Seriously hope everyones okay over there, no one should have their houses detroyed, be it fire or floods think of it for a second, EVERYTHING you own, gone, lost.. Really is a shame & hope they fix it all soon! Good luck!
Theyre going to need a lot more than luck. http://www.foxnews.com/photo_essay/photoessay_568_images/083005_katrina11.jpg http://www.foxnews.com/photo_essay/photoessay_568_images/083005_katrina_miss.jpg Theyre going to need help.
<sarcastic mode> I'm wondering where the outpouring of support is from the corporations, groups and foreign governments who criticized the US for "not doing enough". Where are the Hollywood Elite going to hold their telethon or the musicians going to have their benefit concert(s) to help those who lost everything, including family memebers? Silence. </sarcastic mode>
Give it some time --Katrina has hardly passed. But by next week I would indeed expect assorted charities to pull their finger out. Charity begins at home.
The Red Cross has already said that this is the largest mobilization ever for them while the Salvation Army is also saying that when they can get in, they expect it to be one of their largest mobilizations. It just kills me how the "Hollywood Elite" and the big-name musicians all come out of the woodwork for causes such as the Tsunami in Asia, but yet are nearly silent when something like this happens in the US. I'm sure that we will be able to handle all this ourselves, but eventhough I really don't want this thread to go into the political relm, it would be nice to hear other countries sincerely offer their assistance or at least their condolences and best wishes since the US is usually berated over how much we do or don't give. Know what I mean?
Fortunately 1st world western countries like the US are able to cover the financial costs involved in such a tragedy. In the end we in the west are able to recover quickly without specific aid appeals. Of course that wont help those who have lost loved ones, but you don't tend to see the problems that arrise in the 3rd world after such events so the only deaths will (mostly) be as a direct impact from the storm rather than the after effects. I just hope everyone over there is safe
I agree, just a show of support or a gesture to assist is enough for many people. I'm sure we will be fine in the end, but like I tell my kids, sometimes an unneeded offer to help is more appreciated than actually helping when it's needed. I don't know if that makes any sense, but it does to us...
Update:: According to CNN, "rising waters force evacuation of tens of thousands who sought refuge in New Orleans rescue centers, state governor says." # Survivors stranded on rooftops # Death toll estimated 68, expected to rise # New Orleans, 80 percent under water # Mississippi flooding up to six miles inland # 1.7 million without power # New Orleans mayor: Bodies being pushed to the side EDIT:: Further update via FoxNews... Governor: New Orleans Needs to Be Evacuated Tuesday, August 30, 2005 BATON ROUGE, La. — With conditions in the hurricane-ravaged city of New Orleans rapidly deteriorating, Gov. Kathleen Blanco (search ) announced late Tuesday that people now huddled in the Superdome and other rescue centers need to be evacuated. "The situation is untenable," Blanco said during a news conference. "It's just heartbreaking." • Click here to track Tropical Depression Katrina. Rescuers in boats and helicopters struggled to reach hundreds of wet and bedraggled victims of Hurricane Katrina (search) along the Gulf Coast Tuesday, while New Orleans slipped deeper into crisis as water began rising in the streets because of a levee break. The magnitude of the disaster — and the death toll in particular — became clearer with every tale of misery. Mississippi's governor said the number of dead in one county alone could be as high as 80. "At first light, the devastation is greater than our worst fears. It's just totally overwhelming," Blanco said the morning after Katrina howled ashore with winds of 145 mph and engulfed thousands of homes in one of the most punishing storms on record in the United States. In New Orleans (search), water began rising in the streets Tuesday morning, swamping an estimated 80 percent of the city and prompting the evacuation of hotels and hospitals. The water was also rising perilously in New Orleans' Superdome, and Blanco said the tens of thousands of people now huddled there and other rescue centers would have to be evacuated as well. New Orleans lies mostly below sea level and is protected by a network of pumps, canals and levees. Officials began using helicopters to drop 3,000-pound sandbags onto the levee, hoping to close the breach. All day, rescuers were also seen using helicopters to drop lifelines to victims and pluck them from the roofs of homes cut off by floodwaters. The Coast Guard said it rescued some 1,200 people. But New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said hundreds, if not thousands, of people may still be stuck in rooftops and attics, so rescue boats were bypassing the dead. "We're not even dealing with dead bodies," Nagin said. "They're just pushing them on the side." story (with video) here
Well... I thought everyone here should know that my Grandparents are allright. They got through the hurricane with no damage to their house, property, and no flooding. I was very releaved to hear this news. Now, I geuse the one thing to worry about is how they are going to get out of New Orleans.
Glad to hear it Stuntman... At least they are okay. I'm sure they will be evacuated as soon as they can... Update: One Mississippi county alone said its death toll was at least 100, and officials are "very, very worried that this is going to go a lot higher," said Joe Spraggins, civil defense director for Harrison County, home to Biloxi and Gulfport. ... New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin (search) said hundreds, if not thousands, of people may still be stuck on roofs and in attics, and so rescue boats were bypassing the dead. "We're not even dealing with dead bodies," Nagin said. "They're just pushing them on the side." The flooding in New Orleans grew worse by the minute, prompting the evacuation of hotels and hospitals and an audacious plan to drop huge sandbags from helicopters to close up one of the breached levees. At the same time, looting broke out in some neighborhoods, the sweltering city of 480,000 had no drinkable water, and the electricity could be out for weeks. Anyone see that movie a few months ago on I think TNT about a major cat5 hurricane hitting New Orleans? I can't for the life of me remember what it was called...
I asked that very same question myself to numerous people. Of course, no foreign nations will help US! However, they are always the first ones to have their hands out when the situation is reversed.
Seriously it's time to quit this crap, almost every sane person across the world will sympathize with the people of New Orleans, this paranoid attitude is getting old very quick. There is a difference that the US has the resources to deal with this issue on it's own soil, now thats not to say a number of specialist rescue teams won't be flying over from the UK and other nations, because I'm quite sure they will.
Ok guys, I'm not normally one to post a link like this but: https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp There's the donation page for the Red Cross if anyone can spare anything to help out. Was reading the paper this morning, they're going to completely evacuate New Orleans, everybody out. Depending on who says it, it could be anywhere from 1-6 months to get all the water out. Last I heard, they were expecting a month before they could get power back. This is not a time to be bickering about who does and doesn't help, we all need to do whatever we can, even if it's just adding an extra line to your nightly prayers.
A city devastated by flood water. One of the floodwalls alongside a canal bursts, and torrents of water pour out with tremendous force into the surrounding neighbourhood. A hole in another floodwall, you can see that the houses on the right haven't been flooded, although that may have changed since the photo was taken. Lake Pontchartrain sits almost 5 feet above sea level and will continue to flood the city until it levels out, or if they can plug the breaches in the floodwalls. But either way the city may be submerged for up to a month.
It's not a paranoid attitude, it's serious bewilderment here. Many, many people have asked the same question. As I said in a previous post, yes, we will be able to handle this on our own, but a show of support or an offer of assistance, eventhough it may not be needed, would go a long way. Do you all realize how bad the situation is? There have been unofficial estimates that thousands if not tens of thousands could be dead when all is said and done. I've also heard cost estimates to be between 25 and 40 billion dollars which would make this the most expensive disaster, in cost and lives, in US history. As a sampler... Nationwide: - Gas prices are expected to rise an average of $0.40/gallon this afternoon. I filled up this morning and the gas station attendant told me he was told to raise the cost there $0.30/gallon for all grades. This will put the low-octane up over $3.00 and put the high-octane near $4.00 - a rise of nearly 50% from this time last year. However, experts say that gas is expected to hit $4 relatively soon. -My natural gas utility has notified it's customers that they are raising the price of natural gas by 25% this year. From what I understand, this is common across the country. In New Orleans: - Water still rising in New Orleans, with no way out - The National Guardsmen who are trying to fix the levy's are saying that they are pushing dead bodies aside so that they can try to get them repared. New Orleans isn't the only place that got nailed... Alabama: - Nearly the entire state without power - Water up to roofs of cars in downtown Mobile and bayou communities. Mississippi: - There are towns in Mississippi that no longer exist. - In a single apartment complex there are over 50 dead. - Paint marks indicate Mississippi homes with bodies - Approx 450,000 customers without power. Georga: - Some 6,300 customers were without power Tuesday morning. - More than 30 buildings were damaged or destroyed in west Georgia's Carroll County. Tennessee: - About 75,000 customers were without power. Florida: - Deaths: 11, according to state tally on South Florida strike last week. - 77,000 customers were without power Tuesday morning in the Panhandle, hit by eastern edge of storm Monday. In South Florida, 155,262 customers still without power Tuesday morning.
12:15 P.M. - Army Corps: 1,200 sandbags that are 20,000 pounds each are being brought in to bridge gap...water level is no longer rising. 12:11 P.M. - Army Corps: Water has become level with the Lake in the city so no more water should flow into the city, except at high tide. 12:10 P.M. - Engineers and construction experts are at the 17th Street Canal. They've filled 100, 3,000 pound sandbags and are trying to drop the bags and concrete barriers into the area.
Just a small post from within Mississippi...I was actually in New Oreleans on Friday and Saturday helping our BestBuys down there close up and secure for the storm. I didnt get out till early sunday morning and the city was a ghost town compared to what it normally is. As for damage up my way (Jackson, MS) its not that bad. Alot of power is out (Nearly 1 million customers here in MS alone) but its comming back on slowly. I lost power first thing monday morning and got it back yesterday afternoon. Whats hurting us now is fuel. Lines for the pumps are atleast 3 hours and some are over 5 in some locations. As for New Orleans Ive only seen pictures as civillians cant get within 100 miles of the city in this direction. Theres not alot left that isnt flooded. The leeves are breaking and repairing a 300foot gap in a 25 foot high wall of earth with water rushing out wont be a easy fix. For those of you that dont know NO is basicly a huge sinking bowl. The only was to get the water out is to fix the pumps in the city and pump it out. NO was actually on the weaker side of the eye wall of the storm and the Mississippi coast took the brunt of the damage. Our govener took a ride over the coast and the only thing he could use to describe it is like a nuclear bomb went off all along the coast. Most buildings within a mile of the shore are gone. Not just blown down but just gone, no walls, no roof, in most cases not even a foundation is left in place. Basicly what happened was a large wall (20-30ft) swept through the entire coast of Mississppi and Alabama but unlike a tidal wave like the one that hit Asia this was a non stop wall of water that didnt pull back. The death toll last I herd was @ 100 but they dont release the numbers until an autopsy is finished and doing 1000s of autopsys will take a very long time. This is already easily going to be one of the worst hurricanes in history if not the worst (when it comes to loss of life). I still dont have net access at my house but the local hospital has an unsecure line that I can access but I dont know how long it will last.... As for those who are just starting issues with relief from other countries its time to grow up. What we need is unity not childish bickering that will get us no where. As for those who think we will beable to handle this alone you may want to run some numbers. This will easily be in the tens if not hundreds of billions to fix all the damage. New Orleans alone accounted for 25% of americas oil import capacity. Sorry for the long post but its a very emotional time right now and I just needed to vent a little bit... Please continue to think and pray for those still trapped and lets keep this civil.... Good day...
