Hurricane Katrina Disaster Updates

[Lesleegp]

My best friend's husband is from NOLA. His family left Saturday. Their house is very near the broken levee and the house is old. They are sure it's too far gone. Anyway, he is a DDS MD and is leaving tomorrow going to NOLA to volunteer his expertise and he hopes to get a peek at his home place.

 

[BarnGoddess]

The looters are takeing stuff that they can get the most $$$ from..they will sell the diapers and forumula along with the electronics..their might be a few of them who actually need that stuff..but mostly to make a profit.

If memory serves me right, looting bacame a problem during and after Andrew. The order went out quickly that looters would be shot. The order stopped a lot of looting in its tracks.

I was fortunate during Andrew not to have lived in the area that was flattened. We lost trees and had some minor roof damage and no water or power for a couple of weeks. This is just devastating. The flooding and broken sewer lines are causing some terrible conditions. My family has gone from NO long ago. The last one passed away recently. However, the bones of the Weymouth's could very well be floating soon. Several generations of them are buried there in one crypt.

I know frustration will set in, hopelessness and helplessness too. The best thing would be for immediate efforts made to help. And help not only for those who stayed behind and didn't heed the warnings. Those who followed instructions and at this time have no idea if they will have a home. Those people need immediate help for their worries and fears. Hopefully the Red Cross and Salvation Army will be there for them as well as workers to rescue the stranded.

 

[concernedperson]

Anybody hear more about the suicide in the Superdome? I wonder why he did it? Jeanne Meserve just reported on the conditions inside and it certainly didn't sound desparate -- very uncomfortable but far from worthy of suicide.

The reporter from WGNO was giving the report and she said that the man was playing dominos and quietly got up yelled at 2 people to move out of the way and jumped.

 

[NewMom2003]

Devastation in New Orleans:
'We have whitecaps on Canal Street'

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3331422

 

[nanandjim]

...Hopefully the Red Cross and Salvation Army will be there for them as well as workers to rescue the stranded.

Two of my favorite charities. In my experience they are always there when needed.

 

[Shadow205]

Prayers for all of the people affected by this tragedy. Our local red cross headed down there last night and we have several funds for the victims set up at local banks. I hope the waters recede quickly and we can all start to help our nation rebuild the affected areas.
As for the looters- isn't the National Guard patroling the areas?[/QUOTE]

Search and rescue is more important at this time than catching looters. Not saying that it is OK to loot but rescuing these people is a priority.

 

[BarnGoddess]

Our car salesman is the local fire chief here. Both of his sons are also volunteer firemen. One is a bank president the other is an airplane mechanic. The bank president located here is flying to meet his brother in Waco, Texas. They are driving with as many boats as they can round up with other firemen to help with the rescue efforts. Both employers are granting leave as long as necessary for them to help out. The son in Waco lived in Lake Charles until recently.

 

[Shadow205]

Reading and seeing all of the stories is just heart breaking. So many people have lost everything. Yes, they can rebuild somehow and life will go on eventually, but what about those who can't. I have a Great Aunt who is in her late 90's who lives maybe 2 blocks inland from Mobile Bay. I have no idea if she is alive or not. If she is, how will she rebuild? How do you start over after loosing everything when you are that old? She is a spunky ole lady, still living on her own but what now? Please include her in your prayers. Her name is Josie.

 

[nanandjim]

Reading and seeing all of the stories is just heart breaking. So many people have lost everything. Yes, they can rebuild somehow and life will go on eventually, but what about those who can't. I have a Great Aunt who is in her late 90's who lives maybe 2 blocks inland from Mobile Bay. I have no idea if she is alive or not. If she is, how will she rebuild? How do you start over after loosing everything when you are that old? She is a spunky ole lady, still living on her own but what now? Please include her in your prayers. Her name is Josie.

Did she evacuate? Does she have friends in the area? My thoughts and prayers are with Josie.

 

[Shadow205]

Did she evacuate? Does she have friends in the area? My thoughts and prayers are with Josie.

I have no idea nanandjim if she evacuated or not. She has no family there and don't think that she was really into the senior citizen type organizations. I just hope that the neighborhood that she lives in watched out for each other. I am going to try and locate her through the Red Cross but I won't even try for a couple of days.

 

[Shadow205]

I just heard on FOX that the emergency generator that they are using at the Super Dome is "showing signs of stress." Water is also creeping up around the outside. This is a nightmare.

 

[nanandjim]

... I am going to try and locate her through the Red Cross but I won't even try for a couple of days.

Did she have transportation? Could she have gotten to a shelter? I wonder how hard that area was hit. Here is a website where you might find someone in the area who can tell you how bad the area was hit.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/SearchForums?q=Mobile,+alabama&returnTo=/ForumHome

 

[amandab]

I just heard on FOX that the emergency generator that they are using at the Super Dome is "showing signs of stress." Water is also creeping up around the outside. This is a nightmare.

Maybe I'm being overdramatic, but that place is sounding more and more like a deathtrap.

 

[heavenlydaze]

Reading and seeing all of the stories is just heart breaking. So many people have lost everything. Yes, they can rebuild somehow and life will go on eventually, but what about those who can't. I have a Great Aunt who is in her late 90's who lives maybe 2 blocks inland from Mobile Bay. I have no idea if she is alive or not. If she is, how will she rebuild? How do you start over after loosing everything when you are that old? She is a spunky ole lady, still living on her own but what now? Please include her in your prayers. Her name is Josie.

Shadow,
Please let us know when you hear from Josie. She sounds like a really cool ol' gal. Heck, she's probably comforting some of the young'uns as we speak.
I'll bet she has a lot of stories to tell! As far as wondering what she will do now? Well... obviously, she has a loving family. It will all come together. :blowkiss:

 

[BirdieBoo]

About the clothing donations: Here's an article, they say clothing donations aren't a good idea right now.


What we have done, and what we are doing, is cleaning out our closets and auctioning items on ebay through MissionFish and ebay giving works. The way it works is that you can auction items and designate a percent of the proceeds (up to 100%) towards particular charities of your own choosing. Right now, our donations are going to United Way of Greater New Orleans, and Salvation Army.

It's something that works for us, it may not work for other people, I don't have much cash on hand to donate since I JUST went back to school full time and spent a boatload of money on books and supplies, Ebay auctioning is a bit of work but I can feel good about the fact that I am generating some money for charity by work I can actually do right at home.

Just something to think about, I know some of the other WS peeps sell on ebay, too.

Also, if it's not against your religion: DONATE BLOOD!

 

[Shadow205]

Did she have transportation? Could she have gotten to a shelter? I wonder how hard that area was hit. Here is a website where you might find someone in the area who can tell you how bad the area was hit.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/SearchForums?q=Mobile%2C+alabama&returnTo=%2FForumHome

From what I can find Nanandjim it was hit very hard. Thank you for the web site, I'll check it out. Thanks to all of you for your concerns about Aunt Josie. I will update on her as soon as I know something. You are probably right Heavenlydaze, she probably is comforting some young'uns somewhere. I just hope that she wasn't stuborn and tried to ride it out.

 

[kahskye]

I just heard on FOX that Canal St. is now flooded and waves are lapping in the street on Bourbon St. This morning there were people walking around and some businesses were reopening. I think that everyone thought that the worst was behind them. I don't think that is the case at all. The levey's are spilling water, what is the possibility of them breaking unleashing a rush of water? That is a very scary thought.

Yeah, I was watching the news last night showing a bar open on Bourbon St. The owner was celebrating and there were quite a few people drinking and cheering that they made it through Hurricane Katrina. Even tho curfew was 8 p.m. and it was 9 p.m., police weren't doing much about them. Last I heard, Bourbon St. had 9" of water. I'm sure it's higher now. Poor people!

 

[Mabel]

From what I'm seeing on TV, I can't understand how they're opening any businesses. The roads are mostly impassable. There is no water or power, gas lines are broken and uncapped. Fires are breaking out all over the place. It seems impossible.

 

[amandab]

Yeah, I was watching the news last night showing a bar open on Bourbon St. The owner was celebrating and there were quite a few people drinking and cheering that they made it through Hurricane Katrina. Even tho curfew was 8 p.m. and it was 9 p.m., police weren't doing much about them. Last I heard, Bourbon St. had 9" of water. I'm sure it's higher now. Poor people!

Does anyone know if the water is still rising?

 

[concernedperson]

I just heard on FOX that the emergency generator that they are using at the Super Dome is "showing signs of stress." Water is also creeping up around the outside. This is a nightmare.

They have got to set up a tent city somewhere on higher ground and do this super fast. Possibly up I-49 where there is a lot of open land. The fires going on and the raw sewage flood water will be causing many, many more deaths.

FEMA has supplies put no dry place to put them.