Yes, Pooky... there have been a number of arrests in the past few nights for trespassing, and for looting. I don't think that's the norm but I am not there. Most of what I see on local tv is the crowds giving water and food and stuff and praising the workers there. It is gruesome work, and each day gets worse with the bodies and all.
Have you seen the story about the dogs? The search dogs (about300) are crucial, and working very hard. There is a treatment station with vets, and rest areas for them to wash the grit and smoke out of the eyes of the dogs, and to treat cuts and sores on their feet from walking over the rubble- a lot of raw metal and glass. I cried over that one! I think Canada sent us dog booties! Sorely needed!
They have started restricting access to the area as it has become overcrowded and hard to control. They only want trained personnel there and have limited volunteers. Some people have tried to "sneak" in. There also have been over 100 bomb scares all over the city, in schools, grocery stores, etc. Someone was arrested for doing that. There are centers set up for families, and for dropping off donations to centralize things.
It's amazing, there are more volunteers that they could possibly use, (NYC has 9 million people, after all) and people are arrriving in truckloads from across the country! It is unbelievable!! They also have more perishable food than they can manage, and are telling us locally, to stop donating perishables. They are only asking for large men's boots and socks, and some incidentals, that will be able to be provided from here(advil, aspirin, mylanta, shoe insoles, work gloves). Even here, they are just asking for direct money donations, to the Red Cross, Salvation Army and The United Way. There are also foundations for the wives and children of firefighters, police, and the companies that lost so many. If anyone needs those phone #'s or addresses, I'd be happy to give them.
There are still effects of this in a million little daily things- phones aren't always working, I can't get on-line easily. The roads are still partially closed in some areas, and some subways. Most of this is in the area nearby, the southern tip of Manhattan, and the adjacent parts of Brooklyn, Staten Island, and New Jersey. But American flags are everywhere- it's wild, just driving home from work, they are on antennas and out the windows of many cars.
So, there's a little update- I don't know how much of what I see on our local NY TV stations is what you all are seeing... so you may know all this. But it is so personal, I know those streets, I have been in the WTC many times, I go there for meetings at the Dept of Health and some City agencies-it is hard to comprehend still. We realize that we will be finding out peole who died for months- you know, in your work life, how you know people that you may see occaisionally? No one here will not know SOMEONE or many, that died.
I could go on and on, but that's enough. It's good to re-focus on other things and not be paralyzed by this.
dottie
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