Robert,

Here's an update of courts affected in Louisiana. 

First of  all, remember that Louisiana is shaped somewhat like a boot. 
Although the damages are devestating, they are centered around the "toe of the boot", if you will.  Initially we had over twenty parishes closed down with anything from severe to slight damages.  These affected areas began near where an arch of the boot would be, up to the ankle bone and over to the toes.

Now the closures are down to three or four parishes, with these being at the absolute toe where it touches Mississippi.  This means we can actually get work done in all of the remaining sixty parishes.

The problem is, it is almost impossible for us to get through to anyone at an 800 number, it is difficult to fax between some areas inside the state, and it is still impossible to get through by phone at all to the four hardest hit parishes on a land line.  Many business will not take a debit/credit card for this reason, and FedX will not guarantee deliveries.  Our mail has been re-routed through Houston rather than New Orleans. 

Our clients are having difficulty reaching us and vice/versa.  We have heard that a shark was spotted swimming in the lobby of our New Orleans office.  All in all, it has made for a very stressful two weeks.  To top it off, our work flow dropped to a trickle last week, either because clients couldn't reach us or were giving us "our space" for a few days. 
All this, and we are quite a distance (a good three hour drive) from New Orleans.  I would hate to be any closer.

Our clients have been very patient, very understanding and very, very comforting.  We are helping out some clients because they just can't reach their usual abstractor yet.  We still have two of our own we have not heard from.    

All that being said, there is less uncertainty and things seem to be slowly improving.  Businesses are relocating to other cities and many people are buying homes rather than staying in a hotel for several months.  Interesting times.

If you're interested, check out our local television station websites.  They  have links to great photos.  They are www.wbrz.com and www.katc.com and www.wafb.com and have many human interest stories and more upbeat news than you are getting from the national media.

Thank God, things are starting to pick up this week and get back to a semblance of normal.  I do believe, however, that some things are changed forever.

Many thanks to all of you for the concern you have shown, the money you have donated, the time you have given and the tears many of you have told me about.  It is felt and it is appreciated.

Debbie Thibodeaux