Hurricane Gustav & 5 Myths about Katrina
The national press is finally beginning to understand that New Orleans and the surrounding areas are not just below sea level areas of the country where people just should not live. I even saw coverage that touched on the wetlands and MRGO and the damage done to the wetlands by the oil and gas companies that put fuel in the nations cars and heat homes in the northern US in the winter. So if you are able to be on line and if you have friends and family wondering what they can do for us send them this Link and have them watch this video put together by Levees.org
I hope that all my friends and neighbors are safe tonight. As I drove out on my last minute gas tank top off yesterday (8/30) around 8AM (yes it was only yesterday!) I saw people in every block putting suitcases in their cars. Many left for Hurricane Katrina. My family did not. This time we are on the NorthShore. This is the first time I have evacuated for a storm in my life. Most of the neighbors who stayed in town last time - left for Gustav. I am very proud of how the city & state have responded this time. Katrina was a permenantly life altering experience for literally millions of people. As glass is half fully kind of person what I see is better preparation and organization of public response. This time people without means to leave on their own were provided with transportation out of the city. The evacuations of almost 2 million people were well coordianted and successful. Most of Louisiana’s political leaders that I have seen on NATIONAL TV look, smart and prepared and caring. The images we are sharing to the rest of the nation are good despite the terror associated with walking away from your home and not knowing when or if you will be able to return to what you left behind. And in case anyone out there is thinking that this is a perfect time for criminals to hit the neighborhood, I also saw police and national guard on our streets and anyone doing evil is going straight to Angola State Prison.
Be Good and Stay Safe.