A New Day!
09/03/2005 03:49 p.m.
I don't know what it is, as much as I've been haunted by the media coverage of what's happening in New Orleans, every day I tune back in to see more.

Literally, my dreams are haunted by the images, or by twisted versions of the scenarios played out on TV.

Perhaps tonight my sleep will be more peaceful, my dreams less chaotic. The military's present and has taken control. There were no pictures of rioting!

I know my last post seemed very hostile, and perhaps it was in part. I can't stand watching innocent people suffer at the hands or because of a group (no matter the size) of maelcontents... the street "thugs" who were terrorizing the streets, the police, etc.

It appears that the right commander is in charge in NO too. He's from the area, he knows the people, he understands them, he has compassion for them.... but he is definitely in charge, he gives commands, and they are followed, by military and civilians alike!

Finally, some sense of law and order, and with that comes the hope and anticipation that the evacuations will be complete shortly and people will receive the help they need.

On another note. My fiance has been in contact with his roomate several times. He sat in his truck on a military base in LA for DAYS waiting for FEMA to make it's decisions. They were having 2 and 3 meetings with the truck drivers etc. but the drivers not only weren't told where to go, they were told they could NOT leave.

There will be some changes in FEMA! Joe said that when Pres. Bush landed at the base he demanded to know WHY the trucks were still just sitting there! He was PISSED according to Joe... not the smiling, jovial presence that was shown by the media.

Granted, ultimately all of the fingers will point to George Bush and his administration. As Pres. most will feel, and probably rightfully so, that he should have been better informed about what was being done, and that as a Federal agency, FEMA is his responsibility... only time will tell the end of the story.

As far as the cities that have taken in the refugees. They are still very overburdened.

Houston laid off hundreds of jailers several months ago and took police off of the streets to man the jails... we don't have the police presence on the streets of Houston to handle our typical problems, add an additional 20-50 thousand people? There have been an increase in the number of residential thefts and break-ins in the area of the Astrodome (I have a co-worker who lives 2 blocks away, her complex had 8 break-ins on Thursday), but so far there hasn't been news of an increase in violent crime... of course our news has been almost solely about the refugees and trying to reunite families that have been separated, giving locations of shelters and agencies, etc.

Well I'm off for now. My church is having a food and clothing drive today and I need to help with the collections etc (not to mention the huge bag of toys and the bigger bag of clothes that my kids have gathered).




I am currently Better