Hurricane Katrina

[FGanger]

I know this is not the time to even think about this - but . . .


After a large tsunami hit in the Indian Ocean, countries from all over the World sent help. Hurricane Katrina is our tsunami. Can the United States expect the same in return? It will be interesting to to see if any country offers help, as well as which ones offer.

It is times like this that one finds out who their friends are. It is very easy for a person to have friends when they are wealthy, strong, and need little. As soon as a person looses his job, needs money, etc., it is often difficult to find these same friends.

Yes, I know the countries which sent aid to the victims of the tsunami did not expect to receive help if they ever needed it, this includes the United States. Still . . .

Frank

[Pat]

I'm waiting to hear from the fools who'll claim 'it' (the destructive nature of Katrina) was God's intention..........

What also comes to mind are the images of those you might expect would.... are looting the very community from whom they they were collecting welfare.

I am not surprised to hear stories (already) of insurance coverage lacking.

Two words, Marshall law. One word, disturbing.

The opportunity for the 'already rich & greedy' to raise the cost of gas.....

Have YOU given thought to the not-too-distant future of gas rationing, and how when implemented may actually be a bit late?

I don't know much about these things, but as the inmates at work would say,
"I'm jus' saying though....."

[darthrider]

It will be interesting to to see if any country offers help, as well as which ones offer.

Never fear Frank...El Presidente Fox is donating 500,000 "helpers"...they are swimming hard as we speak.
No big deal really though, that's only one month's normal allocation...

[Guest]

Is that what is known as a rhetorical question?

[toner87]

I hear Texas offered use of the Astrodome to house the evacuees. Don't they count as a foreign country?

[Capt. Biff]

I saw some news articles from Germany(translated to english) that are trying to link the destruction from Katrina to the US not signing the Kyoto Treaty concerning "global warming".

I was amazed that it is estimated to take 4-6 weeks to restore electricity to New Orleans. I was complaining about 4 days last winter.

[rdsmith3]

I turned on XM radio yesterday on the way home from work and they were playing ... "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin

Hmmm

I think our usual friends will help out. I donated money to the American Red Cross. I felt a need to do something.

The looting is really disturbing. One can only hope that alligators or poisonous snakes get them.

[darthrider]

I hear Texas offered use of the Astrodome to house the evacuees. Don't they count as a foreign country?

We used to be. And we're the only state in the Union that can legally secede.
And we just might!
In the meantime we will continue to conduct ourseleves as such, lovin' every minute of it...

[yjleesvrr]

Uh, Texas tried to secede from the Union with the rest of the South and it didn't work. Soooo...

The United States is such a vast and rich country that most other countries simply assume that we can handle our own hardships without outside assistance. By and large, they're right. Gestures have also been given in the past such as for the Apollo 13th crisis but what can others do that we can't?

So I don't necessarily fault other countries for not offering a hand. We have 49 other states that have in most cases larger economies than the average nation on the planet.

[darthrider]

Uh, Texas tried to secede from the Union with the rest of the South and it didn't work. Soooo...

Yeah, glad it didn't work. And we're not really part of "the South". It just looks like it on the map.
But part of Texas' statehood "agreement" granted us the right to secede in the future. Don't know what the fine print says.
Part of that agreement granted us the concession that we can fly our state flag at the same height as the US flag too. For whatever *that's* worth. And there were other concessions too. I think they just wanted our oil.
Now you know why we're such contrary cusses...we just don't care how the hell they do it in NY or LA!

[rdsmith3]

Yong,

I agree with you, but it is not just money.

Perhaps other countries could help out with medical services, with equipment, or with machinery operators. How long will it take to pump all that water out of New Orleans, repair the levees, and excavate all the muck and ruined houses? They say that Jefferson Parish alone is just about totally wiped out.

[garylspolar]

Crime doesn't seem to be anything new for this town. Actually, they seem to fare well in the "Forcible Rape" category. I looked this link up only because my friend claimed the city is the murder capital of the U.S.

Regardless, I wish them well. Loot the food, diapers,... not the Televisions and stereos, k?

http://neworleans.areaconnect.com/crime1.htm

[JCsman]

First a food for thought thought. My office is sending money to the Red Cross (many other good choices as well). But we are doing it through Lowes (a large hardware chain). Lowes has pledged to match donations dollar for dollar, so we're doubling our money.
-----------------------------------------
I agree, let the looters of food and pampers pass. But there are now reports of looters grabbing guns. Groups of armed men roving the streets. Scary stuff.

By the way, Robert Kennedy Junior echos the call that global warming caused the hurricane and added it was devine retribution that it hit Mississippi instead of New Orleans (he must have rushed out the words before the levee broke). His position is that Governor Barber of Mississippi helped talk President Bush out of Kyoto, so this is karmic payback.

Lord help us.

[NoRRmad]

Really? Where'd you see that? I can't find it on Google.

[socalrob]

The news out of the gulf coast is pretty dismall. This is the US. Get people & supplies in there & get it fixed. The New Orleans local disaster prepardness doesn't seem up to snuff. Didn't they think a major hurricane might break a levee? Wouldn't it be prudent to have some cross levees in the city so the whole thing doesn't flood from a few breaks?

The looters should be shot on sight. Thats the way it used to be & thats the way it should be now.

Where is the federal leadership? Bush senior lost alot of my respect with his lack of action both on hurricane Andrew & when the LA riots of the early 90's broke loose. Action in local disaster is one of the few tasks the feds should do.

In LA we are told to be self sufficient for 2 weeks after a major earthquake. We stockpile food & water. We bolt things down. For the first time ever I'm seriosly considering buying 2 shotguns (for me & the wife), as the quick breakdown in social order has me spooked.

[JCsman]

Really? Where'd you see that? I can't find it on Google.

NoRRmad:

Going from memory here (risky doncha know) but I believe it was on the Huffington Post Blog. I check several per day (both right and left) and saw several references. But I believe this was the genesis.

[wncbmw]

NoRRmad - you must have your Google customized to filter out Fox News!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168105,00.html

[JCsman]

Update:

My memory was right (hey, once a day ain't bad). RFK Jr did post it there. He's updated to recognize that NO was NOT spared.

There's a lot I disagree with RFK Jr about (there are somethings I lean towards his position, but find them a bit extreme for my taste). But this is the first time I have been aware he's gone "Pat Robertson" on me.

[If this is trending too political, please forgive....I'm easily led astray....which has led to some of the best times of my life!]

- Bill

[NoRRmad]

Thanks, both, quite right. I misspelled Barbour.

[JCsman]

Governor Barber of Mississippi

NoRRmad:
I may have been the source of the misspelling (my wife often says I spell bad, especially after yard work. At least I think that's what she's saying.). And I really did know Governor Barbour's name.

Dang, just when I thought the old memory cells were lined up!