Homeland Insecurity in Mississippi

Friday, September 09, 2005 2:54 AM
Subject: The Hurricane's Aftermath -
A Firsthand Account

"I just got off the phone with my ex-boyfriend, Terrell, who lives in Biloxi and who is currently between Jackson and Biloxi. I cannot imagine the horror that he is experiencing. He wished that he could show us what is really going on so, for him, I will try to share with you what he says is happening. I have no idea what to do to help, but maybe you can think of ways.

First, he said that the only time that he has seen the Red Cross or FEMA was when Bush was in the area. He said other than that, help has been almost non-existent. They are trying to organize giving out $2,000 debit cards, however there are not enough for everyone and people are fighting to get tickets (which they may later be able to use to get the debit card). He was actually told to call FEMA. When he called FEMA, he was told to call back. Since then, he has been calling FEMA and has been unable to get through. He goes from center to center and each place is unorganized, provides no information and no help.

Basically, they are leaving the people there to die, is what he said. He said that everything they are showing on the news and on the internet is bullshyt and that the people are not being helped (maybe those in the Superdome and Convention Center since there is so much media focus on that area). He said that there are bodies everywhere -- he saw 3 in a Safeway parking lot -- and that there is no real way to say how many people have died but he things that it's going to be a lot.

He also said that the police are not helping -- only intimidating. He said after the first day, he was looking at what remained of his apartment building and was not offered any help or assistance. There is no one even offering water. He says that he was told by the police that there was a 24 hr curfew and to leave -- not offered assistance.

He asked that I don't donate any money to the Red Cross since wherever the help is going, it's not to them. He said that basically everything I saw when I was there doesn't exist anymore.

And the saddest part about it is that he is lucky. He had the presence of mind to pack a few things and leave. He said he wasn't going to leave at first because they'd been through a few hurricanes, but that when he went outside the rain was "different", so he left taking little with him, thinking he would be home soon. Not all of his friends did. Some are still missing.

Currently, he has 15 gallons of gas in three 5 gal containers and water, and a truck and a few things to wear. He is doing better than a lot of people. I don't understand how this is happening and I don't really know what we can do to help, but we must do something."

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