Just got off the phone with Bill Burke. Regardless of the kind of things people have had to say about Pem-USA in the last few days…He puts on a great race always, cares about the athletes and has earned his status as one of triathlons (and especially duathlon’s) top people. He deserves all of our respect. Currently his office is under 3 feet of water and home is under 6 feet of water. All his equipment is under water. Staff have evacuated except Mike Whitley and Tim (?) and family who have not been heard from. He is moving his family to Houston for the time being and hopes to get back into the area in the next couple of day to assess the damage. He put on the USAT Junior Nationals in New Orleans on Saturday and had to cancel the girls duathlon on Sunday. He says its fortunate that he doesn’t have any races to put on for two weeks. Just the world championships in a month. Keep him, his staff and their familes in mind and prayers as you think of New Orleans’ devastation.
I’m glad to hear that he’s okay, and hope everyone gets accounted for soon. I did a race on Saturday morning that draws a lot of LA/MS triathletes, and keep hoping that everyone I met then managed to get back home, get pets and papers picked up, and then got themselves to somewhere safe on high ground before the storm hit.
I hope Bill has the water tested around his house and office, before he swims in to check them out! Sorry Reggiedog - I could not help myself. Z