McPhee's life changing experience in New Orleans

(Many bloggers have asked if Jim McPhee couldn't share some more details and photos of his experiences as a volunteer worker for the Red Cross in the aftermath of the hurricane in New Orleans. We're proud of Jim and believe he represents our generation's humanity. He's also an inspiration. We asked Jim if he'd send us some comments and photos. Today they arrived in the mail and here they are. -- Stan)

The three weeks I spent in New Orleans were a life-changing experience. My job was workin on an ERV which is a feeding truck. Every morning, we would load over 500 hot meals, 1200 bottles of water and snacks and go to the 17th Ward to feed the people.


This Ward had flood waters from 3 to 15 feet. When I first got there, we could barely get through the streets. The flood left the homes in ruins. When the people return, they have to throw all their belongings out to the street. After the belongings are out, they have to remove all the sheetrock from the walls and ceilings.


The next step is to bleach every 2x4, one at a time, to try to kill the mold. These people are unbelieveable. They would tell me they are in God's hands and he will show them the way. I don't think I could do it. All they want is a 32-foot FEMA trailer on their front yard, so they can stay home and rebuild. They will probably be in the trailer two to five years.


This pile goes on for six or seven blocks. It is 20 feet high and 100 feet wide.


The BMW is wrecked, the water was over the top of the home. This is the Ninth Ward you often see on TV. The car will be taken to a site and given a chemical bath to decontaminate it. It will then be crushed and the metal recycled.


All the refrigerators have to have the freon removed before being crushed.


This photo was taken in Mississippi. They didn't have the flood, but Katrina didn't move for two days and the winds were over 100 mph. The homes are totally blown away. The message painted on the side of the van says it all: "Please don't loot. It's all we have left. God Bless."

Remember the Red Cross. They really need help. They will be there for a long time.

Jim McPhee