Katrina aftermath - what the fuck???

[RawAlex]

Originally Posted by Tubey

I am waiting on blaming anyone, there are too many variables. Besides they didn't know where the storm was going exactly, they had it going over NO then it went to the east some models were even predicting it to west of NO. So the question of where to put supplies and how much was unpredictable. Who knows they may have had a wharehouse full in NO and someone lost the keys.
In short, I find fault with everyone, from the govt to the people who refused to leave, and it becomes a big circle of what if. People have to realize errors happen and to have a perfect plan will never happen in a disaster this large.
So I wait, try to figure out what went wrong and try to prevent it from happening again. To sit here and get worked up about it now won't change what happened, it just adds more frustration and divides the effort to fix the problem at hand. As one person once said "hind sight is 20/20."

Tubey, no matter which way the storm goes, the people should have been ready - the military should have been on alert, the first round of supplies should have been in the trucks, and the fema people should have been ready to go.

It shouldn't have taken until Wednesday or Thursday to get these people on the ground.

SOMEONE dropped the ball - and the buck stops with the guy in the oval office (actually, he was the guy in a ranch in Texas taking a vacation until 2 days after the storm hit).

They still don't have a grip - why they have not ordered an evacuation of New Orleans is beyond me. they are still "just asking".

The head and the chicken have long since been seperated.

[RawAlex]

docholly, I wain't kidding... I don't feel great. Thankfully I gave money to the Red Cross rather than to any other organization, they seem to be have been first on the scene (even losing some of the vehicles to flooding... FEMA can't even suggest to claim that).

There is some very serious concern that someone important dropped the ball, and already the signs of coverup and misdirection are in the air. I feel truly sorry for those people caught in the middle - the people of Mississippi and Louisiana who are dealing with terrible conditions and horrific losses of both life and property.

The smell is travelling very far indeed.

[CaptainJSparrow]

In the "for what it's worth category" I've seen alot of Red Cross folks in Baton Rouge, Sorrento, and New Orleans over the last 2 days.

Also, New Orleans police reported shooting and killing 4 persons who were firing at workers who were trying to plug the hole in the levee.

Local news that you guys may not be aware of:

-- Lt. General Russel Honore, who is overseeing the military effort in New Orleans, estimates about 10,000 people remain in the city. He says the city is not under siege, as has been reported.

-- Wireless carriers are returning service to the New Orleans area. Verizon Wireless said crews are working to restore service to New Orleans, Mandeville, Hammond, Covington and other cities. Cell phone service has been restored to the New Orleans airport, which is being used for evacuations.

-- The Murphy Oil complex in Meraux is leaking oil into a surrounding neighborhood. The leak was spotted in a flyover by the state Department of Environmental Quality.

-- Traffic was jammed in Jefferson Parish as residents returned to check on their homes and businesses. People started lining up in their cars in the night to get a head start into the parish. The parish permitted cars in at 6 a.m.

-- ExxonMobil, which was worried about supplies to its refinery in Baton Rouge, now is increasing production here. Energy experts fear an energy crisis will take an economic toll this winter because of production and refining disruptions combined with an expected harsh winter. ExxonMobil expects an increase in supply of oil from the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, a critical facility that is used to offload oil from supertankers. The port in Venice was not damaged in the storm. ExxonMobil also says the U.S. Department of Energy has approved a request to borrow 6 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

[furrygirl]

A list of alternative places to donate funds: http://www.sparkplugfoundation.org/katrinarelief.html

[Halfdeck]

I'm glad I donated to the Red Cross and I'm proud to know that many webmasters on this board also donated. It tells me unlike some people that were slow to respond in this disaster, webmasters here responded quickly and generously.

People believe what they want to believe and sometimes what we end up believing can be so far from the truth its scary.

I'm not down in NO nor was I with George Bush on Monday so I'm not going to pretend I know shit about what's going on just because I have access to a TV set and the internet.

[CaptainJSparrow]

Hey, a buddy of mine is in the National Guard and he called and said that the military has shot 9 people so far for looting. He also said that the Army Rangers are in there now. Also, he walked Bourbon Street and said it doesn't even look like a hurricane came thru...said no water and it was clean!

[Cleo]

God Outdoes Terrorists Yet Again
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/40305/

[Ramster]

Bush is embarrassing.

A great country being led by such a self centered idiot.

[Chop Smith]

Can ya'll solve the plight of the male plecia nearctica?

[Linkster]

Chop - nahhh - youll just have to keep buying those nets for the front grill

As far as looting cops - looks like fun! - seems the guys that were doing it were allowing the other looters to do it as well?

DocHolly - I would guess there are exceptions to everything - and in that case I think the blame would be right on that nursing home staff - but dont get me wrong by my posts - I sure dont support Bush or even any part of the government - but I do think that a little reality needs to be interjected when the press is making up stories to rile up people. I seriously just watched the police chief of New Orleans with a bunch of his partners in FEMA and others announce that they would NOT be using force to evacuated anyone - and this was echoed by the city attorney.
Not 5 minutes later the news media was announcing that the New Orleans police and Natl Guard are using force to evacuate people at gunpoint - like I said - its the stories they make up to sensationalize this whole thing for ratings - and it sucks

[Surfn]

Originally Posted by Linkster

...its the stories they make up to sensationalize this whole thing for ratings - and it sucks

It's all about the money. The more sensational they get the higher their ratings. The high their ratings the more they charge advertisers. An endless loop of greed at the top.

[Theproofhouse]

Don't know about "stories made up"
But all reporting from tv stations around the world, has turned out to be accurate, and the truth.

[Linkster]

Theproofhouse - Im assuming you are talking about what you are seeing in GB - which for some reason actually seems to be very accurate reporting at least on BBC - I think what you are missing is the local stations here and the cable news networks that are making up stories to increase their rankings in sensationalism - its a sad fact that we in the US have to sift through to find some semblence of truth

[Erick G]

CNN likes to show dead bodies alot.

[Cleo]

The forcing people out of their homes I just don't understand.

I've been through hurricanes and remember well when Andrew destroyed Homestead Florida.

Last thing you want to do is leave your home. You want to protect what you have, take care of your animals, and try to start putting your life back together. Plus most of us don't have anyplace else to go.

These people's homes look dry and fine to live in yet they are forcing them out to go where?

This whole thing just makes no sense.

[Erick G]

Cleo they probably want to bulldoze the whole city. I wouldnt want to leave myself.
It makes no sense. I donated to the pet rescue fund.

[CaptainJSparrow]

Folks, we've seen police on local TV try to get people to leave and they won't. Haven't seen (on the local news) the police forcibly evacuate anyone.

Bill, I'm not sure that I believe that article that you posted. Nothing against you, but I think the author is lying.

Also, I know for a fact that the National Guard is down there. That article says "The only government group anyone has seen are the police with sawed-off shotguns threatening to arrest everyone who is walking around on the streets." This is just not true.

My friend that is down there called last night and said that the locals are throwing rocks and bottles of urine at them as they just walk by. His thought is that these people are the scum of the earth and most of his comrades in the military wish that they'd be allowed to open up on these lowlifes and put'em out of everybody's misery.

He also says that they've seen reports on CNN and the folks down there think those reports are mostly bullshit. This is straight from my buddy in the Guard unit in New Orleans.

Incidentally, I may talk with him tomorrow at some point. If anyone has any relevant questions, I'd be glad to ask him and post it here.

[Bill]

Jeff, I'm pretty sure that article was written about a visit he made last weekend, so it's not current. He repeatedly mentions "5 days" since the hurricane, 5 days of no food no water.

It's been 12 days now I think.

I haven't been able to find first person reports more recent that describe the things I'm looking for.

One gets the impression things are much calmer now, but I can't tell if they truly are, or if this is just a media illusion.

That many people are still there, many more than thought, including many, many apparently very "straight" people, seems to be true, based on reports from the majot media tonight.

I feel bad for Baton Rouge. I hope that there will be long term benefits from this disaster for your city.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by CaptainJSparrow

My friend that is down there called last night and said that the locals are throwing rocks and bottles of urine at them as they just walk by. His thought is that these people are the scum of the earth and most of his comrades in the military wish that they'd be allowed to open up on these lowlifes and put'em out of everybody's misery.

An American soldier on an American street itching to pull the trigger on an American "lowlife" flinging a bottle of urine.

There is something archetypal about that.

An icon of possible futures.

[CaptainJSparrow]

You know, these brave folks that are throwing urine at our soldiers...kinda reminds me of a kid hiding behind his mother's skirt as he sticks his tongue out at another kid.

Problem is, all of the authorities have alot to do down in New Orleans, and these people are hindering the progress.

They were told to get out. They were told that they would not be given any more food and water if they stayed. They were given a means to get out. If they choose to stay then let'em stay.

In a more perfect world, the authorities should totally ignore them and get to the business of making those areas inhabitable again. The authorities should only interact with them when they try to cause harm to others, hinder the progress of rebuilding, and when they are stealing things other than food and water.

[Chop Smith]

When watching sensationalize TV, I find a bag of Zapp's and a bottle of Abita helps. Drink enough Abita and you can see whatever you want.

Captain, these brave folks that are throwing urine are the locals that the Creoles call Americans?

[CaptainJSparrow]

Chop Smith,

Yep, they're Americans and Louisianians...they just don't represent the best of us. Matter of fact, they're more like the worst of us.

[dareutwo]

Ok, got an email from my father this morning.
He is on his way down from Southern MN later today.
He is a retired EMT (ambulance personel)
Not sure how the hell they found him being retired, and he doesn't know when he'll be back. (3 week minumum) There is actually a whole plane of EMT's, Doctors, Nurses etc from the Rochester area (Mayo Clinic) on the way.
I told him to do whatever he could, but that he's about a week late.
He agreed, and said just "Take care of the cabin".
Though he did say that disease control was a top issue in their mission training.
I'll keep you updated if and/or when he can email out.