This is America?

The Times Picayune has a place to post your own hurricane stories on their site. I think they expected to receive lots of 'how I got out' and similar tales of brave rescues and indomitable fortitude. What they're getting are pathetic pleas for help from the stranded. Samples:

OVER 800 TRAPPED AT LSU UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, Perdido and Gravier Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2005 10:08:37 -0400

Subject: My Hurricane Story -- CRITICAL CLARIFICATION TO LAST POST

Story: IT IS READILY APPARENT THAT MASS MISCOMMUNICATION HAS OCCURED, THERE ARE AT LEAST 800 PEOPLE STRANDED IN LSU UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ON PERDIDO AND GRAVIER, THIS IS NOT TULANE UNIVERSITY HOSPTAL WHICH HAS BEEN EVACUATED FOR DAYS OR CHARITY HOSPITAL WHICH HAS RECEIVED INTERMITTENT EVACUATION EFFORTS.

LSU UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RESCUE EFFORTS AT ALL. I ENCOURAGE THOSE READING THE POSTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH WHOM THEY CAN THAT THIS IS LSU UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND THAT THEY NEED GOVERNMENTAL, MILITARY, AND QUITE HONESTLY PRIVATE HELP. ALSO, PLEASE AVOID ANY BLAME GAME TACTICS THAT MAY PROHIBIT THE CURRENT GOAL, WHICH (AS OF 530AM THIS MORNING WHEN I RECEIVED THE LAST CALL FROM INSIDE) IS A DESPERATE SITUATION WHERE LIVES CAN STILL BE SAVED.

and:

My cousin and his family have not yet been rescued. There are six people including a young child and three Tulane University students. The address is 3254 Gentilly Blvd. The name is Terry Simon.

Reports are that a rescue boat came on Tuesday and took the family across the street because they were in worst condition. However, no one came back for them. I understand that they are in the attic with no food or water...waiting to be rescued.

and:

Story: Doctors, patients and staff are stranded at Baptist Hospital (extended campus of Memorial Hospital). My brother, Dr. Bryant King, is stranded there and has been sending occassional text messages to let us know the situation.

Yesterday, he explained that management at the hospital decided to selctivley withold food and water from patients. Doctors are being forced to decide who gets to live and who will starve to death. The hospital is surrounded by 8ft of flood water; There is no more electricity, food or water. Windows are broken out and people are starving.

There has been very little press about this hosptial, but conditions are deplorable and they need to be evacuated. My brother asked that we please get them out of there. Please let the press know that Baptist Hospital (2700 Napolean Blv) is BEGGING FOR HELP!!!

and:

Subject: My Hurricane Story -- Trapped in Charity Hospital Hell

Story: My brother John has been pleading on national news programs for help. There are 1200 patients, doctors, nurses and hospital personnel trapped in Charity Hospital. Surrounded by 5 feet of water that has become dangerous to even swim through, these people have had no electricity since 5:00 a.m, Monday. Why is their plight no worse than others? This hospital is trying to keep their patients alive without any technology available other than manual means and perseverance.

They've lost patients just because there is no electricity. They're having to stack the dead bodies outside on balconies because the disease and stench could cause more health problems that these people don't need at this time.

Their food and water is almost gone. Green beans and a cup of water is the common menu for the day. The toilets don't work - more health problems.

Go here and click on 'your stories' for the most recent; note that the ones I quoted are from TODAY.