Katrina

[lbelle1214]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Well, let's look at it another way though. The toilets and garbage in the Dome are overflowing, it is 90+ degrees and officials are now saying they do not have enough water and food for everyone that is in there. They are evacuating it. I can see why people might be reluctant to go there.

I agree with a reluctance to go now, after the fact, but not going prior to the storm, to me, is what I considered to be stupid. I did not think that the dome was a logical choice to begin with...with any forethought, you would know that w/o electricity, there would be no a/c. With most hurricanes, you are without electricity for at least a week...at least living here on the coast.

[lbelle1214]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

The looting images are just something else. On CNN they're showing people leaving stores with their arms full of stuff It's disgusting - I wish that these people - who are healthy and appartently came through ok - would put their energy to something more useful...but no It really saddens me.

There was a Foot Locker in the vacinity of the French Quarter. Guys were going in and coming out with loads of shoes....right in front of the national guard.

[wondergirl9847]

Originally Posted by Mad4stevie

There was just a message on msnbc that said the Red Cross and Salvation Army are requesting that people NOT send food or clothing. Maybe it is easier for them to purchase things directly as needed with monetary contributions. I didn't hear the exact reasons why they are sending out this message.

Sending money is better because they can buy things in bulk. I can't even imagine the list of things people are going to need...for themselves and their children. Food, water, clothes, undergarments, blankets, pillows, handwipes, female sanitary needs, diapers, toys for kids to stay occupied, the list goes on and on...

[David]

Originally Posted by lbelle1214

I agree with a reluctance to go now, after the fact, but not going prior to the storm, to me, is what I considered to be stupid. I did not think that the dome was a logical choice to begin with...with any forethought, you would know that w/o electricity, there would be no a/c. With most hurricanes, you are without electricity for at least a week...at least living here on the coast.

Just about six hours before landfall, one of the news channels I was watching interviewed a father & teenaged son -- a couple of numbnuts (the father moreso, obviously) who stood there in front of the camera, uttering every type of imbecility imaginable. The reporter asked them why they didn't plan to evacuate when meteorologists were saying the storm was going to create a storm surge that would bury much of coastal New Orleans like a tsunami & so forth, & numbnuts Dad & Son just stood there saying, "No way, man. That ain't going to happen. It ain't the same thing" blah blah blah.

The reporter was just dumbfounded.

I wonder where numbnuts Dad & Son are now. I don't wish bad things on dumb people (only on bad people), but I can't help thinking that natural selection is at work.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Well, then you have to back to the 70's because NOLA has been begging for Federal Intervention in the structure of the levees and pumping system - and for the most part, they never got it.

Moreover, that really does not explain how the actual vehicles in Iraq would be better served in NOLA as you implied

Alright, alright. Picky, picky.

http://abc26.trb.com/news/natguard08...ll=wgno-news-1

LA National Guard Wants Equipment to Come Back From Iraq

Yunji de Nies

August 1, 2005, 9:07 PM CDT

JACKSON BARRACKS -- When members of the Louisiana National Guard left for Iraq in October, they took a lot equipment with them. Dozens of high water vehicles, humvees, refuelers and generators are now abroad, and in the event of a major natural disaster that, could be a problem.

"The National Guard needs that equipment back home to support the homeland security mission," said Lt. Colonel Pete Schneider with the LA National Guard.

Col. Schneider says the state has enough equipment to get by, and if Louisiana were to get hit by a major hurricane, the neighboring states of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida have all agreed to help.

"As Governor Bush did for Ivan, after they were hit so many times, he just maxed all of his resources out, he reached out to Louisiana and we sent 200 national guardsmen to help support in recovery efforts," Col. Schneider said.

Members of the Houma-based 256th Infantry will be returning in October, but it could be much longer before the rest of their equipment comes home.

"You've got combatant commanders over there who need it they say they need it, they don't want to lose what they have, and we certainly understand that it's a matter it's a matter of us educating that combatant commander, we need it back here as well," Col. Schneider said.

And even if commanders in Iraq release the equipment, getting it home takes months.

"It's just the process of identifying which equipment we're bringing home, bringing it down to Kuwait, loading it on ships or aircraft however we're gonna get it back here and then either railing it in or trucking it in, so we're talking a significant amount of time before that equipment is back home," Schneider said.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

This is kind of a no brainer to me.

Well, duh.

[lbelle1214]

Aircraft carriers from NJ, upper East Coast, Naval ships, Red Cross ships dispatched to NO. Caravans of volunteers from all over the country on the way. What a great country we live in! The compassion here is endless. People helping others and caring what happens to their neighbors is what it's all about. No amount of preparation can actually 'prepare' you for the natural disasters that occur. No one knows the actual devestation that will occur. It's just like learning any new skill...you can practice...but if you don't have the ability to actually perform it, time and again...you are still unprepared. I believe that the people in charge are doing the best that they can in the worst imaginable situation (and it IS going to get worse). I-10, one of the main thoroughfares thru Louisiana is out of commission. Brett Favre is on Fox right now asking for supplies...water, bread, formula...immediate need..for those who can get in. The Red Cross and disaster relief agencies can only do so much....search and rescue is a priority right now...immediate supplies are needed for those without food and water. Money takes awhile to get funneled thru the channels...I agree that they need money....but $$ will not feed a hungry infant RIGHT NOW! It only takes hours for an infant to dehydrate....

[lbelle1214]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Well, duh.

All of that takes time! Time that some do not have. Many, many other states have this equipment which could be there much faster. So does our military....I know because the Port of Beaumont is one of the major ports used to transport military equipment out of the country. We've lived with all the security surrounding the port here because of that.

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

New Olreans under water, George plays guitar:

2 "F"-tards for the price of one: Presidunce Asshat & that no talent hack Mark "Yee-haw Yokel-f**k" Willis.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by lbelle1214

All of that takes time! Time that some do not have. Many, many other states have this equipment which could be there much faster.

So you agree then that it would have been better to have the National Guard equipment there in the first place?

[lbelle1214]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

2 "F"-tards for the price of one: Presidunce Asshat & that no talent hack Mark "Yee-haw Yokel-f**k" Wills.

I know many here do not like....let me take that back....hate Pres Bush...but right now, he is not playing guitar...he's in Air Force One flying over New Orleans. If you think that he does not care about these people, you're dead wrong.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by lbelle1214

No amount of preparation can actually 'prepare' you for the natural disasters that occur. No one knows the actual devestation that will occur. It's just like learning any new skill...you can practice...but if you don't have the ability to actually perform it, time and again...you are still unprepared.

FEMA and the Guard and all of the first responders train for these types of scenarios all of the time.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by lbelle1214

I know many here do not like....let me take that back....hate Pres Bush...but right now, he is not playing guitar...he's in Air Force One flying over New Orleans.

No, you're right. That photograph was taken yesterday, a good 12-15 hours after the levee had been breached.
For the record, I do not hate.

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by lbelle1214

I know many here do not like....let me take that back....hate Pres Bush...but right now, he is not playing guitar...he's in Air Force One flying over New Orleans. If you think that he does not care about these people, you're dead wrong.

flying over Orleans, I am making a comment about these 2 butt munches in the picture is all.

[lbelle1214]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

So you agree then that it would have been better to have the National Guard equipment there in the first place?

In Iraq? I say give them whatever they need to get the job done, without compromising security here at home. You cannot plan for "whatever", let alone for a natural disaster of this magnitude. Army engineers at this very moment are trying 10,000 lbs sandbags, concrete barriers to fix the breech in the levee....all are sinking. We have boats, marsh buggies, all kind of things that can get thru the water, but the landscape with all the water is not manageable right now. You may go thru just fine, then run up on concrete...covered by water, not able to be seen. I don't think it's the lack of equipment...it's the impact of the aftermath and extent of the damage that's left people unarmed. Oh, Great....now this STUPID reporter is doing a walk-thru of the Hard Rock Hotel/Bar/Casino in Biloxi which was totally wiped out, due to have their opening tonight. "There's Madonna's bustierre, here's so-and-so's gold record....well, here's an autographed guitar..." All that before they cut him off. Send in the looters...they've already gone into the slot machines....geez