The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

[2luvmy]

Hugs to you bobbisangel.

I am one believing the dead should be shown. I did not mean that they should be shown, just as they are found - up close and personal, but how others have described - under a sheet, from a distance. I just feel that not showing anything is a sign of disrespect, like sweeping them under the rug as if they did not exist at all.

Eventually as most are identified,, I would also like to see a video montage. I want to see who these people were. They mean something to someone.

 

[Gabby]

http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/news/090705/center97.html

 

[Gabby]

I read somewhere that the Mississippi River is trying to change its course and the Corps of Engineers is dregging it to stop this change in course. I dont really understand this, but this sounds bad to try to fool with mother nature.

Changing the course of the Mississippi caused the wetlands that helped protect New Orleans to be dried up.... you are right, it isn't nice to fool with Mother Nature.

 

[poco]

Poco, Good Question!!!

I would live no other place than Texas. It is home to me... and if my home were destroyed tomorrow, I would come back and rebuild... my roots are here in this area, and I would not ever feel "home" anywhere else... Home is definately where the "heart" is and my Heart is here in Central Texas...

Hey Gab - where in central Texas.... I lived in Texas for 20 years - LOVE IT and am actually thinking about moving back there some day -

 

[Gabby]

Hey Gab - where in central Texas.... I lived in Texas for 20 years - LOVE IT and am actually thinking about moving back there some day -

I am located 65 miles southwest of Dallas, in Navarro County... not far from Corsicana....I am actually 15 miles west of Corsicana.... I love it here... my ancestors are all buried within 5 - 10 miles of my home......and as you know I am in to Genealogy.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Thank you for donating the money to her cause JB! You know, as corrupt as I have read LA politicos can be, you may never get your change from that?
Don't worry though. It will go to a good cause. I think the Gov needs some cents (sense). Maybe even scents. But I have no clue which kind she wears.
Is there one called Clueless?

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Good ones, KK!

I don't know about Clueless, but there's always Brittney's "Curious." We can make that apply as well in Blanco's case....

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Bobbisangel,

Thank you for bringing a personal story to this. That is why I said early on that there needs to be some discretion taken. There are many reasons why people don't deal well with seeing dead bodies in all types of situations.

I absolutely agree with those that say there need to be pictures, for historical purposes. I just so hope it's not done for sensationalistic/sales reasons.

 

[TexMex]

ABC NEWS

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 6, 2005 — In New Orleans, those in peril and those in power have pointed the finger squarely at the federal government for the delayed relief effort.

But experts say when natural disasters strike, it is the primary responsibility of state and local governments — not the federal government — to respond.



New Orleans' own comprehensive emergency plan raises the specter of "having large numbers of people … stranded" and promises "the city … will utilize all available resources to quickly and safely evacuate threatened areas."

"Special arrangements will be made to evacuate persons unable to transport themselves," the plan states.

When Hurricane Katrina hit, however, that plan was not followed completely.

Instead of sending city buses to evacuate those who could not make it out on their own, people in New Orleans were told to go to the Superdome and the Convention Center, where no one provided sufficient sustenance or security.


'Lives Would Have Been Saved'

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said "80 percent" of the city was evacuated before the storm hit, but Bob Williams says that's not good enough.

Williams dealt with emergency response issues as a state representative in Washington when his district was forced to deal with the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980.

"If the plan were implemented, lives would have been saved," Williams said.

There's no question the federal government plays a major role in disaster relief. But federal officials say in order to get involved, they must first be asked to do so by state officials.

As one FEMA official told ABC News, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco failed to submit a request for help in a timely manner.

Shortly before Katrina hit, she sent President Bush a request asking for shelter and provisions, but didn't specifically ask for help with evacuations. One aide to the governor told ABC News today Blanco thought city officials were taking care of the evacuation.

 

[Linda7NJ]

When I first heard they were coming, I was thrilled and looking forward to driving there and helping out. Rumor had it they would be staying in Center City or the Navy Yard.

Well, they placed them in an abandoned middle school in North Philly! For those of you not familiar with North Philly, let me tell you, it's a terrible, crime ridden ghetto, notorious for drug dealers & gangs, shooting all the time, murder rate is astronomical. It's the kind of place where no one wants to live.

I was wondering if the other states that took in survivors placed them in the worst areas or are they staying someplace decent and relatively safe?

I won't be going to North Philly.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

My local agency's office "adopted" the family of a Gulfport, MS police officer. He applied at our agency and interviewed the week prior Katrina hit. One of our Lieutenant's was able to contact him and got the contact info for his family after they evacuated. Here's the wife's email we received yesterday:

"Thank you for your incredible kindness in organizing assistance for our family. We are overwhelmed by the generosities of so many individuals. Below I have listed some of the information you asked for (DD not putting that in, it's sizes of clothing for her family) Household items are our biggest need right now, but all donations are greatly appreciated. Everything from brooms and bathroom items to kitchen utensils were turned into debris with the massive storm.

EVEN GREATER THAN OUR OWN PERSONAL NEEDS ARE THOSE OF THE POLICE AND FIRE RESPONSE AS AN ORGANIZED UNIT. CALEB WOULD ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE RELIEF EFFORT SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREA OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO CONSIDER DONATING TO:

THE GULFPORT POLICE AND FIRE EMERGENCY FUND
Whitney National Bank
Gulfport, MS
Acct#74018775
Wire #065000171
-----------------------------------
Isn't that just the neatest? That family has lost everything, is displaced, and the wife is due to have a baby Oct 1st. Yet, they're encouraging support to the Gulfport, MS emergency fund? Very nice.

BTW, they're staying with friends so she can have her baby in MS, and then our office has found them free housing here in Central Texas when they're ready to move here in mid- October.

 

[Larkit]

I'm looked up about Bob Williams and the first hits were for his Evergreen Freedom Foundation and Media Transparency. This is what the latter says:



Just adding to the mix of info. Evaluate for yourself.

The info is good news indeed. I'm pleased to learn they're doing something highly worthwhile.

 

[Larkit]

Me, too. I'm reading everything. I skipped one story earlier because I was warned it had a conservative slant and I wasn't in the mood at that moment (blame Chertoff). But I'm reading everything I have time for. The Bob Williams piece, though, raised a slight red flag as some other indictments of the local and state government didn't.

Why would you blame Chertoff?

 

[Jeana (DP)]

My daughter's school has a couple of children from the affected areas. She said they started there this week. Everyone has been very welcoming to them and hopefully they'll feel right at home in no time.

 

[Larkit]

I am glad to hear this, Dara. There really are some severe local problems with all of this. When I read this thing, I could somewhat understand the reluctance to give untold loads of money to the state given its track record. I read or heard elsewhere that the levee issue has been a source of concern since the days of Teddy Roosevelt, but hasn't really be properly responded to by any president.

The New Orleans Levee Board was given $300,000,000 for levee improvement by the Bush administration. Instead of shoring up the levees, the city spent it on other things, including a casino, a courthouse, a plane for the mayor and his staff and some other things. They still had some of the money left when the levees broke last week.

 

[Dara]

Ours are going to an unused base on Cape Cod if they come. I don't know of any bad areas of Cape Cod. We were told to prepare for 500 and did (teddy bears and all), then told we might not get any evacuees. I'm glad my state stepped up, but I am also glad we might not house any evacuees. We're a long way from LA.

 

[less0305]

Our evacuees are staying at the City Coliseum, which is host to many state and local sporting events, national sporting events, musical concerts, hockey, etc. It's a beautiful building with great facilities.

 

[Dara]

Why would you blame Chertoff?

Is that a serious question?

 

[kgeaux]

It would require a recall election. I think there has to be so many voters petition for a recall election and then someone else to be put up against that particular officer (mayor or Governor) and that other person would have to win by votes.

There's no organized call for anything like that yet, but you ought to hear the talk around town! Everyone is more concerned now that the people who have lost their homes and jobs receive the help that they need, but once all of that is taken care of, watch out. Kathleen Blanco has commited political suicide. Nagin, I'm not too sure about. I'm not hearing as much about him.

We are all so damn embarrassed that the leadership of Louisiana is so inept. Once again, we are a joke when it comes to doing things right.

Poor Kathleen has spent her career trying to attract business and industry to Louisiana, and who would want to come now? "Come to Louisiana, put your children in our under-performing schools, Relocate here and we will watch you drown when the next hurricane washes through!"

 

[Jeana (DP)]

If anyone knows anyone who was affected by Katrina, please put them on to this website. There will be free legal services offered all over the United States for anything ranging from probate matters for those who lost loved ones, to securing loans, buying property, custody issues concerning children who lost parents, etc.

http://www.abanet.org/katrina/

 

[kgeaux]

The New Orleans Levee Board was given $300,000,000 for levee improvement by the Bush administration. Instead of shoring up the levees, the city spent it on other things, including a casino, a courthouse, a plane for the mayor and his staff and some other things. They still had some of the money left when the levees broke last week.

This is a HUGE problem in Lousiana. Money rolls in and gets deposited in the "general fund" and politicians spend it on pet projects instead of the intended purpose.

Ask us about the money from gambling, that should be spent on education. The money from the tobacco settlement, should be spent on education. Our teachers are dreadfully underpaid because the money isn't there. Where is it? Who knows?