Small miracles, I just heard from a friend from NO who has been missing.

[GumboYaYa]

He is a Jefferson Parish Deputy so I feared he might be in a desperate situation. Apparently my fears were justified.

He was in Metarie today and said that the media is not even telling half the story. Death is in the air and there is a pall on the city. He was in one of the "better" areas and said it was totally destroyed. Some of our friends are still stuck further in the city and they describe a brutal scene. The dead bodies of young children are apparently lying in the streets. People are scared of a typhoid outbreak. He predicts that there will be a case within a week. Last night was the first night where gunfire was not rampant in the Uptown area.

My friend is one of the most unique characters I have ever known. But then again every New Orleanian is a unique character. Nevertheless this guy is true New Orleans, born, raised and destined to never leave. We spoke for a long time tonight; the pain in his voice was palpable.

[MinneapolisMatt]

1. Oh that's wonderful news!

There is hope for all the people we still haven't heard from yet. Thanks for sharing.

Matt :)

[Spazito]

2. I am very glad your friend is okay!

His story is horrifying and I agree with him, we aren't getting the whole story, it is even worse than what we can imagine.

[DemBones DemBones]

3. I'm glad you heard from your friend, sad that

he confirms my suspicions that things are worse than we're being told.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

5. I'm glad you heard from him, but sad at the situation.

My concern for the police, are they able to get any sleep? They are all so worn out. Does he have a house left? And what are his plans when he is relieved from duty?

[GumboYaYa]

9. He has no house. It was completely wiped out.

It sounded like he had not slept in days. He was in Baton Rouge tonight to get some rest. He is going back into New Orleans tomorrow, We have friends trapped in the city and he is going in to get them out. They are not letting private citizens into the city, but he thinks he can slip in with his Jefferson Parish Uniform on.

He had $400 in his pocket and is not sure what is going to happen in the future. When he left he grabbed his uniform a change of clothes and that's it. He thinks it will be months before anyone comes back to New Orleans. He is a volunteer deputy so he doesn't get paid. His real job is real estate agent.

The sad thing is that he is really lucky. There are people in far more dire straits right now.

[Lindsay]

4. Thank you.

Every little bit of good news helps.

I hope someone is collecting stories from the survivors. Bush's crimes need to be told.

[Booster]

6. I'm glad he's ok and tell him we are all ashamed of what we are

watching. I have never felt so helpless in my entire life; I've given money to the Red Cross only to find out they can't get in and on another thread they are saying the Nat Guard left with Bush. I hate thinking what I'm thinking, but I really believe they want riots to break out so they can go in and mow the people down. If that happens, God help us all.

[ultraist]

7. I'm glad to hear your friend is ok.

But to hear it's worse than we are being told and their dead bodies of children in the street? :cry:

People are still trapped and DYING, SIX DAYS LATER! This is beyond horrific.

[MissMarple]

8. God, I hope the world will believe. Sadly, truth can be easy to ignore,

to rationalize. Sometimes, I despise my fellow man. And, right now, anyone supporting and rationalizing what this administration has done, well...I don't feel any pity for you. You are damned to hell.

[lwin]

10. So glad your friend is ok

A little bit of good news is appreciated, when so much of it has been bad.