Rescue Mission
Michael Siu, a photographer who provided us with images and information Uptown in the early Katrina aftermath, sent in this report of a rescue mission (with state trooper escort) he was on to retrieve patients from an uptown hospital. Thanks, Michael, we’re glad to hear that you’re safe.
It was 2:30 AM in the morning before we finally got our escort into New Orleans we were delayed in Laplace while my wife explained the situation to the commander at troop B. in Kenner.
As we came into the city the first thing that you notice is the smell. It just smells wrong. It could be death. It could be worse. I was surprised to see lights on the west bank. Home depot was lit and west Jefferson hospital and the expressway had lights. A small strip mall was a shining light in what otherwise was darkness. The continuous flashings of blue lights were everywhere. Police presence was very prevalent. We came through the toll booths Lots of police and we found out later this was a command post. Police with bullet proof Vests, shotguns and M-16’s greeted anyone trying to get into the city. As we crossed the Mississippi I couldn’t help notice that downtown New Orleans only one building had any lights on.
We exited on Camp Street and I got a glimpse of the warehouse district. It appeared to have standing water in random places. Directly under the twin spans it was mostly dry. As we made our way to St. Charles Avenue I started to se standing water in the gutters. Many shop windows and doors were broken and there was glass everywhere. You could tell there was looting everywhere nearly every business. There was plenty of trash on the street and tree limbs still lined St. Charles Ave. It seemed as though most of the homes were intact. And some with generators stood out. In this “war zone” I wouldn’t want the only home with power. As one of the troopers that escorted us said, “this is worse than Iraq.” They were extremely cautious and I could tell their nerves were on edge. Shining spotlights on buildings as we passed. When we got to our destination at St. Charles hospital the water was 2-3 feet deep and nearly impassible with the police cars. We brought the busses in front of the hospital and the water was about 2 feet deep. The state troopers fanned out with their M-16s at the read trying to secure the area. I watched as a truck approached our convoy. Guns drawn M-16’s aimed at the truck and pointing at the driver they yelled for him to turnoff his headlights. Once he complied they quickly converged upon him and had the driver and passenger get out of the truck. After they were satisfied that he and the passenger were not a threat, they let him pass.
With four troopers armed with shotguns and pistols we proceeded into the facility wading through filthy water that was more than two feet deep. An older gentleman Lionel who worked in the hospital came to the front door. As the trooper meticulously cleared each room on the floors we were all disappointed to hear that they had already left. From Lionel’s account it was just a few hours before. He said they had evacuated to Touro but one of the troopers said his sister worked there and they had cleared the building and evacuated everyone from her department. I notice the generator and lights were still on at Touro. Everyone was disheartened that we had missed the patients we all wanted some good to come of this. We gathered Lionel up and continued back though the city. At one point the Sergeant suggested that we try to go to the another hospital that had called in and were in trouble. It was later decided that that mission wouldn’t be a good idea because we didn’t have anywhere to bring the other patients and they were concerned about the status and available medical care for the patients. There was a bus load of physicians and volunteers that was scheduled to pick them up in the morning and bring them in.
Along the way I met lots of people two girls from Texas had drove in and offered me some snacks at a checkpoint and command center in Laplace. They just had to help out. No place to stay, they just loaded up their SUV with water and snacks and headed to New Orleans.
Related posts:
I am a nurse and live near Columbia the capital of SC and am willing to offer my services and volunteer to help victims of Hurricane Katrina if needed if someone knows how to point me in the right direction I would appreciate it. Thanks so much. nurse2205@yahoo.com
I have next week off of work, and would like to help! I can clean, I can cook meals, whatever needs to be done.
anyone needs a driver or drivers to bring relief materials water food equipmentor anything else please call 504-782-5715 504-458-0786 504-251-3667
Does anyone know if the following addresses are underwater or is it in the 20% that is above sea level 4818 Bradley Dr New Orleans, LA 70121 3906 Prytania New Orleans, LA
If Michael Siu or anyone can comment on the condition of St. Charles Avenue and its buildings and refer to block numbers, it will really help clarify the condition of each part of the Garden District and Uptown. I am especially interested in the condition of the three-story residential building at 3201 Saint Charles Avenue, but many people would be helped by anything that could be said about other areas, if block numbers are used.
Many of us who know we’re at the margin of the flooded area are as interested in knowing what’s NOT flooded as in what is. I’ll appreciate any help anyone can give on this point, either here in the comments or at my email address, exoteric1@cox.net.
By the way my cell phone number is 1-803-427-5514 if someone knows if they need nurses and how to go about contacting appropriate people.E-mail is nurse2205@yahoo.com
if any companies in van buren area in arkansaw needs driver or drivers to help bring food,water,or ANYTHING to new orleans area [st.bernard] please call e-mail not working good #504-782-5715 504-458-0786 504-251-3667 479-478-0118 in ark now willing to do whatever it takes
Charlene - This is the FAQ link I got to from FEMA’s web site.
http://answers.firstgov.gov/cgi-bin/gsa_ict.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=KTOOiSBh
See question #2
Short answer, contact a local organization like your local Red Cross.
Hope this helps…
Ed
The problem is that more of a third of the personnel of the National Guard it is serving in Irak.In house of the blacksmith, wood knife?
I am thinking that possibly that ONE lit up building in the downtown/CBD was these guys:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/
They are holed up with a generator, internet connection, and enough food, water and fuel to last a while. Not to mention weapons to protect themselves, thankfully.
They’ve got a webcam and have been showing a lot on their live feed, too. Point is, Doug, they are located on St. Charles Ave. near Poydras and have checked out conditions in the surrounding area extensively and posted about what they found. Don’t know if the area of St. Charles you’re curious about is near them, but you might want to investigate that link above. Could be the info you seek is there.
My I don’t have there shipping addresses, but you may send it to my church who is helping to collect the items for the three shelters. One is located in Livonia High School, Couteableau Baptist Church, and First Baptist Church of New Roads. You can send monetary donations to Faith Baptist Church, P.O. Box 466, Livonia, La. 70755-0466, or anything you want to ship send to Faith Baptist Church 3360 La. Hwy. 78, Livonia, La. 70755. Be sure to put it is for shelter relief.
friend is helping out at a shelter which has 200 people from New Orleans. They are in need of summer clothing, shoes and toilet articles. If you cannot help with these things please say a prayer.
President Bush has done the worst job imaginable. He was vacationing at his ranch in Texas and him as well as the Federal Government was not prepared at all.
He (Mr. Bush) has again proven his ineptness
I live in Macon GA IF anyone has a compnay that needs drivers to drive large trucks I have a cdl class a that I will volenteer my time to get supplies in the damaged areas. May God Bless
and why exactly did they harass this guy ?
I watched as a truck approached our convoy. Guns drawn M-16’s aimed at the truck and pointing at the driver they yelled for him to turnoff his headlights. Once he complied they quickly converged upon him and had the driver and passenger get out of the truck. After they were satisfied that he and the passenger were not a threat, they let him pass.
PLEASE CONTACT DR. FRANK T. BOZEMAN FOR PRAYER AND PASTORAL COUNSELING @ 334-396-0320. IF YOU KNOW ANY ONE THAT IS IN THE MONTGOMERY ALABAMA AREA NEEDING PASTORAL COUNSELING OR ANY ASSISTANCE PLEASE CONTACT THE ABOVE NUMBER.
MAY THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD OVERTAKE YOU NOW!
My son is currently in a gun battle with thugs in downtown new orleans as we speak. He is a Kentucky State trooper who volunteered to go help. He said what is being reported doesn’t even scratch the surface regarding the actions of a bunch of “idiots”. I’m not talking about the poor people trying to just survive. I’m talking about animals who prey off of other people. People who are just shooting at people for the hell of it.
Hi, I am one of the evauees from New Orleans, La. I have now been in Dallas,Tx. for two weeks. My experience has been so heart warming.I just cry because of the love we are receiving. The only problem is we came here the day before Katrina hit New Orleans with my mom. 9 of us stayed in her one bedroom suite at the hotel. First of I am a newlywed, Praise God he finally found me:] Second of all we had my two little cousins that liked hanging around us, so we didn’t have much alone time. Trust me I love and enjoyed my little cousins, but being married is a new experience for me. Well, I did get off the subject, so back to that problem. Now, just because we are staying in a hotel we are not receiving some of the beneficial help like those that are in shelters. The stay is free in the hotel, but the time will come to an end. I don’t know what we are going to do from there. Sorry if this is too long. I just wanted someone to read a little of my hearts feelings. We are not getting the opportunity of getting the six months free stay in housing or the free one year stay in apartments. We were told about some help we could get from a church somewhere in Dallas. But when we got there, other than receiving something to eat and clothing, we were kind of pushed to the side with no answer why. The people we got the information from are getting or has received there housing. We received a sorry we didn’t get the same response that they received from the people. Don’t get me wrong I know a God in Heaven that sits high and looks low. I know He shall take care of His people. I just wanted to share a little of my experience in the week after Katrina. Love u guys;]