The BBC is running eyewitness reports from various people who are in New Orleans, and I've found them to be reasoned, matter-of-fact journalism as well as non-sensationalized human stories: i.e., they tell us a lot. This one is from a New Orleans doctor who was attending a medical conference when the hurricane hit; he and some colleagues have set up a makeshift hospital in the relatively-undamaged hotel in which they were staying. He has some observations about the looting and who is doing it, as well as describing a situation he clearly never expected to be in. Well worth reading.
Thank you, Beth, for this and the last post. Truly and sadly a time of horror for the people of New Orleans - it is unbelievable, like a war zone. With the might of US government and military, it amazes me that they haven't been able to take control of the situation. A group of 42 members of Vancouver's Urban Search and Rescue team has been held back in providing help because of the anarchy, as just one example I'm sure.
Posted by: Marja-Leena | September 02, 2005 at 04:08 PM