Let’s Help

I was in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago. Not for long – about 2 hours or so – just enough time to feast on three beignets at Cafe DuMonde.

I really believe we ought to help those folks who have been, once again, damaged by a hurricane. Whether we contribute to a humanitarian group, or make a trip to assist, or pray for those who do, help is always in order.

What I am really wondering about is whether we can provide travel assistance for those who seemingly cannot leave the area when something like this happens. This is not the first or last time damage will come along the Gulf. Evidently “we” (read: Local or National Government) are not sending transportation to those areas where people need such to be provided.

Hurricane Isaac has weakened to a tropical storm, but is hovering over New Orleans and the northern Gulf Coast and has left hundreds without power and flooding low-lying areas. In Plaquemines Parish, south of New Orleans, the storm surge topped the area’s 8-foot high levees, trapping residents who chose not to evacuate. (The LOOKOUT)

We would not have nearly so much difficulty  feeding, sheltering, protecting, and providing if we would just assist the people who obviously cannot evacuate when asked/told to do so. Surely we could provide transportation – van, buses, trains, planes, automobiles – so that the people would not be “trapped.”

Why do we continue to “leave” these people in these dangerous, damaging, injuring, deadly situations. Why must we send rescue personnel, at their peril, to provide services (whatever they may be), when all we have to do is help those poor folks get out in the first place.

Who’s running this show, anyway?