XavierBreath
New member
Mike, Claude and I got back home from New Orleans this afternoon. We left home on 8/31 with the intention on helping the evacuation effort. We had hoped to join in with the Red Cross, since our skills were needed. We were two nurses and a surgeon. We could not find the Red Cross. We did find two fellows, Dennis and Donald. who had a boat. These guys were familiar with NOLA, and we joined up with them. With 5 guys working as a team, we worked almost around the clock with two of us searching, two of us sleeping, and the other foraging for food and fuel for the boat.
I am not familiar with New Orleans, I had only been there once before, and spent my time in the quarter. With Dennis or Donald (who we dubbed the D&D Evacuation Krewe) I went into a place called the 9th Ward and helped get people off of roofs, out of attics, and ferried to an overpass, or the Superdome. The word was that buses were coming to the Superdome to move people out to Baton Rouge. Most people wanted to go to the dome. We could carry four adults safely with two of us in the boat. From our drop off points, we heard of armed violence, carjackings(??!!!), robberies and rapes. We were all five armed, and thankfully so. We rode two in the boat, one to drive, the other literally riding shotgun with my old Mossberg. On our second day there I crossed paths with the Red Cross. Here we were, two Registered Nurses and a surgeon wanting to help. The Red Cross did not want our help if we remained armed. We went back to the boat. We did not know about the hospitals, we thought they were empty.
I have watched a little of the news and read a bit on the web about the situation since I arrived home. I think that many people do not realize how badly communication was and is still affected. Much of the communication is being done by word of mouth. Unsubstantiated rumors are rampant. I do not doubt that people on this forum know more about what was going on than i do. I had a very small view of a huge picture.
I am amazed to see that people like Jesse Jackson and his ilk are trying to make this a race issue. Yes, many of the people we evacuated were black. some were mulato, and a few were white. I did not keep a scorecard, but that is pretty much the way it was. Some people have made a living exploiting racial hatred and injustice. Where were they on August 15, 2005? Were they in the 9th Ward trying to elevate their fellow man? No. They were elsewhere, seeking the latest race cow to milk. On August 28 New Orleans became that cow.
Help was slow to arrive because the problems built in an escalting fashion. The levees held during the hurricaine and many people thought NOLA survived another one. Usually the questions we were asked at first was "When are they going to turn the damned pumps back on?" Looking at some of the news now, I see a Governor who was severely out of her depth (as would be most anyone). Blanco is a non-leader, wringing her hands like a cajun grandmother. I see FEMA as being worthless. What the heck are they supposed to do anyway? Their leader, this Michael Brown, is incompetent. I don't know if he is a liar or just delusional. He reminds me of Baghdad Bob during the invasion of Iraq. New Orlean's Mayor now wants to spout his righteous indignation. Where was he when he was needed to rally his LEO troops on Canal Street? Surely he could have found a bullhorn and a boat and found his way there. Nope, he was in the rear with the gear and all the other REMFs worried about a few thugs who might have guns. Right. Some people make a living off race, others off of political winds.
I have helped in one other evacuation, in the Republic of the Philipines when Mt. Pinatubo blew in 1991. That was a humanitarian cluster flop as well, but that was due to political disagreement, not incompetence. In NOLA, the police needed support and back-up. Everyone needed communication. Even a bullhorn would have worked. Every person I helped into our boat wanted to know one thing......"Where the hell do I go to get out of here?" I wish I given a better answer than what I thought at the time.
I now have a small inkling of what our Vietnam Vets must have felt when they got home. When I was out there in that boat with the D&D Krewe I knew exactly who I was and what I was doing. It was hot, sweaty, greasy, stinky, nasty, filthy, and emotionally draining, but it was sure. I was chapped, sunburned, and waterlogged. It had nothing to do with race, money, class, status, or politics. I got back home this afternoon and started catching up on the news since August 31. My wife had recorded a couple of news programs for me, and I searched the net. It seems to me there are a heck of a lot of butt scratchers lamenting about this disaster, and very few people in boats. My email in box is full of emails from various organizations here in town wanting my assistance at the Civic Center or college colliseum, both of which are being used as shelters by the Red Cross. I saw an article on the news from last night where in a town about 45 miles away, the Red cross is refusing to assist evacuees in a state park, saying they need to come to our town's Civic Center. Horse Hockey. Tonight I am loading up the truck with all the old clothes I can give up, and in the morning I'm making the trip to that state park myself. Hell, I'll toss in a couple of fishing poles and some hooks. Chances are a cajun on a lake will know how to take it from there. The only reason I can see for the Red Cross not assisting is publicity and money.
At any rate, as promised, these are my disorganized thoughts after a brief combat nap. I'm going to let this one digest a bit. It's all hard to describe to my wife and friends who have been helping up here in North Louisiana. It is like they don't even have a point of reference to begin understanding. Likewise, at this point I do not feel I can pass judgement on any of the people who did what they had to to survive. I cannot appreciate this disaster being twisted to support political agendas. I see that all through what I have watched and read thus far. It angers me greatly.
I'm going to bed and getting some more sleep. I'll check back later.
I am not familiar with New Orleans, I had only been there once before, and spent my time in the quarter. With Dennis or Donald (who we dubbed the D&D Evacuation Krewe) I went into a place called the 9th Ward and helped get people off of roofs, out of attics, and ferried to an overpass, or the Superdome. The word was that buses were coming to the Superdome to move people out to Baton Rouge. Most people wanted to go to the dome. We could carry four adults safely with two of us in the boat. From our drop off points, we heard of armed violence, carjackings(??!!!), robberies and rapes. We were all five armed, and thankfully so. We rode two in the boat, one to drive, the other literally riding shotgun with my old Mossberg. On our second day there I crossed paths with the Red Cross. Here we were, two Registered Nurses and a surgeon wanting to help. The Red Cross did not want our help if we remained armed. We went back to the boat. We did not know about the hospitals, we thought they were empty.
I have watched a little of the news and read a bit on the web about the situation since I arrived home. I think that many people do not realize how badly communication was and is still affected. Much of the communication is being done by word of mouth. Unsubstantiated rumors are rampant. I do not doubt that people on this forum know more about what was going on than i do. I had a very small view of a huge picture.
I am amazed to see that people like Jesse Jackson and his ilk are trying to make this a race issue. Yes, many of the people we evacuated were black. some were mulato, and a few were white. I did not keep a scorecard, but that is pretty much the way it was. Some people have made a living exploiting racial hatred and injustice. Where were they on August 15, 2005? Were they in the 9th Ward trying to elevate their fellow man? No. They were elsewhere, seeking the latest race cow to milk. On August 28 New Orleans became that cow.
Help was slow to arrive because the problems built in an escalting fashion. The levees held during the hurricaine and many people thought NOLA survived another one. Usually the questions we were asked at first was "When are they going to turn the damned pumps back on?" Looking at some of the news now, I see a Governor who was severely out of her depth (as would be most anyone). Blanco is a non-leader, wringing her hands like a cajun grandmother. I see FEMA as being worthless. What the heck are they supposed to do anyway? Their leader, this Michael Brown, is incompetent. I don't know if he is a liar or just delusional. He reminds me of Baghdad Bob during the invasion of Iraq. New Orlean's Mayor now wants to spout his righteous indignation. Where was he when he was needed to rally his LEO troops on Canal Street? Surely he could have found a bullhorn and a boat and found his way there. Nope, he was in the rear with the gear and all the other REMFs worried about a few thugs who might have guns. Right. Some people make a living off race, others off of political winds.
I have helped in one other evacuation, in the Republic of the Philipines when Mt. Pinatubo blew in 1991. That was a humanitarian cluster flop as well, but that was due to political disagreement, not incompetence. In NOLA, the police needed support and back-up. Everyone needed communication. Even a bullhorn would have worked. Every person I helped into our boat wanted to know one thing......"Where the hell do I go to get out of here?" I wish I given a better answer than what I thought at the time.
I now have a small inkling of what our Vietnam Vets must have felt when they got home. When I was out there in that boat with the D&D Krewe I knew exactly who I was and what I was doing. It was hot, sweaty, greasy, stinky, nasty, filthy, and emotionally draining, but it was sure. I was chapped, sunburned, and waterlogged. It had nothing to do with race, money, class, status, or politics. I got back home this afternoon and started catching up on the news since August 31. My wife had recorded a couple of news programs for me, and I searched the net. It seems to me there are a heck of a lot of butt scratchers lamenting about this disaster, and very few people in boats. My email in box is full of emails from various organizations here in town wanting my assistance at the Civic Center or college colliseum, both of which are being used as shelters by the Red Cross. I saw an article on the news from last night where in a town about 45 miles away, the Red cross is refusing to assist evacuees in a state park, saying they need to come to our town's Civic Center. Horse Hockey. Tonight I am loading up the truck with all the old clothes I can give up, and in the morning I'm making the trip to that state park myself. Hell, I'll toss in a couple of fishing poles and some hooks. Chances are a cajun on a lake will know how to take it from there. The only reason I can see for the Red Cross not assisting is publicity and money.
At any rate, as promised, these are my disorganized thoughts after a brief combat nap. I'm going to let this one digest a bit. It's all hard to describe to my wife and friends who have been helping up here in North Louisiana. It is like they don't even have a point of reference to begin understanding. Likewise, at this point I do not feel I can pass judgement on any of the people who did what they had to to survive. I cannot appreciate this disaster being twisted to support political agendas. I see that all through what I have watched and read thus far. It angers me greatly.
I'm going to bed and getting some more sleep. I'll check back later.
I wish that there were more people like you, and that the people who are like you would get their fair share of news coverage and respect.