Hurricane Katrina

Hate to break it to you folks but cell phones do not work. The lines are jammed and the towers are jammed. Believe me I've been spitting game at all the new refugees going to my school and none of there cell numbers work (I'm sure they gave me real ones )

 

Mmmkay. Guess that means these folks who are actually in NO blogging their experiences while keeping their Internet biz online were just fooling us.

 

GTech I was responding to your post about armchair quarterbacks where you stated "I wonder how any sort of message could get out, when there is no electricity, no phone service, no communications at all."

The impression I got from your post was that we don't really know anything except what the media is telling us....My point was simply that there ARE other sources of information available. Most people don't have a working phone or electricity, but those that do are trying to share their stories with us. There are everday people ltelling us what's happening to them and around them.

I agree that there is often misinformation spread through the media because conflicting announcements come to them from various groups, but that doesn't mean outside observers can't come to some decent conconclusions about how things are generally playing out. I'm not a rocket scientist, but I'm not dumb either, and if I see multiple camera feeds that show one bulldozer working on a levee I don't need the announcer to tell me that's what's happening.

Discussing what's happening and critiquing it doesn't mean we're discounting anyone's efforts...believe me it's certainly appreciated by the survivors, and anyone with a heart for that matter. I think the Coastguard has rocking!

But at the same time I think it's obvious there's been some serious logistical problems, and I think it's our responsibility to talk about that. If we don't care, then noone will care and it won't change. There's only so much we (as remote bystanders) can do, so we watch and we talk. It's frustration that often leads to action and change. This is simply the groundswell...if that energy can be harnessed maybe something good will come out of it. This is what pushes people out of their daily grind and into growth.

 

I just managed to find a film clip on the levee situation.

Scroll down to the green Watch box on the right and click on "Work Begins on a Breached Levee".


Keep in mind there were two major levee breaks, and several other smaller ones. This clip is uncut rough footage with commentary by the on-site reporter...what I originally saw on CNN was part of this in the background while they discussed other topics. One side of this break is unreachable by ground vehicles, the other side is being worked on by just one dumptruck and one bulldozer that I can see. They pan back several times but there are no other vehicles in the area at all.


By the way...I will admit I'm a bit passionate and sensitive about this. I've just been through too many close calls with tornadoes (while living in Oklahoma) and also lived in Santa Cruz during the big 89 earthquake in California. I've seen people lose their homes, their lives, their loved ones. I was one of lucky ones.

Right now my friends are connecting with local businesses and getting in touch with any contacts we can in Houston and other cities that will host evacuees. We hope to gather up clothing and toiletry donations to ship out since these people literally having nothing but the shirts on their backs. Apparently they are accepting donations of goods at the Astrodome, so if it just takes shipping things to friends who live there so they can drop stuff off then that's what we'll do.

 

DS, thanks for the clarification. To clarify that point, "I wonder how any sort of message could get out, when there is no electricity, no phone service, no communications at all.", what I was trying to communicate is the difficulty in people (survivors, those stranded, victims, etc) in getting any message about where to go, what to do, etc. This is where a lack of communications and electricity have caused a great deal of problems. Coupled with minimal access into a city that is virtually under water.

I think discussing problems is rational. It's when people start a perpetual "blame game" looking for the worst in what is already the miserable of situations. FEMA is working hard, the national guard is working hard, the coast guard is working. Even the media are rescuing. It's a huge city with (what I saw earlier tonight) over a hundred thousand people they are trying to get out. I can't fathom the logistics it takes, under the conditions that exist, with no electricity or communications.

I know it's going to happen. This is how people are. They focus on the negative of everything. No matter how much people or agencies try, this is huge. And they're going to take "pot shots" by armchair quarterbacks who are not on the ground to absord the enormous efforts taking place.

Regarding the video. This was one of the links I provided above as well. In the first part of the video, we see the helicopter dropping on of the large sand bags on one part. From what I understand, there are 50+ of these to be dropped. When it pans out, same location, but on the bottom right, the bulldozer and dump truck are working on a smaller breach in the same area. I don't see much room for anything more than a bulldozer and dump truck there. What I took issue with, is that I got the impression that this was all that is being done. In fact, the bulldozer has limited access (I couldn't see fitting two in there) working in the same area as helicopters are making sandbag drops, about a hundred yards away.

My post wasn't directed at you, or anyone specifically. I just hate to see people in general start pointing fingers and running the blame game. This is bigger than any of us can fathom and mistakes will be made. Things can always be done better. I'm just not convinced taking "pot shots" at those that are participating in such a huge effort is the right thing to do. Not right now.

 

Yea sure...I guess my impression from your post is that you were commenting on those posting on DP.

As I discussed with some others tonight (folks from NY who went through the bombings), there will alway be mistakes...the difference is that action was being taken by the Feds. The more federal groups rally and support local groups, the more that can be done quicker. It just seems that there was a lot of official announcements about support, but noone really stepping up to the plate.

The National Guard should have been there and had supply bases and recovery operations setup by Wednesday. The fact that it took four days is simply ridiculous.

Bush should have been on the phone showing some presidential leadership while on vacation in Texas early this week. Hell, he could have freaking dropped by to see what was going on...but didn't until today. Maybe that's a potshot on my part, but it's one I'm willing to make.

 

Those stuck in that mess didn't heed the warnings and had doubts that something like that would ever happen, so did the Feds (most of them). It came as a surprise to everyone.

When you're in the desert ,one hour seem like a day, things seem to move so slowly, when in fact things that need to be accomplished take some time (preperations, logistics, movement etc.).

 

"Rising tides may take homes
But not what's in our hearts and bones
The cries of pain, they won't last
They'll be replaced by jazz and brass"
From: The City That Can Never End
von Paul Spreadbury, publiziert von "Katrina Central"

 

Well people across the US are opening their homes and businesses to help as much as possible. I've been connecting with some of my catering friends (this is what I use to do) and one of them located in TN just fed 35 evacuees tonight. They have nothing, but they're glad to be alive.

New Orleans isn't the only place having trouble getting help. One of my catering friends shared these comments from a family member stuck on the coast in Gulfport, MS...

 

My thoughts are with all those affected.

It disgusts me when all some people care about is the effect this hurricane has had on oil prices

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090300165.html

They then edited it from the show.

 

I just saw this on fox news, its ridicolus. Point and Case for my last point. People like Kayenne West are trying to divide the nation at a time it should unite.

 

why does this seem familiar?

 

Aren't you being a little hypocritical. Didn't you just talk about how all the black people were looting and shooting at Firefighters they're terrible behavior was the reason why it took so long for the troops to get them food? If that isn't division I don't know what is. Now I can understand a shop owner protecting his Tv's and clothing store etc. (just as long as it isn't food and water) but people need food. There is no reason for them to shoot at Firefighters but those are criminals not black people, not white people, they are criminals.

Anyway, Yeah I do agree, Kanye was dead wrong to say what he said. It could have provoked a riot. It's not that he says it for political motiviation but that he literally has a pessimstic view of the world and how black americans are treated. That the world is conspiring to do harm to him and all black people. That's detrimental to his own well being because he is focusing on failure and misery and that is what he will get if that is all he thinks about like many people do.

 

How old are you Mizt?

Most people *like* Kanye West are doing nothing, that is a large part of the problem. He stood up and made sure he was counted and with the donation he is making is saving more lives than me + you together.

 

What's worse is that West probably believes this. Bush declared LA a disaster area 48 hours before the hurricane hit. That makes it the governor's responsbility to get the national guard ready, ask for how many troops may be needed, etc. Wasn't done. Governor and mayor of NO were completely incompetent here from day one. Somehow escaping any fault in the situation though.

I think the mayor/governor rolled the dice. They betted the hurricane would slide further to the east and miss them. They were wrong. Tough job to gamble with people's lives.

 

What does it matter how old I am? I can form my own opinions and defend them just as you can.

Please go back and read my post, this is a CLASS Issue, and the class that is causing the problems in New Orleans is the poor urban class (which is atleast 75% black people)!!! Your right I'm sure Kanye West donation will save a few lives but it will encourage a few more people to take arms against the people trying to save them, because not only is bush racist but the media too according to Mr. West. Where are the black leaders at (O thats right there helping out Cindy Sheenan right now) ?

Well I packed a truck full of water today, that is going there this evening (I leave a few hours away from "ground zero". While Kanye west worked on dividing the nation, risking even more lifes, yet with the fame and fortune he made exploiting the hardships in his fellow lower class black mans lifes, he too did atleast make an attempt to help and I do give him credit for that.

On a lighter note, I have been entertaining some "refugees" from Mississippi (not that I mind there quiet good looking ). Those girls know how to have fun.

 

"All" Black people, come on now, stop trying to spin it, I know many black people and white people and see them no different, I see ones with morals and without morals in both colors. 90% of them (the folks with morals) need help NOW. The other 10% (the ones without morals) need to be shot for obvious reasons, theres a difference between looting for food compared to shooting at firefighters, stealing tvs etc..! I talked to a Federal Coastal guy today at the gym and he said one of the reasons why they where having such a hard time getting help in the city was because of the criminal element. If the other 90% would take some responsiblity over the 10% maybe half the police department wouldn't of quit and there would of been a little order after this hurricane. Look this was a line of mistakes and there's not much we can do now except do our best to help the CURRENT situation.

Look my % my be a little off but I'm just trying to show you the divide within the city. Good verus Evil here. It is duty of good to stop evil whether it effects them directly or not.

 

I don't think they have escaped fault, I've heard plenty of critical comments about all parties involved including FEMA and other organizations as well as Bush, the Governor, etc. There are even reports coming out now that Homeland Security would NOT allow anyone in (including Red Cross) to help feed survivors, which is simply ridiculous.

My personal opinion is that this goes farther back, that Congress and the President dropped the ball on following through with developing DHS to be what it was meant to be, and to create plans and resources for responding to national emergencies. New Orleans is one of the biggest shipping ports in the US...taking care of this city and investing in the infastructure should have been top priority. When you include the damaged oil rigs and the the fact that the entire Midwest is supported through goods shipped to NO then you realize this isn't just about the folks that live there...this is going to affect the entire country.

There was simply a total lack of quality leadership on all fronts, and it's been going on for some time now.