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ON THIS PAGE YOU CAN POST A MESSAGE TO FRIENDS, RELATIVES, LOVED ONES, ETC. TO POST A MESSAGE CONTACT JOHN aka MARINEVET66TO68@AOL.COM
FROM BARBARA + DICK GILMAN
The tree that fell on our home has been removed, and we are getting to some kind of routine again. Lots to be done. There are so many crews electrical, tree crews, even the mayor of Scottsbourgh, Indiana is here helping remove trees and debris from the streets, from New York, Indiana, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and many other states are such a blessing to all of us who have experienced even a small crisis. We still have homes, unlike so many thousands.
Those are the one who really need our help.
I finally got phone service today, first since 8/28, and air conditioning for first time as well. Part of the house will have to be totally redone, but those sections are closed off. Allstate is taking care of all the damage with NO PROBLEMS, we are so blessed. None of my family were injured in the disasters, we all now have air, water, electricity and now phone service, my fax line is crossed with a neighbors, but will get cleared up Monday.
NOTICE FROM JOHN
A very good friend of mine + fellow veteran Roulene has lost everything from the flood in New Orleans. She + her daughter Kayla are staying with her mom in MS. If you can help in any way here is her mom's address. A Walmart Gift Card would be greatly appreciated I think.
Thanks'
John
Site Owner
Roulene Knowles
> C/O Davis
> 603 E. Lincoln Rd.
> Monticello, MS 39654
A friend has set up a temporary e-mail addy for Rou
roulene2@gmail.com
MESSAGE FROM A FRIEND OF ROU'S
TO: All Vet Brothers & Sisters:
I was able to get through to Roulene Knowles again today, our Sister Vet, who was displaced due to Katrina. She, her family and pets are staying with relatives in rural Mississippi, but I found out they are not as safe and sound as I'd hoped. They are still without electricity or running water. They do have generators they can run part of the time, but there is the problem of fuel and having to boil drinking water every day. She has run out of meds and is getting sick from that. But she says the MRE's are good compared to the C-rations she got in the Navy!
I was able to find out how Rou can get her badly needed meds from the VA . I'm proud to report the VA appears to be on top of this one! Anyone in that vicinity can call the Alexandria, MS VA at (318) 473-0010 and press "4" for the pharmacy to have meds mailed. They are able to access records from other VA locations if you have enough information to give them on the patient.
Wouldn't you know - Roulene was more concerned about the other Vets and wanting to be sure all have this information. There have to be a lot of Vets in bad shape and out of their meds.
I know many of us want to do whatever we can to help this family, especially since she is one of us and a great lady
E-MAIL FROM ROULENE
I received this from Rou today + it was great to hear some good news for a change :) I personally would like to thank everyone that helped Rou in her time of need.
God Bless'
John
1st One
What an adventure!
I would like to say nightmare but I am sure we left the nightmare behind in that grand old city of Nawlins. And I am glad to say that I don't live there, it is sorta of bitter sweet actually. (Marrero is in Jefferson Parish and on the West bank across the Mississippi River from New Orleans.)
I am hoping that it is a new start for the 'Crescent City'; it has been too long plagued with corrupt politics, one of the worse public education systems in the US, blight and crime that seemed to rule the ol' Grand Dame of the South. It saddens me that this opportunity has come at a heavy price for many many people.
The 'Big Easy' has been living on the edge for 40 some odd years since the eye of Hurricane Betsy passed over it when I was a teen. Betsy was a little gentler on us. Ms.Katrina wasn't. We have dodged the fiery of many hurricanes now for many seasons, but Ms katrina certain took aim for the 'City that Care Forgot'.
We fled on that Sunday before Katrina's landfall, boarding up the house, hastily packing, prepped the dogs as best we could. What is normally a 4 hour drive turned into 11 hours to my cousins', about 153 mile north east into Mississippi, Monticello(a tiny town on the map). Katrina made her move on Monday but we lost electricity sometime during the night.
From that point on it was uncomfortable...no drinking water, hot, gas lines miles long, ice scarce, food even scarcer. But each day brought us something new..Walmart in Brookhaven opened, allowing 30 customers in at a time. What was needed by all was short in supply but we seemed to find a little something here and there to help out.
I was looking for help to get scripts from a VAMC, any VAMC, since my appointment for my quarterly refills was to have taken place on that following Tuesday. Eventually I was given an 800 number in Arkansas for 'Veteran Hurricane Survivors'. When I finally got through to them, given them all the vital info they requested, I was told a local drugstore would call me, and I could tell them what I needed and have it filled at no cost to me...I am still waiting for that phone call.
So, I have been sick, and at times seemingly desperate till my 'extra' special friend in Phoenix sent me a bottle of penicillin. What a blessing that has been! I am feeling better and now Kolene, my sister, is sick and getting some penicillin too.
Though it has been hard for adults it has been harder at times for a 10yr. old, my niece. A thoroughly techie Miss, she has missed all that electricity has to offer from blow dryers to computers to XBoxes and all sorts of electronic games. Surprisingly, school has been missed the most. She is waiting for her return to school, that oh so valuable sense of being normal that kids seldom recognize.
We have managed to glean some info about home through neighbors....the house is fine. Electricity, water and sewage back up. A neighbor on the block over has been a self appointed security guard for our area, he is a parish policeman and when off duty drives through the 'hood' to make sure all is well. Marrero seems to have been very lucky indeed, our sudivison, Hillcrest even luckier!.
So, why aren't we home yet? The parish council and president are only allowing maintenance and clean up crews, business owners and vendors for those businesses in at this time. The archdiocese wants the Catholic schools to open no later than Oct 1st. Hopefully, we will get the word that we can return home soon. (As of this mailing we have gotten the word and leave tomorrow, Sept.18th.)
Looks like my sister, Kolene, may have to commute to Houma, La to work. The building that the IRS moved into last January is across the street from the Super Dome. If any one saw anything of the Dome and the surrounding area then you saw lots of water...water that got into the cabling room of the office building. It is projected that it could take up to a year before that building reopens.
The VAMC Hospital is one block behind my sis's job, two from the Super Dome..I know nothing of it status.
My half-sister and her family, took the worse loss of all in the family, that I know of at this time. St. Bernard Parish; Chalmett, Arabi, and Meraux were flooded. Then to make it worse, one of the oil refinery tanks leaked into the flood waters. That has caused a serious EPA hazard. Many many homes will be razed to the ground, no one to be allowed in to salvage anything. This is what has happened to my sister's lovely home. All her children, and grandchildren have lived close to her; now some now are residing in Ohio, Tennessee, Baton Rouge, La and she and her husband are in Destin, Fla. This was/is the retirement year for her and her husband....this was certainly not in their plans at all.
All in all we are blessed, we are alive! From vet friends whom I have never met that sent me money and gift cards, to my friend sending me some meds, to all the wonderful offers of some place to stay from as far away as West Virgina to Arizona, and places in between, to the people of Brookhaven who are about the nicest people I have met anywhere, to my cousins who have put us up, and their friends who always included us in their generosity, to cousins whom I have never met that sent something to help us all out...WE ARE BLESSED INDEED!
This is just our first whole day of having electricity; we have washed everything we own, cleaned, and enjoyed hot water and air conditioning...we are enjoying what we all took for granted just 15 days or so ago. What a humbling experience to put life in a different perspective!
God Bless to All of You!
Hugz and Love,
Roulene
2nd One
That original 11 hour drive from home to my cousins' was only 3.5 hours! The changes were slowly obivious as we got closer to home.
The highway we took out had been dead to near desertion in some places back then; now it was bumper to bumper coming back, moving well, and surrounded by the teeming of life. That life was shown in the lines of people in a blazing southern heat. I don't know what the lines were for but felt for them for we had stood/sat in many a line in Mississippi. Sometimes we saw a line and just got in it with no clue as to what it was for. Luckily, we never stood in vain...ice, water, food, gas, or money.
The blue traps that FEMA uses to temporarily fix damaged roofs were every where, business signs stood like lonely soldiers with no job to do but stand since the adveristments were blown away. Sometimes you saw more tree roots than tree tops, and many businesses couldn't open because of the dispalcement of employees who fled Katrina.
Driving closer to home had the look of some battle that had taken place between man and Mother Nature. Man had lost in many ways, but then a contary Mother Nature seem to pick and chose at random whom to strike at and whom to spare.
Turning down our street was a bit surreal; we had never been away from this home for more than a week, and three weeks was a long time for us. We were sadden and surprised at the same time!
Some neighbors were still gone, yet to face the damage if there was any; some were busy cuttting their grass, hauling out hurricane debries, sitting outside just taking in the activity, and many just talking to one another. We had one neighbor lose 5 rooms of ceilings due to the damage of her roof. One had her home flooded by all things a water heater that exploded due to the wind/house pressure varing so much during the height of Katrina. Another has a stree light pole with light attached in his front yard, and it burns brightly every night.
As we drove through our subdivision taped up refridgerators and freezers seem to be on the curb at almost every other house. Some just not wanting to deal with the stink left in them of rotten food. Shingles were everywhere!
AH but our house! The neighbors had cut the grass, kept homes detour looters. They had even gotten into the back yard to chainsaw at a tree that destoryed our fence. So there is some tree debris in front of the house but all in all it looked fine. Then we opened the front door and were slammed in the faces with the wonderful cool air for the a/c being left on when we left!!! And the the two cockatiels that we left, and figured were dead by now...ALIVE! Ruffled but alive!
So we have cleaned the inside of the refrig (settting in bowls of charcol and baking soda to soak up the smell which wasn't too bad). We have have washed clothes, vacummed, unpacked, weed eat, blow leaves, brought pizza from Dominios(no home deliveries and only large pepperoni but it was DE-LICIOUS! ). Walk the dogs alot since the backyard is no longer securable(Mr. Neighbor behind us better get on the ball and get that tree removed and the fence fixed).
We are waiting for the garbarge pick up to empty our two 55gal. and one 45gal trash cans so we can tackle the freezer next.
Bed has never felt as good as it did the first night, home seems like the place one should always be, and.....we are watching another hurricane, RITA this time.
And with that I will leave all you now till later.
Love & hugs to EVERYONE!
Roulene
Churches Needed to Adopt a Hurricane Victim Family for the Next Three to Six Months
Dear John,
AFA is seeking to find churches that would be willing to adopt a hurricane victim family for the next three to six months. If your church would be willing to adopt a family, please fill out the form and email it back to us. We in turn will contact a family needing shelter and have them get in contact with you directly. You can interview them to see if their needs and your facilities are compatible and to secure references such as their previous local church and pastor. We suggest that you screen the family carefully. While 99% of these people will be very appreciative, there is always that 1% who can create problems.
It is not necessary that these families be put into individual homes (although the local church may do that if desired). Churches with family life centers which have shower and food preparation facilities can be used in this effort.
These people need a place to stay for the next three to six months until they can get back on their feet. AFA’s role is simply to put the local church and needy family into contact with each other. After that is accomplished, AFA steps out of the picture.
If your church can adopt a family, please click here to register.
Sincerely,
Don
Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association
P.S. Please forward this e-mail message to your family and friends!
FROM DIANE
This came from a friend:
Here's a story for you....................as witnessed by my dad and mom.
At the state line between TX and LA, there is a HUGE, brand new rest area. It's NICE.
Okay, here's the story. Last Friday, my dad, who works for TxDOT, answered a call for TxDOT employees to go help with the refugees at this rest stop.
So, after working ALL DAY Friday, he and three guys from his office left for the state line at I-20 and Waskom, TX. Working that evening was a state trooper, several sheriff's office deputies, Red Cross workers, TxDOT employees, and other local volunteers. These buses from New Orleans start pulling in. They let the people off to potty, eat, and rest. As they get off the bus, they are greeted and shown to the restrooms--where they pee all over the walls, floors, mirrors, etc. They did not even flush the toilets.
Left the restrooms in a HORRIBLE mess. The local Burger King restaurant donated burgers and hot dogs and had people there cooking. Two black dudes walk over to see what's being cooked and one says to the other, "Man, I don't want none of that shit." Other volunteers are handing out bottles of water. The people take them, drink two or three drinks from the bottles, and throw them on the ground. My dad and his coworkers spend their time picking up trash and taking it to the very large and OBVIOUSLY placed trash cans. (They ended up hauling off two HUGE truck loads of trash from these people). He said WASTEFUL wasn't the word.
Other volunteers had brought in snack items, such as chips, crackers, gum, small candy, etc. There were ladies there making snack bags for the people and handing them out.
These nasty, nasty people would take the bags, dig out what they wanted and
throw the remainder on the ground. BRAND NEW FOOD ITEMS! Daddy said one
deputy got so mad he yelled at them to "STOP WASTING THESE GOOD FOLKS'
MONEY BY THROWING THE FOOD AWAY. IF YOU DON'T WANT IT, THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS RETURN IT TO THESE NICE LADIES!" He was hot! Daddy worked pretty much all night. He and my mom said the people were HORRIBLE. Nasty, filthy mouthed, ungrateful. TxDOT had to pretty much scour the Rest Area and restrooms after they left.
My dad went home and slept most of the day Saturday, got up sick and had to go back to bed. Remember, he'd been in the hospital not two weeks ago with chest pains (he's okay now, but still!). The man went to help these NASTY people after working ALL WEEK!!!
So, after hearing this, I could really care less about a lot of them. Idiots and human debris. I am more resolved now to send MY donations to the officers and firefighters. Forget these IDIOTS! They are fools and it's mean, but Texas does not need any more of those! GRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And to add one more thing.....
Why are all these fat blacks laying around on cots sleeping while white people are lining up by the thousands to SERVE THEM MEALS??? I am sorry but it's starting to tick me off that we're expected to serve these lazy assed "evacuees" indefinitely. Why the hellllloooo can't they line up themselves and help unload all these trucks and cars full of FREE stuff? Okay, let them have a day or two of rest but then put those folks to work taking care of themselves. Why the hell should any of them want to get a job when they can lay around all day in free air conditioned stadiums where they don't have to spend a dime and they have TV, entertainment and education and great food?
Houstonians are going nuts being nice to these people, free hamburgers, free admission to the Children's Museum and Museum of Natural Science, etc. Show your LA license and everything is free. Like I said, a short time is definitely warranted after all they have been through but it's my opinion that the worst thing we can do for them is to allow them to do nothing.
FROM MAMMA LIN
...my heart aches for the victims of Katrina... and I wanted
to let you know that there are people out here praying for all of you... wish I could do more... but I am an old lady on a fixed income.. with barely enough room in my apartment for me.. so praying is all I can do...
Our hearts and thoughts will be with all of you.. it is a shame that the "hoodlums", & so many of the "undesirables" have invaded your beautiful towns... they do have to go somewhere.. it is too bad they are not able to put them all behind bars where they belong... try to stay safe.... and know others out here have you in their prayers...
God Bless!!! Mama Lin
DENNIS FROM TEXAS
What burns my drawers is the fact that aid was refused entry to NO by the damned LA fin and skin cops, on FEMA's orders. I passed a truck load of FEMA generators that would have run the lights and AC in the Super Dome but never heard of their arrival. That was two days before the hurricane hit.
Why weren't the Army Engineers setting up water treatment plants as soon as the wind stopped? I am not a happy camper over this power grab.
This operation is not incompetence rearing its ugly head. This is a population disbursement exercise.
Those people will never be allowed back in LA let alone NO.
FROM JIZ
OMG THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!!! YOUR PRAYERS AND CONCERN IS
OVERWHELMING!!! We are fine as you all know. This is the first time i've
been able to get online. The phone lines are terrible!!! But that really
is the least of my worries. I heart hurts for those that were not so
lucky!!!!!! I AM SO BLESSED!!! I am still in shock. LadiDi you have no
idea how good it was to hear your voice. I was so touched when I found
out how much everyone was so worried about us. (and a big thanks to the
rest of you for trying to call also) It took us a week to get lights.
the phones are working sometimes now. cells aren't working. My cable was
turned on today. All i can do is watch and cry!!!!! WE WILL NEVER EVER
STAY AGAIN!!!!!! I don't know mississippi, alabama, and Louisiana will
ever be back to normal! Our lives are forever changed. I live in Houma
(south of new orleans) and I will tell you that i am ashamed of my
government but i am proud of my town. We stepped up and really are doing
all we can to help. My city just doubled in size. And we welcomed them
with open arms. I've been to the shelter many times myself. I have roof
damage and the siding was pulled off but I am so grateful but so guilt
stricken. Some people lost everything!!! We lost loved ones and we are
still searching for more. So i ask for more of your wonderful
prayers!!!! I am so touched that I have such wonderful friends on
here!!!! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!! luv ya,
later
jiz
FROM LAVON
Hi John
I forwarded your email from the person in Baton Rouge below. Don't think Houston isn't getting hit with it because we are. The news reports say only 40 have been arrested & mostly for PI. And, WELCOME TO HOUSTON. But, that's not what is happening. A friend of a friend got a government contract to help clean up NO. He went to the dome & offered 20 men jobs for an hour, all expenses paid. NOT one wanted to go. Houston is in trouble & no one wants to admit it. Not publicly at least. We've all donated either time, money, clothes & even house hold goods for those who already have apartments. I pray for these people. But, it's going to cause some problems.
From Lavon's Friend Jackie
Lavon,
I hope this writer and his family are now safe. When did he write this message? I certainly agree with his fear of thugs and scumbags from N.O and I am black. Eventhough the situation is somewhat calm in N.O. the people that are now residing in Houston present a very real danger to residents. I talked to a police officer here on Saturday and he urged me not to take anyone into my home. He said if you have to leave them there alone, they will wipe you out. Most of these are people from very very poor backgounds. Some have never owned TV sets or cars so this city appears to be rich to them....somewhat like a melting pot. There have already been reports of crimes since the N.O. people came here. The police force is strengthening because of the expected rise in crime.
This past Sunday after church, I went to a neighborhood store to buy items. There was a very long line of N.O. residents angry because they could not purchase liquor from that store on SUNDAY EVEN!!! I just eased out and went home. It was frightening. Houston has inherited a group of people that will change the safety of all who live here. Many of the evacuees did not want to accept USED items. They are waiting for government checks so that they could buy name brand clothing from K-Mart and Target. I heard this from some of their mouths. It's astonding how ungrateful some of these people are and the behavior they exhibit.
George and I are contemplating moving from this area because they are coming here in droves. Went I arrived home from a business meeting last night, there was a gang of them in the St. Lo park adjacent from my house shouting at my car as I drove by. Eventhough we have a Brinks alarm system and many guns with ammo, we are afraid. This is why I can relate to the message below. It's not an exaggeration but factual. I will pray for him and his family and for all who were affected and are going to victimized by people who were left by our government to go stir crazy and act in a manner that is totally inappropriate to human morals.
Take care of yourself and your family and always be aware of your surroundings.
Jackie
E-MAIL FROM A SURVIVOR
Hi all, I honestly didn't think I would ever get to email any of you
again. I was finally able to check email today, the first time in 4
days and I had several emails asking how I was doing. For those of
you that don't know, we're about 75 miles NW of New Orleans (N.O.) in
Baton Rouge. How are we doing?? I've never been so scared in my
life.
It's Thursday, 10:30PM CST here now as I start to type this, WE JUST
GOT
OUT POWER BACK TODAY and I just now got home from abroad. We've been
without power in this subdivision since MONDAY. ~100 degree heat.
My 91 year old grandmother, parents, and myself barely made it. Now
is
the bad part. The worst could be yet to come. I've now added this
to my signature file, for however long I can send emails.
------
PLEASE *PRAY* for ALL of Katrina's victims REGARDLESS of your faith!
It's not just New Orleans but those in Baton Rouge are getting the
New
Orleans victims and WE CAN'T HANDLE IT!! Our population DOUBLED
OVERNIGHT to that now of over ONE MILLION. We have NO GAS, FOOD
QUICKLY RUNNING OUT, ROADS BLOCKED, and civil unrest has begun.
----
it's INCREDIBLE. The last store I went to to get the last supplies
was GUTTED and was mayhem. People are fighting over food, fighting
at
gas pumps since they are all empty, and the few that are not yet
empty
will be empty tomorrow. The hardest hit part of N.O. was "the
PROJECTS"!! Gangs, crack whores, pimps, criminals, scumbags, etc.,
and THEY WERE SHIPPED HERE TO BATON ROUGE!!!!!! THEY ARE OVER TAKING
OUR CITY!!!!!!! WALKING THE STREETS AND THE COPS CAN'T DO ANYTHING
ABOUT IT SINCE THERE ARE COUNTLESS THOUSANDS OF THEM!!!!!! I
literally mean WALKING DOWN THE MIDDLE of our streets!! Car jacking,
looting, breaking into homes, etc.!! The National Guard and Army was
called here and they are arriving now with more to come (I hear their
choppers overhead every few minutes), but there's not enough of them
since most are in Iraq!!!! As soon as a close by sporting goods store
opens, I have to go get more ammunition for my guns. It's every
person for themselves and we have to protect ourselves as best we can
since the cops just CAN'T DO IT!! There's not enough of them. They
are working 24/7, some without sleep for DAYS, trying to protect us!
We need more Army, Marines, whatever and HEAVILY ARMED. It may come
to us residents standing in our yards shooting people as they try to
break in, steal cars, etc. It's BEYOND HORRIFYING, it will turn into
an all-out civil war!! This is like a third world country now in
Africa!!!!!! I now live in a war zone. Here's some things that's
been
happening to myself and family. It may ramble a bit because I'm
rather
traumatized and a bit delirious.
I haven't been able to watch much national TV so I have NO IDEA how
it's
being reported. I have a 5" portable TV that picks up local airwave
TV stations, but it only runs on AC or 12V car power, but we had no
power, so the only time I could watch it was when I was in a car. I
was able to watch a few minutes here and there of CNN, Fox News and
MSNBC at some hotel lobbies and hospital waiting rooms. We lost power
here Monday afternoon. It was first off a while, can't remember how
long. Then back up for while, then GONE FOR GOOD. When it didn't
return, I knew it was going to be hell since I CANNOT handle heat. I
run fever all the time, have asthma and I CANNOT be in the heat for
very
long. I can't even remember what happened next since I've been in
the
"Twilight Zone" for 4 straight days now, delirious and on the verge
of a
breakdown. I can't believe it's "only" been 4 days, it seems like
WEEKS. I don't think I slept Monday night, I slept only 3 hours
Sunday, and I spent that time Monday and the following days trying to
find a hotel that had rooms--not only for myself but for my family.
At least I was in a cool car with the AC on. Well, after about
THIRTY
PLUS tries.....NO ROOMS!!!!!! ALL of our hotels are FILLED UP with
the massive exodus from N.O.!!!!!! THERE ARE PEOPLE WAITING IN THE
PARKING LOTS FOR ROOMS!!!!! I became "homeless".
I spent my time going to hospitals and hotel lobbies, trying to find
a
couch, SOMETHING where I could get a nap, I COULD NOT. The hotel
lobbies
are LOADED with kids running around, scumbags from N.O. "marching
around
intimidating people" to move out and leave their hotel rooms. I had
to eat from hotel and hospital vending machines, and feared for my
life
as my back was to others with each vending machine selection I made.
Hospital cafeterias are OUT OF FOOD!! I have gained 5-6 pounds of
PURE FAT in the past few days from vending machine garbage, but at
least
I COULD EAT.
The hospitals are quickly filling up! Various *waiting rooms* where
I
previously may have been able to sleep, are now FILLED UP with
refugees! We are NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THIS. EVERYWHERE,
EVERYWHERE,
EVERYWHERE YOU GO, IT'S HOMELESS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!! And many of them
are
the CRIMINALS!!!!! MOST of them may be!!!!! I prayed for a place,
ANY
place where I could at least get a NAP. God answered one of my
prayers and blessed me with a close family friend of 35 years that
just
happened to have a daughter and son-in-law, that had a house from
which
they just moved which was empty, and HAD POWER. It was only about 4
miles away. Early Thursday (today) was the FIRST TIME I HAD REAL
SLEEP SINCE MONDAY!!!!! Prior to today, I slept maybe 5 hours in
THREE
DAYS. My hair is falling out, I've actually gotten grayer in these
few days, I'm having panic and anxiety attacks (most are), and I have
this excruciating throbbing pain in left internal carotid artery,
and I
don't know why, and my arrhythmia is getting worse. This could do me
in. I fear for my safety, my health, MY LIFE.
Since there is basically no gas, the COPS CAN'T GO ANYWHERE NOW
because
the patrol cars are running out of gas!!!! YOU ARE ON YOUR
OWN!!!!! NO AMBULANCES either!!!! Minor things that could be cured
by the ER and simple hospital stay, CAN NOW KILL YOU. The mass
exodus
from N.O. are getting off at every Baton Rouge exit off the
interstate,
swarming at all the hotels and gas stations at these exits, and
RAISING
HELL when there is no gas or hotel rooms! Since they have no gas,
THEY HAVE TO JUST STAY HERE AND BECOME THE WONDERING HOMELESS!!!!!!!
This is the WORST DISASTER in U.S. HISTORY and it WILL GET WORSE
because
MORE ARE ON THE WAY!! The Houston Astrodome is NO LONGER ACCEPTING
PEOPLE! Our Centroplex (domed stadium for concerts), LSU Basketball
center, and "River Center" here are not only OVERFLOWING, but those
inside are beginning to "un-rest", breaking out and wondering the
streets. The cops cannot contain them! No one has anywhere to PUT
THESE PEOPLE that are ***STILL arriving as I type this***!!!!!! Hotel
rooms for HUNDREDS OF MILES in all directions are FILLED UP!!
Several
hundred thousand PEOPLE LOST EVERYTHING and are now HOMELESS.
There are hundreds and possibly thousands of bodies floating in the
water in N.O. There are thousands more that STILL HAVE YET TO BE
RESCUED!!!!!!! WHERE will they go?????? In GOD'S NAME they CANNOT
COME HERE, IT WILL KILL US!!!!!! I just heard on the local news that
two
hospitals in N.O. have YET TO BE EVACUATED and patients are dying
there. There is rampant incompetency here RUNNING WILD, and a
cover-up. the officials are saying and feeding people BS: some
"official" just made comments about "things being in hand" and this
girl
anchor-person "let him have it". The reporters and journalists are
acting like I've never seem them previously act. In this one example
of many, she said on the air she "just got a phone call" from
a "frantic
doctor at Charity hospital" and he said "people are dying over here
because they won't evacuate us". She called him a liar and told the
reporter to go find someone that KNEW what was going on. I'm seeing
reporters breaking down on the air. One guy in tears approached a
reporter in N.O. and said he just lost his wife in the water. It was
something like "I had her hand, but I couldn't hold on, she slipped
away
in the water and was rushed away....I haven't seen her yet, I can't
find
her". The reporter started to cry and asked him her name,
description, etc. It's HORRIBLE. There are also people committing
suicide. Diving off the bridges right into the flood waters.
One of the rescue problems in N.O. is that some RETARD, BRAIN-DEAD
SLIMEBALLS are SHOOTING AT THE RESCUE CHOPPERS!!!!!!! We were
without
power for so long here, because the workers for DEMCO were being
BLOCKADED!!!!!! Desperate people would surround their trucks and
would
not let them leave until they fixed their electricity!!!! National
guard troops and cops are BEING SHOT AT. Thursday morning was when I
hit
the lowest point and had a meltdown. My Dad's van sprung a
transmission leak Tuesday or Wednesday and the transmission is
slipping,
so we are limited to one car. Great timing. As I would go out
looking for food and place to say, they didn't have much means of
leaving if they had to. He was supposed to bring it to the shop
early
Thursday. I left this temporary house where I stayed the night and
went home to see if they needed anything. Every time I went back
home
during these days, it DEVASTATED me to see my mother. She was a
basket case. She still is. I got nauseated every time I was
there. I see my mom and dad drenched with sweat and I almost lost
it. They say the heat wasn't bothering them much, and wanted to stay
home due to our most-loved cats and just didn't want to leave the
house. So after picking up a few more things I needed and leaving, a
little while later they came to get the leaky van and drove it and
the
working van to the shop. As we transferred the contents of the van
needing repair to the good van, something happened. There was "gang
of thugs" from N.O. roaming up and down the street, it the MIDDLE of
the
street, disregarding traffic. They stopped several times right
behind
our cars and just starred at us. I was about to lose it. I just
KNEW they were going to attack us, steal the cars, take the house,
shoot
us. I could not work fast enough to get my parents OUT of the area,
I
was fearing for their lives, and I had no weapons to protect us. I
asked the neighbors if there were any black people living in the
area,
and they confirmed what I suspected with a "no", and they were also
outside and saw this gang and felt as I did; very fearful. After my
parents left I called the police on my cell phone (FINALLY working)
and
told them what we saw and to please try and get a patrol car in the
area. I don't know if they were ever able to make it. (Sorry if
the "racial profiling" is offensive to some, but it MUST BE DONE. If
a
neighborhood happens to be ALL BLACK, and a majority WHITE city has a
disaster and its residents are shipped to a black city, where looting
and mayhem ensues, and you suddenly see gangs of WHITE people
marching
down your streets, it's cause for alarm!! The inverse of course is
also true, as what is happening here).
Well, my parents tried to get to the car shop they couldn't get
there!!!! My Dad called, (he's 69), very upset, and said he couldn't
get to the shop. Roads were closed, and traffic backed up for miles
at every street leading to and from interstate exists!! He saw
instances of violence. So he said they were bringing the leaky van
back to my temp house. As I hung up the phone, I just lost it. We
have one car now, my parents are terrorized, we can't get anywhere,
we
are STUCK IN THIS BREWING CIVIL WAR ZONE. For the first time
during this ordeal, I REALLY prayed this time and just repeatedly
kept
saying, "Please help us God, Please help us God, Please help us God",
over and over, and to at least restore our power since that would at
least give us a feeling of normalcy and remove us from this
pseudo-third-world country environment--literal hell-in-a-hand-basket
scenario in which we now find ourselves. I knew this would be the one
thing that would help them the most. You have no idea what's it like
to not only find yourselves in the dark LITERALLY, wondering what's
going to happen, but also in the dark in a mental, emotional and
psychological sense as well--that's the worse kind. I was BEYOND
mental
and physical exhaustion, took some sleeping aids, and managed to
sleep a
few hours wondering when the thug gang would come back. I was awoken
by a phone call from my Dad telling the power FINALLY was restored.
God heard me. I praised him and thanked him over and over. I knew
my parents and the thousands of others in my subdivision who were
among
the first to lose power, would feel LOADS better. Now we had to deal
with the civil unrest and I'm still saying "God please help us" on
that.
When I mentioned that last store I went, it was horrifying to enter
it. The parking lot was PACKED. There were people leaving with
buggies full of various items, and tons of ice. I was met with
mostly
EMPTY SHELVES!!! Can you imagine, walking into a grocery store for
would could possibly be the last meals you eat and supplies you
consume,
and finding most of the shelves GUTTED???? It hit me SO HARD, THIS
WAS **REAL** and happening!! The hoarding, the fighting for
survival,
the desperation. I frantically grabbed a buggy and passed the
WIPED-OUT bakery section, 3/4's EMPTIED produce section and got some
things like a lot of bananas and apples which I knew would last for
several days in this environment. I walk to the rear of the store
now,
and it's ROPED-OFF! EMPTY shelves, the stuff is GONE. Of course the
sections of the store with refrigerated goods are all BAD due to the
entire area having no electricity for so long. (This store got it's
power back long before we did, and it's only about 1 mile away). So,
the frozen foods sections, meats, etc., all bad, also roped-off. I
started grabbing many prepared canned foods which did not need
cooking,
tuna fish in packets, lots of food for my cats of course, a jar of
mayo
for my Dad since he likes it and it would last since it doesn't have
to
be refrigerated before it's opened and what we had was now bad (along
with a fortune of other foods in our refrigerators and freezers), I
grabbed more batteries, rubbing alcohol, sterno, diabetic foods for
my
Dad (thank God they had those), a bunch of honey buns and Fig Newtons
for my grandmother, candy bars for my Mom, etc., etc., etc. The
basket was FULL. There is also a very serious shortage of ice.
This was the ONLY store I found that had any! I got several bags.
There were very "testy" people in the store, it was very scary.
That's some rambling, but it's just some of my experiences put in
text
form. Here are a few points:
Incredibly, all this BS here in Baton Rouge, and it's "ONLY" DUE TO
no
power, and a massive influx of criminals. As I had expected before
the hurricane hit; we had NO damage here from rain, NOR winds!!
We've
gotten more rain and wind from summer afternoon thunderstorms! There
are a few trees down around this area, which I attribute to
"micro-bursts", small areas where winds obviously gusted to ~80mph or
so. We had areas to the north, south, east and west with RESTORED
POWER,
DAYS before ours was restored! Miles around in all directions;
power. Yet an area, our area, about 1 mile by 2 miles DEAD, cut off,
isolated, abandoned. This is the same "part of town", same larger
sub
division, so no one knows how this happened. At 4AM Tuesday morning
I
was actually told by a DEMCO group I found a block away from my home
which was working on power lines; "it should be up within the hour".
2.5 hours later at 6:30AM, they LEFT, and still no power! Which of
course lasted a total of 4 days. As I type this, there are still
about 25,000 in the city with no power, and over 700,000 in LA
without
power. We have UNDERGROUND power lines here, but some along older
major highways are still above ground. 80% of N.O. is GONE. GONE.
ENTIRE PARISHES (that's counties in other states) were WIPED OFF THE
FACE OF THE PLANET!!! In all, an area the size of Great Britain, was
LOST, reclaimed by the Gulf of Mexico. Our map must be redrawn. This
is the greatest mobilization of the Red Cross and other disaster
relief
organizations in U.S. history, and the greatest disaster
mobilization of
the National Guard in history. Estimated cost so far, is a
incomprehensible NINETY (90) *B*ILLION dollars.
It is now feared that more have died than on 9-11. Over NINE MILLION
bags of ice were just shipped to the affected parishes. Over SIX
million meals as well. The problem, is the bulk of these are going
to
N.O.!!
It's a war to find gas. This didn't happen until Wednesday when
people started to panic. Those that drove from N.O. bought up, and
are buying up all of the gas here. After starting out Monday on a
full tank, Wednesday I was at a half tank and it wasn't until that
day
where I noticed the panic and gas shortage. Thank God I found those
automated gas pumps in front of a Sam's that still had gas, but this
HUGE lines!! After about 30 minutes, I was able to fill up. I fear
it
will be my last time.
There are no more generators. Restaurants that are back open after
losing power, are now running out of food. They have like 2 or 3
items on a menu. One McDonald's for example has FOUR THINGS you can
order. Fish, quarter pounder, apple pie, fries....so far. That's
now probably 1 or 2 items. Places are running out of these items and
food simply because of the MASSIVE AMOUNT of people that have
inundated
our city, we cannot handle it. Now the horrifying thing, is that
WHEN
we run out of food, WE CAN'T GET ANYMORE BECAUSE OUR GAS IS GONE!!!!
Once the gas is gone from our cars, IT'S OVER. Unless the Gov't some
how
gets more gas in here. We will be totally cut off and isolated, and
left to fend for ourselves. Supplies can't get IN, because of the
massive amounts of traffic and road closures due to rampant crime!!
More horrifying is Baton Rouge is being OVERLOOKED "because the
disaster
happened in N.O."!!!!! Most of the thugs WILL REMAIN IN BATON ROUGE
PERMANENTLY!! We are going to have to move, but WE CAN'T!!!!!
Martial Law will soon be declared here, it was already declared in
N.O. N.O. is in TOTAL CHAOS. I just heard that SIXTY PERCENT of
the N.O. Police DID NOT SHOW UP FOR WORK!!!!! 60%!!!! Police are
quitting their jobs because there's is no point as one of them
said!!
"Our city is gone". Most of them lost their own homes, some don't
even know where their families are, they are sleeping on the floors
in
the same uniforms for FIVE DAYS. The military MUST BE PULLED from
Iraq and SENT HERE to LA!!!!! The criminals NOW OWN the city of New
Orleans!!!! It's one massive hell hole! The military MUST MOVE IN,
surround the city and surrounding areas and close in. At 4:45AM, I
just heard that there are explosions and fires in N.O. around some
railroad cars with possible hazardous toxic implications....AND THE
HELP
CAN'T GET IN!! The cops have retreated back to their precincts where
there are UNDER FIRE! These criminals will eventually leave N.O. and
COME HERE adding to the existing problems!!! My God, this is the
most
dangerous place ON THE ENTIRE PLANET right now, and we CAN'T GET OUT
AND
LEAVE! I'd rather be in IRAQ than in this area right now!!!! You all
don't now HOW LUCKY YOU ARE to be where you are right now! SAFE,
SECURE, and us in this area not knowing if we will be alive
tomorrow!! I am terrified! The N.O. mayor is on CNN right now
CUSSING!! He's lost it! He says no one is helping or sending
reinforcements!! My God, I'm going to have to find tranquilizers for
my cats, 2 more pet carriers and get the HELL OUT to ANYWHERE I CAN
until I run out of gas!! PLEASE PRAY FOR US!! I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL
BE
ABLE TO EMAIL AGAIN!!! PLEASE PLEASE SAY A PRAYER FOR US EVEN IF YOU
DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD!!! Can you believe this IS AMERICA????
AMERICA!!! Not the middle east, but AMERICA!!!!! WE ARE BEING
FORGOTTEN HERE!!!!
PLEASE KEEP HIM + HIS FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS
JOHN
BUDDY FROM MISSISSIPPI
On Friday night, August 26, 2005 before the Hurricane hit, Max
Mayfield of the National Hurricane Center took the unprecedented
action of calling Mayor Nagin of New Orleans and Louisiana Governor
Blanco personally to plead with them to begin MANDATORY evacuation of
New Orleans and they said they'd take it under consideration. This was
after the NOAA buoy 240 miles south had recorded 68' waves before it
was destroyed.
President Bush spent Friday afternoon and evening in meetings with his
advisors and administrators drafting all of the paperwork required for
a state to request federal assistance (and not be in violation of
the Posse Comitatus Act or having to enact the Insurgency Act).
Just before midnight Friday evening the President called Governor
Blanco and pleaded with her to sign the request papers so the federal
government and the military could legally begin mobilization and call
up. He was told that they didn't think it necessary for the
federal government to be involved yet.
After the President's final call to the governor she held meetings
with her staff to discuss the political ramifications of bringing
federal forces. It was decided that if they allowed federal assistance
it would make it look as if they had failed so it was agreed upon
that the feds would not be invited in.
Saturday, August 27, before the Hurricane hit, the President again
called Blanco and Nagin requesting they please sign the papers
requesting federal assistance, that they declare the state an
emergency area, and begin mandatory evacuation.
After a personal plea from the President, Mayor Nagin agreed to order
an evacuation, but it would not be a full mandatory evacuation, and
the governor still refused to sign the papers requesting and
authorizing federal action. In frustration the President declared the
area a national disaster area before the state of Louisiana did so
he could legally begin some advanced preparations.
Rumor has it that the President's legal advisers were looking into the
ramifications of using the insurgency act to bypass the Constitutional
requirement that a state request federal aid before the
federal government can move into state with troops - but that had
not been done since 1906 and the Constitutionality of it was called
into question to use before the disaster.
Throw in that over half the federal aid of the past decade to New
Orleans for levee construction, maintenance, and repair was diverted
to fund a marina and support the gambling ships. Toss in the
investigation that will look into why the emergency preparedness
plan submitted to the federal government for funding and published
on the city's website was never implemented and in fact may have been
bogus for the purpose of gaining additional federal funding. As we
now learn that the organizations identified in the plan were never
contacted or coordinating into any planning, though the document
implies that they were.
The suffering people of New Orleans need to be asking some hard
questions as do we all, but they better start with why Governor Blanco
refused to even sign the multi-state mutual aid pack activation
documents until Wednesday, August 31, which further delayed the
legal
deployment of National Guard from adjoining states. Or maybe ask
why Mayor Nagin keeps harping that the President should have
commandeered 500 Greyhound busses to help him when according to his
own emergency plan and documents he claimed to have over 500
busses at his disposal to use between the local school busses and
the city transportation busses - but he never raised a finger to
prepare them or activate them.
This is a sad time for all of us to see that a major city has all but
been destroyed and thousands of people have died with hundreds of
thousands more suffering, but it's certainly not a time for people
to be pointing fingers and trying to find a bigger dog to blame for
local corruption and incompetence. Pray to God for the survivors that
they can start their lives anew as fast as possible and we learn from
all the mistakes to avoid them in the future.
FROM KyLadyBlue
Louisiana update---
..................................
This is from a childhood and high school friend I've known 60 years.
She's
in Louisiana and amid all the turmoil there. Here's her note:
** We have had a battery operated TV so we've been getting local
channels focusing on the situation there and here. I'm just getting the
"national perspective" and its *(&*&(*ing me off!
First, this is not a racial thing. I'm sorry if all the reporters are
seeing
are black faces but if they would take their cameras to places like
Slidell,
Mandeville, Metairie and Chalmette, they would see several thousand
white faces being affected by this. Most of the tip of the boot that is
Louisiana
south and east of Baton Rouge is under water. Those people are stuck too
waiting for help, dying, but all the news people can focus on is the
Superdome.
Another misconception. The violence going on there is not the reaction
of desperate people. Its typical New Orleans on any given Tuesday!!!
Its a dangerous, dirty, drug infested place where the city police and
city government is corrupt and useless. Volunteers are getting shot at
and their
cars vandalized. Helicopters are being shot at. Just another day in the
city.
Another misconception. These poor people couldn't get out because they
don't
have cars. If the cameras show the city once the waters recede, you'll
notice all the flooded out cars littering the streets. They couldn't all
have been broken down before the storm hit . Yes, there are always
people who do not have transportation. Part of making the call for a
MANDATORY evacuation is that the city has to provide for transportation
and/or shelter
in the city. People stayed for the same reasons they always stay. They
think
the storm will turn and go in another direction. They think they can
"ride it out." Or, they're just too (*&( lazy to pack up and leave.
Another misconception. The federal government was slow to respond. The
president issued a state of emergency BEFORE the storm ever hit,
unprecedented. This means that the full access of the federal
government, be
it military or civil, were at our governor's disposal. The levee broke
early
Monday afternoon. She did not call evacuation until Tuesday morning. You
cannot call up National Guard units in 20 minutes. It takes time. The
governor and mayor are in high CYA mode at the moment.
The situation is bad here. Crime is becoming a problem in Gonzales and
Baton
Rouge where the evacuees are being housed. We live between the two
cities and there is pistol on my desk shelf as a type (yes, I know how
to use it).
Helicopters flying overhead all day, gas is running out, stores shelves
becoming empty. Its like a war zone. Our kids are both here and are
staying
here until the crime situation gets in control and I fear it will get
worse
before it gets better. Pray for us. **
So, that's all I'm asking. Send this to your friends and right now say a
prayer for ALL the people going through this whole catastrophe. Thanks
FROM LYNETTE
Interesting e-mail from Baton Rouge_____Sent To Me From A Friend
This an e-mail I received from my son who in turn got this from his pastor
on 9/4 (I might explain that his church has members all over the US and have
church in their own areas but get together once a year for the Holy Day The
Feast of Tabernacles)
A member of our church lives in Baton Rouge and has been sending out
reports to our Pastor as to what is really taking place there. Anyway, here
is the last report I just got this morning from Baton Rouge:
News not known to the media at this time, they are being kept out of the "to
know" loop at this point. My son is in contact with the Navy seal team that
was brought in. They went into the city with " shoot to kill" as directed.
They went in to get rid of the criminal element, they thought it would be
localized but found it to be way worse then anticipated, not expecting to
have to kill as many as they have so far.
This is not for the media to know.
Over 200 people were killed that were snipers killing and preying on the
victims of the storm. You may notice there are many parts of the city that
is not being shown.
These areas are full of dead bodies that died in the storm, around ten
thousand as a estimate, more if it be known.
Sharks are in the cities waters as well since the breaching of the levies,
this would make the people there even more adamant in not leaving the safety
of dry land to walk through water to be rescued if they knew what could get
them, so you see we, thought it was bad, it is worse then we imagined.
I will continue with anything that seems reasonable. My son just came from
visiting friend at a gun store where his navy seal buddy is volunteering.
All guns have been sold out three times, a wait list for the next many
shipments are pre sold. There is no ammo to be bought. He watched the
checkout for the Seal when the electricity went off to keep the store from
being rushed by the people waiting to get in.
Much prayers needed. Wonderful messages today as always. With endearing Love
for all the family, One of the flock
FROM A CANADIAN FRIEND
I can believe all of this John!!! The media has not reported all because
a lot has been kept away from them. I don't live in the USA, not a great
lover of G Bush, however I think that all of the stupidity of GB Bashing
does no good at this time, the people want help, not to be fed more
negativity they are feeling enough of that at this moment, their lives,
their city is in tatters. In Oz we heard reported that there would be
something like 10,000 expected dead, the next report was something like 200
000, and it keeps changing each day. No-one knows the full extent, I doubt
if the troops and workers do either, although they are in there, and what
they have yet to find, well !!!! No way would I step into the water, LOL!
My heart goes out to all Americans, the past few years especially, it has
been horrific, one thing after another. One of the greatest assets you folk
possess is your resilience, and your patriotism. I don't know that I have
seen any country that is so deeply entrenched in pride for their country as
you are, and rightly so because whether you like it or not, so many other
countries look to you for leadership, and so often you open your arms to
embrace and to help, and to go to war for them. I hope that those who have
leaned on America in past will step up, be counted, and give support at a
time when she needs it most, Now!!!!!
There, like it or not, I said it !!!! LOL!
God Bless you Americans!!!!!
FROM JOHN
There have been many offers from overseas governments and they have been turned down, WHY? One might ask what is going on here, do they indeed have an agenda to never rebuild New Orleans and that reason is so the government can take over the area to give the oil companies rights to drill for oil.
Please check out the website below
By Michael Barnett, The Interdictor
Thursday, Sept. 1
12:11am.
New Orleans Police Department Status: The situation for the NOPD is critical. This is firsthand information I have from an NOPD officer we're giving shelter to. Their command and control infrastructure is shot. They have limited to no communication whatsoever. He didn't even know the city was under martial law until we told him! His precinct (5th Precinct) is underwater! UNDERWATER -- every vehicle underwater. They had to commander moving trucks like Ryder and U-Haul to get around. The coroner's office is shut down so bodies are being covered in leaves at best or left where they lie at worst.
They don't even know their own rules of engagement. He says the force is impotent right now. They have no idea what's going on, no coordination, virtually no comms, etc. the National Guard is gonna air drop a radio system for them with 200 radios? They are getting very little direction.
The 3rd District bugged out to Baton Rouge because they flooded out.
His quote: "It's a zoo."
More firsthand information direct from him shortly. He's trying to recover.
I am not trying to be an alarmist, but until we get a military presence of signicance in the city, the roving gangs of thugs own the streets.
12:35am.
More from the police officer. I'm typing as fast as I can while he talks to us. He's only hearing bits and pieces. The people in the city are shooting at the police. They're upset that they're not getting help quickly enough. The firemen keep calling because they're under fire. He doesn't understand why the people are shooting at the rescuers. Here it is five days ago the mayor said get out of town and nobody went and now they're pissed.
The National Guard was at the Hilton, but now the Hilton is evacuated. When they said the CBD was gonna get six feet of water, it seems like everyone evacuated.
He turned the corner onto Canal Street and it looked like a flea market. People breaking into every store, going to the neutral gound (median) and trading and selling everything.
They broke into Winn Dixie Monday night. Do they steal food? No. Cigarettes and liquor. Store was a mess. All the meats were going to waste so the districts went over there to salvage food for officers. Many cops have been eating MREs.
The Iberville Housing Projects got pissed off because the police started to "shop" after they kicked out looters. Then they started shooting at cops. When the cops left, the looters looted everything. There's probably not a grocery left in this city.
Over 30 officers have quit over the last three days. Out of 160 officers in his district maybe 55 or 60 are working. He hasn't seen several since Sunday. HQ is closed, evacuated. No phones to contact them.
2:15am.
It's been a very long day. I'm going to crash for a bit and try to get five hours or so of sleep. I apologize again that I cannot respond to each IM. I am trying. We've got that IRC channel going and I'll try to get in there for a while later in the day.
I am going to debrief the police officer completely in the morning. He was utterly fatigued, thirsty, and wanted to find out what the hell was really going on.
It is a zoo out there though, make no mistake. It's the wild kingdom. It's Lord of the Flies. That doesn't mean there's murder on every street corner. But what it does mean is that the rule of law has collapsed, that there is no order, and that property rights cannot and are not being enforced. Anyone who is on the streets is in immediate danger of being robbed and killed. It's that bad.
8:26 am.
Best night sleep I've had so far. Woke up without back pain for the first time since before this thing started. I've been sleeping on the carpet, and that's a very thin layer covering the hard concrete. It takes about three days to get accustomed to sleeping on concrete -- I know that from my my days of sleeping on asphalt when the army couldn't provide better. I need to perform personal hygiene in a little bit, but I wanted to check in first and let everyone know that Outpost Crystal is still a viable and functioning camp of civilization in the face of the lawless barbarian hordes who threaten at all times to turn what's left of New Orleans into the war of all against all. It's like Mogadishu out there, but we're in a fixed defensive position and prepared.
9:36am.
We have permission from the City and from FEMA to truck in diesel. We have the ability to take on 1300-1500 more gallons of diesel fuel. If you or anyone you know is capable of bringing us fuel, we will pay for it. It would be best if the delivery truck could navigate a parking garage, otherwise the unloading will be hours -- no idea how long it could take.
10:12am.
1. There is a mass exodus for the Mississippi River Bridges (Crescent City Connection) from the CBD. We are not sure what's going on, but we are assuming until we hear differently that people are fleeing the city. So if you're watching the feeds, that's what you're seeing -- throngs of people moving toward the bridges.
2. Cannot confirm any of the following: Superdome fire, two shot police officers this morning. We hear all kinds of stuff, but no way to verify those.
3. Can confirm: The National Guard, FEMA, the NOPD, and City authorities DO NOT have the city under control. There are live radio feeds for the National Guard comms and NOPD comms which have been circulating the web, and you can listen to the chaos and disarray for yourselves. I am not going to post the links, but I'm sure others have and will. I doubt the government's ability to reestablish order without a full active duty military presence to crush the mob mentality. This of course will mean no civil rights and everyone being treated equally -- as a criminal. Rock | Hard Place.
4. I'm happy to report that my parents are accounted for. My mother made it out to Jackson, Mississippi, and my father, the only person more strong-willed than myself, is still in Harahan, healthy but refusing to leave. Mounting a rescue operation to bring him into the Outpost Crystal is a very low priority mission at this point. He's gonna have to tough it out for the time being. For him to read later, when this is all over: "Dad, I love you. I have to say it -- I told you so." Stubborn guy, my dad.
10:27am.
We've got fuel coming in NOW. Going dowstairs now.
11:50am.
My first tactical mistake. We were unprepared to accept the fuel when it arrived. The fuel arrived way too soon for us and we did not have all the empty drums down one ground floor when they got here. The driver had other deliveries to make, so rather than waste his time, I told him we'd recoordinate and be ready for him later today or tomorrow.
That's the bad news. Here's the worse news:
All of our providers are dropping. We're down to one. We have enough fuel to keep us powered for a long time, but we could lose internet access soon if our last provider drops. So I guess what I'm saying is that any moment could be my last moment online. If we do lose internet, Outpost Crystal might have to be abandoned by all but Sig and myself. I've got to get Crystal out of here safely and relocated to someplace out of this state. I'm working on escape routes now.
I'm not leaving, so stop asking. I'm staying. I am staying until this shitstorm has blown itself out. Period. End of discussion.
Now for some updates:
1. Been too busy to debrief the police officer, so that will come later. Low priority now.
2. Buses loading people up on Camp Street to take refugees to Dallas, or so the word on the street (literally) is.
3. Dead bodies everywhere: convention center, down camp street, all over.
4. National Guard shoving water off the backs of trucks. They're just pushing it off without stopping, people don't even know it's there at first -- they drop it on the side in debris, there's no sign or distribution point -- people are scared to go near it at first, because the drop points are guarded by troops or federal agents with assault rifles who don't let people come near them, which scares people off. It is a mess. When people actually get to the water, they are in such a rush to get it that one family left their small child behind and forget about him until Sig carried him back to the family.
It's raining now and I guess that's a relief from the heat. It's hot as hell down there in the sun. Crime is absolutely rampant: rapes, murders, rape-murder combinations.
In case anyone in national security is reading this, get the word to President Bush that we need the military in here NOW. The Active Duty Armed Forces. Mr. President, we are losing this city. I don't care what you're hearing on the news. The city is being lost. It is the law of the jungle down here. The command and control structure here is barely functioning. I'm not sure it's anyone's fault -- I'm not sure it could be any other way at this point. We need the kind of logistical support and infrastructure only the Active Duty military can provide. The hospitals are in dire straights. The police barely have any capabilities at this point. The National Guard is doing their best, but the situation is not being contained. I'm here to help in anyway I can, but my capabilities are limited and dropping. Please get the military here to maintain order before this city is lost.
1:28pm.
The word is that in Jefferson Parish and Orleans, FEMA has "bugged out." They haven't brought supplies in.
THE REAL MILITARY IS NOW FLOWING IN. National Guard is being replaced before our eyes. Word is that the Marines are at 1515 Poydras.
On another note: I've just been told that we're being monitored in Iraq! To all the troops there, from one soldier to another, we're hanging tough here and you hang tough too. No matter what you're hearing, we love you guys and want you to know that we know how hard you've got it. Stay strong!
4pm.
My screw-up earlier with respect to diesel preparations has been rectified. We've got 18 drums on the floor level awaiting the next truck delivery today or tomorrow. We had to empty all drums into the tanks, move them down there, work on the building's small emergency power generator to get the freight elevator working (this included hand-pumping a couple of drums of fuel into the tank), and a whole lot of other crap.... Not gonna bore you with the mundane.
Then we had to take a router down to city hall to try to get the city rolling on their internet. That included wading through water. God, the city is a mess when you head down Poydras that way. The Superdome looks like the Jenin refugee camp. God help this city. Whether or not it ought to be rebuilt is secondary to the real issue: can it be rebuilt? Looking around, I wouldn't know where or how to start. Good luck with that.
9:15pm.
As has become their nightly routine, police formed up in two rows of four cars on Poydras at dusk and started driving around city blocks over and over. I saw one car stop at a group of people camped out on a Camp Street sidewalk and question them, but then the cops drove off and left them alone.
As I reported earlier, a lot of people were bussed out to Dallas or somewhere from Camp Street, and that combined with a US Marshalls presence along Poydras from Loyola Ave to St. Charles really thinned out the pedestrian flow down Poydras. There are definitely a lot fewer people on the streets tonight.
Apparently the Marines coming in are Reservists not Active Duty. As far as I'm concerned, Marines are Marines are Marines, and they're always welcomed by Outpost Crystal.
Outpost Crystal is still secured and still kicking. We've got people begging us to leave, but that's not going to happen. We might lose Charlie Squad depending on internect connectivity, but Alpha Squad and Bravo Squad are going nowhere until New Orleans' infrastructure is rebuilt or declared permanently and irrevocably destroyed. As far as I'm concerned, this building is my post, and it will not be abandoned until I'm properly relieved.
10:46pm.
The following is the result of an interview I just conducted via cell phone with a New Orleans citizen stranded at the Convention Center. I don't know what you're hearing in the mainstream media or in the press conferences from the city and state officials, but here is the truth. "Bigfoot" is a bar manager and DJ on Bourbon Street, and is a local personality and icon. He is a lifelong resident of the city, born and raised. Here is his story as told to me moments ago. I took notes while he talked and then I asked some questions:
Three days ago, police and national guard troops told citizens to head toward the Crescent City Connection Bridge to await transportation out of the area. The citizens trekked over to the Convention Center and waited for the buses they were told would take them to Houston or Alabama or somewhere else, out of this area.
It's been three days, and the buses have yet to appear.
Bigfoot estimates more than 10,000 people are packed into and around and outside the convention center still waiting for the buses. They had no food, no water and no medicine for the last three days, until today, when the National Guard drove over the bridge above them and tossed out supplies over the side. Much of the supplies were destroyed from the drop. Many people tried to catch the supplies to protect them before they hit the ground. Some offered to walk all the way around up the bridge and bring the supplies down, but any attempt to approach the police or national guard resulted in weapons being aimed at them.
There are many infants and elderly people among them, as well as many people who were injured jumping out of windows to escape flood water and the like -- all of them in dire straights.
Any attempt to flag down police results in being told to get away at gunpoint. Hour after hour they watch buses pass by filled with people from other areas. Tensions are very high, and there has been at least one murder and several fights. Eight or nine dead people have been stored in a freezer in the area, and two of these dead people are kids.
The people are so desperate they're doing anything they can think of to impress the authorities enough to bring some buses. These things include standing in single-file lines with the elderly in front, women and children next; sweeping up the area and cleaning the windows; and anything else that would show they are not barbarians.
The buses never stop.
Before the supplies were pitched off the bridge today, people had to break into buildings in the area to try to find food and water for their families. There was not enough. This spurred many families to break into cars to try to escape the city. There was no police response to the auto thefts until the mob reached the rich area -- Saulet Condos -- once they tried to get cars from there... well then the whole SWAT teams began showing up with rifles pointed. Snipers got on the roof and told people to get back.
Bigfoot reports that the conditions are horrendous. Heat, mosquitoes and utter misery. The smell, he says, is "horrific."
Friday, Sept. 2
12:47am
Outpost Crystal has had a long day. Alpha Team is gonna grab a few hours of sleep. We won't quit, I promise you. We're expecting today (Friday) to be our most physically demanding day so far. Sig and I will be pushing 18 55-gallon drums of diesel up a steep parking garage incline to the 9th floor generator. Time for my beauty sleep. |
