100%

The guy is such a pillar in the local community. He's told his story before at a Christian prayer breakfast organization and had the clubs largest audience. And it was gut wrenching.

Just spent the afternoon out in Hunt, helping some family members. We made a donation delivery this morning and can say after having to go to several donation locations to drop everything off most of the intake locations are very overwhelmed with supplies. Until more volunteer organized labor groups can be brought in to help with restoring homes, I suggest doing financial donations to any local groups until there is a call for more general supplies. Seeing everything in person is so heartbreaking and the crews currently working are doing a tremendous job from what I saw

I too have been following this thread with so many mixed feelings-hope, joy, angst, sadness, love. It has given me great hope due the outpouring of christian love witnessed as well as the steadfast peace exhibited by many affected, both directly and tangentially. The empathy displayed by all is a real testament to Christs love that lives in many on this forum. I have recognized many posters from other boards that I don't see eye to eye with on a lot of subjects-politics, coaching decisions made, playcalling etc.

But the humanity displayed and love shown in the form of words, prayers, efforts made to help out in any way possible has reminded me that we are all in this life together and it can be one of great community or great derision. The world has been so focused on how we are different-politics, religion, race- and has driven a wedge between many people, people we don't even know yet we are willing to hate.

In my city, several local churches have been praying Psalms 85:6 ""Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?" in expectation that the Holy Spirit will bring revival to a fallen world. After witnessing the strength of the faith of so many parents and families that just went through the unthinkable, my revival prayer will now include that the faith of the families displayed and the memories of these girls will not be in vain, but rather a catalyst for this revival. I am also going to expand my prayers to include Psalms 85:6-9

"Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants but let them not turn to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land."
Psalms 85:6-9 NIV

God will work through this tragedy to bring good. In the meantime I will pray for the Holy Spirit to wrap all those affected in his peace which surpasses all understanding.

88planoAg said:

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Lost and found FB group

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1390898463037140/

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Gosh there are some heart breaking items being posted in there.

lazuras_dc said:

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100%

The guy is such a pillar in the local community. He's told his story before at a Christian prayer breakfast organization and had the clubs largest audience. And it was gut wrenching.

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McComb was my neighbor when we lived in Corpus about 15 years ago. His kids were my daughter's age. Great guy but I don't think he's an Aggie. Think he was SWT State.

Carey's and Randy/Michelle were good friends of ours.

88planoAg said:

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Lost and found FB group

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1390898463037140/

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*warning* don't click on this link unless you want to start sobbing uncontrollably.

Randy Charba, RIP, was also an Aggie. He was in the pledge class before mine and a year ahead of me in high school.

There are pink ribbons in Rockport, TX for precious Mary Grace.

Anti-taxxer said:

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88planoAg said:

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Lost and found FB group

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1390898463037140/

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*warning* don't click on this link unless you want to start sobbing uncontrollably.

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that can't be stated loud enough.
physical ache. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.

Related - sort of - one of my D.C. roommates has worked in PR since we left the Hill one million years ago. Mostly feel good stuff like repping Toyota sponsored athletes at the Olympics. Recently she has worked with the family of the AA copilot when the plane was struck over the Potomac - she is family friends with the parents. Anyway, she grew up in Nac and went to Tech (her dad played basketball there, so she had to).

She immediately reached out to see if my daughter was working at Mystic this term (she worked first term). Anyhow, she let me know that she would be so happy to offer free media relations help to families who might need it. Direct quote: I can draft family statements, distribute them to my media contacts who I know are on the ground, etc. Anything that might help them get a little quiet space.

Please reply if this would be helpful to families on this board or others we know and we can figure out how to connect you.

Pink ribbons at Olsen

Remembrance at my home in California. God bless Mary Grace and every man, woman and child lost in this tragic incident. Wishing God's peace and strength for their heartbroken loved ones.

CBS Evening News just lead off with Mary Grace and the pink ribbons up at St. Anne's in Beaumont.

bulverdeaggie93 said:

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NBC Nightly just led with 161 still missing??… Huge jump from earlier today….

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Yes, previously they were only referencing the camp kids that were registered, now they are including the general public that people are reporting missing in the area.

At baseball camp with my son tonight and just saw these.

We don't have a tree, but my husband and I are both wearing pink today in Tokyo for Mary Grace.

bulverdeaggie93 said:

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dang… i hadn't followed much since this morning… i thought it was down to about 10-15 total still missing

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Correct the focus on here and in SM was always the kids at the camps. They probably have had time now to run LPs to contact vehicle owners directly and now that we are in 2 biz days you have employers making calls on those who did not show up.

Had this happened in the day or even before 10PM likely on 20-30% of the deaths. Same if weekday not holiday.

Just horrific.

Also I can't listen to anymore Abbott press conferences!

100% agree.

God always keeps His promises.

And, because He does, I am constantly led to 2 Chronicles 7:14 -

"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

But we must be careful to follow the "if" with the "then". The Father has placed pre-conditions on His healing and forgiveness.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

amymc72 said:

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Related - sort of - one of my D.C. roommates has worked in PR since we left the Hill one million years ago. Mostly feel good stuff like repping Toyota sponsored athletes at the Olympics. Recently she has worked with the family of the AA copilot when the plane was struck over the Potomac - she is family friends with the parents. Anyway, she grew up in Nac and went to Tech (her dad played basketball there, so she had to).

She immediately reached out to see if my daughter was working at Mystic this term (she worked first term). Anyhow, she let me know that she would be so happy to offer free media relations help to families who might need it. Direct quote: I can draft family statements, distribute them to my media contacts who I know are on the ground, etc. Anything that might help them get a little quiet space.

Please reply if this would be helpful to families on this board or others we know and we can figure out how to connect you.

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Same.

I am in PR and Media Relations. Was PIO with TXTF1. Anyone who needs help with media, please reach out.

WI on the way to help. This looks like one of the biggest USAR deployments ever.

swimmerbabe11 said:

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Anti-taxxer said:

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88planoAg said:

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Lost and found FB group

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1390898463037140/

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*warning* don't click on this link unless you want to start sobbing uncontrollably.

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that can't be stated loud enough.
physical ache. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.

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You warned us. I opened it in the airport...

My daughter tied some Pink in ETX for Mary Grace and all the girls.

Lots of rosaries at their camp today for all those lost.

A picture of Mary Grace in her first communion dress was on ABC World News Tonight.

So many tears. Dermdoc…you are in my prayers.

Derm, I wanted to share this as we have our ribbons arriving tomorrow, but the strangest thing I felt worth sharing. I went to walk my baby girl (1 year) and noticed a pop of hot pink that was out of place…you see, these roses are all white. This beautiful hot pink rose showed up overnight on my all white bushes in the garden where we proudly display our A&M flag. I have been absolutely gripped/devastate by this as a mommy to a baby girl, and my prayers are with you, your family, and all the families who have experienced immeasurable grief and loss. I hope this brings some tiny sliver of joy that God is working even when we cannot see it or understand it. Peace be with you.

Derm, please know you are loved by so many and we are grieving with you. The joy knowing Mary Grace is with our Lord gives me great solace.

I'm seeing a lot of SAR resources being deployed, which is great. They need large, 50 ton excavators…probably at least one or two for every mile of river you want to search. Individuals with chain saws will take many, many weeks. I hope someone is coordinating this at some level, but I'm not seeing it other than local J3 guys.

This is very much hearsay (a friend of a friend's third grade daughter who was in one of the cabins on the flats), so take it with a huge grain of salt, but the child apparently told her mom that everyone in her cabin was able to evacuate, but there was one girl who was separated from the group (something about bedding- she turned around and went back to get a stuffed animal or a blanket or something? or was slowed down from leaving by getting something from her bed? Not sure.) and that little girl was the only one from this child's cabin who was swept away because she was behind the group somehow.

I can't imagine the survivors' guilt in any child or counselor that was there- counselors in the cabins where girls were lost especially. Teenagers or young 20s girls who were trying their absolute darndest to herd a large group of scared and confused little children in the dark through very deep water. It would have been close to impossible to keep eyes on every single child. The fact that these young women WERE able to save so many lives is astounding. I do hope those counselors have access to the very best in trauma counseling. They are heroes.