[StBernard] Firestorm Book

[Westley Annis]

I agree 100%, I ordered Firestorm, it took me about 3 weeks to get it but
man was worth it, I can't put the book down, I read and read and read.  I
read it so much sometimes I fall asleep reading it, I am now 10 chapters in
and now I am hoping it doesn't end.  What an excellent book to purchase for
anyone from St. Bernard.  It will make you really appreciate the efforts of
the St. Bernard Fire Department.
 
Also it will make you realize that people who didn't have to put their lives
on the line like Craig Taffaro stepped up when needed and jumped right into
the 12-14 feet of water surrounding the Government Complex to try and free
boats that caught up under the awning that surrounds the Complex.  He along
with firefighters never thought twice, they could see people in Buccaneer
Villa on their roof needing help and put their lives in harms way to help
others, that to me is someone I want running my parish.  So here is to you
Craig, thanks for doing what you did to help the residents of St. Bernard,
you are still doing that today.
 
Please run for PARISH PRESIDENT, you had my vote before I read that book.
 
Chad
 
 
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Everyone should read this book.  It's fabulous.-----
 
?FIRESTORM: Hurricane Katrina and the St. Bernard Fire Department?, is a new
book published by local author, Michelle Mahl Buuck. Based on scores of
interviews with department members and nearly one year of research, the book
is
a 300-page personal account that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It
is
poignant stories of individual struggles and the ultimate struggle of a Fire
Chief trying to hold his department together. 

Packed with personal photos provided by the fire fighters, the book gives
the
reader a glimpse into those dark days ? through the eyes of the men and
women of
the fire department. 

Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, St. Bernard was a crippled Parish.
Firefighters became rescuers, food and shelter providers, mechanics, road
workers, and medical first responders. This was done without outside help,
supplies, equipment, or communication. Most importantly, they had the
unprecedented task of functioning while watching their homes disappear
beneath
the flood waters and coming to the private realization that they had lost
everything. Fire Chief Tommy Stone believes it is a story that should be
told.
St. Bernard Parish District D councilman Craig Taffaro, who wrote the
foreword
to the book, says it is important that the devastating effect Hurricane
Katrina
had on St. Bernard Parish be documented.

?It is important because it is a way to ensure that the tragic events of
Hurricane Katrina and the heroic responses of so many are not lost in time,?
Taffaro said.

?People need to find out the truth about what the first responders went
through
to save the citizens and help the community, Stone said, ?I think the
readers
will be totally surprised by a lot of things that happened.?

Buuck, the mother of a St. Bernard Fire Fighter, comes from a family with
three
generations of fire fighters, and spent 12 years (1992-2004) as a freelance
writer, writing community news in St. Bernard Parish. Proceeds of this book
will
be donated by the author to the St. Bernard Fire Fighters Local 1468
Hurricane
Katrina Relief Fund. 

The book can be purchased by calling: 1-888-795-4274, or online at:
www.xlibris.com/bookstore
For more information, contact Michelle Mahl Buuck at: (504) 214-1291.