I have been cutting and pasting stuff from every where on my web site, and I got a heated reply from one of my relatives at FEMA about how "If I can't say anything nice don't bother her while she is dodging bullets, being evacuated by bomb threats, and working 18 hour shifts." I know she is in harms way. I changed that kids diaper, altho she's 47 now. I couldn't love her more, even if she is a die hard REPUG.
Please be kind to my spelling and style I don't have spell check.
What my Niece wrote to me:
First off I work for our president and was deployed and in position well before Katrina hit. I also know for a fact that the president declared LA. a National Disaster before Katrina even hit. I have been working non stop since before she hit. It is not the President, the mayors, the government, the governor anyone's fault for the hurricane. Why should any take any blame. WE have more than LA to deal with, we are scattered all over the east coast. The people New Orleans knew the storm was coming a mandatory evacuation was called some did not leave. They provided buses to all neighborhoods and the people refused to go. DID YOU SEE THE PEOPLE GATHERED AROUND THE BUSSES BEFORE KATRINA HIT SHOUTING HELL NO WE WON'T GO. I'm sorry for the destruction and the loss of property which was unavoidable, and also for the loss of life that was unneccessarily lost.
Yesterday I was almost in a riot, locked down due to shooting right by where I was setting up to help disaster victims. Today I was evacuated because of a bomb scare.We did not riot, lute, rape thier own nieghbors did.
So unless you really know the truth about what has been done and not done, don't bother me with negative things while I'm working 14 to 18 hour days in dangerous condition and enviorment 7n days a week.
What I wrote to her:
Hi Sweety,
I'm not a professional writer that's why I cut and paste other articles. But I'll try to put my "feelings" and concerns in my own words.
I think what you had to say are the most important words I can hear. The mass media is "left", "right" and mostly swayed. I have viewed the documents sent by Gov. Blanco on 08/26 asking for aid. Are those fake? I heard the Mayor screaming Mon. about the sand bags he had scheduled to be dropped on Lake Ponchitrain, that could not be dropped (and may have saved alot), but the equipment and personal were removed from his jurisdiction moments before the drop Mon. early Am before the levies broke. Did he lie?
I saw photos from space a year ago showing the erosion of the "Boot" of LA. I was following the "Cacophony" project started about 10 years ago, to put the slit back onto the Boot. After only one year, swamp where people were sinking to their waits were able to walk. Last year all funding was cut. Over a football field of erosion occurs every 8 hours on the Boot. With out that buffer any hurricane will hit populated areas without being slowed down. Because or when the French (before the Louisiana Purchase) founded New Orleans, that Harbor has been "THE" port of entry for our economy. FDR said that if "WE" did not address the environmental problems, (which he tried to fund) we would see a catastrophe.
Yes I have been one of those people who have said "Hell No I Won't Go", twice. I have put out fires nearing my home and the homes of the ones who evacuated, and the fire officials declared "fire out" and moved out. I have friends who lost there homes in areas deemed contained, when the root fires started up and took out 10 homes because no one was there to do what I did, and put out those start ups. It is HUMAN NATURE to stay and defend you own. Especially when you have a history of the GOV letting you down.
Just because those people were poor and on welfare does NOT MEAN they were not working, @ min wage, while the Corporate owners and stock holders reap in profits over $300 million dollars. And Slum lords get loans to build in flood zones. People who get what they have, do to "American Slavery" in the work place, need to speak to their conscience. People in New Orleans are the have and the have not. like many area in America. And the City Gov. is known to think "They are the ALL" and will do it their own way. (also known to be corrupt since the Civil war and before)
Just like Iraq, people "Don't get it". this is about CULTURE. We may not "Get It" but it is Their Culture, to send a kid to the baker or the butcher with some money and get what you need one meal at a time. No need to drive to town/ Walmart/ and load the car with a weeks worth of goods. They don't have cars because they don't need them. And when they did need them What? they should be condemned? I saw buss' under water. How could they have helped, they couldn't. I heard one affluent man say that the last time this happened cars were being washed off the highways, so he didn't leave until the storm passed over. I listened to Rep. Water report on how she and friends took 5 buss' in and filled them to capacity, because she did not ask permission. And what about all the boats that were not allowed in on Mon. (miles of boats), what about news casters who said "if we can get in here, why can't emergency?".
Yes there are a lot of reasons and there are a lot of questions, from economy, environment, class, race, inept officials, lack of communication, lies, half truths, stubborn people, lawless criminals, etc, etc.
But in the wake of it all there are people who serve at their own peril, law enforcement, fire, cost guard, national guard, weather service (did you see the photos I posted?) just good citizens. The stories of heroism and sacrifice are amazing.
I thank you and your husband and all those working alongside of you. Even if I sound impatient with the Gov. (local, state, Fed) I do so because I wish you safer than you are, to do the work that needs to be done and hopefully to fix the next problem before you are placed in harms way (if possible).
THANK YOU FEMA EMPLOYEES, FAMILY & FRIENDS!!!!!