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Troops Enter New Orleans to Provide Food, Aid, Stability

Saturday, 3 September 2005, 20:07 (EST)
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Thousands on National Guard troops arrived in New Orleans today, bringing with them vitally needed food, water and a stabilizing presence for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

More than four days after one of the most powerful storms ever to threaten the United States bore down on the Gulf Coast, National Guard troops rolled into hard-hit New Orleans in large open topped trucks carrying food, water and rifles prominently displayed.

Leschia Radford, one of more than 10,000 people at a makeshift shelter at the New Orleans Convention Center was appreciative of the military's arrival, which had been brought in to restore order and feed the hungry.

"Lord, I thank you for getting us out of here," she said according to the Associated Press.

For residents who couldn't escape New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina arrived, the days since have been a gut wrenching ordeal where lack of water, food and proper sanitation made the living situation nearly unbearable. One of the tensest areas has been the New Orleans Convention Center where 10,000 to 20,000 people had taken shelter. Many were extremely angry, making for a volatile situation, AP reported.

Of the thousands of guardsmen who arrived Friday, about 700 were designated to go into the area to establish order.

Relief groups such as the Salvation Army may also benefit from the added stability of the military. The Christian group is currently providing services to storm victims and emergency "first responders." It is housing about 250 refugees at a community center in one of its shelters there.

Before touring the Gulf Coast region on Friday, President Bush acknowledged that the initial response by federal authorities "was not acceptable." Later in the day, he vowed to improve the situation. "We are going to restore order in the city of New Orleans," he said, according to AP.

"In order to make sure there's less violence, we've got to get food to people," he added.

According to reports, a lack of water, and food and proper sanitation has plagued the mostly flooded city. In response, Congress today approved $10.5 billion dollars for FEMA money, enough to last about two weeks. The federal agency has been spending $500 million every day for relief efforts in the region.

The money will be used to finance food, emergency shelter, medical care, debris removal, generators, and cash payments to hurricane victims. The three states that have been declared disaster zones will benefit from the recently approved funds. They are Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Senator David Vitter (R-La.), who traveled with the President on Friday, told reporters his outlook for the near future.

"Hopefully today is the turnaround, that is my prayer," he said, according to Bloomberg news.

Meanwhile, a non-profit group known as the Presidential Prayer Team has called for people to pray for the President and relief groups, as well as refugees who had managed to leave New Orleans and go into neighboring Texas.

"Pray that a calm and caring community will be created there and that people of faith will band together and look to God in faith, keeping evacuees encouraged and keeping hope alive in the midst of very difficult circumstances."





Francis Helguero
Christian Today Correspondant


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