The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

[concernedperson]

This is ajc links for refugees that are streaming into Atlanta. Housing, banks, schools, how to get energency food stamps etc. Lots of info.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/breaking/katrina/gethelpguide.html

 

[nanandjim]

I just saw on the news huge areas burning in NO...

Who do you think are setting these fires? Do you think that it is the same people who are shooting at helicopters, policemen and emergency vehicles who are there trying to help?

ETA: I learned at the age of 5 that the media manipulates what it shows to the public. I was in the first grade, and our school had an Easter bonnet contest. The photographer chose another little boy and me to be subjects of a newspaper article. He begged me to put my hand on the boy's hat as if I were helping him adjust it. I didn't want to touch a boy, and I resisted. He finally persuaded me to do it, but I wasn't happy about it. You can see in the picture that I am saying something mean to the boy, and he looks wide-eyed and scared! The caption read, "XX helps YY adjust his Easter hat."
Very small example--but I have seen first-hand on several occasions how the "facts" are manipulated.

 

[LadyLuck]

I am very impressed with how Texas is opening its cities. They seem very prepared. Very impressed with the governor.

 

[Nova]

Good on Texas!

Martha, before witnesses here, I swear: no more Texas jokes and slurs from me! (At least not until the next time ya'll send us a president.)

 

[Casshew]

Thank god for Texas & their big hearts.

 

[Ntegrity]

Texas makes me very proud. I hope their charity is returned ten-fold.

 

[mic730]

Don't mess with Texas seems to extend to Hurricaine Katrina and their neighbors too!
Texans do this country proud.
I heard today they are gooing to get the kids from LA in SA into school next week! WOW that it is one great state.

 

[tipper]

From what I saw on CNN he should have been appointed and on the scene last week. But - better late than never.



US News

`John Wayne` general hits New Orleans

Sep 3, 2005, 17:55 GMT printer friendly

email this article NEW ORLEANS, LA, United States (UPI) -- A Louisiana native with experience in floods has been put in charge of the Army`s Task Force Katrina, winning praise even from New Orleans` unhappy mayor.

Lt. Gen. Russel Honore is 'one John Wayne dude,' Mayor Ray Nagin said in an interview this week with radio station WWL.

Stars and Stripes reports that Honore, who hails from Lakeland, La., led the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea from 2000 to 2002, dealing with flooding at many bases every year during monsoon season and supervising the installation of flood control measures.

Nagin said that sending Honore was the one thing he could give President Bush credit for -- 'he came off the doggone chopper, and he started cussin` and people started movin`!'

CNN reported that Honore has also ordered National Guard troops and even police officers in New Orleans to keep their guns pointed down. The general told CNN that he is most concerned with getting food, water and other necessities to the thousands of people still trapped in the city.

'If you ever have 20,000 people come to supper, you know what I`m talking about,' he said. 'If it`s easy, it would have been done already.'

Copyright 2005 by United Press International

 

[Mabel]

It's been estimated that there are still as many as 50,000 people still trapped in their attics or on rooftops. If help doesn't get to them very soon, it'll be too late. I'm sure for many it already is. CNN has hinted that the death toll could be into the tens of thousands. I wonder if it will fall to this general to organize their rescues. It sounds like he's someone who can get things done.

 

[Mabel]

I just heard that they are now bringing in the former head of FEMA, James Witt. Maybe he, in addition to the cussing general, can finally make things happen.

 

[tipper]

I just heard that they are now bringing in the former head of FEMA, James Witt. Maybe he, in addition to the cussing general, can finally make things happen.

Was Witt the one who said all FEMA/Homeland Security was interested in were drillls related to terrorism? That they stood in the back of the room and laughed and chatted while he presented his levee breaking/ LA flooded/people trapped scenario. Somebody in a recent interview said that...

 

[vanillasky]

Full story: http://www.startribune.com/stories/125/5595500.html

http://www.bugmenot.com

Minnesota has been asked by federal officials to find ways to house up to 5,000 refugees stranded without homes in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said today.

Pawlenty and other leaders from the state and charitable organizations will outline a plan on how to make that happen at a news conference Saturday afternoon at the State Capitol, said Kevin Smith, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety.

The request from the Federal Emergency Management Agency came Friday night, Smith said.

"We have to assess what our capabilities are," he said. "We'll do it but we have to figure out how to do it."

 

[Cypros]

Why Minnesota? Or are all states being asked to take in a large group of evacuees? I think that is the most logical solution so as not to overwhelm te resources of neighboring states like Texas. If each community offered to take in a family, it would be a relatively painless way for all Americans to offer relief.

 

[Mabel]

Was Witt the one who said all FEMA/Homeland Security was interested in were drillls related to terrorism? That they stood in the back of the room and laughed and chatted while he presented his levee breaking/ LA flooded/people trapped scenario. Somebody in a recent interview said that...

It's likely. Witt was appointed by Clinton in 1992 and apparently fought an uphill battle the whole time he was with FEMA.

I've posted this link before, it's an article by Eric Holdeman, the director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.

Bush team's dismantling of FEMA is a disaster

An excerpt:

But it was Hurricane Andrew, which hit Florida in 1992, that really energized FEMA. The year after that catastrophic storm, President Bill Clinton appointed James Lee Witt to be director of the agency. Witt was the first professional emergency manager to run the agency. Showing a serious regard for the cost of natural disasters in both economic impact and lives lost or disrupted, Witt re-oriented FEMA from civil defense preparations to a focus on natural disaster preparedness and disaster mitigation. In an effort to reduce the repeated loss of property and lives every time a disaster struck, he started a disaster mitigation effort called "Project Impact." FEMA was elevated to a Cabinet-level agency, in recognition of its important responsibilities coordinating efforts across departmental and governmental lines.

Witt fought for federal funding to support the new program. At its height, only $20 million was allocated to the national effort, but it worked wonders. One of the best examples of the impact the program had here in the central Puget Sound area and in western Washington state was in protecting people at the time of the Nisqually earthquake on Feb. 28, 2001. Homes had been retrofitted for earthquakes, and schools were protected from high-impact structural hazards. Those involved with Project Impact thought it ironic that the day of that quake was also the day that the new president, George W. Bush, chose to announce that Project Impact would be discontinued.

The advent of the Bush administration in January 2001 signaled the beginning of the end for FEMA. The newly appointed leadership of the agency showed little interest in its work or in the missions pursued by Witt. Then came the Sept. 11 attacks and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Soon FEMA was being absorbed into the "homeland security borg."

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

In our little newspaper here this morning, it said Texas has already enrolled 3,500 students, statewide. To me, that is just amazing. To have people/familes/students displaced...and to have already done 3,500+ enrollments (meaning they've found stable shelter, have done the paperwork processing, etc.) is phenomenal. Some school districts in our county (McLennan) and more in Bell County have ALREADY had some of the students in class. Woweeeee

 

[kgeaux]

In our little newspaper here this morning, it said Texas has already enrolled 3,500 students, statewide. To me, that is just amazing. To have people/familes/students displaced...and to have already done 3,500+ enrollments (meaning they've found stable shelter, have done the paperwork processing, etc.) is phenomenal. Some school districts in our county (McLennan) and more in Bell County have ALREADY had some of the students in class. Woweeeee

Lafayette has enrolled 2,000 as of 4PM Friday! Good is happening. And hip, hip, horray for Texas! A big state full of big hearts!! I am so proud of them.

 

[kgeaux]

Why Minnesota? Or are all states being asked to take in a large group of evacuees? I think that is the most logical solution so as not to overwhelm te resources of neighboring states like Texas. If each community offered to take in a family, it would be a relatively painless way for all Americans to offer relief.

Whoo, doggie. I would imagine that Minnesota is not a place most people who are used to living a sub-tropic life are going to want to be come December. I echo your question: why Minnesota?

 

[Magnum PI]

I think some fires occur naturally, for example, when many chemicals get wet, they naturally combust. These thugs take advantage of this, and, yes I think some fires will be set on purpose.

 

[vanillasky]

I have no idea why Minnesota was asked. I haven't heard an update yet from the conference this afternoon in Saint Paul. I will be watching the news & checking online and will post as soon as I know. (Or if any other MN residents have heard, hopefully they'll have some input on why MN was chosen)

Whoo, doggie. I would imagine that Minnesota is not a place most people who are used to living a sub-tropic life are going to want to be come December. I echo your question: why Minnesota?

 

[Mabel]

I think some fires occur naturally, for example, when many chemicals get wet, they naturally combust. These thugs take advantage of this, and, yes I think some fires will be set on purpose.

I know at one point there were open natural gas lines all over the city. It would only take a spark to set off a fire.