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Big Cat Facility -
VS - Hurricane Dolly
July 24, 2008
- Barb and I
are far from the only people here to have gone through this.
Many around are far
worse off now than us. While the eye did pass over us, We
consider ourselves among the more fortunate survivors, and are
thankful that we are. It's certainly not over yet.
We still have water above our knees wherever we go here, things
floating away, and prospects of yet more rain -so deeper waters
yet. -Meph
We are fine and the
animals are high and dry. If Meph hadn't been here not
sure how well this would have gone.
Barns are torn apart, about 2 feet of water all over.
Not trying to save the barns! Couldn't care less about the
fairgrounds. It's our own interests we are fighting for.
We were building facilities and opening a show and not prepared
to hit the road. We also had no help to load out. Empty promises
all around.
I was more prepared than some people who lose both top and
favorite banner to a little wind.
Let's see how much insurance pays for some ruined "old
mannequins"!
My computer's down so am sending from Meph's for now. Thought
we'd lost the turtles, but found them merrily floating around in
their little pool between the tiger cages!
If anyone is truly and sincerely concerned and interested in
starting some sort of hurricane relief fund, it'd be much
appreciated. Gloating isn't.
-B
PS from Meph- Insanity is when you leave your help and animals
to fend for themselves.
Insurance only pays if you've taken reasonable precautions to
save and protect, NOT for stuff you left behind to be lost. And
it does NOT pay sentimental value -only replacement costs or
original purchase value.
Won't cover waterlogged photo albums and keepsakes either. You
really, honestly think a carny (with no help whatsoever) is any
more prepared to fight Mother Nature than what you call a mark?
Some tools here will
be lost. We couldn't save them all. Fortunately, my own tools
are all in Dallas at this time. Real friends sympathize, don't
gloat. As Barb says, we don't need or appreciate that at this
time.
-M
August 8, 2008
- We are still experiencing the effects of what this has
done to us and the Fairgrounds here in San Benito.
The Fairgrounds and Airport has become the dumping site for the
debris left throughout the county. We are observing the big
trucks and the debris that is being piled up here (will post
more photos soon).
There is a rather large home under construction very close to
these dumping areas as well!
Meph was extremely ill but doing much better. His glasses and
hearing aid lost during the storm (see picture of him searching
in the flood waters). This is making things even more difficult
for him yet he remains in good spirit. I never realized how
expensive hearing aids are! Can't begin to tell you how
difficult this must be for him!
FEMA should be here soon and hopefully will replace his things!
All my tools and welder were soaked as the materials for the
cage construction, some underneath the rumble in the barns and
outside.
At least we still have the pony ride for income!
All the animals have done well so far but the mosquitoes are
swarming, and yes, we are treating all with heart worm
prevention medication!
-B
More pictures will go in the album
tonight and the most shocking of all will be the
pictures of what we now refer to as the dumping grounds,
no longer a Fairgrounds, or even a defunct airport that
we will take tomorrow as the big trucks with their giant
loads of debris of fallen trees and broken branches. If
tomorrow is anything like today, these trucks will even
be hauling on Sunday, working during the daylight hours,
load after load from Cameron County being brought here.
Sad that this city has such little
regard to people and animals, never mind a business and
hopes and dreams, never mind that people can not
possibly live in the conditions as presented for us,
never mind that it will be dangerous for us to pack and
load out with the debris from the building and the
rusted nails in our path. Land lords have a
responsibility to tenants, even if the landlord is the
city.
We wake, and while Meph is totally
unaware of it, I hear the sounds of the big trucks and
the equipment that they are using to unload them,
getting louder as they get closer to the barns where we
are living and trying to figure out where we will go.
Trying to wash the mud from the residue of the flooding
on the things for the show, gathering the clothing that
was placed outside to dry, worrying that one of the dogs
might get loose and run over by one of the trucks.
I have written to the governor of
this state to make him aware of our current situation,
updated all information to our current USDA inspector,
telling him of my fear that rats will soon be invading
us. I doubt there will be any mosquito control on this
property as they have done nothing here so far except to
hint that these buildings will be torn down and they
don't feel they have to do anything to assist us!
Do I really want to return to the
'real world'.....Hell No! I surely prefer
the World of Imagination, where everything imaginable
can be real, 'just make it so'...
-B
August 6, 2008
Channel 5 TV News
- Stock Show Grounds Eviction -
Cameron County - A Cameron County woman says the city of
San Benito is throwing her out on the streets so they
can use the property as a dumping ground. Barbara
Hoffman rents the county live stock show grounds. She
now has thirty days to leave the premises and has
nowhere else to take her fifteen exotic cats. Hoffman
says, "I've been here since June of last year and I
don't know why I'm being terminated I would have thought
maybe because they are gonna use the area to bring
debris here but they're already doing that bringing the
debris." Hoffman says she will comply with the 30-day
notice...
Click Here to Watch
the News Program
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Flood Water
Inside the
Barn |
Flood
water-inside the barn at the arena |
Flood
water-inside the barn-concessions |
Flood water
later that day-front door |
Water continued
to rise the next
day |
5 Days Later |
|
5 Days Later |
5 Days Later |
Barn One
Destroyed |
Barn Two |
5 Days Later |
5 Days Later |
|
5 Days Later |
Back Barn
|
Back Barn
|
Barn Damage |
Barn Damage |
Barn Damage |
|
Barn Damage |
Barn Damage |
No Help at Hand |
No Help at Hand |
No Help at Hand |
Inside the Barn
8-1 |
|
Barn Damage |
Barn Damage |
No Help at Hand |
Unoccupied
assessed for repair |
Unoccupied
assessed for repair |
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