What you're not seeing on the evening news

From a diary at Daily Kos by someone who's in Slidell, Louisiana:

In the past couple of days I have been to Slidel, which was the worse thing I've seen in my life. You cannot tell that houses were ever in areas...there is nothing, absolutely NOTHING. The storm surge off of the lake went to 40 feet apparently and seeing the piles of debris, I would say that was about right.

The stench is really something all around here, at least to me. It is over 100 degrees with the same humidity, these towns smell horrific...fear, death, dying, mold, and very much like chemicals.

I've noticed my skin is looking bad and there are some 'bites/sores' I can't quite figure out.

The suffering is relentless, the aid from the government agencies and the 'help' agencies are all lacking hugely. FEMA claims their hands are tied by Washington....who knows.

I'm on the ground, seeing human suffering and squallor conditions in AMERICA and I keep reminding myself I am NOT supposed to be living in a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY...when I see this for miles and miles and listen to the stories, I believe that this part of AMERICA is THIRD WORLD.

Imagine having 20 feet of water go through your home and returning to have it still with 3-9 feet of water, then having to RIP EVERYTHING out and stack in in the streets for FEMA/insurance to look at...then having to rip out the carpets and the drywall because MOLD is growing everywhere at an alarming rate...then think about HAVING TO LIVE IN THAT HOME because unless you leave the state, there is NO place to go. Then look for bleach, or ANY FUCKING cleaning supplies to try and make your 'home' 'safe'...and there is NOTHING being handed out and the mold grows back as quickly as you clean it off.

Did I tell you this is in AMERICA? Slidel to be exact.

Think of those riding out the storm in a church and going higher and higher and finally the water begins to receed...when it drains out, you still have no place else to go, because your housing is gone, so you stay in the molding and dank church...you've been forgotten, no food, water...STILL.

Did I tell you this is in AMERICA? Slidel to be exact.

These are stories I will tell later when I get back to California and prepare them. Today (Tuesday) I head back to Slidel to take a load of supplies to 'my' new friends and check on the church and will go buy things if necessary.

Today I hope to continue to take video, pictures and record stories from the survivors and the refugees.

Oh, yes, they are refugees, the ones with no place to go and nothing but the clothes on their back...in fact they say they are the 'forgotten refugees of America'....

AMERICA .... The failing to help our CITIZENS.

I do believe that if it weren't for the individuals and grassroots that are all over this hurricane ravaged area, there would be worse death tolls, as I believe we have saved many.

These are the people Barbara Bush thinks are so much better off now. And these are the people who will be forgotten all too soon, and left by their government to fend for themselves in a meaner, crueler, more selfish America.