"The Begining of Our Nightmare" -- Personal Account from New Orleans **It's worse than you think!**

This e-mail received in the past hour from a local couple who just escaped from New Orleans. They wanted to stress how poorly Louisiana's Democratic controlled government handled the situation...

We were stranded tourists that ended up stranded due to Delta canceling our flight on Sunday at 11:25am. That was the beginning of our nightmare.

We were in a city we weren't all that familiar (where are the stores, no local knowledge, no local network) and were unable to leave. I won't spend time discussing having to stay in the midst of a category 4 hurricane (something we would NEVER do, being from Florida and being wise to hurricanes). But what is more upsetting is what happened to us afterwards...........

We were staying in a small hotel 3 blocks off of Canal on Tchopotoulis Street in the Warehouse/Art District. This hotel did not have a generator, nor did it have any provisions for food. We were on our own.

For 2 days, we did our best on the streets trying to scrounge some water and food and tried our best to find out how to get these supplies and more importantly, to get back to the airport when it opened (we were under the false hope that the airport would open and we would somehow fly out when that happened).

Tuesday was the beginning of our delusion fading and the quick realization of what was coming. We saw the looters going into the athletic store on Canal (while Brian Williams was doing a segment for the nightly news) and the police exerted minimal effort to stop this as we came to realize - they had no where to put the looters/criminals. That was probably the first of our realization that those in charge (which still trying to figure out just who is), is not doing anything and planning for anything. There is absolutely NO LEADERSHIP.

But we did our best to endure the heat, no AC, the little food that we could get and talked to as many people as possible to get any information we could. We at least had a hotel room. When ever we asked the National Guard and police where was the help, the water, the food, all they could say was "it is coming" and be happy as we were in the driest part of the city and "the water is coming" (meaning the levy broke).

On Wednesday, we were desperate, out of food, out of water, and could not now flush a toilet. My husband and I set out on our morning walk to Canal Street to see the news media (that was the only way we could learn anything). We realized that there were less people that day. As much as we wanted to leave the media alone to do their job, we were increasingly frustrated as to how they obviously had water and probably food. How come? Where was ours. My husband finally asked one of the crew (no one would even give us eye contact at that point -(Side note - we are in our 40s, white and friendly looking). how they got in - as we were figuring that one of the reasons there was not any support and more supplies was the roads were still down. That guy told us that they drove in from Tampa and they had no problem coming in. Then where are the supplies? Where is the Red Cross?

We were dumfounded, but knew we had to leave as soon as possible - if we had to walk.

We saw some buses at the W Hotel and asked if we could go, we would pay whatever necessary. They were full and were taking guests/families out of the W and the Sheraton hotels. Sorry. What?????? We could not believe this. We ran around and asked the police again when is anyone coming? "They are coming; they are bringing in buses to the Superdome and busing people out to Houston". (We did not go to the Dome as the Mayor said that was for people with special needs and for hotel guests to stay put). But we could now possibly walk there (we still heard there was water up to the dome, but we could go there and wait for buses).

Somewhere around this time, we saw another police person and as a pharmacist I told him I was concerned about the people that were going without meds and I would volunteer to go into the Walgreen’s on Canal (the looters had already broken into the front part for supplies) and if a police personnel was there I could dispense and emergency supply to anyone showing a Rx bottle with maintenance medications. He said the supplies "are coming". I got very angry and said they need to be here NOW. He asked for a suggestion and I said I already told him mine. He said that would take a lot - we would have to get approval from Walgreen’s corporate, yada yada. I said, can't you see out here, this is like a 3rd world country. Walgreen’s won't care; they'd love the publicity (I work for the competitor CVS and I know they would feel the same way). They want patients to have meds. The policeman said even if they could do it, he had no way to get any kind of "approval" for something like that as they all had no communication. What?????????????

We got very annoyed, depressed and made the short trek to the Convention Center to see about any person in charge to see if there was any medical, buses, water, food, etc. We went there and there was NOTHING except for people waiting. We tried to ask for anyone in charge, who knew anything and there was NO ONE. (By the way, the national guardsmen that we had seen earlier that morning, 3 hours later still did not know anything or give us any other information).

We could not believe. But we knew one thing; we were getting out anyway possible. I felt like the people who were going down the steps of the World Trade Center thinking they were really going anywhere when in reality our fate was set and officials had sacrificed all of us left in the city.

We called collect to my mother in law and I unleashed a lot of tears of frustration and she told us some obvious: Look for someone in charge - we did that THERE WAS NO ONE (she did not believe) Ask police and national guard - we did that also - no information

She said buses were coming. I said that was not true - there were no buses, there was NO water, NO food, NOTHING, unlike the TV was showing her of all of the relief that was "coming". Where were they?

She told us to hang in there, she was going to stay glued to the TV and we could call her back.

As prayers were being raised for us, about 45 minutes later we saw some people on the street near a few vehicles (we had already asked everyone that morning near a car if we could pay to go with them, never any room). These people took pity on us and allowed us into their hotel shelter. Come to realize this was the hotel the police had been staying in for the last several days. They had food, water, alcohol, generators. We could not believe our luck. We also could not believe what these people were now telling us about the looters. They were afraid. They also had pistols (I have never seen a pistol in my life). They were awaiting a SUV that a person was letting them take as he was not leaving. They promised us if they had enough room they would take us out of the city. We were elated.

At that point 4-5 policeman came back into get the rest of their clothes and belongings and said, we need to get out of there as the looters (gangs of New Orleans) had gotten guns from a store they broke into and they were coming this way. The policeman said he was getting out of there and would not be coming back as there was nothing they could do. He then asked how many weapons we all had, and for about 12 people there were only 3 guns. He gave the men 2 more guns, a shotgun and a pistol and said we would need it.............

I felt like we were in a Hollywood movie. Not that much longer as we awaited the SUV, another vehicle came and we all knew we needed to be ready to go at any moment. We all piled in the vehicle while the guys stood watch with the guns. We were transported then to another hotel about 2 blocks away. We were hurried out and told that we would not be able to fit into the vehicle they were getting but that we needed to get our names on the list that the guy was taking and we would be bused out. That was fine with us. We did that and within 1/2 hour we were on the bus, and heading out of the city.

I won't describe the looks on the faces of those who saw this bus as they knew someone was leaving and they were not. I was horrified for them. I wanted to let them on as they were walking over the bridge.

We asked where we were going and they told us, Baton Rouge. We got a cell signal and called our mother-in-law to tell her to book our flight on Delta to get out of Baton Rouge.

The bus was paid for by the Marriott Corp who was dedicated to getting their associates and guests out of the city. Rumor is the CEO or Mr. Marriott, or someone high up at Marriott got buses ready on Tuesday and had to get special permission from the governor to allow the buses in. They had to make more than one phone call to make that happen, but that is what they did.

They allowed all of us to stay in the ballroom. We decided to go to the airport and sleep there and hopefully get an earlier flight. That is what we did and we got back into Orlando today at 11am.

We had not been able to hear/see any of the news and were flabbergasted to see the Governor and that woman Senator get on TV and talk about all that they were doing. All of that is hogwash. They aren't doing anything for all those poor people there still in the city and nothing to stop the looting. I believe I saw prior to the hurricane that the Governor could go to the highest level and get the military to come in and take the security over and be in charge of such if she declares it to be at that state. Why has she not done?

We just got back from eating with my in-laws and my mother-in-law told us she frantically started calling everyone she could to get us some help in there. She told us something very scary, on Wed when she was calling at about 10:30am, she actually (you have to know her to know that only she could do this) got to talk to a man with the Red Cross with trucks, supplies, etc in their trucks only awaiting the Governor to allow them to get in.

My husband and I are exhausted as we haven't slept in days and are emotionally drained, but can't help but think if it weren't for the Grace of God and a little good timing, we would still have been there. And today is one more day past and NOTHING HAS CHANGED. SOMETHING IS WRONG. There is no reason they don't have church buses that can come in and get these people, let the Red Cross in, let supplies in, etc..........

Senator- My husband and I are absolutely disgusted with how you and your Governor have allowed such disarray to occur. Not to mention how you've left the tourists there for dead. Oh, yea and your own people who are dying in the streets.

There is NO EXCUSE for not getting reinforcements to the National Guard in earlier knowing the gang like undertones of your violence-tending city.

I remember the day when NOLA was not a favorite of travelers as it was considered "dirty and dangerous". My husband and I love NOLA and met there 16 years ago in college at the Sugar Bowl. We are sickened by what we personally went through and we are even more nauseated by what is happening even a day later as no more help has showed up.

What is the problem? We demand to know. You, your officials, your Governor owe us, your own citizens that you've left for dead an apology.

I couldn't believe what you were saying after not seeing/hearing the TV for over 3 days. I just hope the top of this e-mail that we've e-mailed to anyone who will listen will do some help.

If we lived within 6 hours of NOLA we would call all churches, get buses and drive through your barriers just to get these people OUT> All that FEMA can do later will be done. It is NOW that these people need help, or else who cares how many millions you all get donated.

Or, perhaps, is that the purpose? Are you all doing this for a reason and that is to let attrition happen and then there will be fewer victims to divide the money between. SHAMEFUL

There is absolutely NO LEADERSHIP.

Not in the Democrat party!

Rudy has it. W has it. Ray can’t spell it.

The Democrat Mayor and the Democrat Governor failed badly.

The email-writer easily saw what MSM seems to be missing--the mayor, governor, and Sen. Landrieu need to go, and quickly. I wasn't aware they were standing in the way of aid, but if true, it wouldn't surprise me.

I heard on the radio on the way home today that the Red Cross was not allowed in. They were asked to stay out because they wanted to clear the city. So they set up as close outside the city limits as they could. Unbelievable.

(Marriott Buses) "Well, there was some leadership in Louisianna after all, but it was at the corporate, not state or local governmental level..."

And once again we see the difference between handwringing careerist politicians and executives who get things DONE.

After hearing Ray "speak"--I would guess he couldn't pronounce it, either.

Off topic a bit, but has Fox fired Brit Hume? He hasn't been on for a couple days now, and I really miss his show. It was the best one on Fox.

I have said it before and I'll say it again, if the liberal Democrats were in charge this is an outstanding example of what the country would be in for if any disaster/war happened. They do not believe in being prepared for anything, they have no plan for anything that might happen. Two more terms of the same as the two Clinton terms and we would be in shambles.

Folks, we must never allow our country to fall into their hands again, it will be the end of what was once a strong country. Seriously, look at all the crappy things that have come up dating back to the Clinton years and, of course, all the things that have beeen quitely put aside and keep croping up as time goes by.

When things quiet down and NO has settled into some kind of recovery, and liberals renew their inevitable cry for gun control, remember this story and remember this:

. . . 4-5 policeman came back into get the rest of their clothes and belongings and said, we need to get out of there as the looters (gangs of New Orleans) had gotten guns from a store they broke into and they were coming this way. The policeman said he was getting out of there and would not be coming back as there was nothing they could do. He then asked how many weapons we all had, and for about 12 people there were only 3 guns. He gave the men 2 more guns, a shotgun and a pistol and said we would need it.............

HOW THE HELL does it take 4 miserable days to get FEMA and the emergency group in...I don't get it!

I'm guessing, but you do not, nor have you ever worked for the government, have you? Four days is blazing fast if you consider the bureaucracy involved, and it only moved that fast because Fema was prepositioning BEFORE the hurricane struck. Sheesh people......

Put your life in the hands of bureaucrats, pay the price.

Didn't you actually read it?

We were stranded tourists that ended up stranded due to Delta canceling our flight on Sunday at 11:25am

IOW, we waited for help but none came. What a surprise. Put your life in the hands of bureaucrats, pay the price.

No, that's not the 'Other words' in this account. What's in this account is that the bureaucrats were standing IN THE WAY of people helping themselves and helping others, as illustrated in the case of the guy who would go into the Walgreen's pharmacy and dispense drugs. Reminds me of a story about Pearl Harbor, where some numskull refused to open the locked munitions store to pass out guns and ammunition during the attack because he hadn't received orders from above to do so. Somebody kicked in the door and got them anyway.

Wow. This post remends me of the UN mindset, where food is sent to the starving in Africa but never gets to them because the bureaucrats are too busy tying bows with red tape. This is disgusting, and I hope the mayor and the governor are FIRED.

GWB Should put Kerry in charge of cleaning up NO. After all Kerry thought he was qualified to be president. NO is just a city. He should be able to handle that with one(1) bolt tied behind neck.

Here's a quote from Ray --"The city of New Orleans will never be the same in this time."

He doesn't know leadership. He doesn't know English.

Pray for New Orleans.

I don't have cable. I don't know about Brit. Wasn't he ill?

"She told us something very scary, on Wed when she was calling at about 10:30am, she actually (you have to know her to know that only she could do this) got to talk to a man with the Red Cross with trucks, supplies, etc in their trucks only awaiting the Governor to allow them to get in."

This is why I made the comment!

Nope, not a plan in mind, other than feeling our pain and sending in teams of psychobabblists.

I heard this lady on a radio station this morning, she couldn't quite get to the meat of her story because of over-embellishing the edges and she was given quite a bit of time. The host just had to end the interview, apologetically. I'm glad to be able to read her whole story.

This goes to show that not all "leaders" have "leadership."

The first instinct in any crisis of this size (I imagine, since I have never been in one) is to look for "the authorities" to define the rules. However, it is becoming increasingly obvious that, in New Orleans at least, you'd be far better off asking forgiveness than permission. There are times when it's better to strike out on your own than to wait for the random hand of some mediocre official.

Glad you made it out intact.

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