Hurricane Katrina

[Will Bale]

Good News!!!
Team 1604 is going to be raising money for the Victims for the next few weeks. If anybody has transportation info please email me at Blindskater143@msn.com or call me at 407-433-2684. It would be greatly appricatied.

[sburro]

As a member of team 663 out of the university of lowell and whitinsville I would like to extend a hand to any firster who traveled up to mass and would like to get back on a first team. just send me an e-mail and I will see what I can do.

[JackN]

Great job 75, you must have washed a lot of cars! That puts the total up to $1843.79 we have almost broke the $2000 mark between three teams!!! Let's hear from some other teams!

[bhweezer]

Originally Posted by M. Krass

The following teams are based squarely in the devastation of Hurricane Katrina:
1304 - New Orleans Center for Science and Mathematics
1534 - Marion Abramson Senior High School
1550 - O. Perry Walker Senior High School
1589 - John F. Kennedy Senior High School
364 - Gulfport High School

Based on what I've been able to gather from news and other sources, it seems given that these teams will not be participating in the 2006 FIRST competitions. New Orleans is expected to be uninhabitable for upward of four months, while the Mississippi coast is probably facing a similar timeline. In any case, rebuilding infrastructure, homes and businesses will be priority to piecing together the funds and manpower needed for a FIRST team.

Team Fusion 364 will be competition in the 2006 season. I talked to a team mentor this past Friday and we both agree that our biggest obstacle will be funding for our team. Like I mentioned in a earlier post, most of the industry along along the gulf coast is either severely damaged or destroyed.

::Edit::
My dad and I are going to show pictures from Gulfport here .. www.jdhiggs.com .. I put more on soon ..

[Andrew Schuetze]

Originally Posted by bhweezer

Team Fusion 364 will be competition in the 2006 season. I talked to a team mentor this past Friday and we both agree that our biggest obstacle will be funding for our team. Like I mentioned in a earlier post, most of the industry along along the gulf coast is either severely damaged or destroyed.

::Edit::
My dad and I are going to show pictures from Gulfport here .. www.jdhiggs.com .. I put more on soon ..

That is just incredable I do not know how you will do it but I sure hope to see you in Houston. Your teams performance and energy has been something that we strive for in our program.

[JackN]

Originally Posted by bhweezer

Team Fusion 364 will be competition in the 2006 season. I talked to a team mentor this past Friday and we both agree that our biggest obstacle will be funding for our team. Like I mentioned in a earlier post, most of the industry along along the gulf coast is either severely damaged or destroyed.

::Edit::
My dad and I are going to show pictures from Gulfport here .. www.jdhiggs.com .. I put more on soon ..

That is truly AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! We are glad to hear that you and your team are ok and ready to move on to the next chapter in your lives.Tell us what you need and we will help out as we can.

[dfava]

Update on Team Fusion #364 Gulfport, MS

I greatly appreciate the calls and concern. At present we are trying to clean up the school (thank goodness we still have one)and get the kids back to some sense of normalcy. 5 student members, Mr. Gunkel (new team coach) and several engineers - including our master designer - Tom Holderer have lost everything. Tom's new machine shop received 5 feet of sea water.

I've lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast all of my life. I survived Camille in my mother's arms a mere baby of 9 months. I grew up in the "restoration" period, a time of rebuilding and stories of the BIG ONE. Well at least on good thing has come out of Katrina - we never have to hear another word about Camille. Katrina has destroyed everything on the coast that I've ever known. Totally destroyed - not even a matchstick left of many of the buildings - just slabs. I've ridden down HWY 90 (beachfront) and taken pictures - when I get home and view them - I wonder what was I taking a picture of... slabs and debris piles all look the same after awhile. With so much destroyed, I am so joyed to hear laughter... to see or talk to the kids and engineers... to feel the desire they have to get over this tragedy and rebuild - even when standing in the middle of the home that is now gutted or has 4 in. of mud caked on EVERYTHING. The only thing not destroyed is our SPIRIT!

We are truly blessed though - we all survived. Everything else can be rebuilt... and what better group to meet the challenge than a FIRST team.

As far as the '06 season is concerned - you've got to be kiddin' right?... WE'LL BE THERE! Maybe with a cardboard kit bot - but present!

With this being my first opportunity to check email in almost 3 weeks (307 in inbox I will try and respond personally to those that have tried to make contact.

As for our needs... Prayer! Please continue to pray for those that have lost loved ones. Pray for the strength and resolve of the people of MS, LA, and AL - as they rebuild their lives. Please pray for all the men and women of the relief effort - regardless of what you hear in the news - they have done a WONDERFUL job under extreme conditions!

Good Night!

David Fava

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by sburro

As a member of team 663 out of the university of lowell and whitinsville I would like to extend a hand to any firster who traveled up to mass and would like to get back on a first team. just send me an e-mail and I will see what I can do.

The same goes for me, anyone who ended up in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, let me know your whereabouts and I will try and place you with a FIRST team...

[maltz1881]

Team 364 you are amazing. I only wish that we could all be as strong as what you are. Our prayers are with each and every one of you. I am sure that FIRST will rise to the challenge to help the teams that were affected out. If it were up to me you would receive your kit and 1st competition for free. Goodness knows that you are going through enough problems then trying to raise $6,000.00 for that when some have no homes. Good luck and God Bless each of you

[LSevcik]

I think one of the best ways we can help Team Fusion is by assisting them with replacing machines in their machine shop. The money factor of the competition can be worked out. There are enough grants around to take care of that. This includes such grants as NASA grants, Houston Robotics grants etc. What #364 does need is tools! I would like to hear feedback from any of you regarding this. If you have a used drill press, lathe, hand tools, hand drills etc let Dave Fava know. He needs all of these items.

I look forward to hearing from you and your help in getting Team Fusion to the Lone Star Regional.

[Jverdon]

I am one of the 5 members of Team Fusion that lost everything, I lived a block off the beach and my home was under water, but I am very lucky no one that I know was lost durring the storm.

I think that a big way for me to deal with everything will be FIRST I can already tell that it will be a way to escape, for me, and I can't wait for the season to begin.

I just want to thank all of you for all of your kind words and your generosity. That is what we need to keep going thru out the day.

Thank you all for everything.

We will be seeing you in Houston and hopefully Atlanta.

[vadyr]

Hey everyone. First of all, my heart goes out to those who are suffering from this disaster, and my team shares the same concerns. That is basically why I'm writing this. Our team, 103, would really like to help out the teams down there and everyone else who was affected by the hurricane. We were wondering if there was anything specifically that could be done. (For example: I lived in NY, on Long Island, up until i moved to PA a few years ago, and when 9/11 happened, my mom and I and a few other people set up this huge drive for supplies at the school and we had that stock up for a few days and sorted and organized it all, and then we rented a truck and brought it to a warehouse that was being rented out to distribute the stuff to whervere it needed to go. We also helped out at the warehouse for a few days. I was wondering if something like that would be helpful; although our area is very rural and we might not get a big turnout.) So if anyone has an ideas, let me know so we can get started with that. Thanks.

[Conor Ryan]

More Bad news guys,

Hurricane Rita is now at Category 5 Status with sustained winds over 165+ mph. Hope everyone is ok, we're watching with you.

[Kyle]

As of right now the storm is heading for the Texas coast. BUT if it turns anymore then 10-25 degrees to the east then almost all of the already effected areas will be hit again with the same strength or storm.
Just to let you know also, as of right now a majority of the levees have been repaired but if there is anymore then 3 inches of rain they are once again in serious danger of bursting again and re-flooding the cities.

my thoughts are going out to everyone that is in that area and I hope this storm season ends very soon.

[b-rant]

wow...just as surprising as Katrina's damage was there is an even greater affect on how it has come to bring all of us closer and in better relationships. I can't wait to see all of you next year it's going to be a blast. Thank you, all of you for your concerns.

Brantley