Re: iSeries friends in NOLA (Al Mac)

Had members of our church that loaded pickups with water, gas and chain saws
and headed that way Friday.  They got to the other side of Mobile.

The descriptions/pictures are heartbreaking.   They were hoping to simply
help people clear damage from around their houses, help them with short term
assistance, etc.   Something similar to what we had done here in S.C. when
the last hurricane came through.   It turned out to not be that easy.

The first lady they spoke with turned down the water and said that she
didn't need it, she was still looking for her two boys.   

Close to the beach their was nothing to clean up--there simply wasn't
anything left.   Signs remained in front of empty lots where restaurants and
stores used to be.   They couldn't help clean up around people's houses,
there simply weren't any houses left.   The beach was littered with rotting
turkeys in cellophane from a warehouse that no longer existed and dead
household pets

Steered that way by the National Guard, they ended up unloading semi's from
the Southern Baptists loaded with everything from water to diapers.  Most of
the volunteers they met were retired couples putting 12 - 14 hour days (all
of our folks were guys in their early 20's).   No problems with looting,
crowds, etc. at least.