Remembering

 I've spent some time this evening watching citizen journalists reporting out of the disaster area that is western North Carolina, and my heart moans for those people.  My memory floods back to the twin disasters of Katrina and Rita that hit Louisiana like a 1-2 punch in 2005.

Eastern Louisiana reeled from Katrina, and two weeks later, Rita slammed into western Louisiana.  New Orleans was virtually destroyed and many small communities across the coast were lost in Rita.  Just when everything seemed out of control, the government sent in Lieutenant General Russel Honore and told him to fix the disfunction and bring relief to those hut the most.

Honore took charge.  His command style was results oriented.  He had no time for bureaucrats or delay.  Results were all that mattered.  He'd tell people things like "Don't get stuck on stupid." or "You're looking at a calendar.  I'm looking at my wristwatch."  LTG Honore got things done.

North Carolina needs someone like Russ Honore. Someone with mission orders to take charge, tighten up the bureaucrats and get relief flowing.  I note that North Carolina is home to several fairly prominent military billets.  Places with helicopters, field kitchens, field hospitals, worker bees, and the ability to rad a map. Those assets could go to work tomorrow if POTUS would simply put someone in charge.