Notes from New Orleans
I have an e-pal and she is from and in New Orleans...Merna W. Here is an excerpt from her latest writings:
"...that's it for today except I want to say this about evacuation:not much is said why people didn't evacuate. It's not because they are stupid, lazy or drunk. One reason is the storm blew up so fast. Another is that there was not much gas to buy at any price. Many places were out of gas.Another is that some people were broke and didn't have cash to buy it which is what you had to have. Finally there is a big segment of the population with no car at all. They walk to work or take a taxi or ride the bus. I know, taxis cost money, but that is what some poor people do all the time, take the taxi. In closing it is better to be bored than scared to death."
Here are some other excerpts:
"I counted and there were 1,000 people in the unemployment line at a satellite office not many people know about in a town calledReserve (we used to joke and call it Reverse)there were 1000 people in the line to apply for food stamps at a satellite office not many people know aboutthere were 1000 cars in a line going down airline highwaytoward Jefferson parish coz today is the last day you can go downthere before it is shut down for a couple of months.if you ever have to wait in a line like that it is a good ideato bring a folding chair to sit on and an umbrella to keep the sunoffit is not so humid so is sort of cool but it is sunny todayat the main line for emergency food stamps at the officialparish place here you have to fill out the application and take anumber for your turn to hand it in and meet with a case worker. manyof these numbers are for a spot 30 hours later...."
"...that's it for today except I want to say this about evacuation:not much is said why people didn't evacuate. It's not because they are stupid, lazy or drunk. One reason is the storm blew up so fast. Another is that there was not much gas to buy at any price. Many places were out of gas.Another is that some people were broke and didn't have cash to buy it which is what you had to have. Finally there is a big segment of the population with no car at all. They walk to work or take a taxi or ride the bus. I know, taxis cost money, but that is what some poor people do all the time, take the taxi. In closing it is better to be bored than scared to death."
Here are some other excerpts:
"I counted and there were 1,000 people in the unemployment line at a satellite office not many people know about in a town calledReserve (we used to joke and call it Reverse)there were 1000 people in the line to apply for food stamps at a satellite office not many people know aboutthere were 1000 cars in a line going down airline highwaytoward Jefferson parish coz today is the last day you can go downthere before it is shut down for a couple of months.if you ever have to wait in a line like that it is a good ideato bring a folding chair to sit on and an umbrella to keep the sunoffit is not so humid so is sort of cool but it is sunny todayat the main line for emergency food stamps at the officialparish place here you have to fill out the application and take anumber for your turn to hand it in and meet with a case worker. manyof these numbers are for a spot 30 hours later...."
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