Riggsveda's goin' into N'awlins with the FIRST Red Cross teams to enter the city

A quick update on Riggsveda's situation... She is going into New Orlean's Ninth Ward today as part of the FIRST Red Cross teams to enter the most devastated part of the city. The Red Cross has NOT been allowed into any part of NOLA proper to this point for a lot of reasons. They had been driving their relief vehicles along the levees and folks would come to the city limit to get food and water. They were not happy about that and incredulous that the Red Cross could not come to them. But, the mayor didn't want people moving back in, everything is still covered with an extremely toxic/fetid sludge (she says it's "alive") left behind by the flooding, the levees are only temporarily repaired and, as seen when Rita came ashore, not reliable, movement is difficult as there are entire houses that were floated into the middle of streets, etc.

After arriving in Baton Rouge and receiving her orientation on Sunday, she was sent to Kenner, LA, just north of NO, on Monday and assigned to an Emergency Response Vehicle crew that has been distributing food and water there. Mostly to construction and government workers as there are few residents in the area now.

She's told me that the devastation she has so far witnessed is simply unimaginable and they are just now heading into the worst areas of NO.

But, she's safe and well fed, staying in a volunteer shelter in Kenner where the Baptist church prepares 10,000 meals for distribution twice a day. She says the weather has been beautiful. I told her if it starts raining to get the hell out of the 9th ward! She's enjoying the company of her compatriates and feels that she's performing useful work.

Please keep her in your prayers.

Kevin