Katrina

We spoke with our truck's owners (Jerry & Shirley) this morning. They took over the truck for us while we take some much needed time off, and the first run offer they got was down to Louisiana to help with the Katrina rescue efforts.
The company we work for, FedEx, has a contract with FEMA. Jeff and I were well aware that we could be called for a FEMA run any time during hurricane season; in fact we were surprised that we were never sent during Hurricane Dennis' aftermath since we were already in the Miami area.
FEMA runs are certainly a mixed bag of emotions. The compassionate part of me can't imagine NOT being there to help in any way; it's also the compassionate part of me that is relieved we got off the truck when we did. I know this comment may sound heartless to many, but I can't imagine seeing so much destruction and suffering and not being able to do anything directly about it. It would have killed me inside. Talking to Jerry this morning-- and hearing his experiences so far-- made me realize that we got off the truck in the nick of time.
He spoke of countless bodies all around. He spoke of people rushing up to the truck and begging for food or water. People were actually shoving babies against the truck window screaming for help. Jerry and Shirley stayed for a week, hauling in food and medical supplies, and finally left the area for the weekend to rest, get some food and take a shower. They had to deadhead all the way to Houston to accomplish this.
I heard that CNN had reported that FedEx was running medical supplies for FEMA, and as a result of that report, several FedEx trucks had been hijacked. I mentioned this to Jerry and he hadn't heard anything specifically to that effect, but he was certainly not surprised given the critical situation there. I pray for their safety, I pray for the poor people who have lost so much, and I pray for the landscape that I had, just a few weeks ago, driven through and marvelled over.
God bless and please help those people.