anyone tell me what the 4300 block of Brandon AVE looks like..I lived there in the 50's...also how did Rollover Pass (the cut) make it...fished there a lot during high school...

Hi Joe,
If you find out anything, let me know. I did go to the news link that Allan posted.....which was very helpful. It is:
www.kfdm.com Lots of videos people send in.

I'm very concerned about Bolivar Pennesula. I heard everything was wiped out!!!! Our old beachcamp that survived Carla (2/3's destroyed) built 55 years ago.....I'm wondering if it survived. It was located just E. of Gilchrist about 1 mile and to the W. of Canal City.

Hope you are well. My brother lives in Vidor and I've not been able to contact him. Videos showed lots of deep water in Vidor.

They finally have video of the beach on the KFDM website. They do a pretty good flyover. Rollover and vicinity and Crystal Beach. Major devastation. A man who lived at Emerald II said, in an earlier interview, that it was 80% gone. From the video, it all looked worse than 80%.

We just had a get-together a couple of weeks ago and several people there lived at the beach. I know they probably left and, if possible, I hope they can post here soon.

I don't know anything about the South Park area, specifically. People who are still in Beaumont say that Rita was much worse. Probably since Rita took down so many trees, there weren't as many left to fall on houses.

9/23/2008.I have heard from my classmates of 69 that live at the beach. Rhonda Marshall is in Marshall,Texas,Gerry Choate and her husband are in Houston. They were air lifted out of Crystal Beach. Their house was smashed by a oyster boat, Rita Gerry's sister house is still standing and so is their son's. Glen Rowlett is in South Texas working for a friend.Have heard several classmates about their home and family.Don't know anything about Jimmie Alston.Classmates that have Beach Cabins are all saying they are gone.Keep everybody in your prayers and keep in touch with us

Rollover Pass is down to one lane and so many houses and businesses are gone.

IKE: Pictures of Galveston, Bolivar, Crystal Beach, Gilchrist and surrounding areas after Ike. This site is updated as new pictures come in.

http://www.tpicks.com/pictures%20people%20have%20sent%20me.html

Those were amazing pictures. I think I'm still in shock over the devastation. Lived here all my life and don't remember ever having to evacuate as I grew up. These storms are different monsters unfortunately. God Bless those that were hit hard with this storm.

We never evacuated either, Sabine Pass and (parts of)Port Arthur USE to come to be Bmt Civic Ctr. I friend from school--Debbie Piazza-she and her husband live in Sabine Pass--LITERALLY her entire house like all the others everything is gone==floor to ceiling--swepped away. My aunt found ONLY a door knob, part of a picture frame--the original 4 posts were in place--thats it. My parents cabin; just a blanket.
For those of us able to take time to keep in touch this way--we need to continue to THANK GOD!!
Y'all take care

Has anyone heard anything about Canal City which is E. of Gilchrist and W. of High Island? I've not seen any pictures of that area.

Yes, Ms Gloria--I saw a few--like all the rest of the area, a war zone of rubble, not alot left.

Hey Joe,

I was in the neighborhood in June, when I went to the Class of '68 reunion. I grew up a block from you at 4270 Kenneth -- next door to the house that Elmo Beard lived in when he was mayor of Beaumont (corner of Kenneth & Essex). I prefer to remember the South Park community as it was in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and early 80s. It is a depressing experience to visit there now.

Keep the fond memories of Brandon Ave. Time has not been kind to the neighborhood. I'm sure that the current residents are doing the best that they can, but everything gets old.

Tom Sandidge
Class of '68

Thanks for the update, Tom. Such news saddens me but rather hear that than nothing at all.