Off Topic..But Does Anyone Have Laura's (Lauras Babies) Cell Phone Number???

[QueenScoopalot]

Well it is a cat topic as I'm worried sick, as she must be about the impending hurricane hitting, and her being at work and not knowing if she'll have a home to come back to. I know Rie-Rie her daughter has Chester, but I'm not sure who's watching Amy etc. I think it's Laura's son, but he's in the path of this monster storm also. If anyone has Laura's number, and is able to contact her somehow, can you let me/us know if her fur and skinkids are OK? I'm so scared that they had to evacuate, and leave Laura's babies behind. And say many prayers that no lives will be lost in this terrible storm.

[slick]

You know, I've been thinking about LB all day because I know that she lives down there. Sorry I can't help. If you do get in contact with her, please let us know.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Well ...

She's not in the best place;
but she's not in downtown New Orleans, either!

IF she's working on her normally assigned Towboat, the John M. Donnelly ~
the Donnelly's 10 PM Sunday night reported position was:
Lower Mississippi River mile 658.3
which is a few miles south of Helena, Arkansas.

That puts them about 350 miles north of New Orleans,
and 100 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee.
They spent all day (5 am to 10 pm) moving 63 river miles NORTHbound ...
Can't tell from the position report if they're still on the move or
stopped to pick up or drop off barges ...
but the Donnelly costs the Ingram Barge Copany a LOT of money
every hour of the day - so they won't be looking for safe shelter till
the storm is really close to them.

The projected path shows Katrina passing east of their present location
sometime Tesday morning ... but no telling WHERE the Donnelly
will actually be on Tuesday morning.
(If their next position is an LMR number HIGHER than 658.3 -
the Boat is moving NORTH on the Mississippi;
a number Lower than 658.3 means they turned around and are
headed south towards New Orleans.)

Here's the *links* to follow along with Laura and the Donnelly ...

ALL the Ingram Towboat Fleet positions are reported here >>>
Ingram Barge Co - Towboat Current Positions

The page updates at 5 AM and most of the Boats
report again at 10 PM, every day.

Scroll down to the "John M. Donnelly then *click* on
the Boat's NAME -
you'll go to the Donnelly's Page that has a "MapQuest Link" at the
top of the page which pinpoints the Donnelly's last reported position.

The Donnelly is a *BIG* Boat ~ she weighs close to 1,000 TONS
by herself -
and she's tied to a string of barges the weigh a LOT more than the Boat ...
so unless Katrina passes right over them - they ought to be able to
"ride out" the storm OK.

Let's all *Pray* Laura and her ship-mates stay safe;
as well as her Family - both Furry Ones and the 2-Leggers!

[sandragonfly]

oh dear laura & her loved ones!!

please too, let me know right away if someone has gotten in touch with her or rierie or someone!? let's hope that son do know to take laura's babies away with him too if he has to go too.

I did not realized laura and a few were living close to that monster. now I'm sick worried and am praying really hard. oh god, please bring everyone with two/four legs back safely!

*lighting a candle still...*
..gina

[Cinder & Smoke]

Laura, on board the Ingram Barge Towboat the John M. Donnelly ~

Is still Headed NORTH on the Lower Mississippi River!

As of 2:00 AM Monday morning, the Donnelly was reported to be
at Mississippi River mile 673 - about 15 miles farther NORTH than
their 10 PM Sunday reported position.]

[QueenScoopalot]

Thanks for the info Phred. What worries me most is the news is saying 90% of homes will be destroyed, and I know Laura must be frantic with worry for her family & kitties. I'm praying they'll all be safe, and that Laura will have a home to come back to. She really doesn't need anymore worries after Brandon, and then Eddie's accidents.

[catmandu]

THE THING,THAT WORRIESME,IS THAT A LOT,OF THINGS,CAN CHANGE,WHERE THE STORM,WILL LAND,AND WATH PATH,IT WILL TAKE.
THE MAIN THING,IS THAT LAURA,HER FAMILY,AND PETS ARE SAFE,AS YOU CAN ALWAYS,REBILD A HOUSE,BUT NOT A LIFE.
PRAYERS,ARE ON THE WAY,FROM THE FOUND CATS,STARRY CATS,REHOMED STARRYS,AND ANGELS,FOR ALL PEOPLE,AND PETS,IN THE PATH,OF KARINA.

[Cinder & Smoke]

At 8:22 am Monday,

Laura and the Towboat John M. Donnelly were reported to be at
Lower Mississippi River mile 700.6 -
about 30 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee,
still headed NORTH and away from Katrina.

The National Weather Service is predicting that by the time Katrina
moves north to the Donnelly's location on the river on Tuesday,
the storm should have lessened to below hurricane force.

Now let's hope that her house, Furkids and Relatives are all OK!

[sirrahbed]

Phred thank you for the boat updates and links - I have been following them. Laura's daughter Rie checked in here about Laura and her Babies - all are OK

[Cinder & Smoke]

Laura'a Babie's R FINE

Originally posted by Rie Rie

Kevlin left his trailer with all of the cats and went to a brick home.
Everyone is fine.
I talked to Mom a couple of times yesterday and she's fine.
There was no damage to her trailer.

We are all fine, no damage to our home,
just a huge mess in the yard from all our trees.
We got power back on last night, THANK GOD.
/s/ RieRie

THAT's all good to hear!!

So where ARE Laura and her Towboat the John M. Donnelly??

As of 9:00 am Today (Tuesday):
Laura and the Donnelly were at Lower Mississippi River mile 791.6 ~
near Osceola, Arkansas, and still *pushin* Northbound.

Over the last 24 hours the Boat traveled about 90 miles north on the River.
The now "tropical storm" Katrina probably passed east of the Boat
last night; with peak wind gusts of 50 mph or less.

THANKS, God, for taking care of Laura and her crew-mates,
her FurKids and Family!!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Last time I posted a Boat Tail,
Laura and the Towboat John M. Donnelly were
still *pushin* NORTH on the Lower Mississippi River and had almost
made it "up" to the mouth of the Ohio River.

Last week they turned around and headed SOUTH,
back towards soggy New Orleans ...

Must be a "faster trip" goin DOWNriver, WITH the current -
because yesterday (Thursday, 9/08/2005) the Donnelly was
almst back in downtown New Orleans at River Mile 102.

Today they've turned around again, and are headed back NORTH.
Right Now Laura and the Boat are at River Mile 135 (Laplace, LA).

/s/ Phred

[Laura's Babies]

Hay Phred, you are so on top of things!! Keepin' up with where I was were you? COOL!! We only got into some wind and a little rain from the storm when it caught up with us but we were well away from the distruction of it.. We DID end up in New Orleans after the storm, can you believe that? They sent that BIG boat down to pick up just 2 barges and we ended up bringing out 6. We spent the whole day, right across from the Riverwalk in downtown New Orleans and I spent the day watching the relief helicopters take off and land on a air craft carrier across river from where we were. All day long, they took off and landed, buzzing around like a swarm of bees.

We took a lot of precautions while down there. All doors were taped shut to keep out misquitos, except for one. A former CDC doctor told my Captain to mix 1 quart of bleach with 8 quarts water in a 5 gallon bucket for the guys to wash off their hands and arms and use antibacterial soap to wash the bleach off. I was NOT allowed outside and neither were the wheel house people. They guys were not allowed to run in and out like they usually do for something to drink, instead a 5 gallon cooler was made for them to keep outside. We figured the stench would gag us all but there was no oder out there that day. It WAS scarey as all get out being down there that close to all that though.

We made it in and out and so far, nobody got sick! Thanks fopr keeping up with me.

QSL, YES!! I WAS worried to death about my babies. Kevlin knows I would have killed him if he had left my babies alone in that mobile home during that storm but I still worried until I found out for sure where they were. The storm was extreemly stressful on them but after the storm is when they got worried about all the babies. No Power, NO A/C! Rhonda said she was afraid they all were going to die from the heat. They quit eating, drinking and just laid around panting. A neighbor with power offered for them to bring them all over there so that is what they did, then she said they all freaked out because of being in a strange place. Just not a good time for my babies all the way around. Everything is back to normal now and all is well.