Hurricane Katrina

[Chris]

Kalidust, I hope you're out of harms way.

To anyone else down in that area . . . my thoughts are with you.

Sounds like it's going to be a bad, very bad night.

[ndndixie]

It's horrible down this way. I'm lucky, am about 400 miles inland so we were just without power a couple of days and just a lot of tree damage, few broken windows,lost food, etc. But my little town has become huge with the mass exodus and it's the most heartbreaking thing I've ever seen. The look on these people's faces as you direct them to shelter is one of complete bewilderment and without hope of future. If you can possibly help, it sure would be appreciated. You can help some of the refugees by donating to the Memphis food bank. They have a site online that you can go purchase food. It's all going to the LA and other coastal residents that have come north for shelter and food.

[charles]

Good to hear you are ok. Is this the right site for the Memphis food bank? Seems odd it hasn't been updated since Katrina

http://www.memphisfoodbank.org/

charles

[ndndixie]

yeah that's it, the virtual shop is where you go. I'm going to offer today to update these websites. Everyone is so busy just getting folks a place to lay their heads that none are doing normal chores.

[fosterj]

our thoughts are with anyone that has been affected by this disaster.

[mikelbeck]

Same here. I feel so bad for those people trapped there with no food, water or the basic necessities of life. This has been on my mind contstantly since this happened.

My wife and I both love New Orleans, we went on our honeymoon there and a few times afterwards. The city is (was?) beautiful, the people friendly and we had a great time each and every time we went. There was not a single bad memory at all. Of course there is crime, but being street-smart New Yorkers we pretty much know to stay off dark side streets, avoid the loonies and keep our eyes peeled. But it's like any major city, so we were never really surprised with what went on there.

Sitting up here in New York there's not a whole hell of a lot I can do, but I've done what I can - donate money. I talked to my wife and we've decided to send quite a bit to the American Red Cross this month. I'll just have to pick up a few extra side jobs to make up the cash.

On top of everything else, I'm physically sickened by how our "leaders" in the federal government are responding to this crisis.

I'd like to urge everybody to donate what they can to help out in the relief efforts. Hopefully that money will be released quickly to those who need it most.

American Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org/
United Way - http://national.unitedway.org/
Network for Good - http://www.networkforgood.org/

Keey an eye on this blog, the author is right in the middle of it and is giving eyewitness reports to what's really going on: http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/

[Chris]

Boy, when I first started this thread on Sunday night I knew things were going to be bad . . . but I had no idea just how bad it was going to be. I can't fathom the heartbreak and despair of the situation.

[Fred]

Oustide of USA, the only analyze we have from the local media is how the government isnt good at all for managing this crisis... especially Bush.

We see a lot of horrible images and we feel "arm-less" ( don't know if it's a word ? ). We can't go there and help. We can't do anything except giving money to red cross( for example ).

We hear about murders and rape, street gangs that control and fights... Police is trying to save life, they don,t have time for the grocery stores that being robbed...

It's really hardcore... I feel a lot of shame when i heard people telling that the price of gas is too high since Katrina...
damn, peoples are dying ... and the rest despair... and people thinks about gas cost... :(

[ozgreg]

I come from a country that is well known for it's extremes, fire, drought and yes flood but the images we see of New Orleans are terrible. I still have dim memories of the city after visiting many years ago and to see muddy water running through it is hard to imagination.

It is also a bit sad to see what else is happening, the darker side of human nature and the questions being asked about the handling of this entire disaster (I read about that in wired news today) makes me shake my head in disbelief.

Then you read the story about the hosting firm that kept on going and that to me is the other side of human nature the drive to never give up..

[ndndixie]

Here's you the Memphis newspaper. In it, you'll see that people are good, the media just likes to play up the bad. http://www.commercialappeal.com/
Many countries have also sent money, support and that means so much, you should be proud of your countries.

[charles]

We see a lot of horrible images and we feel "arm-less" ( don't know if it's a word ? ). We can't go there and help. We can't do anything except giving money to red cross( for example ).


It's not that much different here. We have also heard reports of indendent volunteer efforts actually being turned away (citing concerns about safety etc).

[ndndixie]

The State Department said offers of help had been received from: Australia, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, China, Columbia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.

[ozgreg]

It was good to see that they finally mobilized enough force to actually clear people out of the super dome. Why it took six days to do this another entire matter :( including our consulate total lack of effort to pull the remaining Aussies that are still trapped in this area..

Stay tuned to this space, I have a feeling after the dust is settled some very hard questions are going to be asked.

[ndndixie]

There already are Oz. We failed a very important test IMO. The entire system failed, too much paperwork and not enough action. Regular people all over the world need to ask themselves if their own government can handle such an event......if there's doubt, fix it and now. Trust me, you don't want what's occuring here. Had this been a terrorist attack on multiple cities, we'd all be dead under this system.
On a brighter note: http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/03/katrina.world.aid/index.html
This is unfriggin'believable! Such a generous outpouring and I have some questions as to why we aren't at least accepting help like Germany is offering. I'm not a political genius but we could use some help.

[Zaf]

I feel sorry for all those affected by this tragedy. I have relatives who are quite close to one the areas affected, and there are a couple of friends I'm not yet sure whether they are affected. I am not even able to get in touch with them so far. I pray God save them....

It reminds me of "Miserable Failure" keywords on google and it has indeed proved to be right more than once already.

[Chris]

Well, it's been a week and haven't heard from Kalidust . . . sure has me worried.

[elix]

Well, it's been a week and haven't heard from Kalidust . . . sure has me worried.
Good news :).

She just posted @ HTTPME in this thread:

http://httpme.com/showthread.php?threadid=26340

:D

[mikelbeck]

That is good news!

:D :D :D

[ndndixie]

Great news!

[Tony]

Good to see George W will be heading up the investigation himself... *rolls eyes*

[ndndixie]

It could be worse Tony.......Rice could be heading it ..........*rolls eyes and pukes*

[ozgreg]

I got to admit a nice piece of strategy heading up an inquiry that should have grilled him over what happened. It avoid's all those nasty questions I am sure he does not want answer..

The News in Australia has been full of actuations including why did the US government not permit the Australian Consulate to get help to the Australian's trapped until six days after the disaster.

It is going to be very messy.

[jpetrov]

It is scary. I have one question... Why does US oppose the Kyoto Protocol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol) ?

[ndndixie]

Being as this one hit home, I think I'll leave the politics to others. I'm far too emotionally involved to get into it.

[Fred]

well, jpetrov ... as usual... probably lobby and money...

[Soul]

Good to see George W will be heading up the investigation himself... *rolls eyes*

You might want to revise your statement.

Congress will be handling the investigation on the Federal Government's response to Katrina.

Considering how polarized the U.S. political spectrum is at this time, you might consider not taking sides, considering the fact that you represent a business in this forum.

[ozgreg]

You might want to revise your statement.

Congress will be handling the investigation on the Federal Government's response to Katrina.

Considering how polarized the U.S. political spectrum is at this time, you might consider not taking sides, considering the fact that you represent a business in this forum.

Ok I think it is time to lock this thread, we all have many differences, beliefs and values and lets just play nice and not get into finger pointing..

[ndndixie]

Ok I think it is time to lock this thread, we all have many differences, beliefs and values and lets just play nice and not get into finger pointing..
I'll second that OZ..plus, it's about the victims, not a political stance. This ones needs to say Goodnight Gracie.

[charles]

This is the lounge, and I'd like to be able to leave it open for free speech, but to be honest these forums are no place for politics. Locking.

charles