A little help from out west.

[Sand Draw Jake]

Denver Colo.-The U.S.ARMY, Northern Command, has requested that any ranchers in the Rocky Mountain West area, who own or opperate stock or grain trucks, please consider leaseing your tractors to this command for a period of four to six weeks. These rigs and drivers will be engaged in the transportation of relief supplies, food and building supplies to the areas effected by hurricane Katrina. All permits will be provided by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, under the regulation of FEMA. The drivers food , fuel, and lodgeing will be provided, and normal tractor maintenance, will be rendered at various termenals en route.

If any of you folks see a red Peterbuilt, with a mountain motor Cat, and 3 Bar Trucking, Pinedale Wyoming, on the door,with a 5 foot tall mountain man driving, say howdy to my son Jim, awfully proud of that boy tonight.

[thumbcocker]

Godspeed. I've been to Pinedale, I like it there.

[lefty]

Jake, You should be proud of your son, I know those affected will be grateful. Help will come from many directions and in many forms. Several airboat clubs in central Florida are on their way now to rescue stranded folks in flooded areas. Evac units and state police are also on their way. We sure appreciated all the help down here last year and it's time to return the favor A friend in Montana told me this evening that power crewmen from his area were going also. Money to the Salvation Army would help a lot also.
Regarding Pinedale, My wife and I were traveling out there this last June, coming up US 191 about 40 miles south of Pinedale when she got very sick. We thought she was having a heart attack, it turned out not to be. For someone not used to your isolated area with long distances between towns, it was a scary situation. When we got into town we stopped at the Forest Service headquarters and got directions to the medical clinic up the hill. They took her in immediately and she got exellent care. We were on our way in a few hours. I can't say enough about the care and "caring" attitude we got from everyone in the community. Unfortunatly, I really didn't get to see much of the scenery that i wanted to on the way.
It seems like people in need brings out the best in humanity.

[Sand Draw Jake]

Talked to the boy from K.C this morning, there are over 300 trucks at the staging area there. Jim is going to be running to PENSACOLA FL. to off load at the Air base there, so it can be loaded on Navy ships to go to Biloxi. He will then be going to Dallas- Fort Worth, and will be hauling from there to staging areas near Baton Rouge for the forseeable future
.
Look out VTDW, HE HAS YOUR PHONE NUMBER, AND YOUR MAP, I told him to give you a call if he got time. Looks just like me, cept he's only 5' 3'',and has a mountain man beard. I told him he could park the truck and trailor right in your yard. ...Jake

[Norm Watkins]

Jake

This is heart wrenching stuff.

The neighbour to the North is waiting for a call.

Our news services are reporting that we are getting ourselves organized, waiting for a call saying what is needed. In a crisis like this, you want REAL HELP from here, not a bunch of disorganized, well intentioned, fools, who mainly get in the way.

Waiting for the call, and willing to help.....

[Sand Draw Jake]

Jake

This is heart wrenching stuff.

The neighbour to the North is waiting for a call.

Our news services are reporting that we are getting ourselves organized, waiting for a call saying what is needed. In a crisis like this, you want REAL HELP from here, not a bunch of disorganized, well intentioned, fools, who mainly get in the way.

Waiting for the call, and willing to help.....

Norm, From what Jim is hearing, and I don't care to repeat things he has told me he is just hearing, this is far worse than any of us are aware of. Our country has always taken care of our own, but this time we are going to need help from all of our friends and nieghbors.
God bless those effected by this she devil Katrina.

[sore shoulder]

Jake, I have an F-350 and a 14,000lb flat bed dovetail gooseneck w/20' deck. I would be willing to make weekend runs. I did a search online trying to find any info with no luck. If you think they could use my services and know who to contact or could put me in contact I would appreciate it.

[4570Lever]

Only this past December while I was in FL I did an I-10 road trip. Drove west to New Orleans, up to Shreveport and over to Dallas, then down thru Waco, Crawford, Austin, San Antonio then back east along the coast. After Baton Rouge I hit Biloxi, Gulport, Pascougoula, Pass Christian then on to Mobile, stopped off at the USS Alabama memorial then thru Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach and Panama City before heading back to Tampa.

It was really sickening to see all these places destroyed that I had been in only eight months back. I got see (and drink on!) Bourbon street for the first time, stayed at a motel in Biloxi across the street from the Gulf, even played some cards at one of the casinos. That bridge that leaves out the east end of Biloxi I took over to Gulfport, I think...all destroyed! That motel is proably gone, Super 8 I think it was.

When I reached FL I saw the places that had been hit by that season's past hurricanes. I cannot imagine living in such a place...my prayers go out.

[Sand Draw Jake]

Jake, I have an F-350 and a 14,000lb flat bed dovetail gooseneck w/20' deck. I would be willing to make weekend runs. I did a search online trying to find any info with no luck. If you think they could use my services and know who to contact or could put me in contact I would appreciate it.

The request for assistance Jim recieved came from the Dept of Defense, Northern Command, in Denver, through our stockmans association, they may be able to tell you who needs your help. I know that the news hear is asking for help to deliver supplies such as generators etc. and the POC is the local RED CROSS.

I'm sure as the cummunications systems come back up down there, the requests for help will be numerous, and your genorosity will be more than appreciated.

[sore shoulder]

Thanks Jake, I'll try the CO Stockmans Assoc. and Red Cross.