Many hurricane victims had no way to leave

I just finished Laurie Longacre's letter to the editor about Hurricane Katrina and am incensed. In her tirade she says, "These people had time to find a way to safety, or to walk to higher ground if necessary." Do you realize how many people were trying to get out of town?

Obviously, Laurie has never been to the New Orleans area. I have. There is no "higher ground," haven't you been watching the news? Even if you were a young healthy person, where could you walk to? There were thousands of older folks, some very ill, and children who had no way to go. Some could and should have left, others had no choice.

AUDREY REID

Sandpoint