Posted on 09/19/2005 8:59:23 AM PDT by bobsunshine
Dear Friends and Family,
I just got home from 15 days in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. I am tired, and I am emotional. But mostly I am angry. I am angry at the news--the television stations, the newspapers--for what I view is a grossly misrepresented placement of blame. For those of you who know me, you know I work for FEMA as an "intermittent employee" of a disaster response team. My team, called VMAT or Veterinary Medical Assistance Team, is part of the response branch of FEMA known as the National Disaster Medical System.
Let me tell you how "awful" FEMA's response was from someone who was there on the front lines working for FEMA.
President Bush declared a state of emergency prior to Katrina's landfall due to its strength and location. This is not normally done before a hurricane makes landfall. Damn good work by George W., in my honest opinion. This opened the door for our federal teams to pre-deploy assets in nearby locations so that we were ready when Katrina did hit. I was contacted by FEMA before the hurricane hit, asking for my availability and to place me on alert. Many teams were moved into the region including 2 VMAT teams. My team was mobilized immediately after landfall and I arrived in the area before New Orleans had completely filled with water, before we even realized how bad it was truly going to be. FEMA responded immediately and with unprecedented numbers of responders. There were DMAT teams inside the Super Dome before the levee broke. Never before had so many FEMA teams and personnel been sent into a disaster.
One thing you must understand: the DMAT, VMAT, and DMORT teams that make up the National Disaster Medical System are NOT "first responders." Our job is to supplement overwhelmed communities if needed. The initial responsibility lies with the state. If they become overwhelmed in the aftermath of a disaster where their local hospitals, medical, veterinary, and mortuary assets cannot handle the magnitude of the disaster, we come in and augment their resources. It takes 24 to 48 hours to mobilize the federal assets in normal circumstances. We come from every state in the United States, leaving our jobs and families behind at the drop of a hat to help where ever it is needed. Our cache of equipment and medical supplies must either be moved from our home base or from the federal warehouses in Maryland by truck or plane. This takes time. But we were there before Katrina hit and many more arrived immediately after even before knowing the full scope of this disaster.
So why is FEMA being blamed? I'm not exactly sure. I really am not. Yes, FEMA was overwhelmed. God sakes how could it not be? This hurricane has been the largest natural disaster the United States has had on record. Nothing can compare. We train and train for almost anything. We try to be ready. But no one was ready for how bad this truly was. I am sure there were some bad decisions made high up, and of that I cannot deny. It was a logistical nightmare to get the teams placed and the supplies sent in. Some stuff arrived too late. But, seeing how hard the FEMA employees worked to help the people and animals of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama makes me angry and very, very sad to hear us put down so bad on television and in the news.
One day, just a couple days after New Orleans was under water, I was stationed in the New Orleans airport. This is where I was the first week. The airport was where all the buses and helicopters that were rescuing people from the city brought them first. They came in the thousands to the airport and went through lines holding their last bit of possessions, which included a small amount of clothing or keepsakes and often times their pets. Yes, they got to bring their pets with them on the buses and helicopters. I know because I was there. I saw them. They came in and were triaged by FEMA medical personnel. Minor injuries or illnesses were treated with the utmost care and love by FEMA DMAT teams and then they took their place in line through concourse C to board planes to shelters where they could receive follow up medical treatment. The very ill were moved into the D concourse area for more thorough medical care and support in a true MASH hospital set up right there inside the airport. I walked through this area frequently and watched as DMAT members held hands of people critically and gravely ill, cared for them, helped them in so many ways trying to save their lives and to comfort those who could not be saved.
I walked through feces, urine, blood, and vomit covering the floor of the airport. I watched custodians working tirelessly to clean up the floor even though it was soiled again as soon it was cleaned. People were handed water and food as soon as they arrived. Those who were well, moved through an endless line to concourse B to board both commercial and military planes going to shelters in other states. I walked the lines of concourse B, C, and D as did other members of my VMAT team to provide any needed veterinary care to the pets who were evacuated with their families. We cared for stray animals that arrived at the airport too. See, the coast guard and military helicopters were picking up stray animals if they had room when they would rescue people from the city. FEMA personnel did everything possible to comfort and care for the people of New Orleans. I know because I was one of them, and I did everything I could for them, and I saw with my own eyes what the others were also doing.
This is a photo on the FEMA website. What you don't see here is that this little dog is sitting below the hospital gurney of his master who was critically ill inside one of the DMAT MASH tents. I walked through this medical tent to check on the dog with a couple other members of my VMAT team. The nurse had given the dog a dish of water and was feeding him some crackers. We promised the man we would bring back some food for his dog. He was very thankful as he laid there with IVs going. I returned a few minutes later with one other member of my team, bringing a Ziploc bag of dog food. When we arrived they were moving him to a different stretcher because he needed to be medivac'ed out on a helicopter for more intense medical care. The helicopter pilot told us he cannot take the dog unless its in a crate. I stepped up to talk to the very ill man. I asked him if he would let me care for his dog while he went to the hospital. He grabbed my hand and had tears in his eyes as he begged me to help him take his dog with him because it was all he had left in the world. There was nothing else. I looked into this man's eyes as he cried. He was a middle aged white man with cuts and scrapes all over him. His face was puffy and feverish with infection.
I then looked at the DMAT nurse and the Coast Guard pilot. Both looked back at me with very grave expressions and each asked me to please find a crate for the dog so he can go with the man. My teammate and I both knew right then that this man may not make it and we had to make sure he got to spend as much time as possible with his dog.
There was no way we were going to make him leave his dog behind. We took off running and found an empty crate. It was a bit too small for the dog, but would work temporarily. We returned and found the pilot waiting for us with the man. Once we got the dog in the crate and on the stretcher with the man, he again took my hand and thanked us as we cried together. He said "you have no idea what you have done for me and I will never forget it." Then he was wheeled away toward the waiting helicopter.
So, at the end of this day--a 29 hour shift that I spent at the airport--I arrived back at our bunk location, a building on the campus of LSU where we slept on the floor, and I got to see the news on one of the cable networks. I was absolutely outraged at the reports of the lack of response by FEMA. I changed to another cable news network and saw the same thing there. What they don't mention when they talk about FEMA is the people who make up FEMA's response, working countless hours, pouring their very heart and soul into this response despite being slammed and criticized all over the news.
I cried with sadness and anger at how we are viewed all over the world. I am a FEMA responder who cannot wear my FEMA badge in public in Louisiana because everyone thinks we are so terrible. Do they even yet mention how hard we have worked for the people and animals of Louisiana? No, maybe they never will.
Just yesterday the radio was criticizing the fact that FEMA had so many trucks filled with water and supplies that were just sitting somewhere and was costing $600 per day each to sit and wait. Does anyone realize this is the right thing to do? There is already a tremendous amount of water and supplies in the areas. The reason there are trucks waiting full of more supplies and water is so they can move at a moments notice to where ever they are needed at any time. Would they rather have the extra supplies sitting in a warehouse where they would have to wait to secure trucks, then load the supplies and water, then move them out? No. They complain about the lack of quick response by FEMA yet don't get the whole concept that these supplies and water sitting in trucks ready to go is for quick response and now they criticize FEMA readiness without realizing it. The contradictions in the news is ridiculous.
Now 13 days after I first saw the news reporting how awful FEMA is, I still remain proud to be a member of FEMA, and I am proud of the work I did in New Orleans and I am proud to work for the federal government headed up by a strong and brave president. It was not easy, and things may not have gone perfectly, but we did and continue to do amazing work there even if no one knows it because they will only look at what went wrong instead of so much that went right.
And once again, the MSM demonstrates to more and more people like this FEMA responder, that they can not be trusted. Yes, the MSM has "won" a temporary victory for their agenda, but in doing so, they are losing the game. Those who were in the battle will never again trust a word they hear from the MSM.
I second this. I sent an email directly to Ms Witte. But blanket authority to send this to every local newspaper in the country ... and even to those overseas...would be most useful.
Thanks for the link. That brought tears to my eyes. It's a powerful video.
This should be the headline on every newspaper.
Every one of these organizations, and individuals, and our Coast Guard, Navy, etc.
All the firefighters and police and sheriffs that stayed at their posts and had busy hands instead of busy mouths.
Every single one needs to be thanked, or as a nation, we have truly failed.
BTTT
And it will be pointless to continue to assign it.
As the weeks go on, the local stories, the videos of ravaged areas in Mississippi and Alabama, will come out.
The news of the massive manpower involved, the states responding with aid, will be obvious.
I wish everyone would quit worrying about whether or not to rebuild NO.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST?
Entire towns are gone.
Just as the Dems used (or created by passing the word to organized crime or gang leaders and sending in the press) this to try and discredit Bush, we have our nose to their grindstone attempting to discredit the Dems involved.
Let's turn the attention of the nation to finishing the job down there first.
What happens to NO will happen, regardless to all the speculation and contrariness to choices being voiced.
There is another storm a coming, and it is a bad time to waste. Life is at stake.
Plus resupplying a city that is underwater, has not drinking water, sewers, or electricity is not that easy. Those trucks don't float.
Look, I've been watching N.O. mayor Nagin all weekend on Dallas TV. He's been out seeing "his people" and attending the big parties and shindigs.
This guy has to pay for his neglect...and Governor Blanco needs to pay too. Money was given for the levees...and it was squandered by lousy politicians in Louisiana.
Mississippi and Alabama have been pushed to the back of the news because they are handling things.
Plus I heard that the Mayor of Dallas wanted to get the evacuees out of Reunion Arena. Want to know why? Because the people there are tired of the moaning and groaning of the evacuees....that's what a lifetime of welfare will due to you...cause you to moan and groan for a handout.
The Red Cross was asking for more volunteers to sign up to sort donations, etc. but I was thinking, "work for your food" and "learn how to be responsible". No volunteers are needed if the evacuees pick up the things that need to be done for each other.
It took me forever to put it together ~ as I sorted through all of these beautiful images of quiet courage and deeply respectful commitment, my eyes just wouldn't stop clouding over.
Here is the information about Jodi and how to email her to request permission. Don't think you need it from any other source. I think it would be great if we could send it to every local paper and TV outlet.
About the Writer: Jodi Beck Witte is a veterinary technician and weapons of mass destruction specialist for a FEMA disaster response team and manages an animal health website
http://www.animalhelp.com. Jodi receives e-mail at jwitte@animalhelp.com.
A friend of ours just got back from volunteering in the NOLA area, serving food, etc. He's one of those "independently wealthy" types who does contract work and has some free time.
After a few days of volunteering, he said "forget it" (close to that, anyway) and came back. He said the abuse from the "evacuees" was hard to take. They were always making demands, complaining, telling volunteers what to do.
New Orleans had to be the worst place for this to happen.
I've asked this question on and off since the hurricane. Just what was the problem with the federal response? I thought it was excellent, especially given the fact that FEMA was shot at and the Governor didn't ask for help in a timely fashion.
Thanks for the ping. This story -- and those like it that we haven't seen -- should be widely published.
::smiles:: Remember, Bush took full responsibility for federal response.
Yep, just like in Ft. Worth where two nasty people were complaining about not getting any "hot" food -- just cereal and sandwiches. Of course, they didn't get off their big butts to cook anything either.
With the complaining and using their $2,000 cards for Louie Vitton bags and lap dances, the sympathy for N.O. people is going to go fast. Can't wait until most of them get kicked out of their Dallas apartments after the free time is up because they haven't looked for jobs yet.
I'll save my sympathy for Mississippians and Alabamans.
great post, thanks for the ping.
Thank you bobsunshine!
This letter shows just how SHAMEFULL the Democrats and their Media puppets are, to lie about and show their comtempt toward the real people who make this country good.
The beauty of it all is Nagin is calling (and getting)all these scumbags back, so they will be enjoying the squaller they called home all the sooner. They will soon learn just how good they had it in the relief centres after being back "home" and under Nagins wonderful care.
Excellent post.. thanks for the ping, Coleus.
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.
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