First off my prayers go out to all that have been effected by Hurricane Katrina. If anyone knows of a good place to donate where the money will directly go to those that need it please post the information. Myself I will never donate to the Red Cross again after seeing how the money was handled after 911, my choice!
Now I have a question, has anyone seen any country offering any kind of help to the USA? I ask this as I remember one of the UN dudes blasting the US for only offering 40 million or so at first after the Tsunami in Thailand. I have yet to see Mexico's president offer any assistance, yet the US provides them will a health care plan. I just checked the BBC website and not one word from the compassionate French! Germany, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Israel and even are pals the British have not offered any help.
Frankly I believe we can take care of things our selves. But next time something happens elsewhere in the world. UN crying or not I think we should let other nations handle the relief effort. I know that sounds a little sour and maybe my view will change in the coming days!
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The governor of Louisiana revealed on Larry King's show tonight that she had received calls from several foreign countries offering aid and assistance to her. I'm sure Karl Rove and the white house press staff are hard at work making up a story to ease your concerns.
Meanwhile the mayor of New Orleans revealed that he now expects that it will take at least 12 weeks to get the city pumped out. It is height of West Nile Virus season there so between that, typhoid, and toxic mold he's got one million homeless people to find, feed and shelter for a very long time. It looks like their most pressing problem is lack of communication because it was obvious today that the governor was not in touch with just how bad the situation in New Orleans was. The most interesting proposal that I heard was for FEMA to acquire some cruise ships to be used as floating hotels to house some of the refugees. Until our government formulates some kind of a plan to deal with the human tragedy it's hard to imagine how outside assistance could matter. This is not about money, it is about logistics on a scale almost beyond imagination. Massive conventional aid will work for Mississippi and Alabama, but those Louisiana people trapped in buildings surrounded by a toxic cesspool are a very different story.
I would have expected better of you Tim,
When you are clear just what kind of assistance you need, it will be sent. Specialist teams from many Fire Stations and rescue centres around the country are ready to go to the US including a team from our own Fire Station here in Crewe, I am certain that teams from Germany, Italy and other European countries are ready also.....Even France. Flooding the area with people just doesn't help the situation, neither does throwing money at it since the US has resources and people, but you will need specialist teams, equipment and animals, soppy sentimental words make good headlines but do nothing.
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Never knock on deaths door... Ring the doorbell and run away, death really hates that!
Here is a how to help site for Katrina:
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/special_packages/hurricane_katrina/12507967.htm
Over a 150 recorded history, there is no relationship that can be proven for hurricane generation from global warming, so these guys can go take a dump. Hurricanes are cyclic and start off the west coast of Africa due to warm water temperatures and the high heat of the Sahara Dessert. Wind patterns and ocean currents caused by wind patterns are the cause when conditions are just right.
Biloxi, my old home town was hit the hardest and Katrina is a lot worse than Camille was exactly 40 years ago. That is part of the cycle.
Tim, we have just been covered with work it's still very hot and humid in Houston, last night I got in at a reasonable time and was able to watch some of the news and saw the pictures of the devastation it literally brought tears to my eyes and as I woke up this morning I am still in shock.
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Don't take life seriously... Its not permanent.
Heard on the "news" this morning that the brilliant Robert Kennedy Jr. blames this disaster on Geoorge W. Bush for not signing the Kyhoto Treaty...Truly laughable...and I'll bet he's not the least bit embarrassed for making such an idiotic statement...I'm also sure he hasn't cut his "Vacation" short to return to Washington to offer any intelligent assistance...Seems like a well educated man as Kennedy, should be doin more to help the "little guy" that he, and his Party claim to represent...instead of pointing fingers of blame...
It won't be over in New Orleans for months...maybe years...I don't really want to know how many died...I thought Camille was the worst thing I had ever seen...
I'm very lucky, didn't lose a shingle, and only lost power for 7hrs...and my biggest problem was pouring gasoline into the genarator...
Gas prices will rise, but that seems seems like a minor inconvience...now.
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Lazy bum who lives off his wife.
01 BMW 530i Sport, 92 Porsche 968, 85 F150, 72 911, 08 GM SUV, 01' Ford Lightnin'
I gave a small donation to our local fire department this morning. I do this a few times every year.
When Hurricane Ivan came through it spun a tornadoe which claimed the life of my cousins ex-wife and demolished one of our local Fire Departments which is 5 miles from my house.
We had 2 tornadoes touch down here in northeast GA. from Katrina within 50 miles of my home causing considerable damage, plus a few more in our state.
These people are definately in need of food and shelter and I have a lot of compassion for them.
As far as the looting goes, there is not many other things that I have not got any use for than a thief.
Between thieves and lazy ass people who are more capable of working than I am but living off the government is one reason for the higher prices of everyday things we have to have to survive.
Our government would have a lot more money to help aid in natural disasters if it were not for these people.
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Just another brick in the wall
Had a little mule I fed him castor oil and every time he jumped the fence he fertilized the soil
This is a truly a colossal disaster.
With virtually any other disaster: earthquake, hurricane, tsunami, tornado, wildfires... the damage occurs and clean-up and rebuilding can usually begin shortly thereafter. But with this? I can't begin to fathom where to even begin because the destruction is so widespread. Levies and seawalls have been damaged or destroyed, power is out, communications are down, water and sewage is non-functional, roads and bridges have been washed away, miles upon miles of land mass is underwater, disease will soon set in.... I just can't imagine anything worse, except there's another two months of hurricane season and the likeliehood of another strike is a very real possibility.
Tim, as for how to help, I'm at a loss on that one as well. I won't donate to the Red Cross either after the 9/11 mess, and I'm still appaled at how they were helping people proudly wearing Osama Bin Ladin T-shirts. We shouldn't be helping people that openly supports our enemies. Maybe the Salvation Army, a nice Christian organization, would be a good choice -- unless someone has information to the contrary.
However, judging from the rampant looting down there, it seems they're doing a pretty good job of helping themselves, and therefore I'm very reluctant to help people who are so lawless during such a time of disaster.
Joe
I have read that thousands of years ago, the Sahara Dessert was once a rich forest with the claim that the only difference between a forest and a dessert are trees. Maybe, and this is way beyond me, the Sahara can be replanted as this is the trigger point for hurricanes that hit our southern coast. The reasons for the disappearance of this vast forest was only speculated, trees were cut down, but not replanted. But the Sahara does have many oasis, and that is a starting point.
Not sure if I can take a firm stand on what is defined as a looter, many people lost everything and stuff is laying around all over, most of the store items have been soaked with salt water and are not resalable or even usable. A Biloxi newspaper showed a picture of a black guy running off with a pair of tennis shoes, big deal.
The true horror is yet to be found. Remember how the death toll from the Tsunami kept rising every day as if it was never going to end? There are a huge number of fatalities yet to be found washed up in debris throughout the coast of Southern Mississippi. There will be more horror found when New Orleans is drained and hundreds of dead bodies are found drowned in their own attics.
I too was not happy with how the Red Cross handled all our donations back in 9-11. We all know someone from New Orleans or Southern Miss, call them today and offer your assistance directly and eliminate the middle man and his deep pockets. I'm calling my buddie from New Orleans today.
The looting is a natural occurance with every major catastropic event and unless you are placed in their shoes you do not know how you would react. Don't get me wrong, I do not approve, a thief is a thief. I do wonder though, if I was in such dire straights, if I would not enter a store looking for food, water, and clothing and if none was found to maybe grab items of value to trade for food and water. I heard that Walmart opened their doors and welcomed looters. They say even the cops are looting now so I hope they all get what they need to survive.
We had five tornados here is North GA as Brickmason mentioned. A little too close for me. Gas shortages are already being reported in the Metro Atlanta area as everyone is heading to the pump to beat tomorrows higher prices.
This all seems a little spooky to me as I can remember watching a documentary a few months back that started with a cat 5 hurricane hitting New Orleans, cripling our fuel supplies, causing lines at the pumps, civil unrest, stock market crash, and eventually global economy failure. Did anyone else see this?
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Some of the "looters" in New Orleans are shooting cops, floating jewlery on plywood, looting hospitals,and stealing other items that have nothing to do with their survival. Everyone was told to LEAVE, but it seems these looters (criminals), can figure out ways to steal, and kill others in this time...truly classless folks that should be shot on sight, I think I remember hearing about that practice when I was a kid. That was enough reason not to go looting after a disaster...
We are all gonna pay big time for this folks, imagine Insurance Companys having to replace everything in an entire city like New Orleans, Billions of Dollars...and we all know people "claim" they lost more than they actually did...My Homeowners Ins. went up $200yr. after Ivan, and I didn't even make a claim...Insurance Companys don't take the hit, they just raise everybodys rates to cover the loss...I'm sure thats why State Farm is urging everyone with a policy to call now and make a claim, because after all, you're in good hands...everybody's hands, and pockets...:-)
The Mayor said they don't have time to deal with the dead now, so they just shove em' aside to help the living...ain't no tellin how many are dead...
I wish I would have seen that Documentary...sounds interesting....
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Lazy bum who lives off his wife.
01 BMW 530i Sport, 92 Porsche 968, 85 F150, 72 911, 08 GM SUV, 01' Ford Lightnin'
The Governor of GA made an anouncement this afternoon that there are no fuel shortages as the rumors are indicating. This does not change the fact that the panic has set in and there are huge lines at the pumps. Police are directing traffic at a station close to here.
I do not disagree that a lot of the looting is being done by criminals that should be shot. I was simply trying to voice some understanding and compassion to the situation that has caused decent people to resort to looting.
Wish I could remember the Channel and Name of that Documentary...
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I don't think anyone here would mind someone taking something they needed to survive. Watching people with sh*t eating grins float stolen stuff away is not what we in America should stand for! Heck I heard on the news that some where stealing before and during the storm. Some may think that's okay but I'm not one of them!
Been busy today but have yet to hear a press conference from any foreign leader offering help. I also agree that we have no clue yet what the death toll will be or the degree of disease that may follow.
Salvation Army
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My son just called from work, and told the wife to go fill up w/gasoline because there will be no gas delivery for 2 weeks...I almost believed it, but I don't, but anyway I have 40gals. in the truck and all cars are full. I thought we would be without power for more than 7hrs., so I was ready...maybe for the wrong reasons...
Could it be that we (in Alabamastan) can't buy formulated Tennessee gas, or Georgia gas, or Florida gas...How stupid this Formulated Regulation is...I hope it's just a rumor, because I remember waiting in line back in the 70's...
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Lazy bum who lives off his wife.
01 BMW 530i Sport, 92 Porsche 968, 85 F150, 72 911, 08 GM SUV, 01' Ford Lightnin'
Many Mnay years ago, I remember there being a fire in my house. My father dragged all us kids thru the smoke to the outside in freezing weather in nothing but our underwear. I was about ten or eleven years old. But I remember a guy coming up to the car we were sitting in and giving me a donut and a blanket.. Had a funny hat on..Later learned it was with the salvation army. They pulled up right behind the first fire truck..And this is a paid department, not volunteers that had to leave their homes to get the fire truck. I was amazed later to learn all those people did. They knew it was a large family, lot of kids, and had rooms hooked up for us before the fire was out.. Give to the Salvation army..The money goes where needed...Looters stealing anything but food or clothes, shoot them..Just my opinion of course..
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Chick
Email: Chick
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Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose
What I want to know is were is Jesse Jackson and Quanel X now their people are out of control, looks like by being no show's they are condoning the stealing because that is what there doing stealing. "Were are you Jesse?"
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Don't take life seriously... Its not permanent.
Well Mr. Bill, wasn't it funny a few weeks ago, one of the so called "Revrends" of the New Orleans Community said that the guys that stole an upscale SUV, and shot at the police, (before bieng shot to death), were only trying to "live the American Dream". I reckon the American Dream is: "Hey, I want an SUV to drive around in tonite, even if I have to steal the dang thing...and I deserve it!!!"
Yep, where is Jesse? Those po folks don't have any MONEY.
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Lazy bum who lives off his wife.
01 BMW 530i Sport, 92 Porsche 968, 85 F150, 72 911, 08 GM SUV, 01' Ford Lightnin'
Tim,
Sounds like the best assistance for that area would be from Brazillian death squads to sort out your looters.
It is a shame that the media has highlited this problem over and above the masses of stories of bravery and compassion that will have been carried out down there. Don't need to read the papers to know that some stories will never be told.
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Never knock on deaths door... Ring the doorbell and run away, death really hates that!
Ha, probably the reason why other countries don't offer to help us is because our media portrays what dirty rotten people we are. It never occurred to me that some were looting jewelry stores, when I was down there, all my friends were dirt poor. It amazes me that the main economy in Biloxi now are the casinos or what is left of them now, right smack on the beach front.
My wife and I stopped in a casino up here, got a nice breakfast for 50 cents, ha, was going to put a quarter in the slot machine, but see now you have to buy some kind of credit card, too complicated for me. Couldn't believe how packed that place was at 8:00 AM in the morning, but was really packed on our return trip at night. Had a parking lot you would expect at O'Hare airport full with cars on the street, so we didn't stop in for supper. Chick should go there, selling cigarettes for 12 bucks a carton, on an Indian reservation with no state or federal taxes. They had a gas station, but gas was only a nickle a gallon cheaper. What the hell, the 50 cents I saved on ten gallons of gas paid for our breakfast.
Folks on the gulf are either going to plant trees in the Sahara or put a large AC in the gulf to cool down the water, cold water will break of a hurricane in no time, they need the heat to survive.
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