[altroots] Harrowing, but essential

One of the most harrowing and difficult first hand accounts I have seen
concerning the efforts of New Orleanians to survive; one of the first from
an artist on the scene.  Charmaine Neville, Aaron Neville¹s niece, organized
and rescued people in her 9th ward neighborhood, gathering them on the roof
of Douglass High School, only to watch the helicopters pass them over and
over, and then to become the victims of assault and violence as the
conditions degenerated.

I found the reference to it at alternet:
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/25015/

And the URL for the Windows Media Player version of the video itself is:
http://www.wafb.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?clipid1=516003&a
t1=News+%2D+Special+Coverage&vt1=v&h1=Charmaine+Neville%3A+New+Orleans+Evacu
ee&d1=363667&redirUrl=www.wafb.com&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage

If you¹ve ever seen Charmaine perform (she was a regular at Snug Harbor, on
Frenchmen Street), you know she¹s an incredibly dynamic and brilliant
singer.  In the earliest reports, Aaron Neville mentioned that he hadn¹t
heard from her but that most of the rest of the Nevilles were out of the
city in time.  Now we know why.  The man comforting her may well be the
archbishop.

On a personal note, MK¹s house continues to fare well, thanks to the efforts
of the ³Frenchmen Street Posse² who used the corner location to ensure that
chaos did not reign in the neighborhood.  Our friend Kenny who led the Posse
has not yet evacuated, but he has a cordial relationship with the National
Guard troops in the area.  A small trickle of water has returned to the
pipes, not drinkable, but a good sign.

Onward.

Lisa

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