smoke rising

i am in new orleans. smoke is rising on the sunset and it is getting thicker. buildings are on fire. i realize one of the buildings is in my old neighborhood. it is a building i know very well. pain floods my eyes. how can this be happening? why? i rush to my old school. it is safe but people there have lost their houses either to water or fire. i try to do what i can to help at the school but i feel incompetent. why can't i just get down to the kids level? why i am i holding back?