"Lock the doors and close the blinds -- we're going for a ride..."

Thanks to all who nominated yesterday's blog into the #4 position. I honestly had no idea or expectation to see it there this morning.

I think the outpouring of help and assistance by the world community at large has simply been wonderful. Communities are pitching it to help when they can. So are individuals. But what pains me is the bureaucracy and lack of communication which can hinder some of the efforts.

Take, for instance, the Washington, DC response. I was watching the local CBS/Gannett affiliate's 11pm newscast last night. We had been told of plans to open the DC Armory as an emergency shelter with 400 beds. And that would just be a start -- more space would be added if needed. DC Mayor Anthony Williams did a teremndous job of setting it up, and Washington Wizards basketball star Gilbert Arenas was doing his part in generous financial donations as well as canvassing local businesses for extra supplies. Ten coach busses made the trip down to New Orleans -- driving day and night through the 1,000+ mile trip. Of course, the Channel 9 crew hitched a ride to get their story.

But when they arrived to downtown New Orleans last night, they couldn't find anyone to get on the busses!

Why is this? A couple of reasons. It certainly isn't because everyone has now been rescued from their homes and outlying areas of the city. They haven't been. That evacuation is still ongoing. The few people who were left who hadn't been bussed out or flown out either (a) refused to leave New Orleans, or (b) didn't want to be whisked on a bus for a day and a half to be 1,000 miles away from anyone they ever knew. The people interviewed needed to get to Baton Rouge. To Hattiesburg. To local areas. Not DC.

And so Channel 9 reported that the busses would come back to DC empty. Except for two families who were going to try their luck getting to Nebraska from the DC area airports.

This infuriated me. What was the impetus behind this whole ordeal? Was it simply a show of "you see what we're willing to do to help?" Was it for the benefit of a Channel 9 exclusive? (You're probably getting the vibe that I don't like their news coverage. I don't. I was watching it because NBC's NASCAR coverage has run over into the 11:00 hour.) Are all the beds set up for naught?

Furthermore -- why was there an incredible lack of communication which wasted these resources which could have better been used elsewhere?

Fortunately, there was a bit of good news: Last night's newscast announced that the Governor of Arkansas, whose shelters are overflowing, is transporting 400 evacuees by plane to DC. People who need the shelter and aid we have in DC to give them. That's a start.

And, in today's Washington Post, I discovered that FEMA had sent the busses to Baton Rouge and not back home empty. In fact, word is they will be staying in the Gulf area until they are filled with evacuees. They probably can be used to help transport people or supplies in the area for this ongoing crisis. Points to FEMA for this one.

Also -- props to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Dr. Frist went down to Louis Armstrong Airport on Saturday morning, now a triage hospital, and volunteered his entire day working with patients. He was mostly treating diabetics and those with dehydration and hypertension. Was he doing this for the press coverage? Possibly. But at least he was getting his hands dirty. I have more respect for this man now than I did before Saturday. I mean, don't get me wrong -- I still really dislike him as a politician. But he deserves some credit for doing what he did. It made me wonder where Howard Dean was throughout this...

And then you've got the cases where it's almost too obvious that people are helping for their own self-promotion. Sean Penn apparently headed out yesterday with his boat in order to rescue people. The boat, loaded with members of his entourage, including a photographer, sprung a leak almost as soon as it set off. And then the motor failed.

So much for your photo op, Spiccoli...