REAL REPORTS OF KATRINA RELIEF
Eyewitness, politically charged, on-the-ground truth telling from New
Orleans
http://www.realreports.blogspot.com/ Updated: September 29th
Location: Algiers and Terrebonne Parish
I apologize for the slow Real Reports. I've been working 20 hour days
traveling between Algiers and Terrebonne Parish, so updates have to be
written early in the morning. Thanks to everyone for all the support.
WHAT THE $#@^#! BLACKWATER AND THE RED CROSS
Yesterday I drove to the Algiers Red Cross distribution point which is
located in the southern section of the Algiers neighborhood near the
middle-class white section of town. As soon as I walked in, I noticed a
frowning young man in a khaki shirt and black hat with a sidearm and
corporate logo prominently displayed.
Blackwater Security is now providing security to the Red Cross! That's
right, you heard correctly. Armed mecenaries are providing security to a
(supposedly) humanitarian relief organization. I spoke with three Red
Cross volunteers about what was going on with their distribution and
pointed out that Blackwater is a group of armed mercenaries - corporate
contractors who have a very bad reputation. I offerred the question -
who are they accountable to?"
A well meaning volunteer from Vermont said that the Blackwater guys were
very nice and they offered protection. I asked, "Who do you need
protection from?" The conversation ended.
So if you donated money to the Red Cross, you are supporting extra-legal
armed mercenaries who were observed shooting people out of French
Quarter windows following Katrina. Hurricane relief at gunpoint.
Aren't you proud?
TERREBONNE UNKNOWN
Terrebonne Parish is the disaster area no one has heard about. Situated
just outside the ring of catastrophic Katrina damage to the west, and
just outside the Hurricane Rita media frenzy to the east - this area was
only just declared a federal disaster area yesterday afternoon. In
reality, the area sustained significant wind damage from Katrina, and
then was flooded by Rita's storm surge.
WHERE IS EVERYONE?
Common Ground has been providing supplies and relief south of the city
of Houma for four days. We acted as true first responders - making a
supply run during the rising flood waters. For the past four days we've
seen virtually no Federal disaster relief agencies. Red Cross-ed
finally showed up yesterday with a whopping two trucks at the Baptist
Church on State Road 57. FEMA began showing up today and in true form
began making the resident's lives even more miserable.
One woman reported that a FEMA agent came to look at her house, which
sustained roof damage during Katrina and whose trailer sustained
structural damage from Rita's flooding. Fortunately the inside of her
trailer was not immersed. The woman kept trying to show the FEMA agent
the damage to her trailer, but all he could ask to see is damage to
furniture and appliances. When she said that her inside possessions were
fine but the trailer itself was damaged, the FEMA agent told her he
needed to see "damaged refrigerators and appliances" or she had no claim.
Another woman reported that she has been trying to contact FEMA for over
a month. The FEMA website is so complex and overloaded with traffic
that even the Red Cross is advising people not to use the internet.
But the phone systems are constantly busy. I heard from one person that
was on hold for over EIGHT HOURS.
So maybe people should just show up to the FEMA office in person right?
Wrong. FEMA will only let you apply for disaster services online or by
phone. People are so pissed FEMA agents have to walk around in disguise
as firemen or Red Cross workers. Incredible but true.
MORE RED CROSS-ED
Our critical work in Terrebonne Parish has yielded the huge need for
cleaning kits and supplies. We have been exploring all possible avenues
for getting cleaning supplies for distro to flood victims. We tried to
get some of the cleaning boxes from the Red Cross but surprise surprise
ran into red tape. "You have to call central distribution," an officious
but friendly volunteer coordinator said.
So I called the head honcho for Red Cross distribution and explained
that we were working with local contacts and distribution networks in
Terrebonne Parish and really could use a couple of pallets of cleaning
boxes. After a pause she said, "I'll give your contact information to
the distribution coordinator in Houma. If they need your help, they will
give you a call."
Ahhh... Red Cross has it all covered. No need to panic. Everything's
fine. Move on, nothing to see here. Check's in the mail. WHATEVER!
OUR FRIENDS AT HALIBURTON
While the Terrebonne communities of Ashland, Grand Calliou and Dulac
have barely seen Red Cross and FEMA, another friend in the Disaster
Industrial Complex showed up in force today. Haliburton vehicles were
commonplace on State Road 57 this afternoon. It's so nice to know that
our corporate profiteers are always circling like vultures to descend on
the next money-making natural disaster.
SHRIMPER'S ROW
Just the otherside of the bayou from the town of Dulac lies Shrimper's
Row. This road, runs through the largest concentration of Native
Americans in the coastal area. Father Kirby of the Dulac Methodist
Church and community center said, "You know how cities have 'the other
side of the tracks?' Down here we have the 'other side of the bayou.'
I've seen alot of heart wrenching things the last month but driving down
Shrimper's Row was among the most depressing. Like many Native American
communities, this area is deeply impoverished. Many of the homes had not
been placed up on stilts (which costs $35,000 - $185,000) and were
flooded and torn apart by rushing waters. Shrimp boats and other
vessels were thrown across the road and into people's yards. Tons of
dead marsh grass debris littered the roads and community. Hundreds of
poisonous water moccasin snakes are trying to find their way back to the
marsh. Mud covers everything.
COMMUNITY
I've developed an immense respect for the communities of south
Terrebonne Parish - Ashland, Grand Calliou and Dulac. Local residents
have been in constant contact with us helping to coordinate our trucks
and informing their friends. Once we set up our distro, they help out in
the trucks and along the lines. There is such a sense of community.
Despite the incredible loss, there is also alot of smiles and laugher
amid the tears. These folks, new friends, act from the heart.
PARTING SHOTS
I've been in Algiers for over three weeks now. I'm exhausted. Tomorrow,
I might be taking a break for several days. But I'll continue to give
Real Reports and let you know what's happening on the ground in these
areas. Keep an eye on New Orleans when the tired, frustrated residents
return to unihabitable homes, little support, and lots of wacko
Wackenhut Security and other law enforcement. It's a fire ready to ignite.
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Naomi Archer is a global justice organizer and spiritual activist from
Asheville, NC working for the Common Ground relief effort in the Algiers
neighborhood of New Orleans. She can be reached at 828.230.1404 or
arche@riseup.net. Blog at
http://www.realreports.blogspot.com/. Website
at
http://www.intuitivepath.org/