September 6, 2005
Hi Everyone:
I want to first off thank EVERYONE for their prayers. We all desperately need them down here in Louisiana. Right now I am completely blessed that I am on the largest Coast Guard cutter out here, but there are so many others that are suffering and in danger. CNN tells a very good story and has a big picture view, but it's a little bit different when you're right in the middle of it and not exactly sure what is going on around you. I'll tell a little from my point of view.
Coming up the Mississippi was an experience! I woke up really early in the morning to a dim glow of the sun coming up over the horizon. Everywhere I looked, I saw oil rigs and huge container ships anchored outside of the Southwest Pass into the Mississippi River. We had been told that no navigational aides remained and at that time we didn't know if our draft would make it through the river. Transiting up the Mississippi River is a very long process, it took 10 + hours. During that time we took on survivors from another Coast Guard vessel among other difficulties of trying to get water.
While in the Southwest pass before entering the Mississippi River I saw many dead alligators floating belly up. Shacks and buildings were blown apart. As we approached New Orleans, we began to see large barges and containers washed up on the levy. Further along the transit, I could see windows blown out of factories and docks falling apart. Very few aids to navigation remain intact and on location. Right outside New Orleans, a huge container ship was pushed up on the Levy. The funny thing is that our pilot on board told me that he drove that very container ship up the river on Saturday, warning the Captain of the vessel that a hurricane was approaching. This container shi p broke loose from it's mooring lines, floated across the river, sank two tugs trying to keep it in place, and ended up on top of the levy.
My cutter decided to anchor for the night right in front of the famous River Walk. It looked completely abandoned, until I looked through the binoculars and saw thousands of people standing in the street on the other side of the gate.
Other than that, it looked only like a big storm had come through, not even a hurricane. I found out that on the other side of the levies, everything was flooded. People couldn't move or be transported by land. People are still on their roofs waiting to be rescued; helicopters are flying around the clock trying to transport people.
I had the mids for anchor watch (0000-0400). I was briefed on the CNN stories of all the organized crime on both sides of the river. Gangs are infiltrating different government organizations. SWAT cars, police cars, Coast Guard stations are being over taken by people wearing stolen uniforms. Women are throwing their babies in people's vehicles to get their children out of the city. Looting is rampant; one man has 10 dead bodies in his front yard because he is popping off anyone who sets foot in his yard. On my anchor watch, I shined the 1 million candle power spot light into stores along River Walk and watched people run off with merchandise. I've heard of snipers firing across the river taking out anyone. Throughout my watch, I looked down to see if there was a red dot on my body that could be from someone's gun. We secured the weather decks for the night, not allowing anyone outside because it is so dangerous.
When we pulled into New Orleans, it appeared that the aquarium was on fire. Funny, I never thought about all those poor animals when a hurricane came through. Those animals did not even have the option of escaping. This morning
we heard a boom that echoed throw the city. Something on the other side of the river exploded and started to produce a lot of black smoke. I had to use the Night Vision Goggles (NVG) to see the smoke. An hour after I got off watch, it exploded again, this time giving the watch standers a firework show. At first light an entire Coast Guard convoy transited down the river towards away from the smoke.
As the day progressed on, I felt like I was in the middle of a war zone. Fires began to break out everywhere, as of right now; I don't even know how many fires there are out there. One of the pilots on board feels that the city will be burned down before this is all over. Helicopters fill the sky like buzzing bees on steroids. I cannot look up into the sky without seeing a helicopter in every direction. These are helicopters of all kinds from different services as well as civilian. Looking through the binoculars I see armed crewmen carrying their M-16s. Buildings are run down, ships/ barges have sunk in the middle of the river, huge container ships up on the levy, smoke, helicopters, gun shots, and the bridge is covered in military convoys, police escorts, and ambulances. It is something I have never seen before. I do not feel like I am in America right now. The only sites I have seen that suggest this is the United States are all the Coast Guard assets flying the American flag.
I am proud to know that we have great Coast Guardsmen who have been working non-stop since this all began. They have not stopped to look back at their own losses at home, but have worked around the clock, not taking a break to rescue and protect the thousands of victims in Louisiana. Despite being exhausted with minimal supplies, water, food, and no showers, these fellow Coast Guardsmen are actively putting themselves in harms way to serve and protect our nation on the home front. I have heard from one source that, "evil will reign until the good guys come in and clea n it up. "
Last night my room mate Wendy and I were able to help out a BM2 by bringing her on board and allowing her to gather some supplies before going back out there. Though it seemed like nothing more than an iota for support, it made the difference for this BM2. How everything works together in the grand scheme of this does not cease to amaze me. All the way from the cooks on board to the armed guards on the small boats, to the Admirals and Generals, we all have a place in this and a desire to serve.
Please continue to pray for all of us.
~Amy