Victims allowed back into N.O. Tomorrow

[mbaker1277]

My husband is a deputy in the state where we live, and he is the commander of a special operations unit akin to a SWAT team. They have been in Lousiana since Saturday with the mission of keeping peace and deterring looters. I spoke with him this morning, which he said may be the last time for a while, but he stated that victims are going to be allowed back into the area to see if they can recover anything, if their homes are left etc.. I wonder how will they get them to leave again once they have returned? Will we see scenes again of people returning not only for their stuff but for others(looting)?
I am trying to keep thinking positively, but with the news constantly showing the violence and devastation, my 7 yr. old daughter is scared to death. She asked me today if daddy was going to see any dead bodies floating in the water. I told her maybe, but he was o.k. with that since he sees dead people alot. then she got quiet and said, no mommy, will he be floating in the water, will he die? It was like someone knocked all of the breath out of my chest.
I can't even imagine what our troops families must go through, and the families of the missing. At least we know he is still with us and he has a home and a family to come back to.
Sorry to go on so

 

[lbgraves]

(((HUGS))) to both you & your DD. I am praying for the safety of all of the rescuers there.

 

[LoraJ]

I think they are supoposed to return to get their things and then leave. They are allowed to stay for a little while but it is not advised.

Not sure when my BF's parents are returning to check on their home.

Thanks to your husband and others like him helping out.

 

[mbaker1277]

Thank you very much. And may I say that is one of the most beautiful and special pictures I have ever seen. I know you must cherish your little cinderella! Thank you again.

 

[mom2boys]

Your husband is a hero.

 

[JimMIA]

My husband is a deputy in the state where we live, and he is the commander of a special operations unit akin to a SWAT team. They have been in Lousiana since Saturday with the mission of keeping peace and deterring looters. I spoke with him this morning, which he said may be the last time for a while, but he stated that victims are going to be allowed back into the area to see if they can recover anything, if their homes are left etc.. I wonder how will they get them to leave again once they have returned? Will we see scenes again of people returning not only for their stuff but for others(looting)?

I'm sure that the areas will be strictly limited and returns will only be permitted in places where there is little or no danger.

I am trying to keep thinking positively, but with the news constantly showing the violence and devastation, my 7 yr. old daughter is scared to death. She asked me today if daddy was going to see any dead bodies floating in the water. I told her maybe, but he was o.k. with that since he sees dead people alot. then she got quiet and said, no mommy, will he be floating in the water, will he die?

That's a really common, and perfectly logical, fear for a cop's kid...especially in a situation where all the worst of it is endlessly looped on the cable news. A couple of words of advice from an old retired has-been who's been in similar situations several times.

For starters, I'd ease up on the "Daddy sees dead people a lot." He may or may not (I don't know), and he may be accustomed to it, but 7 year-olds project a lot. They make sense of things they see by projecting them onto the people they're closest to. So the "business as usual" approach may not be received the way you intend.

Secondly, there's "business as usual," and there's "business as usual." Just because we see things doesn't mean we're okay with them, or that we ever get used to them. Also, your husband is going to see things he's never seen before, and that nothing could possibly have prepared him for. He'll be okay, but it won't be easy.

Your little princess also needs to remember a few things (other than NEVER marry a cop! )

First of all, this is her Daddy we're talking about, and there is nobody better than Daddy.

Second, Daddy is a professional, and his job is to help people. He's brave, and I'm sure she is very proud of him. But he's also very smart, and he's not going to do anything silly that will get himself hurt. Cops always remember that going home at the end of the shift is Job One. This shift is just going to last longer than the others.

Third, Daddy was chosen for his particular job because he is the best -- he's not there by accident. His bosses recognize his abilities. THE most important job he has as Commander of his unit is to ensure the safety of ALL of his men and women. His bosses trust him so much that they have entrusted him with the lives of the other officers, and he won't let them down.

Fourth, Daddy has the very best of the best people with him. Every person on his team was specially selected for that job because they were the very best for that job. (Doesn't mean they are better than other deputies, but they are better for that particular job.

Fifth, Daddy's people have the best equipment the department has. They have all the latest toys, and they are very, very good with them.

Sixth, Daddy's officers have the very best training the department has to offer. Any thugs they run into on the street have no training, and they are hopelessly outclassed.

I'd emphasize that Daddy is doing very, very important work; that he's the best person they could have sent to do that job; and that he'll be fine.

 

[mbaker1277]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I am so overwhelmed with all of your kindness. The only reason Daddy being o.k. around dead people is because he is the commander of the Homicide unit. I am trying to keep things as normal as possible around here. Day 1 was the hardest, and she cried alot and said she missed her daddy, but i told her that i miss daddy too and that we need to work together as a team. She said she never realized that Mommy and Daddy need each other and help each other out. So many people have been telling her how proud they are of her father, and that they are praying for him and his men, and this has helped alot. I told her that God has a special angel that protects daddy and every policeman that is there doing the jobs they have been given.
So she is doing better, but this is the first time in 15 years that I have ever been worried for his safety, andI know he has benn in much more dangerous situations than this.
I never realized how much kind words, thoughts, and prayers from people you share your vacation thoughts and dreams could mean. once again, THANK YOU SO MUCH, and God bless you all!

 

[Bunch24]

My husband is a deputy in the state where we live, and he is the commander of a special operations unit akin to a SWAT team. They have been in Lousiana since Saturday with the mission of keeping peace and deterring looters. I spoke with him this morning, which he said may be the last time for a while, but he stated that victims are going to be allowed back into the area to see if they can recover anything, if their homes are left etc.. I wonder how will they get them to leave again once they have returned? Will we see scenes again of people returning not only for their stuff but for others(looting)?
I am trying to keep thinking positively, but with the news constantly showing the violence and devastation, my 7 yr. old daughter is scared to death. She asked me today if daddy was going to see any dead bodies floating in the water. I told her maybe, but he was o.k. with that since he sees dead people alot. then she got quiet and said, no mommy, will he be floating in the water, will he die? It was like someone knocked all of the breath out of my chest.
I can't even imagine what our troops families must go through, and the families of the missing. At least we know he is still with us and he has a home and a family to come back to.
Sorry to go on so

First of all, when you see your husband again, please, please, please give him 1,000,000,000 hugs on behalf of the state of Louisiana.

Now, to calm your nerves a little. The people they are letting back into the city tomorrow are Jefferson Parish residents. Jefferson Parish is a very affluent part of New Orleans. The residents returning are likely to not start any trouble. And they're only going to be there until Wednesday, then they will be told to leave town for a month.

Orleans Parish (inner city New Orleans) is the "bad part" of town. It may be a month or two before they allow people to return to Orleans Parish.

So, rest assured, the people coming back tomorrow morning will be there to survey their homes and gather as much as they can and return to where they're staying.

Thanks again for your husband's bravery and support.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

I can see the complaints now from activist about letting the affluent Jefferson Parish residents back in to get stuff but the rest can't. Now obviously the rest of the area is under atleast 8 feet of water and very dangerous and that is why no one else can come back, but the activist won't mention that.

 

[Bunch24]

I can see the complaints now from activist about letting the affluent Jefferson Parish residents back in to get stuff but the rest can't. Now obviously the rest of the area is under atleast 8 feet of water and very dangerous and that is why no one else can come back, but the activist won't mention that.

It's already started on the local level and I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before it's on CNN and Fox News.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Bunch24,

Unbelievable. I wonder if Orleans Parish was the one that people could go back to and not Jefferson Parish, if the complaints would be there. There isn't anyway to know, but I have a feeling there probably wouldn't be many.

 

[pixieprincessmom]

People were asked to get out a few things, dig a hole to bury items from freezers and fridge, and get out. They probably won't have power for a while. To those talking about racism, MANY St. Bernard residents are still out there in the water. The Parish President said today he has 4 national guardsmen. The Canadian Mounties were helping him today. It's not about color. BTW if you haven't seen MSNBC.com clip titled "she drowned on Friday" from St. Bernard it is VERY emotional.