And one more.....sorry they are long, but it's worth the reading...


> Louisiana update. The message below was sent to me. Please read and
> PRAY!!
>
> Thanks everyone! We are truly blessed!
> Rhonda
>
> This note is from a girl who I work with named Robin. She's in
> Louisiana and amid all the turmoil there. When I read her story I got
> the chills, this is horrible. I'm sending this to all of you to spread
> the word, PRAY. There are local churches where she lives who will be
> housing the homeless but "they will be getting no support from the RED
> CROSS."
>
> Here's her note:
>
> ** We have had a battery operated TV so we've been getting local
> channels focusing on the situation there and here. I'm just getting the
> "national perpsective" and its *(&*&(*ing me off!
>
> First, this is not a racial thing. I'm sorry if all the reporters are
> seeing are black faces but if they would
> take their cameras to places like Slidell, Mandeville, Metairie and
> CHALMETTE! they would see a several thousand white faces being affected
> by this. Most of the tip of the boot that is Louisiana south and east of
> Baton Rouge is under water. Those people are stuck too waiting for help,
> dying, but all the news people can focus on is the Superdome.
>
> Another misconception. The violence going on there is not the reaction
> of desparate people. Its typical New Orleans on any given Tuesday!!! Its
> a dangerous, dirty, drug infested place where the city police and city
> government is corrupt and useless. Volunteers are getting shot at and
> their cars vandelized. Hellicopters are being shot at. Just another day
> in the city.
>
> Another misconception. These poor people couldn't get out because they
> don't have cars. If the cameras show the city once the waters recede,
> you'll notice all the flooded out cars littering the streets. They
> couldn't all have been broken down before the storm hit . Yes, there are
> always people who do not have transportation. Part of making the call
> for a MANDATORY evacuation is that the city has to provide for
> transportation and/or shelter in the city. People stayed for the same
> reasons they always stay. They think the storm will turn and go in
> another direction. They think they can "ride it out." Or, they're just
> too (*&( lazy to pack up and leave.
>
> Another misconception. The federal government was slow to respond. The
> president issued a state of emergency BEFORE the storm ever hit,
> unprecedented. This means that the full access of the federal
> government, be it military or civil, were at our govenor's disposal. The
> levee broke early Monday afternoon. She did not call evacuation until
> Tuesday morning. You cannot call up National Guard units in 20 minutes.
> It takes time. The governor and mayor are in high CYA mode at the
> moment.
>
> The situation is bad here. Crime is becoming a problem in Gonzales and
> Baton Rouge where the evacuees are being housed. We live between the two
> cities and there is pistol on my desk shelf as a type (yes, I know how
> to use it). Hellicopters flying overhead all day, gas is running out,
> stores shelves becoming empty. Its like a war zone. Our kids are both
> here and are staying here until the crime situation gets in control and
> I fear it
> will get worse before it gets better. Pray for us. **
>
> SO, that's all I'm asking. SEND this to your friends and right now say
> a prayer for the people going through this whole catastrophe. Thanks.