga.

Thanks to both of you for caring about the "others" who were affected by Rita. My children and grandchildren evacuated from South Lake Charles and are in Arkansas. I understand that my son's home has been destroyed and we are unsure about my daughter's house. They both live in the area of the Lake Charles airport. My dad lives in Port Arthur, TX. He, too, evacuated but we are unsure how he fared.
He owns a Bed & Breakfast close to the seawall. None of them have "dodged the bullet". I am so sick of Houston and New Orleans news. How about the "other victims"? What about the victims of coastal Mississippi? I have family there also. Please let the rest of the world know that there are other areas in dire need of help other than Houston and N. O. God bless you both. I will be looking forward to seeing the results of your travels.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Savage, Clearwater, Fla

My sister, niece and uncle were in Orange. I have no idea if they got out or not. There is no way to cummunicate at this time and I am so worried. Please keep reporting on the "little" places. the information you are giving is a big help.

Does anyone have any information on Bridge City and Orangefield. We have not heard anything about either place and would like to get an idea of what we are up against when we get to go back home. We evacuated to Fayetteville, AR, love it here and love being with family, however, would LOVE even more to get to go HOME and WORK.