New Orleans, Part Deux

And so, at 9pm tonight, Central Standard Time, hubby made his trip to the grocery store. Three cases of bottled water, food, and miscellaneous supplies were purchased. By 10, he and his partner and three other crews were on the road, heading back to New Orleans. All four trucks are to be double loaded and make a quick turnaround run. By quick, they could be sitting in line in New Orleans for up to 24 hours. There's just no way to tell.

I hear the frustration in everyone's voices, in their words. The frustration that comes from not knowing, the anger at the government not doing what they should, not reacting fast enough, not having enough sense to plan this all out. And DH is the first to admit that right now, New Orleans is a giant clusterfvck. Over 300 ambulances are lined up most of the time to evacuate. Airports are jammed with jets, planes, and helicopters moving patients from New Orleans hospitals to other areas. And it's slow moving. Very slow moving. The primary reason? FEMA and the Red Cross are trying to keep track of who is being taken where. First priority (beyond medical help) is knowing who and where. Being able to track these folks - for family and friends. Not to mention, so the government can reimburse the ambulance companies, life flight companies for their costs in transporting these patients. Yes, the government is footing the bill for ALL evacuations. The busses going out with people, the ambulances, the helicopters. All of it.

I won't get into my personal feelings about the political aspect of it all. The massive screw ups by FEMA and the Red Cross and the Dept of Homeland Security and the President. Suffice it to say, four years later, we are still no better prepared to evacuate a semi-large city in the face of disaster. I will say, I know 16 people who were staged in Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday of last week, before Katrina hit, to move in as soon as the storms passed to begin setting up triage areas. Those 16 are local firemen and EMTs. This has put our county at a major disadvantage...but...everyone else is willing to pick up the shifts and the workload of those who have been gone for over a week now. Hopefully, they will see some relief soon. It appears that our county is readying another crew of 16 to head in and take over for those. And I'm sure that our county is not the only one who did something similar before the hurricane.

And now? They are reporting that the Astrodome is at capacity, according to the fire marshal. Roughly 5000 people. It appears San Antonio and Dallas are next on the list of evacuation sites. From what I've heard through DH, Reunion Arena in Dallas is quickly being converted to a large shelter. So are a few of the other local convention centers.

And through all of this, knowing what is going on in New Orleans...my biggest fear is DH heading down there on the ground. Right in the path of the fvcking morons who felt the need to shoot at helicopters and rescuers today. It wasn't so bad yesterday when he was in the jet. My only comfort? Sitting on the console between him and his partner will be his pistol.