Co-worker safe
We just got news from one of our managers that one of our field engineers was rescued from his roof on Thursday.
I am very very happy - I'd been very worried about him.
Yet... I'm also furious. From the email I got:Rescuers pulled him off of the roof of his home on Thursday night. They dropped him off at an emergency station set up at Lake Front airport. From there he joined other evacuees on a C130 to New Orleans International. On Friday he took another C130 to Kelly. They've processed him in. He received a "much needed shower" (...his words)... and shots, to include Tetanus. It was from there that *coworker's son* found him and called the family in Beaumont, TX.
*coworker* said he initially tried to drive his Ford F150 truck out of the area but it started to float out of control. He then later tried to walk through the water for about 6 miles before he had to turn back because of the water and not seeing anyone except a few helicopters flying overhead. He told me about the stench and filth that I can't even begin to describe in this message. He carried his dog on his shoulders the entire way but unfortunately was forced to abandon the animal when the helicopter finally came.
One of the main levee breaks was near his house. But there is also a pumping station only 5 blocks away. Of course the loss of power didn't help with that situation. *coworker* did have plenty of food, water, and a propane grill because he had prepared for the hurricane just as he had did in years past. But like many, to include government officials, he didn't count on the levee breaks and the water rising so fast.
So, because this man thought he was smarter than the National Weather Service and the officials who declared a mandatory evacuation, many dollars and precious hours of time were spent rescuing him when they could have been spent on people who didn't HAVE the ability to leave. He put his family through hell and back with fear for him. And he absolutely bears 100% responsibility for the death/abandonment of his dog. I could handle the rest, but I will honestly never have the same respect for this man that I used to have (and actually I had a lot, though I didn't work with him often - he's a cracker jack tech, and a great guy).
Why are people so fucking selfish!?
My heart breaks for him for what he's been through, but I can't help but think it's also entirely his own fault - he sent his family to Texas and chose to stay behind. Maybe that makes me a judgemental bitch; I can live with that.
I am very very happy - I'd been very worried about him.
Yet... I'm also furious. From the email I got:Rescuers pulled him off of the roof of his home on Thursday night. They dropped him off at an emergency station set up at Lake Front airport. From there he joined other evacuees on a C130 to New Orleans International. On Friday he took another C130 to Kelly. They've processed him in. He received a "much needed shower" (...his words)... and shots, to include Tetanus. It was from there that *coworker's son* found him and called the family in Beaumont, TX.
*coworker* said he initially tried to drive his Ford F150 truck out of the area but it started to float out of control. He then later tried to walk through the water for about 6 miles before he had to turn back because of the water and not seeing anyone except a few helicopters flying overhead. He told me about the stench and filth that I can't even begin to describe in this message. He carried his dog on his shoulders the entire way but unfortunately was forced to abandon the animal when the helicopter finally came.
One of the main levee breaks was near his house. But there is also a pumping station only 5 blocks away. Of course the loss of power didn't help with that situation. *coworker* did have plenty of food, water, and a propane grill because he had prepared for the hurricane just as he had did in years past. But like many, to include government officials, he didn't count on the levee breaks and the water rising so fast.
So, because this man thought he was smarter than the National Weather Service and the officials who declared a mandatory evacuation, many dollars and precious hours of time were spent rescuing him when they could have been spent on people who didn't HAVE the ability to leave. He put his family through hell and back with fear for him. And he absolutely bears 100% responsibility for the death/abandonment of his dog. I could handle the rest, but I will honestly never have the same respect for this man that I used to have (and actually I had a lot, though I didn't work with him often - he's a cracker jack tech, and a great guy).
Why are people so fucking selfish!?
My heart breaks for him for what he's been through, but I can't help but think it's also entirely his own fault - he sent his family to Texas and chose to stay behind. Maybe that makes me a judgemental bitch; I can live with that.