The Road to Hell

My state Department of Health put out a call this afternoon for medical and rescue personnel willing to volunteer for deployment to assist operations in the gulf coast. They are looking for both people to deploy to New Orleans and other areas in the path of hurricane Katrina, and for people to deploy yo hospitals in neighboring states recieving patients from the devastated areas.
I signed up, put my name and info into their registry. I'd like to go to where the damage actually is, but we'll see what comes up.
I think I'll make some calls tomorrow anyway, see if there are any Red Cross groups, or church rescue groups, from this area getting mobilized to go down there.

I know I am needed at home, my 91 year old grandmother just broke her wrist yesterday and I was on scene to dress her wounds and splint the wrist for the two hour trip to the hospital. But, I also know that everyone else is capable of taking care of things at the ranch for a couple weeks, and I feel totally useless and purposless sitting here watching Mississippi and Lousiana fall apart on the television.
I want to be there - I want to be "in the shit" - I want to help.

As bad as I want to go down, I also know that I have no idea what I'll be getting myself into, but that I need to be prepared for more than a campout. If I go down the first thing I'm going to buy is some body armor. I'll worry about expanding my medical kit, and maybe getting a good equipment vest, after I've got kevlar wrapped around me. Probably after I stock up on ammunition too. I think I know which one of my rifles will fit easiest into my duffel bag.

"Well I'm standing by a river
But the water doesn't flow
It boils with every poison you can think of
And I'm underneath the streetlight
But the light of joy I know
Scared beyond belief way down in the shadows
And the perverted fear of violence
Chokes the smile on every face
And common sense is ringing out the bell
This ain't no technological breakdown
Oh no, this is the road to hell" The Road To Hell - Chris Rea