What have you done to help hurricane Katrina victims? Donations to the Red Cross? How do you decide what to give and to whom? DHL is offering free shipment of sealed boxes of used clothing. It was a no-brainer to bring in some bags of old clothes.
I am saddened that in this time of trouble our nation is fixated on race. I’ve heard people say the hurricane response was slow because New Orleans is a mostly black area. I’ve heard that only white people had enough money to evacuate the city. I’ve heard that President Bush hates black people (read the Kayne West ridiculousness). There are even relief funds out there designed to only help African Americans.
The first responders in a crisis are supposed to be local governments. The local authorities, in this case, failed miserably. In response, local private citizens, the Feds, and the world (in that order) are mobilizing. To draw any further conclusions this soon after the disaster, while the city is still under water, is premature, useless, and unproductive. Why immediately turn to placing blame and discussing race?
I’ve decided I will not give to a fund that discriminates based on race. The entire lower economic class is in need — white, black, whatever the skin color. My father in law, Homer, forwarded me the following email. It is definitely worth a read. First-hand account of a private citizen in New Orleans. I’d be down there doing exactly the same thing.
—–Original Message—–
From: moriceman@aol.com [mailto:moriceman@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2005 11:48 AM
To:
Subject:
Dear Friends,
I want to thank all of you for your heartfelf responses of love, encouragement and offerings of shelter. I also want to thank all of you have offered employment. I am with my mother and brother at his house in Morgan City, Louisiana, only 87 miles West of N.O. My father is doing fine as he was able to evacuate as well.
As many of you know, I have spent the last four days living in the second floor of my neighbor’s home on Napoleon Avenue with 8 1/2 feet of water on my doorstep. I was blessed to have two good friends stay with me who recognized the needs of our neighbors, and accepted the dangers and perils of being a volunteer during a time of mass tradgedy, compounded by confusion, poor planning and an inconconceivable response. Their names are Beaux Whalen and Paul Gonzalzles and I am eternally greatful for their company, encouragement and ideas.
Beaux, Paul and I spent four days in boats going from house to house in the immediate flooded areas around my home. We started at daylight and drove our boats home at sunset. We were able to rescue over 100 neighbors, but we had to leave thousands behind. We focused on areas where no other water-based rescue operations were taking place and we could not travel more than one block without hearing the cries for help, people beating from the inside of attics and the pleas for supplies. These people were confused, scared, dehydrated, hungry, tired, elderly, disabled, people needing oxygen, needing dialysis.
The wealthier neighbors kept tabs on which neighbors were staying. They also had communication equipment and pleny of essiential supplies. The poorer neighbors were not as organized. They had water for only a day or two. Sixteen people to some houses. The poor continue to suffer the most. They have no idea how to swim and many are taught that playing with a pit bull would be safer than going into the water for fear of drowning. So they have stayed in their houses, baking, dying. With no direction of how to get to safety.
We had a radio at night to keep us “informed.” Our local news radio station, WWL, failed miserably. They were not broadcasting where the drop off stations were. They were not informing the locals stuck in the water of the best escape routes. While we heard screams at night and banging on rooftops from trapped survivors, WWL was entertaining political debate discussing fault, blame and rebuilding New Orleans. Why weren’t they discussing volunteer efforts and relief? Still today, where is their leadership?
While I don’t think it is an appropriate time to share share the sad realities of what I’ve seen in N.O. as I type this message to you all, I say that I am glad to share the details in the future if you want to know.
I am very greatful to be alive and I am deeply troubled and saddened that I left New Orleans. I never met one aggressive person. I was never intimidated. I felt no threat of violence, other than the mass hype being proliferated by the media. The reports of the media caused me and many other volunteers to leave the city in fear of our lives - maybe this was appropriate, I just don’t know.
I am in Morgan City and I can mobilize over 100 people who will be happy to participate in saving lives TODAY. They are local fisherman and sportsman who have boats and are willing to go into the city with me - but we can not get any clearance. No response from the Mayor’s office. No response from the federal agencies I have contacted. My friends in Morgan City report that over 400 volunteer fisherman from the St. Martin, St. Mary and Lafayette area have been turned around and told they could not go into the City of New Orleans because is was “too dangerous” or for some other reason. I have been sending a video and details of this disaster to news agencies around the country. I am hoping that someone can get through to the “brass.” My fear is that it is all too little and too late.
For all of my friends who live in other cities around our country, please don’t let this happen to you. Make sure your Mayor has a plan. Make sure your Governor has a plan. You don’t want to be walking (or boating) around your home town FIVE DAYS AFTER a national emergency wondering why you, as a private citizen, can still see with your unaided eyes hundreds of people trapped, dying slowly, with no hope of survival.
The day I can return to New Orleans, I will. I will help clean the streets, remove the debris and rebuild my city according to the historical codes that are in place. I will help the displaced and assist in relief efforts. The spirit of New Orleans will not be broken. Our natives are strong, generous and carry the same passion for the Crescent City that I have shared with you all.
I thank our Lord for guidance and support during those solitude and lonely nights on “lake Napoleon.” I thank all of you for your thoughts, prayers and text messages of encouragement. I thank Beaux and Paul for making our small volunteer effort possible.
Again,
Thank you and God Bless you all,
Mark Morice