Reply #65: A Bit More of The Story

[CHIMO]

The Apocalypse became now
Vancouver search and rescue team describes scenes of horror and gratitude

A New Orleans police boat carrying the Vancouver Urban Search and Rescue Team snaked up the Mississippi River past burning wreckage and flooded neighbourhoods through scenes of destruction and horror right out of the impressionistic Vietnam war film Apocalypse Now.

Accompanied by armed police, Vancouver police Sgt. Craig Cairns and his group of Canadian volunteers were amazed by what they saw on the team's first "reconnaissance in force" of St. Bernard's Parish east of New Orleans.

"It was like a disaster movie or Armageddon," Cairns recalled Wednesday, one day after the team returned home from its six-day mission.

The Louisiana State Police decided to send the 46 Canadian volunteers to St. Bernard Parish east of New Orleans because of looting and shooting in New Orleans. And they had to pass by New Orleans to get there.

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=79b0b501-9289-42df-a914-ef05a5c348aa


CREDIT: Ian Lindsay, Vancouver Sun
Vancouver police Sgt. Craig Cairns speaks of his Louisiana search and rescue experiences. Back home, the team unloaded equipment and let it dry out.