Katrina Afternoon Roundup

Congress is expected to reconvene tonite or tomorrow to take up a $10 billion first installment of aid for areas damaged by Katrina. Congress had been on vacation for the last month, and are preparing legislation to cover initial costs to handle this widespread emergency. Multiple states are involved and millions of people are within the damage areas.

New Orleans will need significant infrastructure repairs before it can be habitable, though others may argue that cleaning up so that another storm would wipe it out is foolish. Hundreds of other communities, particularly Gulfport, Mississippi were essentially wiped off the map.

And then there's the immediate humanitarian aid needed to provide food, shelter, and basic services throughout the region. The military is mobilizing in its largest domestic operation since the Civil War. The Navy is sending aircraft carrier task force Harry Truman to the Gulf (and the Truman's motto - The Buck Stops Here - is fitting since the looting and rioting must stop so that basic services can be resumed).

It is not necessary for all members of Congress to return to Washington to approve the funding. Several aides indicated the funds would be approved without a roll call vote, a so-called "voice vote" practice often used when there is no dissent about a piece of legislation.

It might not be necessary, but wouldn't it be nice to actually be present when this legislation is voted upon so that the people in the region know that the rest of the nation stands with them in this time of need? Why are members of Congress permitted the luxury of a vacation at this time? I know that several members of Congress lost their homes in this disaster, but the rest of Congress has no such excuses.

UPDATE:
More news from Slidell. This blog is actually being run by a Katrina victim who has been left homeless by the storm. She points to Paultwo.net, which includes pictures of Slidell.

UPDATE II:
Another must read posting from Wizbang. Paul is caught in the middle of this disaster zone, with little more than the clothes on his back, some power, and a computer. He's managed to get out an email containing a ton of useful information about the condition of infrastructure around New Orleans, including outlying areas and parishes, and when residents can return to various parishes and under what conditions.

UPDATE III:
Tenet Healthcare Corporation has issued an update on its medical facilities throughout the region.

At 317-bed Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans, private helicopters hired by Tenet, working in collaboration with federal agencies, have airlifted several dozen patients, while U.S. Coast Guard representatives ferried family members and others who took shelter in the hospital by boat to safety. More than 40 patients along with about 200 staff and others are still to be evacuated. The hospital has been without electricity, air-conditioning and water since Monday. At one point, more than 2,000 persons including 150 patients were stranded in the hospital.

At 187-bed Lindy Boggs Medical Center in New Orleans, it is our understanding from government agencies that all patients have now been evacuated with remaining staff members expected to be evacuated shortly. The hospital has been without electricity, air-conditioning and water since Monday and has been unable to receive additional supplies.

At 203-bed Kenner Regional Medical Center in Kenner, La., all patients have been evacuated as of Thursday afternoon. Some staff remain but the hospital is closed. The facility was damaged by water and wind in the storm.

At 207-bed Meadowcrest Hospital in Gretna, La., a decision was made early Thursday to evacuate its remaining 100 patients because of unsafe conditions in the area. The latest information indicates that the situation at the hospital was made worse by an attempted hijack early Thursday by armed bandits of a truck attempting to bring supplies from Tenet to the hospital. Local authorities were able to thwart the hijacking attempt and the truck was able to deliver its supplies.

At 174-bed NorthShore Regional Medical Center in Slidell, La., Tenet has been able to bring in by truck and aircraft enough supplies, medicine, additional nurses, portable generators and air-conditioning equipment to permit NorthShore to be one of the few hospitals in the area to remain operational throughout the crisis. It currently is treating about 150 patients.

Gulf Coast Medical Center, a 189-bed hospital in Biloxi, Miss., was extensively damaged by the hurricane and has been closed since Tuesday. All its patients have been transferred to other hospitals.

An account of a drive into Slidell. It isn't a pretty scene.

UPDATE III:
Josh Britton's blog has a ton of useful information on Slidell, including links to photos of Slidell (some include those previously linked from here). Someone who claims to be a utility worker has posted a listing of damage reports - trees and power lines down - and states that the damage isn't necessarily as severe as the media is reporting. The media is focusing on the really damaged parts of town as they should, but they're giving the impression that the whole place is uninhabitable.

UPDATE IV:
The Pensacola News Journal has more photos from the storm ravaged region (HT- abu garcia. This link has the most detailed overhead image of New Orleans flooding. It's a huge file, so it might take a bit of time to download.

Also, word has come down that Fats Domino was found safe and sound. He was rescued from his home, as reported by CNN.