Red Cross volunteer says Katrina relief effort is unusually disorganized

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3842312&nav=0RceeSCn

Local Red Cross volunteer says Katrina relief effort is unusually disorganized

(Grand Rapids, September 13, 2005, 8:15 a.m.) One Red Cross volunteer who just got back from Baton Rouge says the relief effort is still unusually disorganized.

Red Cross volunteer Bani Holcombe of Holland was headed to New Orleans when he was diverted to Baton Rouge for a three week shift. He cut his time in Baton Rouge short, after witnessing evacuee abuse and a disorganized relief effort at all levels.

Seven thousand New Orleans evacuees packed a convention hall and arena located in Baton Rouge. That shelter is where Holcombe served the masses and witnessed chaos. Holcombe says the people were treated as if they were prisoners and that he witnessed evacuees being shot by authorities.

"One I will never forget. He had shot his weapon up in the air and took off running, and the next thing I hear is two more gunshots. And an hour later I see a black bag. It tells me enough," Holcombe told 24 Hour News 8.

[slampoet]

1. WOOD tv is real conservative.

I used to live under their radar ball.

If a nurse from Holland, Michigan (most conservative area in the state) says that there are things going wrong then there are a lot of things going wrong.

[expatriot]

2. I am going to be sent off soon as a Red Cross volunteer....

here are my thoughts...

there has obviously been some institutional failures here that start from the top and go down. I know from my training that Red Cross takes its cues from governmental agencies (FEMA and the state emergency management agencies) as to where they are needed, etc. Obviously, there are also bad apples in any institution and whereas compassion is the entire principle of Red Cross, many people very soon forget that and especially when the volume of people is so large. As for the refusal to get these people settled into the shelter, there may have been some administrative paralysis as they were deciding as to whether open another shelter or looking at their options.

I am not saying the RC is without blame or is in anyway perfect.

"He kept a detailed journal and is planning on turning it into a book."
I am not dissing this man, but I wonder if he planned on writing a book to begin with.

[donco6]

3. I can't blame RC for anything. They're volunteers.

They take on the responsibility willingly. From what we've seen, our federal government had to be FORCED into action.

[expatriot]

4. i agree with you, but having said that....

the Red Cross is of course vulnerable to any and all of the usual administrative failures and SNAFU's as any other institution but these particular failings should not be used to lambast the entire organization. This is my problem with the following sentence. "Holcombe told 24 Hour News 8 that he is embarrassed to wear the Red Cross." That is like, in my opinion, being embarrassed to be a Christian because a televangelist is misusing church offerings.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. This is what happens when there is no one in charge at the top

People try to do their best for the most part but without leadership they all end up like chickens with their heads cut off. Of course, conditions detiorate rapidly and then it gets crazy.

[expatriot]

6. NNNOLHI, I have always wanted to ask you....

How do you want us to pronounce your screen name? Is there a phonetization that you prefer? such as...

n-n-nol-HI

NOL-hee

Or is it like the "artist formerly known as...," there is no pronounciation.

[RedRocco]

7. kick

.