Three More Souls

I just got word from Martha that she got one of the three evacuees that came out of New Orleans last night on an Angle Flight plane to Dallas. Dr. H was an elderly man who was the only person left on his block. This was a relatively easy one. He had a son in Dallas waiting for him. All we had to do was get him there. The New Orleans Federation people arranged a flight for him. The only complication was that Angel Flight called at 4:30 that they were leaving at 5:00. There was no way to get him there that fast. They agreed to hold the plane and Miriam, who had hosted him for the night tried to get him there through the hopeless traffic. The plane was still there when they arrived long after 5:00, largely because it had no fuel. There are gas lines no matter how you travel these days. But, Baruch HaShem, Dr. H is on his way to family and security.

It is taking a bit longer to get Samuel and Sharon out, but ultimately Samuel will be flown to Houston, to be cared for by Chabad and Sharon is going to a friend in LA, together with Bagele, her tiny disabled dog ( he wears a wheel chair rig to help his back legs along.) Sharon leaves tomorrow for LA and we are still working on Samuel’s transportation. Many thanks to Brian and Ton’ya F. for opening their home late last night. Thanks also to our patient intake volunteers who calm our visitors and get the information from them that allows us to help them. Sometimes, as last night, this process can take hours.

These people were brought out of New Orleans by a volunteer rescue squad from New York, accompanied by Ben B. from our congregation and some of his friends. Ben looked fatigued and very sad. He said, “I will never be the same after what I have seen.” Ben and his brother Michael have been into New Orleans a number times. They delivered medical supplies to the convention center. The people asked, “Are you from the police? Are you from the government?” “No,” they said, “we’re just two guys from Baton Rouge.”

I don’t want to take anything away from Ben and Michael, they are resourceful and brave men, but you have to ask yourself: If private citizens can get to the Convention Center and deliver insulin and other critical supplies, why can’t FEMA?

Ralph B. from B’nai Israel went into New Orleans with the New Yorkers today. The woman with nine cats they were looking for had already been evacuated. We may be finished with the rescue phase of the Jewish Federation’s response to Katrina.

Many blessings to all those from both kehilot who went into the disaster zone and to all the people who staffed “headquaters,” feeding, comforting, and listening to these dazed and tired people.