I just got off the phone with my state and federal Representatives. My state rep called me himself.
\nThe RUMORS – and per our elected representatives, they are just rumors, unconfirmed by NEMA, MEMA or anyone else – are that two planeloads of people from New Orleans are expected to land at 1:30 today and after midnight at Camp Edwards.
\nNote that these are people DIRECTLY FROM NEW ORLEANS, not from the relo centers in Texas.
\nIn other words, these are the “holdouts” who have refused to leave the city until they were forced out, in some cases, at gunpoint.<\/p>
I just got off the phone with my state and federal Representatives. My state rep called me himself. The RUMORS – and per our elected representatives, they are just rumors, unconfirmed by NEMA, MEMA or anyone else – are that … Continue reading
\nOur elected representatives have not been told how many people there are, or who they are.
\nPer one of these conversations, Mitt Romney has had to roll back his earlier statements that these relocations will be permanent, but the “guests” could be here as long as 6 months – i.e., through what is predicted to be another harsh New England winter.
\nI have a mental image of a man who was seen this week on national television, wading in calf-deep water around one of the underground cemeteries, scooping up artificial flowers.
\nThere was a statement in the newspaper earlier this week that vaccination requirements will be WAIVED for school children from New Orleans.
\nHere’s a quote from thebostonchannel.com and EPA, one of the few federal agencies with any credibility these days:
\nPeople in New Orleans had already been told to avoid drinking the water, but now they’re being told that flood waters are so contaminated with sewage that they should even avoid skin contact.
\nThe new warning is from the Environmental Protection Agency, following the first round of government tests.
\nEPA administrator Stephen Johnson said rescue workers and the remaining city residents should avoid the water as much as possible. The tests showed the floodwaters contain sewage-related bacteria that’s at least 10 times higher than acceptable safety levels.
\nThe EPA said the tests also show elevated lead levels in the water. High lead levels would be a risk to those who drink the water, particularly children.<\/em>
\nThree people in the Gulf states have already died<\/a> from bacterial infections related to the flooding.
\nHere’s a prediction about the Mitt Romney for President campaign: he’s not going to carry the Upper Cape. And I’m not sure about the Congressman Bill Delahunt for re-election campaign, either.
\nI hate to sound like a hysterical “the sky is falling” local yokel, but the more I hear about the combined F* up by local, state and national government, the less I am reassured. This is starting to sound more like a big, nasty can of worms and less like a noble humanitarian effort.
\nAnd, by the way, my admiration is growing hourly for the citizens of Houston and other locales who are dealing with these issues on a much greater scale.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"