I'm home from the gulf coast, spent last wk working there

fuck. eom

Lack of infrastructure. Communities along the gulf of Mexico are destroyed. New Orleans is a desterted (except for military and Police) putrid mess. I met some wonderful Red Cross workers, some not wonderful at all, the bureaucracy is huge and they are unable to be effective. FEMA/US gvt is trying to control what is uncontrollable and again doing a pathetic job. Volunteers from churches, civic groups, peace groups and individually are doing what they can to help stem the sorrow. Communication is really really poor among and between everyone, though cell phones are starting to work a bit better. Fighting between rival groups, for example FEMA/Red Cross/ volunteer groups, as to who gets to be in charge and NO ONE IS IN CHARGE.

How the hell are they going to save NO, black mold growing up sewage encrusted walls while outside trees lay across power lines past houses marked with big red "X" dated 9/6-16 and "NE" meaning they were x'd 2 weeks ago or last friday and no one has yet checked inside for bodies. Dried sewage, bodies, rot make quite a stench, not to mention the health and safety issues of the national guard there or the returning residents if they can ever return to even see if there is a tree crushing their roof.

Rural areas with the same infrastructure problems complicated by severe economic problems meaning they can't get to gas, if there is any nearby, to get out to get food and medicine and they will need help for the next 6 months so be patient, don't forget them please and continue to help for the next year. There will be need, there is need of people to help clear trees, patch roofs, remove moldy sheetrock, replenish their stores of food so they can continue on.

What do you do for work when Bush just dropped the minimum wage they can be paid so they can't afford to come back to work and live?

Chaos.

Good to read for those of us sitting comfortably in front of our computers, thinking everything is a-okay.

Everyone should read.

I wish I could help.

6 months to a year. Donate next month, schedule a vacation in 2 months and load your car/truck and take it down there or find someone who has supplies and help deliver it. Donate to Salvation Army, not Red Cross. Go help patch roofs. Send down a bunch of tarps.