Also, to clarify, Lake Pontchartrain is that big body of water that borders the north of New Orleans. So, it's part of the problem... but I've never heard of sharks in there, medical waster, yes, sharks, no...
My grandfather and aunt are safe, and their house in Harahan (suburb and in the bowl of New Orleans) they believe is okay. There are still some family members down there that we have not heard from. My childhood friend Lisa and her husband and child have lost everything and are planning on just starting over in Florida near where her in-laws live. They were in Gretna (which is across the river from New Orleans).
My grandfather and aunt were in a hospital when it flooded, and evaculated to Baton Rouge where someone housed them for the night. They then went to be with my other grandparents and aunt in McComb, MS. I think there is no electricity and no fresh water there, however. We are trying what we can to get them up here, but word is that gas in low supplies- or out- everywhere in MS. It's coming really close to packing up gas and driving down there. Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to reach anyone by phone, and they keep moving before we know it.
