Katrina Update #21Katrina Update #21I spoke with Mike Moses on the phone this afternoon. He and Nicole made it to Los Angeles safely, but they are already looking forward to a time when they can return to New Orleans.
Coop told me Doc Schaeffer is in Santa Fe with his daughter.
I heard from Tom West's parents. He is with them in Tulsa.
Anyone working for Coop's Place who had direct deposit, you should have received the money in your account a couple of days ago. If you did not have direct deposit, get me your address and I will see that your paycheck is sent to you.
I did some major updates to the site. Lots more contact information, a story page for DR with a link to a new song about the disaster that he and Chris Chandler (and Randy Newman) wrote. You can get a list of what's new on the site's what's new page: www.macchuck.com/
I added a Link page with lots of articles and info pieces.
Keith Davis sent out the following email yesterday, titled "after nine days":
Sept 7, 05
Another nice day in the land of shrimp and sunshine......but Im not sure there is one shrimp boat left in the state. Remember the scene in Forrest Gump when he piloted the ONLY shrimp boat back into the harbor? That is a case of art predicting llife!
Fewer helicoptors overhead today. The Army Natl Guard is here but keeping a low profile. Some grocery stores running almost normally.....others still counting a dozen shoppers in and a dozen shoppers out, but I really dont know why.
Busy traffic patterns in what was a quiet little town, now jambed to the gills with evacuees who have come to stay. Every room, every building, every storefront, every warehouse is rented.........because every household, every business( consider that for a moment) has been moved out of the ENTIRE New Orleans area. Businesses, by their very nature, strive to survive and WILL find space in which to operate.
We have locate nearly all of the people we set out to find. Some are in Tennessee, others in Kansas, Illinois, Mississippi, and even further places. Wherever this email finds you, you will be meeting evacuees sooner than you might think. One point three MILLION people are on the move, some temporarily and others permananently and they will perch everywhere untill they can get back. this makes the Dustbowl exodus of the 1930s look like a day in the park.
Things we have learned lately: a camper can be a home. Never let your guard down. Keep all those important papers in one safe location. Carry your address book. Make a list of family names, addresses and phone numbers that your children can carry with them. Dont trust your cellphone. Keep a gallon of gas in the garage. Credit cards dont always work, nor do checks........green backs always do. The smallest acts of kindness and concern mean the most. Friends who care are beyond measureable value. Most people are good. Keep a band-aid in the glove compartment. When the TV announcers say spare batteries they are not kidding. Nothing is permanent.
Enough for now. Thanks for your thoughts, prayers and concern. Keith Davis and Family
Janis ran across a statement from some fundamentalist minister that said Katrina was God's punishment for hosting Decadence. What a crock! You'd think God would have waited until all those "decadent" people were actually in the city before smiting. At the very least, you'd think he would have sent a tornado or something down to strike those remaining stalwarts who paraded anyway on Monday!
FEMA director Michael "Brownie" Brown was removed as leader of the relief efforts today. The Debit card program was also discontinued, even though a bunch of cards were handed out in Houston.
A few days ago, suba divers had been going from house to house underwater searching for any pockets where someone might be alive. They had to stop when they became violently ill from the contaminated water seeping into their bodies - even through the wet suits!
As we settle into a nomadic lifestyle, waiting The Long Wait, these updates become less and less newsworthy. Unless something of note happens, I will just send out an email letting you know when the site has been updated from now on.
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