One man's experience in New Orleans

“This is from another forum I post to:

First I want to thank all of the fine people on this forum who have given us their support and prayers. I made it back from N.O. in one piece (with my father-in-law and brother-in-law). It was something that I hope I never have to do again...... What ever you are seeing on CNN or FOX multiply it by 1000. There ARE armed looters roaming the streets.There was a Stolen Ryder Truck Loaded down with loot, armed thugs on the hood and in the back....pointing AK47-s as it went down the street. It took an act of God to get my Father-in-law out. No phone service. I managed to back road my way as close to him as possible, My sister-law in South Carolina was the only person able to call my Father-in-law....but she couldn't call me. She could call my wife.... who COULDN'T call me.......but my wife COULD call my daughter in Shreveport who could Text Message me...Sound Complicated?....It was. I spent a sleepless night on the street in my car, sending and receiving text messages and trying to direct my Father-in-law and Brother-in-law to me. Long story short ......between all of us we got them out with three or four duffel bags of belongings. We have been told that we can return on Monday (for one hour) to get their belongings (if any are left).......Then it will be two to three months before power, sewage, phones and water can be restored.... This time will also be used to pump out water, clean up debris and remove bodies. The breach in the 17th Street Canal Levee washed out Greenwood Cemetery (in N.O. bodies are sealed in small tombs above ground) sending hundreds and hundreds of additional bodies into the bowl of toxic soup that is now New Orleans. In New Orleans the actual storm damage is not that severe. It's the flood waters and the idiots who wouldn't evacuate (like my dumb ass father-in-law) that are creating the majority of problems.

On a good note.......there are THOUSANDS of volunteers who are working tirelessly in horrible conditions (with little or no thanks from those whom they are helping). I counted 58 Texas Department of Public Safety Vehicles going into N.O. Troopers from Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan...... We heard on the radio coming home that radio stations in the state of New Hampshire raised $540,000 in less than 8 hours......It helps restore your faith in your fellow man to see the country coming together to help those in need.”

“Our thoughts are with you.

Doug”

“Thanks for posting this. Very sobering.”

“Seeing the news footage is similar to looking at pictures of mountains, you have absolutely no idea how massive it is until you actually see it in person. I remember seeing tornado damage on TV and then seeing it in person when I was a teenager, it is something I'll never forget, the feeling is overwhelming.

Seeing the damage last year of all the hurricanes last year, is NOTHING compared to what must be happening in NO.”

“Ryder trucks and AK's... #&%!$ing unbelievable.”

“wow. unreal.

My CAP squadron has been deployed to go down there - leaving tomorrow for a 10 day assignment. I can't go since I just got back from Ecuador and my company isn't very understanding of paying me to not work. Still, I am helping with the prep work, including gathering and packing the supplies. I guess we all do what we can...

(on a side note: my company isn't completely evil - they donated a mill to the effort)”

“CAP squadron?

I'm working on my work to let me go as a Red Cross volunteer. I did it once before. My work unit is understaffed, but then it always is, so I'm being patient while they get used to the idea.”

“CAP =
Civil Air Patrol
last edited: 9/02/05 11:20:24 AM”

“Wow Phaed unbelievable. How are you able to post? Is your wife posting for you? I have friends with family all over La. They are saying that La. authorities don't even want to talk about what happened in Slidell. Many, many deaths.”

“SH, he is quoting from another board I believe. Phaedrus lives in Cali I think.”

“My National Guard unit will be in Orleans tomorrow evening. We will kick some serious a$$ and straighten this mess out. Glad you are ok.”

“Phaedrus is in Sacramento.

AmyG=Civil Dork Patrol”

“CAP = cute-ass people!
:p

The CAP convoy left PA yesterday - they should be there (Paseagoula, Mississippi) by now. On another note, our county's rescue squads assembled 10 ambulances with 4 medics each to head down to LA - FEMA put us on stand-by until 9/11. Not sure why the "Stand-by" but I am sure that this rescue/relief effort will be ongoing for many months and those who are cown there working will need relief themselves.”

“My National Guard unit will be in Orleans tomorrow evening. We will kick some serious a$$ and straighten this mess out.

steppenwolf hate to burst your bubble but this is the USA, not Iraq. And even though the MSM paints everything as a war you'll be lucky if the brass gives you one bullet.
That's right, think of the brass as Shefiff Taylor and you as Deputy Barney Fife. Now go down there and pass out the bottled water or guard the headquarters corporate elites like you're told.”

“Sol - too true. I just heard from the crew down there that they have mostly been tasked with setting up road blocks, then scraping mud and debris from some access roads. Lots of dead chickens, but no human bodie so far in their current area. The biggest relief provided was the supplies we hauled down there, which were distributed already - and very civilly. Many people are already evacced, due to their location and access.”

“"The breach in the 17th Street Canal Levee washed out Greenwood Cemetery (in N.O. bodies are sealed in small tombs above ground) sending hundreds and hundreds of additional bodies into the bowl of toxic soup that is now New Orleans. "

O my gosh Phaedrus, I forgot the cemeteries are above ground in NO.

Just another sobering image of a bizarre reality.

http://www.mytrekkingpoles.com”

“In my college days of the late 70's I met a French Exchange student Sienne Galozzi who loved the punk/new wave scene as much as I did back then. She eventually moved to N.O. and I spoke to her again when I moved to Nashville. She warned me that her place was too small for an overnight guest. I wonder if she ever got out in time- she'd be in her mid-late 40's.”