What country do I live in again?
I live in a warzone... or is it a refugee camp? I can't tell, perhaps a refugee camp on the outskirts of a warzone might suffice. I feel as though I survived the London Blitz and am with the other clueless survivors as to what to do now.
The national news certainly isn't reporting everything that they should be. I wish y'all could hear our local radio and see our local broadcasts. Members of the New Orleans Police Department are here in Baton Rouge saying that they're ready to turn in their badges and never to return to New Orleans again. They're upset that they weren't prepared for something like this, and the little preparation given to them was a warning to go inside when the weather was too bad, and they received unarmed National Guardsmen to accompany them. No wonder I saw two New Orleans police officers looting themselves at the Wal-Mart on West Bank.
Our population here south of Baton Rouge has tripled, as well as in Baton Rouge itself. We live near the first civilized exit off of the interstate coming from New Orleans, so a lot of evacuees are here, camping out by the gas stations, and scarily, walking our neighborhoods making us feel as though they're eyeing what to loot here. I'd like to think the best of people, and quite honestly, the ones who did evacuate New Orleans are the nicer, law-abiding citizens who left the city with the hooligans and vastly impoverished who have no hope of rebuilding themselves once everything drains. I don't understand the violence down there, I try to justify it the best I can, but I don't think any of us can quite fathom the desperation down there. They don't have access to radio or news, they don't know what has gone on in Mississippi, or other parts of their area. They don't know that the government keeps talking about a rescue effort and they have hardly seen any part of it themselves. Not that some of them are helping by shooting the newly acquired guns from looted pawn shops either though.
My mom works here in the NICU at Woman's hospital in Baton Rouge. She is working night and day, sometimes spending the night at the hospital to make sure there is always staff for the 102 preemie and sick babies in their unit. She comes home with horrible stories told to her by the nurses who accompany the helicopters and ambulances that are evacuating babies from the New Orleans hospitals. One nurse mentioned having to be escorted by National Guardsmen with AK-47s because the flood victims down there are attacking the ambulances and shooting at the helicopters. They have had to put ID bracelets on the hospital personnel in case something happens, so that they can identify their bodies later. They have been able to evacuate most babies, but there are sad stories as well. The helicopter once fit all but one baby, who couldn't really travel anyway because he was attached to a heart/lung machine that wasn't very portable. As soon as the helicopter left, the hospital ran out of oxygen, and the baby died. They also cannot get in touch with most parents of these babies to let them know where their children are. The parents have had to evacuate before the storm and leave their baby in the hospital. Who knows when these families will be reunited.
The scene here in the 'refugee camp' area is of nothing but desperation, and these people here are faring loads better than those in New Orleans. These people not only have no home to return to, but no lives either. No job, no church family, neighbors to bbq with, local stores and familiar surroundings. And most have no money as well. What the national news is not reporting, is that New Orleans has a majority of very impoverished people, especially where most of the flooding has occured. These people don't have insurance, and right now are struggling in receiving their first of the month welfare checks since they obviously can't go out to their mailboxes and get them. The shelters here are all full, and although most have begun to get air-conditioning again, there aren't enough food, supplies or bedding. Not many have places to shower, hardly any have more than one change of clothes. Simple things like being able to brush your teeth or put on deoderant - these people aren't able to do. I see them and want to take them all home with me, but not only is this not my house, but we're already hosting three displaced people as it is. Two have homes, but without electricity, and it is way too hot to live without even a fan. The other doesn't know if he has a home or job to return to. He lives in Metairie and works at a hotel on Canal Street in New Orleans. He left his cat at his house thinking he would return the next day. No idea if his cat is surviving.
I'm struggling to be content with our government right now. As the President went and played golf today, people were being raped and beaten and shot as they waited for buses at the Convention Center, a place of higher ground where Superdome evacuees are waiting to be transported out of the city. I've seen a much faster and better response in Florida, even Iraq... so why is it taking so long to help our countrymen down here? Is it b/c they are a majority of poor people who live on the federal dollar as it is and are the reason New Orleans had two police officers to every one person? Or do the floodwaters really keep them from helping? Why would it take a week or more to send more help? A lot of us, including our state government, are finding this hard to understand. No wonder the victims are acting out in desperate measures, they don't see their government helping them one bit.
I should wrap this up, but I just wanted to find a way to express just how much I feel like I am living in a war zone right now. This isn't a war on terror, but a war on survival. I can't tell you just how much I feel fortunate for not living just 40 miles to the south.
The national news certainly isn't reporting everything that they should be. I wish y'all could hear our local radio and see our local broadcasts. Members of the New Orleans Police Department are here in Baton Rouge saying that they're ready to turn in their badges and never to return to New Orleans again. They're upset that they weren't prepared for something like this, and the little preparation given to them was a warning to go inside when the weather was too bad, and they received unarmed National Guardsmen to accompany them. No wonder I saw two New Orleans police officers looting themselves at the Wal-Mart on West Bank.
Our population here south of Baton Rouge has tripled, as well as in Baton Rouge itself. We live near the first civilized exit off of the interstate coming from New Orleans, so a lot of evacuees are here, camping out by the gas stations, and scarily, walking our neighborhoods making us feel as though they're eyeing what to loot here. I'd like to think the best of people, and quite honestly, the ones who did evacuate New Orleans are the nicer, law-abiding citizens who left the city with the hooligans and vastly impoverished who have no hope of rebuilding themselves once everything drains. I don't understand the violence down there, I try to justify it the best I can, but I don't think any of us can quite fathom the desperation down there. They don't have access to radio or news, they don't know what has gone on in Mississippi, or other parts of their area. They don't know that the government keeps talking about a rescue effort and they have hardly seen any part of it themselves. Not that some of them are helping by shooting the newly acquired guns from looted pawn shops either though.
My mom works here in the NICU at Woman's hospital in Baton Rouge. She is working night and day, sometimes spending the night at the hospital to make sure there is always staff for the 102 preemie and sick babies in their unit. She comes home with horrible stories told to her by the nurses who accompany the helicopters and ambulances that are evacuating babies from the New Orleans hospitals. One nurse mentioned having to be escorted by National Guardsmen with AK-47s because the flood victims down there are attacking the ambulances and shooting at the helicopters. They have had to put ID bracelets on the hospital personnel in case something happens, so that they can identify their bodies later. They have been able to evacuate most babies, but there are sad stories as well. The helicopter once fit all but one baby, who couldn't really travel anyway because he was attached to a heart/lung machine that wasn't very portable. As soon as the helicopter left, the hospital ran out of oxygen, and the baby died. They also cannot get in touch with most parents of these babies to let them know where their children are. The parents have had to evacuate before the storm and leave their baby in the hospital. Who knows when these families will be reunited.
The scene here in the 'refugee camp' area is of nothing but desperation, and these people here are faring loads better than those in New Orleans. These people not only have no home to return to, but no lives either. No job, no church family, neighbors to bbq with, local stores and familiar surroundings. And most have no money as well. What the national news is not reporting, is that New Orleans has a majority of very impoverished people, especially where most of the flooding has occured. These people don't have insurance, and right now are struggling in receiving their first of the month welfare checks since they obviously can't go out to their mailboxes and get them. The shelters here are all full, and although most have begun to get air-conditioning again, there aren't enough food, supplies or bedding. Not many have places to shower, hardly any have more than one change of clothes. Simple things like being able to brush your teeth or put on deoderant - these people aren't able to do. I see them and want to take them all home with me, but not only is this not my house, but we're already hosting three displaced people as it is. Two have homes, but without electricity, and it is way too hot to live without even a fan. The other doesn't know if he has a home or job to return to. He lives in Metairie and works at a hotel on Canal Street in New Orleans. He left his cat at his house thinking he would return the next day. No idea if his cat is surviving.
I'm struggling to be content with our government right now. As the President went and played golf today, people were being raped and beaten and shot as they waited for buses at the Convention Center, a place of higher ground where Superdome evacuees are waiting to be transported out of the city. I've seen a much faster and better response in Florida, even Iraq... so why is it taking so long to help our countrymen down here? Is it b/c they are a majority of poor people who live on the federal dollar as it is and are the reason New Orleans had two police officers to every one person? Or do the floodwaters really keep them from helping? Why would it take a week or more to send more help? A lot of us, including our state government, are finding this hard to understand. No wonder the victims are acting out in desperate measures, they don't see their government helping them one bit.
I should wrap this up, but I just wanted to find a way to express just how much I feel like I am living in a war zone right now. This isn't a war on terror, but a war on survival. I can't tell you just how much I feel fortunate for not living just 40 miles to the south.
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