We would be available to assist in grief notices to families, attend morgue visits or work with the authorities in other duties as directed. We were fully employed all the time and mostly pastoral visits to the troops at checkpoints, casual ministry amongst the police and crew stationed on the ship and much of the final days there, escorting around some 200 families to see the remains of their homes. .

We comforted, encouraged and prayed for them and hopefully helped them to begin to come to terms with the loss of most of their possessions they had known for the past 60 years

     We were also able to lead the Sunday service on the ship. The Admiral requested this and also along with some of the crew attended it!

Many of the National Guard we visited on the checkpoints in the St Bernard Parish and the 9th ward, were young volunteers, just returned from Iraq. They had become tired watching the disaster on TV and wanted to do something! These were the people who had the real spirit of America and it was a privelege to serve them, share Christ and pray with many.

     We visited them on their check points, which were in reality roadblocks, preventing unauthorised access to the dangerous and devastated remains of thousands of homes. No media or general public were allowed, only the experienced search teams with cadaver dogs. These areas were now toxic and still had some decomposed bodies buried in the rubble.  

The water had been 20 foot deep in some places, completely covering and destroying homes in the some two weeks after the disaster. We were at the place where at least one levie had been broken through and flooded the area, first of all in Katrina and then shortly after by Rita!

     Families had returned from places outside the area, like Memphis, Atlanta, and even LA where they had been evacuated to or gone to be with family.

                 Whilst we were in New Orleans ministering to flood victims, there had been persistent rain in New England and some of our own basements were flooded there!

     There was tension between those who had been told by the Mayor that they could return and visit their homes and the troops who had been given the mandate to protect the area and anyone entering, against injury. The criminal element were also still a threat to peoples’ property and wanting to access their crack / cocaine houses.

     Some top level discussion took place between the New Orleans Police and the military as to whether or not family visits could or should be allowed into this area.

     Thankfully we were happy to respond when , on our last two days, we were asked to escort families in. They had to be vaccinated with Heptatis A and B and Tetanus before we accompanied them to the area their homes had last been in. In the Tents and trailers of Red Cross and church groups these shots were available at no charge. They were only allowed outside their homes for pictures and perhaps a photo through a door or window but not permitted inside and on each visit, always with two chaplains present, one driver and one escort to visitors. The buildings, in row upon row of these derelict communities, with hundreds of homes, many schools and shops, were now dangerous, filthy and caked with mud.

They  stank of rotten mustiness and masks and gloves were necessary. Our final two days were excellent and we succeeded in taking some 200 people back and forth in our vans as directed by the Marine and Army Colonels. All were shocked at the destruction, many were believers who had lost everything and at every point we tried to empahise with them, allow as much time as possible to grieve and come to some type of closure on their terrible situation.

     This was something for which we were thanked by both the Red Cross and the Army and they did every thing they could to help us in any way we wanted. One Official said to us ‘…you must realise the key role you played in releasing the pressure build up that had existed this week…’

     Every person wanting to visit had been able to until the last three people, just before curfew at 6pm. Their trip had to be sadly refused, as the grisly find of an entire family had just unfortunately been made in our area!

This was just one week, we felt very inadequate to the task, but as some confessed ‘…I will never forget this…’ or ‘…Thank you Syd for inviting me…’ ‘…This has given me a whole new perspective on my life and world…’  You may never have gone through or even seen such devastation but I ask you to pray for people who do have to endure such tragedies and help them through your church, as you can practically.

     One of the most encouraging sights we saw was the army of believers, from many different denominations who had come, as we did, at our own expense or with assistance from their churches from all over the country. I would estimate that 80% of the relief workers were Christians. They will more than likely not make the daily news but God has created the church so that we are always the best ‘First responders!’

     Some 10,000 churches must have opened their doors for accomodation or food kitchens or to house the workers. Thank you brothers and sisters for showing the love that God would have shown and the compassion of rolling up your sleeves as Jesus would have done and not just cursed the darkness of Katrina but lit masny candles of hope and encouragement of those who would have been a lot worse off if you had not gone!

     Contact the ‘United States Emergency Chaplains Corps’. Give them your name and see if you qualify for a future crisis!

Syd Doyle