Mississippi meet up

Glad everyone is ok. We were in Hattiesburg one hour before the tornado hit. If we had been following our standard schedule that day, we would have been in the area of the tornado when it hit.

Interesting story that I'll have to post tonight if anyone wants to hear it.
 
I had just left corner market which is next to the Oak Grove High School that was hit. LIterally as I was passing the high school the sirens were back on. I made up 2 redlights to a gas station and missed a call. Made it home--which is all of about 3 miles at most from high school. Out of the car it sounded odd...went inside lights flickering. Returned call and realized that I had just passed the path of the eye of the tornado before it hit within in minutes of driving by!
 
Hello all. Finally got internet connection back so I am able to get back to important things like the DISboards!! Grace and I are fine here in Petal. DD and DSiL are the same. Late Sunday afternoon we were outside looking at the black clouds and it sounded like a jet engine roaring. Little did we know that we were about a mile from the path of the tornado. Our power went out about 7:00pm Sunday so I went to find some gas for our generator. While I was out, I decided to go into Hattiesburg and check on the office and our apartment buildings that are scattered around the city. I couldn't get anywhere. US 49 was closed where 4th Street crosses over. I tried going down 4th and then turn on the street that runs behind Villies & La Fiesta (N 25th St) but it was blocked with downed power lines, trees and telephone poles. I tried going down 4th Street back towards downtown and turn at N Hutchinson (by Hattiesburg High) and nope. The baseball field was messed up but the Red Cross facility across the street was completely destroyed. So I had to turn around AGAIN (I'm leaving out dozens of times I had to turn here, turn there, turn around, weave past this or that, etc). Since it looked like getting to Hardy Street from this side of town was impossible, I backtracked and went down 7th Street to 38th Avenue to Hardy St (comes out at Wells Fargo bank/Starbucks/Crescent City - that intersection) and started down Hardy St back towards US 49. I only made it a few blocks and I couldn't go any further. I made it to just past Jimmy John's and there was an overturned truck and a stop light pole blocking the road. Okay, I give up. I was able to check 5 of the 6 apartment complexes but it was pitch black dark and all the downed lines were making it a bit dangerous to be riding around just after 170 mph winds from a tornado had hit! I finally made it back home about 9:30pm. Power had just come back on at our house and there was a 10:00pm curfew in Petal.

I was out on the road early Monday morning in the light of day and it was worse than I thought. The devastation across a WIDE area was horrendous. It is an absolute miracle of God that there were no fatalities. Literally over two thousand homes were damaged or destroyed and only about 80 people were treated for injuries of any kind. You've probably seen plenty of pictures but here are some links to pictures and a couple of videos...

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013302110022

http://weather.aol.com/2013/02/10/photos-tornado-rips-through-hattiesburg-miss/#photo=1

http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gal...es-tornado-roars-through-hattiesburg/1908993/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdmTpsyQinM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5AHsjV918w

Please pray for all those affected. Even after five 24-hour days of cleanup, it still looks like a war zone.
 


Glad y'all are ok. Have heard Villie's was destroyed. Anything else in that row also gone?

Have also heard speculation from one video that the Walmart on 98 was hit but haven't heard a confirmation.
 
:thumbsup2 Whew, Saints, I have been very concerned...so glad you and family are OK. Let us know if you need anything.
 
When is the next Meetup?

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I'm not sure. Would be cool to get together sometime as we're 73 days out from our next WDW trip.

However as thing were with me and my family back in November/December, we once again find ourselves in a similar situation.

5 weeks ago this past Friday, my father was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and given 6 weeks to live, just 2.5 months after my mother died.

My sister and I have been working to get all his affairs in order while he's in a hospice facility. I've been traveling back and forth about every other week to visit and help clean things out and get our ducks in a row.

We have a month until final payment is due on our May WDW vacation, which we desperately need to take after the past 4 months we've been through. At time of final payment, we also have to make the decision about trip insurance depending on how the next 3 weeks go.

Didn't mean to unload on y'all, but wanted to let you all know what's going on. We truly need all the thoughts and prayers we can get, even if it's just for him to slip quietly away without much more suffering so he can go be with my mom.
 
Well, just wanted to pop back in and give an update.

My father passed away at 1:35pm today, March 11.

We're on our way up there to make arrangements now. I just got back from visiting him up there 24 hours ago.
 
So sorry to hear about this, I will say a prayer for you and your family.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards
 
Well, just wanted to pop back in and give an update.

My father passed away at 1:35pm today, March 11.

We're on our way up there to make arrangements now. I just got back from visiting him up there 24 hours ago.

:sad1: I will be praying for your family.
 
I would REALLY love to be able to go to a meet here in Mississippi. Living in Jackson, and it being pretty centrally located, I feel it would be the best spot. Jackson Hilton, maybe ?
 
Well, just wanted to pop back in and give an update.

My father passed away at 1:35pm today, March 11.

We're on our way up there to make arrangements now. I just got back from visiting him up there 24 hours ago.

My prayers go out to you and your family. Thank God you were with him a short time before his passing. A similar situation happened with my mother this past August when we had our trip to Aulani scheduled for the first of September. Fortunately, as in your case, I was able to see her a day before her passing. The trip went as scheduled and it was a much needed time away to rest, relax and recover. Please let me know if there is anything you need. God bless.
 
:grouphug: I am so sorry for your loss. You all will be in my thoughts and prayers over the coming days and weeks. I am happy he is with your Mama though. God Bless.
 
I just saw this. I'm located in gulfport and would love to join a meet. Please email me.. Tepper.chris@yahoo.com when you get the next one going and message on here just in case it goes to spam. Thanks all
 
I just saw this. I'm located in gulfport and would love to join a meet. Please email me.. Tepper.chris@yahoo.com when you get the next one going and message on here just in case it goes to spam. Thanks all

We're in Long Beach!

At our last meet-up in Hattiesburg, it was suggested that the next meet-up of the South MS contingent could be on the Coast. Wherever it is in the South part, we're probably up for it!
 
So sorry to hear of your loss. If y'all ever do another meet I would love to join!
 
Is it time to have a meet-up again? Lots of folks will be planning trips for the May-Sept time frame. Would you rather meet beforehand and discuss the planning or meet afterwards and hear all about it?
 
Is it time to have a meet-up again? Lots of folks will be planning trips for the May-Sept time frame. Would you rather meet beforehand and discuss the planning or meet afterwards and hear all about it?

What about a May Meet

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