Gustav Hits Land, But The Human Element Is Hard To Measure

Rodney McFarland, Sr., in Denver by CHS.

So Hurricane Gustav has made landfall. As it does, the rest of us outside its path should pause for a moment to reflect on those inside it.

Meet Rodney McFarland, Sr., of Louisiana. I met Rodney in the hallway of the Pepsi Center in Denver, grabbing a quick snack and chatting with fellow delegate, Senfronia Thompson of Texas. I had to snap a picture of that fabulous hat.

Rodney had a smile a mile wide, and I spoke with him about some of the work that has been done locally to help folks rebuild their lives after Katrina. He was touched that someone outside Louisiana would care to ask. I was appalled that more people hadn’t been doing so all along.

Both delegates were energized and excited about the days ahead — I met Rodney on Tuesday. But as the week wore on, a worry about the impending potential of hurricane Gustav began to creep in to conversations with every delegate I met from around the Gulf Coast region. Most of them were on the phone to change their flight home by mid-day Wednesday — including Donna Brazile, who was in Denver reporting for CNN.

The WaPo profiles delegates to the RNC in Minneapolis, having the same fears and worries about their homes and families. As I watch footage from the Gulf Coast on the news this morning, I can’t help but worry right along with them for all of our friends and readers in harm’s way.

Shaila Dewan has a fantastic piece on NOLA’s efforts to evacuate the poor, sick and elderly who didn’t make it out of the city when Katrina hit.

Denise Grant, for one, wanted no replay of the four days she spent amid corpses on an overpass after Hurricane Katrina, nor did she want her daughter or grandchildren to have a similar experience. “What my eyes caught — if they could see what my eyes caught, they wouldn’t want to go through it either,” Ms. Grant said….

If nothing else, I’m guessing the GOP will be serving up more than just cake for their cronies today, eh? Although, as Michael Scherer reports, the McCain campaign sees Gustav as a wholesale rebranding bonanza attempt for the GOP. Who says you can’t find a silver lining in someone else’s misfortunes?

Meanwhile, the Obama campaign will quietly mobilize its e-mail lists and supporter contacts to get volunteers, donations, and whatever else is needed as the storm progresses. Not exactly a security-laden, photo-op, in-the-way and taking resources away from the folks who really need them bonanza like McCain seems to be planning…but that’s the point, isn’t it?

I know Rodney will be busy with his church today, helping folks who have evacuated north and trying to provide whatever comfort he can for family and friends as they wait out the storm. We have readers all along the Gulf Coast who will be doing the same. According to an MSNBC caller, some of the levees have been overtopped by storm surge in NOLA. Stay safe, folks, and know we are thinking of and praying for you.

Athenae and Scout Prime have more here, here and here.

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