Note from Helen: This is an email I got from a friend, Jo Ann Smotrys. I am submitting it as I received it, so as not to miss any pertinent details. Please read and heed.

Friends,

In a country going through its worse 'natural disaster' of property damage...perhaps human loss...and who knows how many animals...I thought this story might interest you.

After riding out the elements of Hurricane Katrina in around the area of Metaire and Kenner, LA -- just barely at the edge of New Orleans--staying at a Motel which they felt would be more structually sound than their homes, my friends were able to return to their slightly damaged homes just 15 minutes SE of New Orleans. However, all the necessities of life--electricity, water, food, hygiene facilities, telephone service, etc., were gone. Their family consisted of 4 households. They could not reach 'Dad's home' to see what the damage might have been done, due to rising waters, but he is safe with them. Then there is a daughter and her girl of about 12, and his other daughter and her two boys, one 18, the other 7. From the 4th household, the 18 year old's father stayed with them so he could be with his son. All wanted to leave the area; but the Dad, set in his ways, chose to stay, and the daughters could not change his mind, nor abandon him.

They weathered the storm fairly well--not without elements of danger and shear fear,but they're all OK. Yesterday, they went to each of the daughters' homes...I remind you, unable to get to Dad's home. The 96 degree humid temperature was unbearable, as was the lack of facilities. Somehow one of the daughters still had telephone service. So she stayed up the entire night dialing motel after motel, waiting through busy circuit periods, not getting any sleep, trying to find a motel for them all to stay in. She was finally able to find one with 2 rooms--though they needed three--in Lakes Charles. Then by chance she happened upon
Lake Charles Microtel Inn & Suites
on Lake Street
in Lake Charles, LA
who, after her 2nd call to them, had the necessary 3 rooms she needed, due to cancellations. She made it clear they had pets and was told, "OK." They drove 5 hours today--not even stopping to eat--so they could meet commitment times and not lose their reservations. When they arrived they were told by the staff of Microtel Inn that they had their 'quota of pets' and couldn't take them in. Imagine that! They hadn't hidden anything. They had told Microtel Inn of their pets, and they accepted their reservations. My friends have been through the worst hurricane conditions of their lives....though they know how blessed they have been to have fared much better than many. They've had their house pets with them the entire time and fared well. They make reservations to get away from these miserable conditions...for them and their house pets...driving 5 hours, content, though exhausted, presuming that they'd be comfortable for the next 3 nights, only to be told 'you can't stay here'. They were offered directions to an animal shelter, inspite of the otherwise, rudeness of the staff. 'Snippily' they even turned down a request to use their telephone--for just a minute, being told it was for business use only. And then they turned their backs on my friends, and talked amongst themselves.

My friends just barely made it to the other motel--the one with the 2 rooms available. Thankfully, they had not cancelled those reservations. That motel accomodated them and their pets, as was agreed upon. Quite a difference in attitude: The personnel here were kind and gracious, and understanding. I talked to the staff several times, and I could sense their demeanor of feeling the need to help folks out.

Mind you now, I heard all this just minutes after I listened to the President of the United States, President Bush... tell of 'story after story' of 'kindness and generosity' extended to people of the area...all the way thorough the troubled gulf, even into neighboring states. What happened to the 'kindness and goodness and compassion' of the people that worked at this particular motel? They lost it...or never had it...is more my quess. You see, I cannot imagine that anyone could not feel the despair of those coming from such a 'tangled mass of damage and destruction, and would not be compassionate, and give exception to their 'quota' of animals. Something is desperately wrong with their mindset. Let me go a bit further, I called a gift shop... A Daisy A Day Flowers & Gifts... and told the gentleman the situation and asked for a 'gift basket' to be delivered to them as soon once they registered in their motel. He agreed to do so, and we worked out the details. It was filled with snack good, drinks, cookies--anything you could imagine that kids and adults like to snack on. When I told him of my dilemma--the motel change--he very kindly agreed to deliver it to the other location. My friends said he was so kind and compassionate and they were so overwhelmed by the 'gift' since they had not eaten all day. In fact the seven year old boy started to cry, he was so happy. Both the eighteen-year-old young man and his seven-year-old brother thanked me personally on the telephone. I was totally overwhelmed with their respect and appreciation...but never so much as when the 7 year old said 'we are going to pray for you'.

My friends, I do not understand the lack of compassion some people have. I guess God will have His say with them 'in HIS time'.

God Bless you and I hope somehow this story can be shared...

Jo Ann S.

Please click on this link to find out how you can help: Eye of The Storm - poem.
Or go to: American Red Cross

Submitted by Jo Ann S