TRAPPED, DEAD AND DYING DAY 6 : A LETTER TO MR.BUSH AFTER HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE DISASTER ZONE

SATURDAY MORNING DAY 6 OF THE DISASTER
9AM SEPTMBER 2, 2005

DEAR MR.BUSH,

YOU LIED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND WE ALL WATCHED IT HAPPEN.NOW THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING.

THERE ARE 1000'S OF DEAD IN LOUISIANA THAT DIED AFTER THE HURRICANE, MORE THAN 9-11. THEY DIED AND ARE STILL DYING WAITING FOR FOOD, WATER, SHELTER AND COMFORT.

THEY ARE MOMS, GRANDMOMS, DADS, GRANDADS, CHILDREN, BABIES, PREGNANT WOMEN. SOME WERE DISABLED AND ELDERLY, AND YES SOME POOR , MANY ARE BLACK.BUT THEY ALL WERE ABANDONED , LEFT BEHIND TO DIE. THEY COULD NOT "HEED" THE EVACUATION ORDER BECAUSE OF THEIR STATUS AS THE INVISIBLE WORKING POOR IN THIS COUNTRY. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT IN NEW ORLEANS ALONE 100-150,000 DUE TO FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES COULD NOT EVACUATE. HOW DARE YOU AND THE FEMA DIRECTOR BLAME THEM ON THE AIR FOR NOT LEAVING.

THE POOR AND SICK AND ELDERLY SHOULD NOT BE EVER ABANDONED BY THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNTRY AND REPRIMANDED FOR NOT"OBEYING ORDERS", ESPECIALLY WHILE YOU STILL HAVE NOT SENT ENOUGH OR ANY TRANSPORT TO THE CITY, AND THE DEAD LAY IN THE STREETS AND THE DOME OF NEW ORLEANS.AND WHILE YOU AS LEADER HAVE NOT EVEN EXAMINED THE DAMAGE OR THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.

THEY DIED WAITING FOR TROOPS TO COME.
THEY DIED WAITING FOR FOOD TO COME WITH OUR NATIONAL GUARD.
THEY DIED WAITING FOR WATER TO COME WITH OUR NATIONAL GUARD.
THEY DIED WAITING FOR AIR DROPS TO COME FROM OUR AIR SUPPORT.
THEY DIED WAITING FOR SHIPS TO COME FROM THE NAVY AND MARINES.
AND YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE.PERIOD.

I AM A MOM. I AM A NURSE. I ALSO HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE EMERGENCY AND DISASTER TRAINING AND HAVE WORKED UNDER DISASTER CONDITIONS AND SITUATIONS. THERE IS NOTHING IN MY TRAINING OR EXPERIENCE THAT SAYS THAT THESE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER BY OUR LEADERSHIP. RESPONSIBLE LEADERS DO NOT ISSUE SHOOT TO KILL ORDERS ON HUNGRY STARVED PEOPLE. RESPONSIBLE LEADERS SEND HELP IN 24HOURS. RESPONSIBLE LEADERS END THEIR VACTIONS AND RETURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE STAT. RESPONSIBLE LEADERS DON'T LIE TO THE CITIZENS TELLING THEM THAT THINGS ARE GOING "RELATIVELY WELL", AND REPRIMAND THE PEOPLE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO SELF EVACUATE.

I AM STILL PLEADING AND BEGGING THAT YOU BRING IN MILITARY TRANSPORT AND EVACUATE ALL THE HOSPITAL PATIENTS AND STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES AND PETS THAT ARE STILL TRAPPED, ALSO THE ILL FROM THE AIRPORT IN NEW ORLEANS NOW ASAP.PLEASE ATLEAST AIRDROP WATER AND FOOD TO THE HOSPITALS, ESPECIALLY TENENT AND CHARITY HOSPITALS. YOU SHOULD BRING IN THE NAVY AND FLEETS OF AMPHIBIAN AIR SUPPORT, AIR DROP FOOD AND WATER ON THE DIFFERENT PASSES AND TO THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE DOME, WHERE 1000'S ARE STILL DYING. EVEN TSUNAMI VICTIMS HAD FOOD AND WATER DROPPED TO THEM BY DAY 5. AS OF YESTERDAY DAY 5, THERE WERE STILL CLOSE TO 10,000 STILL NEEDING TO BE MED-EVACED OUT OF THE HOSPITALS IN NEW ORLEANS ALONE.

I AM GLAD THAT FINALLY 2800 GUARD ARE THERE IN NEW ORLEANS ON THE GROUND, THERE SHOULD BE 40,000 IN LOUISIANA ALONE JUST AS THE GOVERNOR REQUESTED. IN THE TRI-STATE REGION ALONE PROBALLY 60,000 GUARD ARE NEEDED NOW . I AM CONFUSED DO YOU NOT HAVE ENOUGH TROOPS HERE AT HOME TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN PEOPLE.ARE MSOT OF THE GUARD AND EQUIPMENT OVER IN IRAQ ? I AM CONFUSED WHY THE SOS'S BY THE MAYOR WERE IGNORED.WHY DID IT TAKE 5 DAYS FOR YOU TO COME SEE THE DAMAGE AND BRING REAL TROOPS IN ? MINUTE BY MINUTE PEOPLE-FAMILIES, ELDERLY AND SICK WERE ABANDONED TO STARVE AND ROT IN THE DOME, THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND THE STREETS OF NEW ORLEANS. THERE ARE STILL 2000--3000 PEOPLE ROTTING IN THE DOME ALONE- THOUSANDS MORE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. YOU DON'T LEAVE PEOPLE WITH ROTTING BODIES IN THE DARK OF THE DOME OR OUT IN THE HOT FETID STREETS. THAT IS INHUMANE. AND THIS IS JUST THE REFUGEE STATUS IN NEW ORLEANS - THE MAIN EFFECTED URBAN REGION.

IN THE HOSPITALS THE NURSES AND DOCTORS AND STAFF HAVE BEEN CARING FOR THEIR PATIENTS IN 100 DEGREE TEMPERATURES, WITH NO POWER, NO WATER, AND NO FOOD. THE NURSES HAVE BEEN GIVING EACH OTHER IV'S TO TRY TO STAY ALIVE AND KEEP CAIRING FOR THE PATIENTS. IN ONE SETTING THE NURSES WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF DRINKING URINE WOULD SUSTAIN THEM BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO KEEP THE IV SOLUTION FOR THE PATIENTS, AS THEY WERE RUNNING SO LOW. IN ANOTHER MESSEGE A NURSE WONDERERD IF SHE WAS GOING TO DIE WITH HER PATIENTS OF STARVATION AND THIRST, SHE PRAYED THEY DIED FIRST SO SHE COULD TEND THEM.

IN ANOTHER HOSPITAL THE STENCH WAS RISING UP FROM THE BASEMENTS WHERE THE MORGUES FLOODED, AND THEN NURSES AND STAFF HAD TO PUT THE DEAD IN THE STAIRWELLS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WHERE ELSE TO PUT THEM.
AS A NURSE WHEN SOMEONE DIES IN THE HOSPITAL, THIS IS NOT STANDARD PROCEDURE. USUALLY THE PERSON IS TENDERLY BATHED AND RELIGOUS PRACTICES AND TRADITIONS ARE RESPECTED. ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH, PEOPLE ARE TREATED WITH GREAT RESPECT, THE DEPARTED IS GENTLY BATHED, DRESSED, AND SOMETIMES COINS ARE PLACED ON THE EYELIDS AND FAMILY IS ALLOWED TO SIT BY THE BEDSIDE AND GRIEVE. PRAYERS ARE READ, HANDS HELD, AND SONGS SOFTLY SONG. IT IS A GENTLE RESPECTFUL PROCESS OF HONORING THE DEAD.AND THEN YES THEY ARE CAREFULLY WRAPPED AND TENDED AND DELIVERED TO THE MORGUE. AS A NURSE YOU HAVE PLEDGED TO EVEN IN DEATH PROVIDE COMFORT FOR YOUR PATIENTS, ALL OF THEM. THAT IS WHY THESE TALES OF THE ABANDONED HOSPITALS AND THEIR DEAD ARE SO PAINFUL AND INHUMANE TO WITNESS.

THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN EVACUATED ON DAY 1. AND DAY 6 THEY ARE STILL IN THE DARK WITH THEIR DEAD PATIENTS AND THE ONES THEY COULD SAVE. AND NO ONE UNDERSTANDS WHY THE MILITARY WAS NOT BROUGHT IN WITH THEIR MASSIVE TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT AND CARRIERS, IS IT ALL IN IRAQ, KUWAIT AND GERMANY?

EVEN OPERATION BLESSING WITH ITS HUGE FEMA CONTRACTS THAT IS A PAT ROBERTSON ORGANIZATION THAT YOU AND YOUR DAD KEEP NAMING FOR PEOPLE TO DONATE ISN'T THERE. THEY HAVE HUGE MILITARY CONVERTED MED EVAC PLANES
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN DAYS AGO TO EVAC THESE HOSPITALS. I AM NOT SURE IF I AM COMFORTABLE WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT ORGANIZATION BUT WHY HAVEN'T THEY EVEN BEEN ACTIVATED ?

AND AT ANOTHER HOSPITAL STAFF BROUGHT THE PATIENTS TO THE ROOF FOR DAYS WAITING FOR TRANSPORT, THE TRANSPORT NEVER CAME AND THE PATIENTS DIED ON THE ROOF IN SWELTERING HEAT WITH NURSES AND DOCTORS CRYING.
NURSES AND DOCTORS TAKE VOWS AND PLEDGE TO DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWER TO PROTECT AND SAVE LIVES. THESE BRAVE SOULS HAVE COURAGE THAT YOU CAN NOT BEGIN TO FATHOM OR EVEN APPRECIATE. PROECTING LIVES AND SAVING LIVES IS A NOBLE CAUSE.

YOU TOO TOOK A PLEDGE TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST SOME. ALL.
YOU HAVE DISHONORED THAT PLEDGE AND NOW 1000'S ARE DEAD AND MORE DYING BY THE HOUR.

IN AUGUST FOR WEEKS WE ALL WATCHED AS YOU IGNORED ARROGANTLY A GRIEVING MOTHER, MILITARY FAMILIES AND VETS SITTING IN THE DITCH BEHIND YOUR RANCH. YOU WANTED TO "GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE" AND YOUR 5 WEEK VACATION. AND YET, NOW STILL ON YOUR VACATION, YOU TURNED YOUR BACK ON MILLIONS LAST WEEKEND.IT WAS NOT JUST A MATTER OF NEGLECT- IT WAS CRIMINAL. ON SATURDAY YOU WENT TO ARIZONA AND PLAYED GOLF AND WENT TO A PARTY. YET THE WHITEHOUSE DID AUTHORIZE AND ISSUE A STATEMENT OF FEDERAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR LOUISIANA. THIS WAS COORDINATED WITH FEMA AND DHS BEFORE KATRINA EVER HIT THE GULF SHORES. WHY WAS THAT AUTHORIZATION IGNORED FOR SO MANY DAYS? THAT ORDER IS TO PROTECT LIVES AT ALL EXTENT AND PROVIDE ALL AID TO EVERYONE, EVEN THOSE WHO COULD NOT EVACUATE. YET WE DID NOT SEE IT FULLY OR EVEN PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED UNTIL YESTERDAY DAY 5 WHEN YOU FINALLY CAME TO THE DISASTER ZONE.

PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING MR BUSH AND THEY DID NOT DIE IN THE FLOOD, THEY ARE DYING WAITING FOR THE TROOPS YOU TOOK TO IRAQ TO COME AND SAVE THEIR LIVES. YOU NEED TO SEND ATLEAST 40-60,OOO TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT TO THE DISASTER ZONE NOW TODAY BEFORE ANYMORE DIE. GET THE TROOPS TO OUR GULF BEFORE ANY MORE DIE. AND TELL MR.CHERTOFF 1400 A DAY IS NOT ENOUGH. THERE WERE NEVER 4000 IN DOWNTOWN NEW ORLEANS. TWO HOURS AGO THERE WERE FINALLY 2800 , AND THE MAYOR HOPES TO HAVE 7000 BY TONIGHT. AND THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. WHEN YOU AND MR. BROWNE AND MR.CHERTOFF SAID THERE WERE 4000 THERE , IT ACTUALLY WAS ONLY 400 TRYING TO HELP THE DOME AND THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE HOSPITALS.

THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN SAVING LIVES AND DOING THEIR UTMOST TO HELP SO MANY WITH SO LITTLE AND WITH NO FEDERAL RESOURCES ARE TO BE HELD IN THE HIGHEST REGARD. WE KNOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FAILED THEIR EMERGENCY LIFE PROTECTING MANDATE OF AUGUST 26TH, 2005.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT YOU CONTINUED A VACATION, DINING, AND GOLFING WHILE PEOPLE WERE DYING.YOU DID NOT RETURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE UNTIL DAY 3 OF THIS DISASTER AND AT THAT TIME YOU"FLEW OVER" THE DISASTER IN AIRFORCE ONE AND NOTED IT. BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL UP FULL MILITARY EVAC THEN ESPECIALLY AFTER YOU SAW IT?
WHY DIDN'T YOU SEND FULL SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS? WHY WEREN'T FULL AERIAL AND LAND ASSESSEMENTS ORDERED?
IN A CRITICAL DISASTER THOSE HAVE TO BE ORDERED SO SALVATION ARMY AND RED CROSS CAN COME INTO THE ZONE WITH THE MILITARY TO PROVIDE CARE.

AS AN AMERICAN I AM HORRIFIED AT HOW MY FELLOW HUMANS WERE TREATED IN THE SOUTH, ESPECIALLY IN LOUISIANA.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE, NO LEVVEEE SPIN STORIES THAT WILL CHANGE SEEING DEAD PEOPLE LYING IN THE STREETS DYING AND DEAD WAITING FOR RESCUE . NO LEADER SHOULD EVER TREAT THEIR CITIZENS IN THAT MANNER. THERE ARE ALMOST 100,000 EVACUATED TO NINE OTHER STATES,MANY ON THEIR OWN POWER, WE ARE GRATEFUL THEY MADE OUT AND SURVIVED THEIR RESCUES. THERE WILL BE A BODY COUNT THAT ONES THAT DIDN'T.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME DURING THIS CRITICAL JUNCTURE LIVES NEED OUR FOCUS. BUT WHEN STABILITY IS IMPROVED WITH THIS SITUATION, SOME VERY HARD DECISIONS WILL HAVE TO BE ASKED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE CONGRESS.INVESTIGATIONS WILL BR PURSUED AND IMPEACMENT PROCEEDINGS OF ALL LEADERSHIP INVLOVED WITH THIS HORRIFIC EVENT WILL HAVE TO BE REQUESTED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. LIVES WERE LOST AND BEING LOST TO CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE BY THIS ADMINISTRATION. YOU WILL BE GETTING THOUSANDS OF LETTERS STATING OUR CONCERNS WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP, OR LACK THERE OF.YOU HAVE FAILED YOUR MANDATE.


SIGNED: A MOM, A NURSE, A TAXPAYER.

PLEASE SEE: http://www.cnn.com/2005/05/09/02

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING WHITE HOUSE DOC: http://www.whitehouse.gov./news/releases, Aug.26th,2005 Statement Authorizing Federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana., by the WhiteHouse and posted Sunday August 27th,2005.

In 2001, August 6th , while on another 5 week Vacation you recieved a Memo about Bin Laden, terror attacks on US soil with airplanes, which Americans did not learn of until summer 2004. Let us hope the above memo does not turn out to be another just Missing Document that the American People need to know Existed to Protect lives in Louisiana.