I just returned from two days in New Orleans: two days with no running water, no electricity, and almost no one offering help. I went in with a truckload of supplies I purchased with the $360 the American Red Cross gave me. I bought batteries, bottled water, booze, plywood, plastic gloves, two prepaid cell phones, and cartons of cigarettes. I couldn't buy the booze or smokes with my Red Cross card; those came from my own funds. A friend inside told me that everyone needed cigarettes and having them might ease any difficulty at checkpoints.

Earlier this week, FEMA commandeered the Bywater Tech Center, where my office is located, as a communications center for the recovery effort. The building is now surrounded by National Guard troops. I was able to use Barbara Lamont's name -- owner of New Orleans Teleport -- to get through checkpoints to the Tech Center. The roof over my offices was damaged in several places, and water had gotten in through the holes. But most of my office furnishings were not affected. FEMA is not currently using my portion of the building, though I expect them to take it over soon.

What I found amazing is that people in New Orleans still do not have many of the fundamental products they need to survive. I distributed many cases of water to people who were unable to get down to the distribution center. I did not see anyone distributing batteries or personal care kits. I know that private companies are providing these goods and trying to get them to people in need, but once again FEMA has been a wall keeping aid out rather than a conduit to funnel aid in.

What has happened to this country? Private concerns have always stepped up in times of disaster to offer aid to the injured. Residents have always led the comeback of any city from disaster. But in New Orleans, private water bottlers have been stopped. Private rescuers have been held back. Private aid has been refused. Residents have been thrown out and kept out. This is a disgrace. FEMA's role should be to channel public and private aid, not frustrate it. But that is what's happening in New Orleans.

When I started distributing water at one corner, a journalist asked, "Who are you with?" "I'm just me," I said, adding, "Haven't relief trucks been driving through this area?" "No," they said, and told me no one was driving to affected people with aid; it was all being distributed from a central location at the foot of canal street. Once again, FEMA was blocking aid from moving "the last mile" to the people who need it.

And the talk at the official distribution center was a confusing babel of agency lingo: the blame game. FEMA does this, D.O.D. does that, the National Guard can't do that, or only the police can do that. It seemed like half of all energies being expended were devoted to conversations about who is in charge, not how can we help these people. Sad.

I apologize for being a little personal -- I've slept little in many days now. But I want to reiterate that these people need aid and they are not getting it. That our emergency response teams have been -- and continue to be -- a hindrance to aid. I encourage companies who produce those products in such great need --  medicine, clothing, tarps for roofs -- to continue to push against the wall of bureaucracy to see that the products you have so generously donated are actually reaching the intended recipients.

Thanks for Your Help,
STEVE O'KEEFE
Vice President, IAOC
New Orleans Refugee