Kristen -- I thought I'd gotten back to you, but I must have done something wrong when I posted my last message. Sorry. I'm new to this site. Anyway, Mel's whole family is safe. His house has just minor damage, but his daughters didn't do so well. April has a hole in her roof and 3 ft. of water, Angela a foot of water, and Amy lost just about everything. Amy was stuck in New Orleans, at the hospital where she's a nurse, for 4 days after the storm before they heard anything from her. I think some of them are in New Orleans now, others staying in Houston. Mel's parents and sister are in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Thanks again for your help. My dad was very relieved to hear from his brother's family.