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Joe,
I'm glad you're getting a little good news at least. It does look like the
old town survived better than much of the rest of the city... apparently
the founding fathers of New Orleans knew what they were about. And that's
something to be thankful for, anyway.
By the way, TV media on the scene reports that they are mostly seeing
people carrying off food and water, not TV sets and DVD players. Yes, there is
always a criminal element in any population and those have been engaging in
inexcusable activity. There was one shot fired at one helicopter -- not volleys
of gunfire being fired at rescuers. Still, having been isolated without water or
power by Dennis for 2 days last month, I can tell you that by day 4 people are
going to start loosing it in a big way. I hope FEMA can finally get its act
together in the next 24 hours for everyone's sake.
There are those who will say that this is not a time to point fingers, and
until today I would have said the same. But when I see the on-site director of
FEMA look into the camera tell the world that there are "only about 3,000
refugees in the Convention Center" when the mayor, the TV reporters and his own
1st Army general have been trying to tell him for the past 2 days there are
25,000 refugees in the Convention Center, there is something *very* wrong with
communications and strategy at heart of the very organization which is supposed
to be coordinating and implementing rescue and recovery efforts.
Nor am I trying to politicize anything, but no one can deny the simple
truth: The reason the National Guard and the Army has been slow to get onto the
scene in New Orleans and the rest of Louisiana and Mississippi is because we
have far too many of them (and all of their equipment) out of the country right
now. They are having to cobble together units out of what is left and have to
bring them in from much further away than they otherwise would have.
-- JR
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005
23:06
Subject: Re: [MOPO] Update from Joe
Bonelli (off topic)
Dear Nathalie and MOPO,
Thanks so much for everyone's
concern and good wishes. You are the best and that's all!
Now--
the latest as I know at 11 PM (2300) Thursday night Sept. 1
I just got two
good indications that my two closest friends (and my best one, Sister Mary
Agnes the Cat) are probably okay.
First-- I got an email saying that
another friend was safe in Baton Rouge and that his house was just fine.
That house is in the same block where one of my good friends lives and in the
building I was considering (until Monday, believe me!) moving to.
Second--
I just saw a TV report filmed late this afternoon at Napoleon Ave and St.
Charles Ave in New Orleans. That is about six blocks from where I live
and it was without standing water. This leads me to believe that water
in my house may not have occurred or may have been contained on the first
floor. I can only hope.
I have appended to this note the letter I
wrote Style B a few hours ago before I learned the above.
I can only
say that the horror story going on in New Orleans right now is not to be
believed nor excused. The Federal Government has NOT responded properly
to this situation. Why heavy military presence for both security and help
reasons has not been deployed is not an answerable question.
Please
respond to any pleas to help the unfortunate folk in New Orleans and along the
Gulf Coast.
Mississippi is devastated and much of the state is still
without power.
The beautiful Gulf Coast has been truly wiped out-- from the
waterline in a long way.
However I've seen a moving and inspiring site
in all that destruction on the Gulf Coast-- a small lighthouse that has been a
Biloxi (bih-LUX-ee, pleeeeeezeee!!!) landmark for many many years!
Amidst the debris the lighthouse still stands!!!!!
Thanks to you
all.
Joe Bonelli
>
> From: Steven Yafet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Date: 2005/09/01
Thu PM 09:15:19 EDT
> To: [email protected]
>
Subject: [MOPO] Joe Bonelli (off topic)
>
>
Hi,
>
> Thought that MoPo folks would want to know that Joe is
safe - 600 miles
> away in Wichita Falls, Texas. However - as of
Monday - his two friends
> and their dogs and Joe's own cat are still
there. No word yet as to
> whether or not they were evacuated or
were able to leave.
>
> I have been trying for a few hours now to
find out what ward or parish
> the two houses are in since that's the
only way to find out the level
> of flooding in the area. I have
even posted two messages to a blog and
> have not had an
answer.
>
> If anybody knows how to get this information, the two
addresses are:
>
> 2317 Jena Street, New Orleans, LA 70115
and 726 Frenchmen Street, New
> Orleans, LA 70116
>
>
Please share any information with the group (or email me directly if
>
you want to) about flooding in those areas.
>
> Thanks loads for
any help!
>
> Nathalie
Hi from Joe Bonelli.
I am dry
and safe in Wichita Falls,Texas, about 600 miles from the terrible site of
tragedy.
I arrived Monday night.
....I found that my friend's computer
was in the shop. It has just been returned and I am fighting his wretched AOL
connection to try to write this.
Here's my saga:'
First, as of
Monday night-- about 12 hours after the storm struck, my housemate Tom, his
old dog (ailing and probably not to make it) and the redoubtable Sister Mary
Agnes, were still okay in the house in uptown New Orleans. If anyone is
interested to look on Mapquest and find out where it is-- the address is (or
was!) 2317 Jena Street New Orleans, LA 70115. My other friend
David was in the same block as my old address-- 726 Frenchmen Street, NO, LA
70116 (I think the zip is correct).
Tom is stubborn and says that if he
can't take his dog he won't leave. Personally I don't think the old dog,
a nice little terrier of some sort, will make it. He is blind and Tom
says he's suffering from the heat. I hate to say this but it will be a
blessing if the old dog passes away so Tom will look to his own life.
I've told him that if he can leave and pets cannot that he is to allow Sister
Mary Agnes to fend for herself. I think that's best.
BUT----- I
believe that they are probably alright on the second floor, where I live, of
the two-story duplex-- an old house with high ceilings. The best I can
figure is that water is probably up in the first floor. I've heard
reports from six or eight blocks away in either direction and I believe that
it's possible that the water is not so deep as to have gotten way up that high
in the house.
Watching tv is really trying as it's frustrating not to
be able to identify lots of areas which are being photographed.
Anyway,
I am certainly blessed. Had I not had the part-time job in Ms. I might
not have left. But I believe I would have done. This one was just
too big to ignore.
I left for Mississippi on Friday afternoon before it
was known that the storm would probably turn toward New Orleans. Had I
known I could have evacuated Sis Mary, Tom and his dog and my friend David and
his dog. But such was not to be. It's very sad.
I wonder
about Ed and Sue on the Westbank of New Orleans and how they fared. I
haven't even looked at a website. {I have heard that they are fine,
thank heavens.)
So I am in Wichita Falls for the moment. I am
going to stay here for awhile and decide what to do. It's possible that
my possessions-- collection included-- are okay. If the second floor of
the apartment has not been flooded then I will probably be able to salvage
collection that is there-- mostly under a bedspread on a bed used strictly for
storage. I have a couple of tvs and the computer and dvd
& cd players that would likely be stolen I doubt scavengers would
even look for or at "paper."
The other items are in a storage unit-- on a
second floor inside and climate controlled. Though it is in a flooded
area these items might be okay. We'll see. Thankfully, when I
obtained the storage unit after the tree in the house incident during TS
Cindy, I obtained insurance and so if these things are lost I can console
myself with that help.
Of course I thank God for my safety and pray for
the safety of my friends, Sister Mary AGnes and indeed everyone still in the
affected area. I am okay and will be fine.
I'd like to thank the
several folk who sent money ..... {but} massive aid is need to pour into
this area. Folks-- there ain't nothing left!!
Two weeks ago I looked
at two nice apartments in a quaint Coast city called Long Beach. Today
neither the apartments nor the town exist!!! It's beyond belief!!
Just terrible.
I urge you to not only offer your appreciated prayers
but to contribute whatever you can to this relief effort. And more so, to
INSIST that the Federal Government stop paying lip service and get some troops
with relief supplies on the ground in New Orleans NOW!!
The poor people
in the Superdome and at the Convention Center are desparate. I can see
they are not criminals. They feel abandoned and indeed that is what they
have been.
It's time for the Federal Government to IMMEDIATELY land
massive troops and food and medicine into New Orleans.
Anyway, I'm
rambling.
Thanks again to you all for caring and being the good friends you
are. I'll be back to you soon.
You can reach me by using the several
emails:
My main email is " [EMAIL PROTECTED] "
Alternate
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Richard's
computer is working again. It's an RR account which is new but it's AOL
so God knows how it will work.
Thanks again.
I'll be back in touch
soon.
Joe
B.
>
> Visit
the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
>
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