My brother and mother are at my house right now. They stayed behind due to multiple reasons while I left middle of the night to get my preg wife out of town when it became a Cat 4. I stocked up heavy on food, a generator, gas and many other supplies so they are ok for now after getting to my house. The problem is that it is only for now. I am able to get a call in each day to my brother and the situation is going downhill each day. While my area is high and dry and my house has no damage, no one is being let in with supplies. The police are stopping family members from coming in with supplies while looters run rampant. All stores in the city have been looted. By all, I mean every single store not protected 24/7 by an owner with a gun. When the power comes back on there will be nothing to buy.
No troops, national guard, state police, out of town police or local police are patrolling. The local police are running out of fuel for their cars while the looting is actually increasing. It has now moved door to door. My brother said the damage reminds him of Germany right after world war II. The difference being that after WWII Germany had troops keeping order while New Orleans lacks such things. They couldn’t sleep last night due to constant gunfire in surrounding areas. Where are our Louisiana National Guard troops to protect out city and state? Oh year, Iraq.
The worst part is that people are dropping dead due to a lack of water and the heat. Instead of restoring order, what little law enforcement that’s available for it is stopping us from bringing in supplies. Search and rescue have taken to burying people in their front yards due to a lack of body bags and transport. That is not a rumor. My Sister-in-law’s boyfriend, on a local rescue squad has buried three people this way.
I work for Chase bank and the latest word is that we have to relocate to another city to work. No word on our housing or anything else, simply go to another city and work or don’t get paid. I’ll be out of a job since I can’t pay my mortgage and also pay rent in another state so I can continue for work for a company that doesn’t give a shit about its employees.
Today in northern Louisiana people are buying guns and ammo. Apparently the looting and rioting is moving out with the refugees. The damn state appears to be on its deathbed right now. Let us into our damn city to get to our homes and families to bring them supplies! A city in the United States is lawless and being destroyed while nothing happens to stop it. People are dropping dead from a lack of basic supplies and none are being sent in. Enough of the press conferences saying what will be sent in and send it already!
Can I just ask now that we keep our comments with the OP in mind, and not cross this with the “shoot the looters” thread? Let’s at least all be decent in that respect.
Not picking in you Askia, I just figured your post would be a perfect seque into a shitfest.
I can barely watch any more news coverage of this because I start sobbing everytime I do. I am truly heartsick over what is happening to your beautiful city. I have no words to tell you how very, very awful I ffeel for you and your family. I hope that relief comes soon for everyone.
I have no love for stupid decisions by the cops, and if I were trying to get back to my home on high ground with supplies and the cops weren’t letting me get back home, I’d be righteously pissed.
They want to evacuate everyone out of the city. Allowing more people in defeats that purpose. Even those homes that are not flooded have no power, water, sewer. The occupiers of those homes have no jobs. The bright side of the OP’s relatives being in better shape than the many thousands in dire circumstances is that they can make plans to leave at their own pace, but eventually, leave they shall.
Ohhhhh. When I read the OP, I somehow parsed not “letting people in” as a neighborhood blockade instead of a citywide one. More understandable police action but still frustrating as hell.
I’m not sure I understand about your employer. Is Chase saying if you want to keep your job, you better hotfoot it to one of their other branches out of New Orleans?
Sounds like someone needs to find a reporter with a camera and a microphone toot sweet.
Not being all that familiar with military matters, I don’t know if there are some kind of logistical problems, or if this is more a matter of military red tape, but it sure sounds like the latter. If it is, that’s pretty fucked up.
Tell me about it. I’ve spent a good (well, bad) ten hours today reading and watching news coverage and reading Katrina-related threads here. It’s hard to keep my cheeks dry for more than a few minutes at a time. New Orleans is (was? ) probably my favorite city in the world. The coverage is all so horrible, yet so difficult to tear myself away from.
If I were the praying type, your family would be in my prayers, The Long Road. Instead, all I can offer are crossed fingers and the fervent hope that things turn out okay for them.
I can’t watch it either, although I did. I don’t have a lot of money, but tomorrow or Saturday I’ll go and give blood - they always need that and my time is up, anyway.
The Long Road, is your wife OK at least? I hope your family gets out soon and safely.
Logistically, moving 3,700 troops is hodeously complex and difficult. You cold get them home earlier but you’d end up leaving the vehicles and equipment behind or some such thing. For them to be useful in relief efforts you need to get them back to the USA in a state to be deployed, not just standing around the arrivals area of DFW with their luggage.
Tell me about it. I’ve spent a good (well, bad) ten hours today reading and watching news coverage and reading Katrina-related threads here. It’s hard to keep my cheeks dry for more than a few minutes at a time. New Orleans is (was? ) probably my favorite city in the world. The coverage is all so horrible, yet so difficult to tear myself away from.
If I were the praying type, your family would be in my prayers, The Long Road. Instead, all I can offer are crossed fingers and the fervent hope that things turn out okay for them.
The Chase hotline gets your info to contact you within 48 hours, then they call you and basically say go to another city and work or don’t get paid.
My wife’s about done. She is on the verge of a nervous breakdown due to being displaced, not knowing about work, family still there and having no idea what the future holds. A good stiff drink or 12 would help but she’s pregnant.
My mother called in today and is almost out of blood pressure medicine. The hospital two blocks from my house ran out of supplies and had to evacuate. I am going to hit the roadblocks in the morning and simply beg and plead to get through. I am told it worked for some. I purchased a three month supply for her today and will try and get through.
Many of the local officials have taken to the air and begged for relief. The mayor of New Orleans told people to start walking across the bridge to the other side to try and find anything they can. Decoded it means go to the other side and loot what you find because we have nothing for you.
The Long Road, if you end up relocating to Houston, give me an email. I’m in the medical field here and I can get you set up with an OB probably. You can come and crash at our place if you don’t mind a crazy dog and the fact that my wife is at 33 weeks gestation.
I hope things calm down and your brother and mother can get some food soon. Chase Bank sucks–that’s really cold-hearted.