Page 127 - The Voice of Authority

chapter 7

Are You Concerned

and Connected?

It is better to speak from a full heart
and an empty head than from a full
head and an empty heart.
—Dublin Opinion

fter Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster
in the history of the United States, hit Louisiana,
AMarty Bahamonde, a FEMA employee on the
ground in New Orleans, sent this desperate text message
to Mike Brown, then head of FEMA:

Sir, I know that you know the situation is past criti-
cal. Here [are] some things you might not know.
Hotels are kicking people out, thousands gathering in
the streets with no food or water. Hundreds still be-
ing rescued from homes.
The dying patients at the DMAT tent being medivac.
Estimates are many will die within hours. Evacuation
in process. Plans developing for dome evacuation but
hotel situation adding to problem. We are out of food

Are You Concerned and Connected? 115

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