1000'S STILL AT RISK OF DEATH & DISEASE IN DISASTER ZONE

1000'S ARE STILL AT RISK OF DEATH AND DISEASE IN THE DISASTER ZONE IT IS LATE DAY 5 OF THIS CATASTROPHE. 1000'S HAVE BEEN LEFT TRAUMATIZED BY THE DEVASTATION OF RIDING OUT DAYS IN THEIR HOMES, THEN SWIMMING THROUGH WATERS THAT WERE FULL OF DEBRIS AND WASTE. MANY HACKED THEIR WAY OUT OF ROOFS AND UPPER FLOORS AFTER THE HEAT BECAME UNBEARABLE. THEY USED WHAT EVER THEY COULD TO FLOAT TO HELP, BOATS AND SURVIVAL RAFTS MADE FROM BROKEN AIR MATRESSES AND FURNITURE TO PADDLE TO THE INNER CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.MANY PROBALLY PRAYED HARD THROUGH THE STORM , AND EVEN HARDER THE STORM THAT THEY WOULD SURVIVE WHEN THEY REACHED HIGHER,DRIER GROUND.

MANY COULD NOT KNOW OF THE HELL THAT THEY WOULD SUFFER AND ENDURE THE NEXT 5 DAYS WHEN THEY REACHED DOWNTOWN NEW ORLEANS. THIS IS THAT STORY THROUGH THE EYES OF A MOM AND A NURSE WHO IS DISASTER TRAINED MILES AWAY WATCHING AND LISTENING TO THEIR TALES ON CNN,MSNBC, ABC, AND FOX. IT IS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS A NARRATIVE AND AN ANALYSIS OF THE GULF DISASTER, AS WOVEN FROM WAR CORRESPONDANTS REPORTS AND PEOPLE'S STORIES ON THE INTERNENT AND ON THE TV.PLEASE READ THIS 1000'S OF LIVES ARE STILL AT STAKE.
(please excuse that this post will all be in large print due to an eye disorder so that the writer can read-my apologies)

PART ONE: THE LIVING HELL OF THE DOME PEOPLE: THE STORY OF THE DEAD BODIES
PART TWO: HOSPITAL HELL FOR NEW ORLEANS DOCTORS,STAFF, AND NURSES AND PATIENTS
PART THREE: HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EXCEPTIONAL LIES

***** BEFORE YOU READ THIS YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT THE WHITEHOUSE, INCLUDING MR.BUSH AND HOMELAND SECURITY AND FEMA SIGNED A STATEMENT OF FEDERAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR LOUISIANA ON SATURDAY AUGUST 26TH, 2005. THIS WAS SIGNED "TO AUTHORIZE,COORDINATE ALL DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS WHICH HAVE THE PURPOSE OF ALLEVIATING THE HARDSHIP CAUSED BY THE EMERGENCY ON THE LOCAL POPULATION." UNDER TITLE V OF THE STAFFORD ACT THIS STATEMENT IS ISSUED AND FOLLOWS LAWS THAT ARE TO PROTECT ALL MEMBERS OF THE POPULATION IN AN EMERGENCY WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN EVACUATED OR NOT. IT IS A LAW THAT WHEN ENACTED IS TO PROTECT LIVES OF THE PUBLIC AND THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY. IT IS ALSO SUSPOSED TO LESSON OR AVERT THE THREAT OF CATASTOPHRE ON ALL LIVES IN THE STATED REGION. IT ALSO MEANS THAT ONCE THIS HAS BEEN ISSUED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS REQUIRED TO GIVE THE STATE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO PROTECT LIFE. THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS STATEMENT OR THE LAWS OF FEMA OR FEDERAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE LAWS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE THAT WERE STRANDED AFTER EVACUATION ORDERS WERE GIVEN TO FACE A FATE OF NEAR CERTAIN DEATH.REMEMBER THIS STATEMENT OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WAS ISSUED BY THE WHITEHOUSE AND PUT ON THEIR WEBSITE, IT WAS SIGNED SATURDAY AUGUST 26TH,2005.*****

PART ONE: THE LIVING HELL OF THE DOME PEOPLE,THE STORY OF THE DEAD BODIES.
( PLEASE NOTE THIS COULD ALSO EASILY APPLY TO THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS AND AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 1000'S OF PEOPLE, MEN , WOMEN AND CHILDREN, SOME SICK, SOME ELDERLY, SOME PREGNENT, AND MOST LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE BEFORE THIS EVENT OCCURRED. ALMOST ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WERE WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION OR INCOME TO ESCAPE THE CITY. IT WAS NOT A DECISION MANY MADE WILLINGLY. WHEN PEOPLE MAKE A DECISION TO NOT LEAVE WHEN EVACUATION ORDERS ARE GIVEN THERE ARE REASONS.)

ALL WEEK WE HAVE SEEN THE HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR AND FEMA DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT SAYING OVER AND OVER THAT' PEOPLE DID NOT HEED THE WARNINGS TO LEAVE". THEY NEED TO LOOK AT THE HOURS OF TV FOOTAGE. THE FOOTAGE CLEARLY SHOWS ALL THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, FAMILIES THAT COULD NOT LEAVE THE AREA AND WERE ABANDONED BY THEIR OWN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND LEADERSHIP TO MOBILIZE THE MASSIVE NUMBERS OF TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES THAT WERE NEEDED TO HELP THOSE THAT COULD NOT LEAVE.

SUNDAY NIGHT THE HURRICANE RAGED. AS IT HAD COME ACROSS THE GULF IT GAINED FURY, VOLUME AND STRENGTH. WEATHERMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY WATCHED AND PREDICTED AND THE DOPPLER IMAGES GREW MORE MENACING BY THE HOUR. THE PEOPLE IN NEW ORLEANS THAT STAYED BEHIND TRIED TO RIDE IT OUT,THEY WERE FAMILIES LIKE YOU AND ME LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK. SOME WERE EVEN WAITING FOR THEIR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE CHECKS TO ARRIVE THAT COMING MONDAY. MANY DID NOT HAVE A CAR OR A WAY TO LEAVE. OTHERS HAD A CAR BUT WERE HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN FOOD FOR THREE DAYS OR GAS TO PUT IN THE CAR. WHEN ONE HAS A BABY , AND THE CHOICE IS FORMULA OR GAS, YOU KNOW THE RIGHT CHOICE IS MADE. OTHERS WERE TAKING CARE OF ELDERLY RELATIVES, SOME DISABLE AND SICK. WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN GRANDAD IS DYING OF LUNG CANCER ON OXYGEN AND TAKING ALOT OF MEDICATION THAT THERE ARE NOT MANY TRIPS EVEN OUT OF THE HOUSE.

MANY FAMILIES DID NOT HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO BECAUSE THE HOTELS IN THE AREA RAISED RATES AS THE EVAC WARNINGS WERE SENT OUT. REGARDLESS MANY OF THESE FAMILIES LIVE WEEK TO WEEK, THEY DO NOT TAKE VACATIONS, OR HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO TRAVEL ANY DISTANCE. THESE FAMILIES ARE AMERICA'S WORKING POOR, SOMETIMES WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN AND PAY BILLS. OTHER FOLKS, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY HAD NO WAY OUT, NO ONE TO MOVE THEM 100'S OF MILES AWAY. NO BUSES WERE EVEN OFFERED TO BRING THEM OUT, NO CHURCHES OR SHELTERS WERE OPENED IN THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE STATE AS EVEN POTENTIAL OPTIONS. IT WAS HOTELS OR RIDE IT WHERE YOU ARE. IT USED TO BE UNDER FEDERAL LAW THAT IF A CAT 5 WAS HEADED TO SHORE DESIGNATED FALLOUT SHELTER BUILDINGS WERE MADE READY.

PEOPLE DID WHAT THEY COULD. THEY MADE READY. THEY HUDDLED AS FAMILIES, THE STORM RAGED WITH WINDS BETWEEN 140 TO 160 HOURS, WINDS THAT RING IN YOUR EARS LIKE A TRAIN IN THE LIVING ROOM. BUILDINGS SWAYED AND CREEKED.FAMILIES RODE THE STORMS IN THE DARK. SOME , ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY RODE THE STORMS ALONE IN THE DARK WITH NO WAY TO EVEN CALL FOR HELP AS THE PHONES WENT DEAD. PEOPLE PILED FOOD INTO COOLERS AND RUBBRMAID CONTAINERS AND FILLED BATHTUBS WITH WATER. THEY BANTONED DOWN THE HATCHES, SHUTTING WINDOWS AND DOORS TO ATTEMPT TO KEEP OUT THE MOISTURE AND SHEETS OF RAIN. MOST OF THE TIME PEOPLE WOULD PICK ONE ROOM TO HUDDLE AND GATHER WITH THEIR SUPPLIES IN PLACE. THE STORM RAGED AND RAGED, IT WAS A MONSTER. AND THEN THE NEXT MORNING PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE REGION EMERGED. YET IN DOWNTOWN NEW ORLEANS, MANY STARTED TO BECOME TRAPPED IN THEIR HOMES, THE WATERS RISING OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES. BECAUSE THEY HAD NO WAY TO CALL OUT, NO ONE COULD KNOW HOW THE WATERS WERE PUSHING THEM TO THEIR ATTICS. IT IS UNCLEAR WHY WITHIN THE FIRST 24 HOURS FEMA GROUND CREWS DID NOT COME AND DO AERIALS AND ASSESSMENTS,AND WHY THEY DID NOT COME UNTIL DAY 5. AERIALS ON DAY ONE WOULD HAVE SHOWN THE PROBLEMS. SO PEOPLE WENT FROM FLOOR TO FLOOR AND 1000'S, MAYBE AS MANY AS 50,000 WENT TO THEIR ROOFS. SCARED, HOT AS THE DELTA STEAM ROSE OF THE FLOOD WATERS.MANY WERE TRAPPED IN ATTICS, WITHOUT VENTILATION, WINDOWS OR FANS. SOME FOUND CREATIVE WAYS TO BREAK THROUGH THE ROOF TO GET AIR. SOME WOULD EVEN START MAKING SIGNS FOR HELP. AND THEN THERE ARE 1000'S THAT WE KNOW COULD NOT BREAK THE ROOF WITH THEIR SHOES OR A CANE. SOME NEIGHBORS WERE EVEN ABLE TO YELL TO EACH OTHER. AND SOME HOUSES WENT SILENT AS THE HEAT ROSE. SOME PEOPLE EVEN DECIDED TO BRAVE THE WATERS TO SWIM FOR HIGHER OR DRIER GROUND, OR THINKING THAT THEY COULD GO GET HELP. FOR SOME THIS MEANT LEAVING A LOVED ONE OR A WHOLE FAMILY BEHIND, PADDLING OFF ON A DOOR OR AN AIR MATTRESS WONDERING IF THEY WOULD SEE THEIR CHILDREN OR GRANDMOTHER AGAIN. ONE OFF THE ROOF THEY WOULD REALIZE WITH HORROR THAT THE WATER WAS RISING AND HIGH EVERYWHERE. THE BATTLE OF THE STORM WOULD FADE AS THEY APPROACHED NEW CHALLENGES. PADDLING PIECE OF BOARD ON A DOOR IS NOT A CANOE RIDE THROUGH STORM FLOOD WATERS IS HAZARDOUS. THE WATERS ARE NOT JUST MUDDY, THEY ARE FULL OF DEBRIS, GARBAGE, SNAKES, RATS, LIVE WIRES, AND EVEN HUMAN WASTE. THEY WOULD PADDLE AND FINALLY END UP NEAR HIGHER GROUND. SOME EVEN SWAM THROUGH THIS. SOME EVEN SWAM IN THE DARK BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SURE IF THEIR HOME WOULD MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT. SOME SWAM IN THE DARK, LOST IN WRECKAGE AND GOO TIRING BEFORE THEY EVER REACHED A SHORE OR HIGHER GROUND. THEY WANDER THROUGH TOWN , WADING THROUGH WATER THAT IS NOW MAYBE ONLY WAIST HIGH. THEY WORK THEIR WAY TO THE CONVENTION CENTER IN FILTHY MUDDY CLOTHES WITH NO SHOES OR BELONGINGS, COLD AND WET. FOR SOME THEY ARE NOW INTO 24-36 HOURS OF THIS NIGHTMARE. THEY GET TO THE SUPERDOME, IT IS DARK AND DANK, HUMID WITHOUT AIRCONDITIONER TO COOL OF THE AUGUST HEAT. SOME PEOPLE HAD ALREADY MADE IT TO THE DOME TO RIDE OUT THE HURRICANE. MANY THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD STAY IN THE SHELTER WHILE THE STORM RIPPED THROUGH THE CITY. THE FIRST NIGHT, SUNDAY WAS SCARY AS THE POWER WENT OUT AND THE BUILDING SHOOK, AND THE ROOF CREEKED. THE GIANT DOME ROOF BEGAN TO PEEL BACK, AND LEAK IT SOUNDED LIKE A CAN OPENER YANKING AT THE SHEETS OF METAL. IT WAS SCARY EVEN IN THE DARK.PEOPLE RUSHED TO MOVE TO DRIER AREAS. SOME FAMILIES AHD BROUGHT BABIES AND ELDERLY SO MVING WAS ALOT OF WORK. OTHERS ENDED UP TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE AROUND THEM . OVER AND OVER WE HEARD HOW MANY FRAIL ELDERLY HAD COME THERE TO RIDE THE STORM. THE POWER WENT OUT IN THE NIGHT, THE FIRST NIGHT AND EVERYONE KNEW THAT IT WOULD NOT BE BACK. THIS ALSO MEANT NO MORE RUNNING WATER, AND NO MORE WORKING TOILETS AND THIS HAPPENED IN THE FIRST 12 HOURS. PEOPLE HAD BROUGHT SNACKS AND WATER, MANY HAD
THOUGHT THAT FOOD WOULD BE THERE ,PROVIDED BY EMERGENCY RELIEF. IT IS UNCLEAR AS TO HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE- ESTIMATES INITIAL WERE FROM 12,000 TO 20,000. 400 POLICE AND GUARD WERE THERE TO HELP WITH MAINTAINING ORDER , EVEN DOING CHECKS BEFORE ALLOWING PEOPLE IN THE STADIUM. THAT MEANT TAKING AWAY WEAPONS AND LIQUOR. ( IN NEW ORLEANS, MANY HAVE WEAPONS IT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS, DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE COWBOYS AND THUGS IT IS PART OF THE BAYOU CULTURE, AS MUCH AS GUMBO,BEADS,BOURBON AND BLUES).

AS THE CROWDS GREW FEAR AND ANXIETY ALSO ROSE AS PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT HOMES AND RELATIVES AND PETS LEFT BEHIND. MANY DON'T KNOW THIS BUT IF YOU GO TO A SHELTER, ESP. RED CROSS YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE YOUR PETS. FOR MANY PETS ARE FAMILY, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY AND CHILDREN. THIS IS A RULE BY THE RED CROSS THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, IT WILL NEVER BE KNOWN HOW MANY DIED TO STAY WITH A DOG OR CAT. TOO MANY. OTHERS ARRIVED AT THE DOME TO BE TOLD TO LEAVE THEIR PETS BEHIND, THEY WOULD WANDER ELSEWHERE FACING MANY NIGHTS ON THE STREET WITH THEIR DOGS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS FIXING NATIONWIDE BEFORE MORE FACE DEATH IN ANOTHER DISASTER TRYING TO CARE FOR A PET.

AS THE DOME FILLED IT WAS FILLED WITH SMELLS OF WASTE AND SWEAT AND PEOPLE THAT HAD SWAM AND WADED THROUGH THE STORM SLIME. AS THE HEAT ALSO ROSE PEOPLE BEGAN TO FEEL ILL. AND AS THE SUPPLIES DWINDLED WITHIN THE FIRST 24-36 HOURS INCLUDING WATER PEOPLE BEGAN TO WONDER HOW LONG THIS ORDEAL WOULD LAST. THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION AS HORRIFIC. THERE WAS NO LOUDSPEAKER OR EVEN A BULLHORN TO RELAY NEWS OR INFO. NO BAN RADIO TO RELAY MESSEGES OUT, NO WORKING CELLPHONES OR PAYPHONES. SOME INITIALLY COULD TEXT MESSEGES OUT. FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN COULD ONLY GROW IN THE DARK FETID ENVIRONMENT. RAINS FELL THROUGH GAPING HOLES IN THE ROOF AND EVEN PIECES OF THE CEILING FELL DOWN. PEOPLE SANG TALKED TO EACH OTHER,PRAYED AND TRIED TO COMFORT EACH OTHER.THEY ROCKED THEIR BABIES AND PLAYED WITH THEIR CHILDREN. BUT THE TENSION GREW. THERE HAD BEEN NO WAY TO CHECK IN , NO LOGS SO PEOPLE ALSO BEGAN TO WORRY ABOUT BEING LOST THERE FOREVER. SOME GANGS DID BEHAVE BADLY, THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS BY THOSE THERE THAT THERE WERE RAPES BY WEDNESDAY. SADLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS AT DISASTER SITES, BUT HERE IT WAS PROBALY AIDED BY LACK OF ENOUGH SUPERVISON AND EVEN RELIEF OF THAT SUPERVISON, AND PEOPLE BEING WEAK AND DEHYDRATED. IT WOULD BE UNREASONABLE TO THINK THAT OUT OF 10-20,000 PEOPLE THAT THERE WERE NOT SOME THUGS AND CRIMINALS, THAT IS JUST FACT.

BY WEDNESDAY WATER WAS RATIONED TO 2 9OZ BOTTLES PER PERSON THERE WAS NO FOOD AND NO SNACKS AND NO OTHER SOURCE OF SUPPLIES IMMINENT, MRES WERE GONE.THE MEDIA TRIED TO KEEP THE OUTSIDE WORLD INFORMED OF HOW GRIM THE SITUATION WAS. AND BY WED, THE FIRST SUICIDE HAPPENED , A MAN PLAYING DOMINOES ON AN UPPER DECK CALMLY GOT UP AND JUMPED TO HIS DEATH FROM AN UPPER LEVEL. PEOPLE WERE SHAKEN AND SCARED , THERE HAD BEEN NO WARNING. YET THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE ARE UNDER HUGE STRESS, UNFED, AND DEHYDRATED AND LEFT IN THE DARK. ESPECIALLY AS EXHAUSTION AND FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN GROWS THICKER BY THE HOUR. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE "STAFF" AND GUARD THAT WERE PROVIDED WERE NO WHERE NEAR THE NUMBERS THAT WERE NEEDED. 400 GUARD ALSO WERE HUNGRY, EXAHUSTED, AND SLEEP DEPRIVED AND SENSORY OVERLOADED, EVEN IN THE DARK. THEIR NERVES WERE ALSO FRAYED. THERE WERE ALSO NOT ENOUGH NURSES OR MEDICAL STAFF TO CARE FOR THE ELDERLY AND SICK IN THE FACILITY. AND AS THIS FACILITY HAD FILLED PEOPLE HAD GONE OVER TO THE CONVENTION CENTER TO SEEK SHELTER.

IT IS CRITICAL TO REMEMBER WITHIN 24 HOUR OF THE DISASTER FEMA SHOULD HAVE COME IN ONE NAVY, MARINE AND COAST GUARD HELICOPTERS. THEY SHOULD HAVE FIRST MADE CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL LEADERS, BOTH THE MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR AND ASKED WHAT THEY NEEDED, ESPECIALLY AS THE DISASTER STATEMENT HAD BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE WHITEHOUSE ON SATURDAY, WHILE THE PRESIDENT WAS IN ARIZONA AT PARTIES AND PLAYING GOLF. SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE STILL BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE DISASTER PLANNING AND PREPARATION. IN MY OWN RESEARCH OF TRYING TO ESTABLISH THE EXTENT OF PREPARATION I FOUND HTIS ONE ARTICALE SHOWING THEM SECURING THE GROUNDS AROUND THE SUPERDOME( SEE : http://www.newsobserver.com/24hour/nation/story). THEY SHOULD HAVE FLOWN IN AND EVEN AFTER INIATIAL ASSESSMENTS THEY SHOULD HAVE PLANNED 2-6 FLYOVERS TO REACCESS. ONCE IT WAS FIRMLY ESTABLISHED THE FULL EXTENT OF THE FLOODING AND THAT CLEAN POTABLE WATER AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTH EMERGENCY FOOD AND WATER SHOULD HAVE BEEN AIRDROPPED TO THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE DOME ON A SET SCHEDULE. ALSO BULLHORNS AND SATELITTE MILITARY PHONES SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO CREATE ORDER. ALSO IN THE FIRST 24 HOURS THE MILITARY SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN TO REMOVE THE ELDERLY AND INFIRMED FROM THE DOME, THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND THE HOSPITALS. EVEN ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MILITARY BASES IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE COULD HAVE BEEN MADE READY. AND THEN BY WEDNESDAY THESE PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN AIR-VACCED TO THESE BASES OR EVEN HOSPITALS IN THE NOTHERN PART OF THE CITY. WE ARE VERY FORTUANATE THAT THE COAST GUARD STARTED RESCUING THE TRAPPED PEOPLE WHEN THEY DID, AS OF THIS WRITING THEY HAD RESCUED 5500 PEOPLE TO DRY GROUND. AND EVENTUALLY BY DAY 4 WAS STILL TRYING TO EVAC PEOPLE TO OUT SIDE HOSPITALS USING THE AIRPORT WHICH OPENED TO EMERGENCY AIR ON WEDNESDAY. THE MEDICAL TEAMS THERE ARE BASICALLY MAGUYVERING IT, USING LUGGAGE EQUIPMENT TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE. THIS CONFUSES ME THE MILITARY BASES HAVE VERY LARGE EVAC PLANES AND EQUIPMENT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT THERE AS SOON AS THE AIRPORT OPENED. FOR NO OTHER REASON THEN THE 10,000 PATIENTS AND 5000 STAFF OF THE DOWNTOWN HOSPITALS WOULD HAVE TO BE EVACUATED, AND ALL OF THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE WORKS AND COORDINATED BY MONDAY AT THE LATEST. SO IN TOTAL BEFORE WE EVEN HAD THE INFLUX OF HURRICANE INJURIES AND DISEASE, NEW ORLEANS FOR CERTAIN HAD UP TO 15,000 THAT REQUIRED URGENT EMERGENCY MEDICAL EVACUATION OUT OF THE DISASTER ZONE. SADLY THE WALKING WOUNDED OF THE DOME AND THE CONVENTION CENTER WOULD SWELL THESE NUMBERS TO UP TO ANOTHER 6-8,OOO. THE HOSPITALS IN THE WHOLE GULF REGION SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASSESSED WITHIN THE FIRST 24 HOURS, AS THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL TO ABOVE 60,000, AND THIS IS AN ESTIMATE THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE STORM INJURIES THAT WOULD SWELL THIS MUCH HIGHER, AND WHEN YOU SEE THESE NUMBERS YOU SEE THAT USING HELICOPTERS IS SO FUTILE AND IMPRACTICAL. MILITARY AIRPLANES AND SHIPS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO THE AREA ON MONDAY BASED ON THOSE NUMBERS ALONE. ( THIS WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE COMFORT AND MERCY VESSELS)

((( A BIT OF A PERSONAL FOOTNOTE HERE, I HAVE BEEN A NURSE FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND IN 2001 LIKE MANY I TOOK EXTENSIVE DISASTER TRAINING.IF YOU ARE INTERESTED ONLINE YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE ARE FEMA AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANS READY TO IMPLEMENT FOR SUCH A COLLUSAL CRISIS. MANY WERE EVEN STUDIED AND IMPROVED AFTER 9-11. I ALSO DID SOME VOLUNTEER RESEARCH WITH TSUNAMI RELIEF, THE TSUNAMI EFFORT WAS MUCH MORE ORGANIZED IN PROVIDING AIR DROPS, ACTIVATION OF MILITARY SUPPLIES AND MANPOWER, EVEN THOUGH THE PRESIDENT DID NOT MAKE A STATEMENT FOR FIVE DAYS.))))

BY THURSDAY THE TEMPERATURES ROSE IN DOWNTOWN, 90'S AND HUMID. THE FLOOD WATERS IS FULL OF WASTE, HUMAN AND ANIMAL. PEOPLE THAT SURVIVED THE STORM AND SWAM WITH WOUNDS ARE NOW AT RISK OF FEVERS, INFECTIONS AND FACING STARVATION AND DEHYDRATION, POSSIBLE EVEN DEATH. SO WHILE TRAUMATIZED BY THE STORM , THEY NOW FACE NEW STRESS AS THEY WANDER SEARCHING FOR FOOD AND WATER AND INFORMATION. AND BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON THE GROUND, NO UNIFORMS ON THE GROUND SETTING ORDER IN PLACE OR EVEN OFFERING INFORMATION, COMFORT, OR SUPPLIES. PEOPLE PANIC AT THIS POINT, SO AT 36 HOURS THE LOOTING REACHED FEVER PITCH. MANY WERE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR FOOD, WATER AND EVEN CLOTHES AND SHOES. YET AT FIRST THE MEDIA AND THE GOVERNMENT WERE QUICK TO JUDGE "OH, SHAME ON THEM FOR NOT BEING ORDERLY AND IN CONTROL".
NO SHAME ON THE GOVERNMENT FOR ABANDONING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR FOOD AND WATER.

THE MEDIA QUICKLY CORRECTED AND SENT IN WAR REPORTERS TO COVER THE DEVASTATION AND PEOPLE STRUGGLING BY THE HOUR TO SURVIVE WITHOUT FOOD , WATER OR EVEN HOPE ON THE HORIZON. AND BY THURSDAY WITH STILL NO NUMBERS OF DEAD AND WOUNDED KNOWN BY OUTSIDERS, THE DOME PEOPLE AND THE CONVENTION CENTER START TO LOSE HOPE AS BODIES BEGIN TO BE FOUND IN STREETS AND HALLWAYS. FEAR AND HOPELESS START TO FEED ANGER IN SOME AND DESOLATION IN OTHERS. THE STREETS BECOME QUIET AND AGITATED IN OTHERS. NONE OF US SHOULD JUDGE HOW WE WOULD ACT IF WE WERE DEHYDRATED AND SICK AND WOUNDED 80 HOURS INTO A DISASTER. OVER TIME THE MEDIA UNDERSTOOD THAT LOOTING MOSTLY WAS RELATED TO HUNGER AND THIRST AND DESPERATION.NONE OF US SHOULD JUDGE THE HELL THE WERE ENDURING.

AS AWFUL AS IT WAS THAT THERE SNIPER SHOOTINGS AND GANGS WANDERING THE CITY, IT IS NOT SHOCKING, AS THERE WAS NO GOVERNMENT PRESENCE THERE. PEOPLE DO EXPECT WATER AND FOOD AND TROOPS TO COME. OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN SIGN UP TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AFTER A DISASTER, IT IS EVEN IN ALL THE NATIONAL GUARD ADS AND LITERATURE. AND GROWING UP IF AN EMERGENCY OF THIS PROPORTION OCCURRED TROOPS ALWAYS ARRIVED.WE ALL EVEN SAW AFTER 9-11 TROOPS BROUGHT IN TO ASSIST THE PEOPLE. ONE WOULD THINK THAT A LARGE URBAN AREA WOULD DEFINENTLY SEE A LARGE TROOP PRESCENCE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY AFTER THE PRESIDENT DID HIS FLYOVER ON MONDAY HE DID NOT ORDER MASSIVE FEMA EFFORTS AND MILITARY. THE LAWLESSNESS AND BREAKDOWN OF THE SOCIAL FABRIC IN A WAY ATLEAST BROUGHT MUCH NEEDED TROOPS AND OUTSIDE ATTENTION.

BY THURSDAY THE CONDITIONS INSIDE THE DOME HAD REACHED SUBHUMAN- WASTE EVERYWHERE, VOMIT, RATS, DIAPERS, DEAD PEOPLE ON THE FLOOR. PEOPLE PILED OUT SIDE AND FACED WAIST HIGH WATERS THEY WERE TRAPPED. PEOPLE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER ALSO WERE PILED IN HOT DEHYDRATED SWEATY MASSES, DESPERATE WITH NO GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION. ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS WOULD ARREST PEOPLE FOR TREATING ANIMALS IN THIS WAY-LEAVING THEM WITHOUT SHELTER, WATER OR FOOD.

ON THURSDAY THE MEDIA STARTED SHOWING ALL OF IT, THE PEOPLE SEIZING, PASSING OUT, DYING. AND THE BODIES. AND STILL THE PRESIDENT DID NOT HAVE FOOD OR WATER AIR DROPPED TO 1000'S OF PEOPLE LAYING IN THE STREETS, BRIDGES, CAUSWAYS, AND BY THE DOME AND THE CONVENTION CENTER. CHILDREN WITH OUT FOOD FOR DAYS, LIMP IN MOTHERS ARMS. BABYS WITH OUT FORMULA. ELDERLY DYING ON FLOORS AND IN WHEELCHAIRS. IT IS A SAD STATMENT WHEN OUR GOVERNMENT , OUR LEADERSHIP ALL OF THEM LEAVE OUR YOUNGEST, OLDEST, SICKEST DYING IN THE STREET AFTER SUCH A DISASTER. BUT ONE CAN NOT HELP BUT WONDER IF THEY WERE ALREADY WRITTEN OFF. WE HAVE 40 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY IN THIS COUNTRY. WE HAVE 44 MILLION LIVING WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE. WE HAVE MILLIONS LIVING AND WORKING THIS WAY ALREADY ABANDONED BY THEIR GOVERMENT THAT WILL NOT SUPPLY NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE AND WILL NOT RAISE MININUM RAISE PAY TO A SURIVABLE LEVEL. 40% OF THE POOR IN THIS COUNTRY ARE OUR CHILDREN.SO PART OF ME AS A NURSE FEELS THAT MILLIONS YES HAVE ALREADY BEEN ABANDONED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION. WE SAW MR.BUSH IGNORE THE GREIVING MOTHER AND MILITARY FAMILIES IN THE DITCH BY HIS VACATION RANCH IN AUGUST IN SEETHING HEAT. AND NOW WE SEE HIM FLYOVER DEVASTATION AND IGNORE 1000'S OF DYING PEOPLE FOR 5 DAYS. IT IS NOT SHOCKING THAT PEOPLE WERE YELLING PROFANITIES INTO THE CAMERAS. THEY SHOULD. HE IS TREATING THE POOR AND THE BLACK IN THIS COUNTRY AS IF THEY ARE INVISIBLE, AND THIS DISASTER SHOWS IT IN ALL OF IT'S COLORS. ALHOUGH I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS JUST PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT HE HAS SET ASIDE, I THINK ELDERLY, OUR CHILDREN, AND THE DISABLED AND SICK ARE ALSO VIEWED AS EXPENDABLE AND DRAINING THE ECONOMY. WE ALL HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS ONE SERVICES PROGRAM DECIMATED AFTER ANOTHER. THE MIDDLECLASS IS ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM THE POVERTY LINE AS WELL.

MR.BUSH WAS MEETING WITH HIS BIG BUSINESS FRIENDS AND PLANNING MORE TAX BREAKS AND DISCUSSING LUXORY TAXES LAST WEEKEND . HE WAS STILL ON HIS 5 WEEK VACATION. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BACK IN DC , ESPECIALLY AFTER THAT DISASTER STATEMENT WAS ISSUED, PLANNING AND ORGANIZING THE PROPER RESOURCES TO PALN FOR CAT 4-5 THAT WAS READYING TO PULVERIZE THE GULF. INSTEAD HE PLAYED GOLF AND ATE CAKE.
AND THEN EVEN SUNDAY WHILE THE DOME FAMILIES WERE BEGINNING TO FILE IN TO WAIT FOR THE HURRICANE TO HIT HE WENT AND GAVE A SPEECH ABOUT OUR TROOPS AND SPREADING DEMOCRACY ON A NAVY SHIP. RIGHT THEN AND RIGHT THERE HE COULD HAVE ORDERED SHIPS TO THE REGION, BECAUSE BY THEN THE STORM WAS A CAT 5.