"Even If I Have To Swim The Ponchatrain"
Katrina was no lady. You have all seen the pictures, and heard the stories by now. I put up this page to post thoughts and links about the storm, the aftermath, and some relief sites that I feel shouldn't be overlooked. It is a work in progress, so check back often.
First, I have to count my blessings. As bad as the storm was, at my house we ended up with only some minor damage and a lot of trees down. Sure, we had a crappy week with no power and little or no communication, but here we are three weeks after the storm and things are more or less getting back to normal.
Travel South from Meridian, and it is like entering another world. It is hard to put into words the misery and devastation just a few miles to the South, when things have recovered so well here. Folks down there are really suffering, and as yet have had little or no assistance in some areas. We need to remind ourselves that this thing is a long way from over, and recovery will be a long process.
Praise:
My fellow citizens of Meridian and Lauderdale County showed what they were made of. Besides our own problems, we also had a couple thousand evacuees from the Gulf Coast and the New Orleans area here.
For the most part our local citizens were orderly and cooperative. There was no increase in crime to speak of. The curfews which were necessary for the first few days were obeyed by most, and well inforced by the local law enforcement.
Lines for fuel, water and ice were handled as well as could be expected, thanks to excellent work by our local Law Enforcement, National Guard, and volunteers from other organizations. Donations of food and clothing for the evacuees were so heavy that the local churches and charitable organizations had to ask folks to stop bringing them in.
The local radio and television folks did a great job in the aftermath of the storm. For about a week the only news or communication we had was through the local radio stations. They stayed on the air non-stop, operating on generator power. They suspended regular programming to keep us informed and updated. There were even a few local radio personalities who basically lived in the stations to keep us up to date. They did a FANTASTIC job.
To my surprise, our local city and county governments also did a fine job in the aftermath of the storm. I have been critical (to say the least) of them in the past, but they stepped up to the plate this time in my book.
Criticism:
FEMA- *F*orget *E*veryone in *M*ississippi and *A*labama...
Yes, New Orleans is a disaster area, and my heart breaks for it. There are also plenty of folks who have it just as bad or worse in MS and AL. These two states have after all had major hits from SEVERAL major storms within the past year!
I am not one to wait around to be bailed out, but the response from the federal beaurocracy has been dissapointing even if it was predictable.
I could go on and on about what a waste of our tax money this agency seems to be. From the office space they asked for and never opened, to the emergency hospitals they asked for and never used.
Notice to anyone who may face a sudden disaster of this kind in the future: Expect to fill out lots of forms and hear even more empty rhetoric. Don't wait around for FEMA to save you from anything. You will have to save yourself, though after all that IS probably how it should be.
The National Media- Ditto...Apparently New Orleans is the only story worth reporting...
The Red Cross- Sorry folks, but this is one inept and poorly executed relief agency. Yes, they need your money, and lots of it. They need so much, because a good portion of what they get ends up in the hands of those who have no need of it. I have seen too many examples, literal truckloads of Red Cross "aid" that ended up in the hands of scumbags using it for their own gain, and not for relief or charity. The problem is not so much the organization itself, who's heart is in the right place. The problem lies in the assholes who will take advantage of a bad situation. The Red Cross, unfortunately, do not have the ability or leadership to be able to tell the difference between the needy and the crooks.
Links:
The Tipitina's Foundation
Petfinder.com
United Way
Operation USA
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