Posted on 09/08/2005 10:49:13 AM PDT by Murtyo
Dear Citizens of Kenner:
Hurricane Katrina dealt a devastating blow to the city of Kenner. Life as we know it, for now at least, has gone with Katrina. We are continuing our state of emergency, marshal law remains throughout the parish and we are asking everyone to cooperate, remain calm and most of all understand that communication is very difficult and often sporadic. So please be very patient.
Kenner fared much, much better than our good neighbors in New Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes. Our hearts go out to those who are still suffering and fighting for survival. Because so much of the federal and state efforts were focused on these hardest hit areas and the rescue missions there, Kenner is receiving very little support from the state and federal officials at this point.
But that is not stopping our incredible recovery effort. This city is pulling together like never before and has accomplished amazing things in just a few days.
We have mobilized water, ice and food for our storm victims and those in our shelters at Bonnabel High School and Butch Duhe Gym. Wonderful corporate citizens like Wal-Mart, Great and Best, Denny’s, Pelican Ice and many more are donating supplies by the truckload.
With that help, we were able to get ice and water to our nursing homes and shelters the day after Katrina hit. Our firefighters and city workers assisted in the evacuation of several nursing homes and Kenner Regional Hospital.
On Thursday, we set up a major water, ice and food distribution point at Westland shopping center. With the help of the Kenner Police Department, our city workers, and Wal-Mart, we are now in our third day of distributing these badly needed supplies to our citizens. In addition we have now set up a second distribution point in North Kenner at the Wal-Mart on West Esplanade and city crews are driving neighborhoods with food, water and ice to reach those who can't get to us.
Still, the situation remains tenuous at best. That is why we are urging residents not to come back if at all possible. While Parish President Broussard is allowing all of Jefferson Parish, including Kenner, to return home Monday morning, it is not a good idea to stay once you have checked on your property.
There is no water. There is very limited electricity, no gas and no sewerage at this point. We don't know when all these services will be restored. There are no stores open, no gas to be found and existing here for days or even weeks will be very miserable. There are health and safety concerns as well because of contaminated floodwaters and downed electric poles that may still be live. A homeowner who hooked up a generator incorrectly this week, died.
We don't want to lose any more of our citizens. And I can tell you that we are focusing on saving lives and sustaining life in addition to getting our infrastructure back up and operating.
This is certainly a very trying time. We really don't know when you'll be able to get back to your lives and go to school, or work or even the grocery store. We have a lot of work to do, and again, we urge you to be as patient as possible. Hurricane Katrina is certainly testing the limits of our patience, and our resources. But Kenner is showing its resilience. We are surviving. It's very heartening to know that Kenner residents care and want to help their fellow citizens. We have seen this city come together like never before. Our firefighters, our police officers, and our city workers are going above and beyond. Our citizens are helping one another. It is because of this resolve that our great city will survive and be stronger for it.
So I urge you all to pray, be kind and patient, assist your neighbors, and most of all have faith that together we will get through this.
Take care...and God Bless.
Mayor Phil Capitano
Senator David Vitter tours Kenner with Mayor Phil Capitano on Saturday September 3, 2005.
VITTER APPLAUDS KENNER EFFORT
Senator Vitter toured Kenner today saying he is impressed with the cleanup and recovery efforts in Jefferson Parish's largest city.
"What I've seen is incredible progress in cleaning the streets, getting the people fed and taken care of. This is fitting in with the big picture I've seen all day today...local officials, and private industry getting it done," said Vitter. Vitter says it has been a complete breakdown by the state and FEMA as far as aid, but he is encouraged by the stepped up military presence.
Wow, a mayor who is taking as much control of the situation as possible, not blaming the governor or the President. Interesting! Maybe Nagin should be sent a copy of that.
"This city is pulling together like never before and has accomplished amazing things in just a few days."
This is the way it's supposed to work, not just sitting around on their butts waiting for the feds to fix everything.
marshal law > martial law ...
At the suggestion of writer Michelle Malkin last Friday, I have cobbled together a blogsite called Texas Clearinghouse for Katrina Aid to serve as a clearinghouse for refugee efforts in Texas.
Texas is getting more refugees than any other state -- that's fine, we'll take them all -- but we need help providing them with food, clothing, medicine, and shelter. We need help taking care of their pets, too.
If you are a refugee, you can information that will help you find relief. If you want to donate or volunteer, you can find someone who needs you. Believe me, there are a lot of organizations who need your help.
Right now the site mostly covers Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas but I'm adding more every night. My wife was down at Reunion Arena in Dallas Tuesday handing out care packages and spiritually ministering to the refugees as a representative of her employer. She says that the situation is tragic and that there's a lot of work to be done. There are so many children who don't know where their parents are or even if their parents are still alive.
There are a lot of churches and other organizations in Texas that need help in dealing with the problem and I would appreciate it if you would get the word out.
Many thanks,
Michael McCullough
Stingray blogsite
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