I think the emotions from the hurricane are finally dying down - people are finally realizing that there will be time for finger-pointing later, that there have been failures on all levels of government (city state and federal). Hopefully they all learn from it, and that people who did fail will be held accountable.

But what's good to know is that people are getting help. The convention center is empty now, and states are opening their doors to evacuees to help them get their lives back in order. Children who have been separated from their parents have been reunited. Progress is being made. There is still a LONG way to go, but we'll make it.

So I just wanted to share a couple stories that show that there are some positive things happening.

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So I'm at home today, watching Oprah, and they've got Julia Roberts, Matthew McCaunaughy, Chris Rock and other stars going to the affected areas and helping out and providing comfort. Yeah, some people will say it's a publicity stunt, but it's obvious that the people who are seeing them appreciate them coming out with supplies and hugs. I admit to crying when Chris Rock broke down crying thinking of his own daughter when he saw a little girl who was so happy and knew that nothing bad would happen as long as she was with her daddy. *wahhhh* I'm such a sap.

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Kids are doing what they can to help the cause:

The Frueh family kids began selling lemonade at rush hour Friday and planned to close their lemonade stand Monday afternoon. But the response has been so overwhelming, they said they`ll continue selling during afterwork hours this week.

By Monday evening, the Frueh children had raised more than $1,600, the Cincinnati Enquirer said Tuesday. Police cars, bus drivers and joggers make unscheduled stops to donate, and often say 'no, thanks' to the lemonade before leaving, Laurie Frueh said.

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A six-year old hero brings his little herd of children to safety:

In the chaos that was Causeway Boulevard, this group of evacuees stood out: a 6-year-old boy walking down the road, holding a 5-month-old, surrounded by five toddlers who followed him around as if he were their leader.

They were holding hands. Three of the children were about 2 years old, and one was wearing only diapers. A 3-year-old girl had her 14-month-old brother in tow. The 6-year-old spoke for all of them, and he said his name was Deamonte Love.

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Oil exec charters a jet to bring evacuees to San Diego:

But he was clearly not content with merely contributing money.

"Everybody wants money," he said. "They don't want food or help," he said. "But I don't want to give money and have it sit there. I'm on the ground to get food to the people."

Perez, who upon landing in Baton Rouge talked his way onto a rescue helicopter that took him to New Orleans, later said he was working with the Louisiana Social Services Department to identify storm victims for the planned evacuation to San Diego.

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This blog has a whole bunch of stories, heart warming and heart breaking, of the people touched by Hurricane Katrina:

http://blogs.chron.com/katrinavoices/

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What has happened to the police force in New Orleans? They're hanging in there. Barely, but they are.

For more than a week, they have dealt with personal tragedies no different from anyone else's here — apartments that are underwater, parents who are missing, children who are being shuttled from one shelter to the next.

Two dozen of them found their way to the home of Lt. David M. Benelli, 55, commander of the city's sex crimes unit, and the woman he calls his child bride, Sgt. Becky Benelli, 42, assistant commander of the crime lab. The Benellis are cops to the core; they met at a traffic fatality and fell in love.

The officers at "Camp Benelli" in the Algiers area of New Orleans reflect the diversity of the department: 21 men and five women, black and white, 33-year veterans and patrol cops with six months under their belts. They have more than 300 years of combined service on the force.

And every morning, they find the strength to go to work.

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18 year-old hijacks a school bus, picks up people and brings them to safety:

The teen packed it full of complete strangers and drove to Houston. He beat thousands of evacuees slated to arrive there. Authorities eventually allowed the renegade passengers inside the dome. But the 18-year-old who ensured their safety could find himself in a world of trouble for stealing the school bus.

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Yesterday I got my copy of "LOST: Season I" in the mail. May not be good news to the people of the south, but hell, it's good news to me! Yay!!! LOST party at my house this weekend! Yay!!!

Posted by Yano at September 7, 2005 07:24 AM

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