Hurricane Cleanup

Yesterday, I had reported that Human Rights Watch was claiming that there were hundreds of prisoners unaccounted for and that many may have died. They were calling on an investigation against the Louisiana officials to determine whether they committed human rights violations. Confederate Yankee had been following this issue since prison evacuations became warranted on 8/30/2005. He notes that in all of the reports relating to the Orleans parish prison system, none even come close to mentioning the kinds of numbers that Human Rights Watch suggests.

Is Human Rights Watch exaggerating the situation? Absolutely. Besides, there were plenty of situations that were worth investigating, like the horror at St. Rita's Nursing Home.

The New York Times wonders where all the reconstruction money is going. Mind you, they aren't particularly worried about persons who took their $2,000 debit cards and bought Prada bags and the like, but that companies like Halliburton are involved in rebuilding significant pieces of infrastructure in no-bid contracts. Might someone at the Times actually check and see if there are other companies that can provide the work? There are only a handful of companies in the world that can do that kind of work, but the Times wonders why there was limited competition for the jobs. Maybe the Times would like to explain to Katrina and Rita victims why the reconstruction would take so long if we had to wait for bidding on the reconstruction effort. After all, someone has to set up the parameters of the contract, which is a regulatory nightmare that would have to be open to public input, the companies have to submit bids, read through the contracts, determine the company that is best situated to handle the contract, and then make sure that the contract is adhered to. All of that takes time.

Time that the people displaced by Katrina and Rita do not have to wait around while someone at the New York Times frets about no-bid contracts.

It would seem that the New York Times has a problem with whatever move that the current Administration does - act too slowly or act too quickly. It's far too easy to be a New York Times writer these days since all one has to do is look at whatever the Administration is doing and oppose it.

Elsewhere, Slidell, LA residents are coming to grips with the changed circumstances of a community devastated by Katrina. In Pascagoula, Mississippi, the US Navy is providing support to Navy families affected by Katrina. Legal records in Pascagoula have been relocated to other facilities because of storm damage. Many were damaged, not only in Pascagoula but in every community up and down the Gulf Coast. These include real estate information, and other legal records and historical documents that need to be preserved. It is a huge task, but Pascagoula is working with a document processing company to save the files.

Over in Gulfport, the local hospital is up and running, which is a major accomplishment considering that many other hospitals in the region were badly affected:

One of the problems encountered was where to release patients treated in the emergency department who found themselves now homeless in the wake of the storm, but were unable to stay in traditional shelters due to medical conditions.

The hospital formed an emergency shelter in its food court to help those with special needs, such as oxygen or frequent wound care. About 200 homeless a day stayed in the area that became known as "the village" until suitable longer-term alternatives could be secured.

Memorial lost power briefly on a few occasions but was able to remain fully operational, even maintaining support services, such as labs, X-rays and a cafeteria to feed hungry workers. The hospital ran on massive generators for a week before returning to grid power, a feat requiring 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel each day. Fuel was obtained with the help of the EOC.

"We held down health care for all of Harrison County from Aug. 29 until Sept. 8," Marchand said, "and we never turned anyone away."

Memorial did receive damage during the storm, with 45 of the hospital's 278 beds initially shut down due to water and broken windows. In the days following, the hospital "decompressed" its patient census, transferring about 55 patients not requiring acute care to other nursing facilities by military helicopter.

Outpatient beds were then converted to inpatient beds and damaged areas patched, bringing the total number of inpatients the hospital could accommodate to 300. Early fears that a possible influx of storm-related illness could lead to a spike in admissions did not materialize. Memorial hospital's inpatient census has remained stable at about 200 a day since the hurricane, Marchand said.

Back in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the police chief doesn't want people coming back into the evacuated town because of significant damage to the infrastructure and flooding.

Calcasieu Parish officials said Sunday residents will not be allowed to return until at least Oct. 3, though they're working with federal officials on a plan for brief property inspection visits.
Since Saturday's passage of Hurricane Rita, parts of Lake Charles, where water was up to 6 feet deep, were covered with only to 2 or 3 feet by Sunday afternoon.

Most of the parish, and all of Lake Charles, lacks electricity, water and sewage service. Most streets are impassable because of downed trees and power lines.

Additionally, 16 arrests have been made for looting, including one incident where a shotgun-wielding man exchanged fire with police officers, Lake Charles Police Chief Don Dixon said.

"This is not a safe place and we don't want you here," Dixon said.

UPDATE:
Phin blegs for assistance regarding goings on in DeRidder, Louisiana, which is just above Lake Charles, Louisiana. Houston, Texas is quickly returning to normal after dodging a bullet. Some New Orleans residents are looking to head back to the city. Mayor Nagin is looking to allow people to return to the drier parts of the city. That would seemingly exclude the 9th Ward, which was reflooded due to Rita.

Technorati: flood aid; hurricane katrina; hurricane rita; katrina aid; new orleans, rita, galveston, lake charles, levee; beaumont; port arthur; levee breach.