PIA National President Robert Page is an agency owner in Houma, Louisiana – ground zero for Hurricane Gustav’s landfall. Good news: Robert and his family are all safe, having weathered a direct hit from the hurricane, hunkered down in the basement of his home. Unfortunately, his agency wasn’t so lucky. The flat roof of his building was torn off and the building filled with rain -- the office will be out of commission for some time. In fact, Robert’s agency sign could be seen spinning like a pinwheel in the winds on the CBS Evening News Monday night as Katie Couric was broadcasting. In the interim, Robert is going to set up his agency in his RV. He stored his computers in a bank vault and has good backup of his systems, so he should be operational shortly.

The PIA office in Louisiana in Baton Rouge got a much harder hit from Gustav than from Katrina three years ago. We are still attempting to assess the damage there. We have heard from PIA of Louisiana Director of Industry Affairs Natalie Cooper, who managed to send an email:

“Unfortunately this is the worst hurricane I’ve seen in Baton Rouge. But my family and I are together and safe and nothing if not resilient. Last I heard the majority of BR (if not all) is without power and there is a tree in my house. Thank God everyone is safe. It is presently raining in our house but we are dry and safe and well. We have wonderful neighbors and family that have taken us in and I am thankful that it was not worse, as I am sure it was for so, so many and I am sad for them.”

“Please continue to send thoughts and prayers to all Louisianians, especially those in the Gulf South. They are needed and much appreciated. God has blessed us in that my family is well, and in the grand scheme of things our personal loss is inconsequential. I think of our members, their families, friends and customers and pray for all of them.”

We will keep you informed as we learn more. Remember, we are the PIA Family!

September 3, 2008