Thanks for all of your prayers. I just got in from working at a shelter long enough to feed the dog and take a shower. I am going to sleep for a while and head back out to work another shift at the shelter. Today I only worked in shifts. Tomorrow I will start 8 hr scheduled shifts. I feel so blessed, I cannot put it into words. I am safe. I lost no family or friends or property to the storm. However, many friends have lost everything.
The pictures you are seeing on TV cannot convey the depths of suffering. There are many parishes (counties) that still have no communication in or out. We have no idea of their casualties or destruction. Right now, basic survival is the main thing in many areas.
The city of New Orleans and surrounding areas will never be the same. I cannot put into the words the destruction the refugees have portrayed, the media has reported, and pictures have shown. Our local news stations have been taking emergency calls from people because it is the only number many have been hearing on their battery operated radios. Imagine your entire city destroyed. You have no idea where family members are, your home and job no longer exist, you have little food or water, and the only possesions you have are the ones you could carry with you. that is the situation of countless people.
The crime is out of control. At first, I understood it. People were desperate for survival. Then, it went beyond that. Guns were stolen and people are being shot. Yes, it is true (I am confirming this from a reliable source) that looters tried to break into a children's hospital. 1,500 people that were being used in search and rescue have been recalled from that assignment to go in and control the crime. Rescuers had to stop and wait for officers to go with them because they were being assaulted. Again, I cannot describe to you the desperate state this area is in right now.
However, for every act of lawlessness, there has been acts of heroism. I have never seen more evidence of God's hand of protection and provision. Strangers are filling up each other's car with gas. People are opening their homes to friends and strangers alike to give them a bed to sleep in and food to eat. People are walking around giving away food, clothes, bathroom supplies, etc by the car full. Sometimes, it is just a kind word, but everyone is doing something to help.
I am a teacher. My school is now a temporary shelter. When I went to help today, I was so proud to see my students (present and former) there already helping. They were playing with kids, holding the hands of the elderly, making supply bags, calling to find shelter when we were full, serving food, and even picking up trash. I was more proud of that than I will ever be of any grade they make.
Emotions run the gamut from pride in mankind, to disgust in the same, from gratefulness to guilt that I have a cool house, food to eat, and a bed to sleep in tonight. We were blessed in Baton Rouge. We have no more room in any hotel, shelter, gym, etc but we still have a city. There is literally no more room and thousands are still trying to find shelter. Please keep them in your prayers.
I did not intend to ramble on so much, but I want as many people as possible to do what they can to help, esp to pray. Please, we need that more than anything and we are in desperate need of much.
Keep praying.
Also: Keep the energy repair workers in your thoughts and pryaers. Their work is very dangerous.
