Official Hurricane Katrina Thread

[MannyIsGod]

Jelly, you were right. Too bad you've been wrong about almost everything else. :lol

[Vashner]

Red Cross is now reporting the Gov did not let them into the Superdome or Convention center with food, water and personal hygene kits...

[Jelly]

Jelly, you were right. Too bad you've been wrong about almost everything else. :lol

:lol
Now, why'd ya have to go and say that? Now I'm tempted to squander away hours methodically digging up and cataloging other dead arguments that I know I'm right on. [strenuously resisting the urge].
You're just fueling my unhealthy obsession of needing to be right. Damn you Manny. Don't you know I've got a monkey on my back?

[MannyIsGod]

:lol

I know the monkey all too well.

[MannyIsGod]

I think it is pretty bad ass the Mexican Army is here to help feed the evacuees. Tacos for everyone!

[Ginofan]

I think it is pretty bad ass the Mexican Army is here to help feed the evacuees. Tacos for everyone!

Way to go landscapers!

I found out today at work, that the Texas Department of Health will be offerring free methadone services to those evacuees in need of such treatment. Which is pretty cool since, IMO, methadone is pretty expensive for even the average person ($60/week) let alone these people left with nothing.

[Marklar MM]

Tacos are the last thing they need. Gas galore.

[Extra Stout]

Tacos are the last thing they need. Gas galore.They don't eat tacos all that far south into Mexico anyway. It's more like steak cutlet with mole and queso fresco with sliced mango.

Or, some meat-and-cheese heap o' something that you load onto a piece of tortilla and chow down. Wait, that's kind of like a taco.

Never mind.

[j-6]

.

[Vashner]

Way to go landscapers!

I found out today at work, that the Texas Department of Health will be offerring free methadone services to those evacuees in need of such treatment. Which is pretty cool since, IMO, methadone is pretty expensive for even the average person ($60/week) let alone these people left with nothing.

Left with nothing vs a supply of Heroin? ... I have nothing against giving them methadone if they are heroin addicts but spare us the bleeding heart part..

There is nothing "preatty cool" about H addiction...

[Ginofan]

Left with nothing vs a supply of Heroin? ... I have nothing against giving them methadone if they are heroin addicts but spare us the bleeding heart part..

There is nothing "preatty cool" about H addiction...

I didn't say having an addiction was "pretty cool". The "pretty cool" was directed at TDH for making it available for no charge for those in need. Have you seen someone after they haven't fixed in 24 hours? Yeah I see it pretty much everyday, people need this stuff if they have an addiction. It's not like they are just handing it out on the street, in order to get it, you have to be enrolled in a program. I'm not sure how programs in Louisiana are run, but I know here in Texas dosing must be observed (unless you earn take home priveleges), and you must see a counselor and doctor throughout your treatment...however long that may be. It's not a shady thing, it's helping people.

[Vashner]

Make em sweat it out I say.... they need a new start on life anyway...

It's already been a week so unless they had something hidden good they have been out of stash for a while...

[MannyIsGod]

http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/katrina/

Amazing photography.

[SequSpur]

ah crap, I just posted that.

[MannyIsGod]

:lol You were watching KSAT weren't you?

[SequSpur]

:lol

Yep, I just walked in and flipped it on and Steve Brown put out the website.

[Vashner]

Why are they taking so much time to get people out of New Orleans?

Either
1. Your gonna leave them there if the want
2. Your gonna clear the city...

Because this going back and forth is not good for the rescue teams and survivors.

[MannyIsGod]

Yeah I agree. They are dicking around way too much. I say let them stay. If they're there fending for themselves and not getting in the way, fuck it.

[SequSpur]

Why are they taking so much time to get people out of New Orleans?

Either
1. Your gonna leave them there if the want
2. Your gonna clear the city...

Because this going back and forth is not good for the rescue teams and survivors.

If they went in there and started yanking people out of there, then the media would be all over that too.

[Vashner]

They can't make up there minds.. Is it martial law or not...

Because I thought they had manditory the NIGHT of the storm.. then they cried get the people out.. But old sick people get to stay in filthy shack with no food or water?

[MannyIsGod]

Vasher, I think that even under "mandatory" evactuations they can't make you leave. They can just tell you that if you stay you will not be helped in the event of an emergency because of the order.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=New+Orleans&ll=29.986460,-90.109177&spn=0.283063,0.481407&t=e&hl=en

Google maps have imagery of new orleans too.

[TheWriter]

It's looking worse and worse for New Orleans.

-------------------------------------------------------

Contractors assess rebuilding challenges after Katrina

Web Posted: 09/09/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Adolfo Pesquera
Express-News Business Writer

San Antonio-based Beldon Roofing Co. has operated throughout the Southeast for a decade, but the challenges of putting roofing crews in Louisiana and Mississippi are greater than any Brad Beldon faced after last year's four-hurricane onslaught in Florida.

(Edward A. Ornelas/Express-News)

The company is still doing repairs in Florida and will be for another six to 12 months, Beldon said. He returned Monday from Metairie, La., where he spent a weekend assessing the obstacles facing his company.

"This is worse than all four of them put together," Beldon said.

The scale of destruction is estimated at five to 10 times what Florida suffered. The National Association of Home Builders noted, for example, that Florida's 2004 hurricane season destroyed about 27,500 houses. In New Orleans alone, most of the city's 200,000 homes will need to be replaced, the NAHB said.

Initial assessments by experts in the construction industry are that reconstruction efforts will have barely made a dent a year from now. Higher fuel prices and competition for building materials, equipment and labor will drive up costs nationwide for years. Projects planned in the affected areas will be delayed for six months to a year or more.

The markets for cement and steel were already tight. Nine percent of the nation's cement imports in 2004 came through New Orleans and downstream ports, said Ken Simonson, chief economist for Associated General Contractors of America.

Roofers use many petroleum-based products, and Beldon's vendors have been faxing him notices. "We've already seen in one week two price increases on every product we carry," he said.

Lumber futures rose 12 percent after the hurricane due to destruction of Gulf Coast area inventories and the temporary shutdown of area sawmills, Reed Construction Data reported. Wood-based products' prices should stabilize because there are ample supplies nearby.

Jim Haughey at Reed Construction Data is forecasting replacement construction will become significant next year and continue for several years. This will produce rising cost pressures.

"The long-term effect for everyone is that new construction will be more expensive, projects could face delays and new development could be slowed," Haughey said.

Delay is preferable to destruction, and for that Drake Leddy is grateful. A San Antonio developer, Leddy builds luxury hotels and condominiums across the country. Construction was to have begun last week on the first of three luxury condo towers in Biloxi, Miss. The 20-story beachfront project now faces a delay of up to a year.

"It's between two of the casinos that were destroyed," Leddy said. "I wish I didn't have all that money tied up, not doing anything with it for that length of time.

"But I consider myself lucky," he said. "The land is still there. It's still on the beach. It's just a question of when the infrastructure is in place so we can move forward."

Beldon runs a third-generation, family-owned business that is one of the largest in the Gulf Coast states. He says it'll be weeks before the company moves forward.

"We've received calls from the military, from big-box retailers, from mom-and-pop stores, everything you can imagine," he said. "The problem is you just can't get in there."

This disaster presents problems Beldon didn't need to think about in the past, when there were hotels to lodge workers, restaurants where they could eat, roads to move heavy equipment and reasonably priced fuel to get it there.

Another new factor is that most of the homes will have to be built from the ground up.

"Generally, (residents) are not out of their homes," he said. "They may have lost a part of their roof, but they're still living there. A vast percentage of this will probably have to be demolished."

Despite higher prices, there will be plenty of materials and funding. But all the insurance checks and government grants may not overcome one formidable bottleneck — a shortage of skilled labor.

Before Katrina, Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was the costliest disaster in U.S. history. Yet building permits didn't rise substantially after the storm. In fact, permits for residential construction in the affected area actually made up a smaller percentage of Florida's permit total in 1993 than in '91.

The construction sector, already working full speed to keep up with a six-year-long housing boom, simply doesn't have enough spare capacity. Beldon can relate to that. He will expand his work force, but in a limited way.

"We're running ads in Houston and San Antonio, looking for roofers with 10 years' experience," Beldon said. He hopes to find displaced roofers needing work.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/specials/katrina/stories/MYSA090905.1C.katrina_realestate.730d5e1.html

[SequSpur]

That shit in Lousiana, Missippi and Alabama is just a major fucking catastrophe. Could the city, state and national government done a better job?

Fuck yeah.

How does it relate to Presidents hating blacks? Yeah, he just sat there and said fuck em... let the black people starve, save the rich white people.... That's just bullshit.

Then, I saw some poor people accusing the mayor of blowing up the fucking levy to save the rich neighborhoods..

Fucking incredible.

The worst thing ever to happen in the US and all the media and people can do is blame the President, the Governor, the Mayor and FEMA.

You want someone to lay the blame on.

GOD.

Keep on praying. :rolleyes

[Vashner]

Vasher, I think that even under "mandatory" evactuations they can't make you leave. They can just tell you that if you stay you will not be helped in the event of an emergency because of the order.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=New+Orleans&ll=29.986460,-90.109177&spn=0.283063,0.481407&t=e&hl=en

Google maps have imagery of new orleans too.

Yes they can.... There are 2 cases where they can be forced to leave.

1. The mayor or gov can issue the emergency order. This is a state law of La.
2. The president can order it (basically taking over the whole tamale).

2 is not likely because of political fallout. They don't want bad press.

[MannyIsGod]

I was talking about the mandatory evac in place before/during the storm.

[Nbadan]

is not likely because of political fallout. They don't want bad press.

2. is not likely because if the FEDS were going to ever take over this catastrophe they would have already done so. The FEDS had the opportunity on Friday, Aug 26 when Governor Blanco Declared a State of Emergency in Louisiana (http://gov.louisiana.gov/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=973) and again on Saturday, August 27th when W declared a State of Emergency in Louisiana (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html) and ordered Federal aid to the affected areas to complement state and local relief efforts. With one stroke of the Presidential pin the FEDS could have federalized the Louisiana National Guard and any State. Local and Federal resources they needed to survive this disaster, but that authority never came.

After the storm the President offered to do what he should have done before the Hurricane struck, place the whole area under FED control, but for the Governor handing over this control came with one big caveat. The Locals and the Governor alone would have to take all the heat for the horrible pre-storm planning and the mess in the Superdome. So Blanco told the Prez to take a flying leap and then came the ‘I’m ready to slap George Bush’ comment. Just thought you’d like to know.

[travis2]

Y'know, Kori is going to lock this thread again if shitheads like NoBrainAttachedDan can't keep their vomit in the Political Forum like she asked...more than once...

But no...some idiots just have to try to show who's boss...

[Spam]

This whole Katrina talk is political

[Ginofan]

Make em sweat it out I say.... they need a new start on life anyway...

It's already been a week so unless they had something hidden good they have been out of stash for a while...

:rolleyes Watch a person going through withdrawls and then tell them they can sweat it out for at least a couple of weeks...if they make it that long.

[Clandestino]

i would say one less mouth to feed.

[Vashner]

:rolleyes Watch a person going through withdrawls and then tell them they can sweat it out for at least a couple of weeks...if they make it that long.
Your what 19 right? You think I don't know about that? The heroin sweat out does not take 2 weeks. When it goes down it takes only a couple days.

[MannyIsGod]

Your what 19 right? You think I don't know about that? The heroin sweat out does not take 2 weeks. When it goes down it takes only a couple days.
You're trying to lecture someone who works at a clinic about the addiction?

Wow.

[Vashner]

hahha I didn't know they worked at a clinic. I said I agree to giving out methadone just that maybe they should just let them sweat it out.. otherwise it takes forever or never to get off.

[j-6]

Your what 19 right? You think I don't know about that? The heroin sweat out does not take 2 weeks. When it goes down it takes only a couple days.

Are you this big of a prick in real life? I've tried to cut you some slack after reading of your disability, but you're just off the frickin' chain.

At least Clandestino is funny.

[Vashner]

I don't need you to cut me any slack. I can handle leftists just fine. It is possible for people to sweat it out.. sometimes that's the only thing that solves the long term addiction. My original issue was that the poster made it sound all great they where giving out methadone. That shit just keeps them hooked.


Is methadone more likely to kill you than heroin?
By Drs. Marcel Buster & Giel van Brussel, MD
Municipal Health Service, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Based on literature and analysis of mortality figures Dr. Russell Newcombe concluded that methadone programmes as a form of harm-reduction possibly cause more victims than they prevent. We have doubts whether the conclusion about methadone is fully justified. Looking at the mentioned literature gives a one-sided view at the problem. Moreover, the conclusions drawn are beyond those justified by the results of the analyses. Several points of debate come to mind:

Methadone is not an innocent substance; 'one's methadone maintenance dose is another's poison'. A regular user of opiates develops a certain tolerance. Therefore, it is possible that a tolerant person can function normally with dosages which can be fatal to a non-tolerant person. Also, methadone dosage in the case of first entry to the programme has to be evaluated carefully. It is wise to begin with a low dosage that has to be increased slowly in the course of weeks or even months. At entry to the programme it has to be carefully evaluated whether a patient has a clear and unambiguous heroin dependence. In methadone maintenance programmes, methadone is dispensed to tolerant persons, moreover, this tolerance remains high because of daily use of methadone. Therefore, it is not surprising that deaths at the King's College Hospital caused by methadone were not those of participants of a methadone maintenance programme but were those of 'recreational' users of illicit methadone.

In cases where more than one drug is used, the drug responsible for death due to overdose is difficult to establish. Moreover, the same drug prescribed by physicians can also be bought on the street. In seventy percent of the deaths due to overdose studied in Glasgow and Edinburgh a combination of different drugs was found.

Prescribed drugs such as temazepam were often encountered in deaths in Glasgow. However, among only 14 of the 34 persons who died in 1992 and where temazepam was found, this was prescribed by their physician. Because of the presence of other drugs it is not clear whether temazepam really caused the death of these people. Probably the combination of these different drugs was fatal to them. This was also the case with the methadone deaths in Edinburgh. However, in Edinburgh, the authors could not determine whether methadone was prescribed or not. Both Hammersley and Obafunwa report that heroin/morphine deaths seldom occur in Edinburgh. 'The fall of the deaths due to overdose in the Lothian and Borders Region of Scotland (LBRS) after 1984 reflects in part the strict policing that took place, in particular in the Edinburgh area'.

'The increase of methadone deaths is probably due to the introduction of a street trend to use this agent as a substitute to heroin'. The author suggests that methadone deaths are mainly caused by the use of illicit methadone.

Therefore, these figures suggest that participants of methadone programmes are at lower risk of death due to overdose. However, this does not mean that methadone is an innocent substance. The high and increasing number of methadone deaths in Britain is alarming and certainly needs more attention. The first priority should be to establish whether the methadone causing death has been prescribed within a methadone programme or bought on the street. It also should be evaluated at what point during the course of the methadone programme death takes place. Further instruction doctors prescribing methadone could be necessary. The use of non-prescribed methadone without medical supervision can lead to high risks, especially when it is used as a substitute for heroin in order to get a 'high' instead of to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Physicians have to be aware of this danger and they should make sure that the prescribed methadone (as well as other psycho-active drugs) does not end up in the 'grey market'

[Hook Dem]

http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/katrina/

Amazing photography.
Thanks for the link Manny! Awesome pictures. I spent over 2 hours looking at all of them. Best I've seen.

[j-6]

http://www.wwltv.com/

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Associated Press has learned that Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown is being removed from his role managing Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

[Vashner]

Yea those sat pics rock.

[Vashner]

http://www.wwltv.com/

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Associated Press has learned that Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown is being removed from his role managing Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Good.. I didn't like his resume and actions. Guy was NOT the right guy for the job. Bush fucked up installing him.

[SpursWoman]

http://www.wwltv.com/

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Associated Press has learned that Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown is being removed from his role managing Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.


FEMA Chief Relieved of Katrina Duties

By LARA JAKES JORDAN


Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown is being removed from his role managing Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, The Associated Press has learned.

Brown is being sent back to Washington from Baton Rouge, where he was the primary official overseeing the federal government's response to the disaster, according to two federal officials who declined to be identified before the announcement.

Brown will be replaced by Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad w. Allen, who was overseeing New Orleans relief and rescue efforts.

Brown has been under fire because of the administration's slow response to the magnitude of the hurricane. On Thursday, questions were raised about whether he padded his resume to highlight his previous emergency management background.

Less than an hour before Brown's removal came to light, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Brown had not resigned and the president had not asked for his resignation.

McClellan did not directly answer a question about whether the president had full confidence in Brown.

"We appreciate all those who are working round the clock, and that's the way I would answer it," he said.

© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.

[MannyIsGod]

Thats one way to end a career.

[Vashner]

He can always go back to Horse mgmt...

[ObiwanGinobili]

Thank-god they got that idiot out of there.

I think he'll try to quietly leave/be pushed out of his post. But we all will know it;s basicly "your fired" .. it'll prob. be put out that "he's leaving for another oppurtunity".
:rolleyes

[Spurminator]

Has anyone posted this photo blog yet?

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=14ewb3ap.b147fdut&Uy=nyvoby&Ux=1

Fantastic pictures and accounts by a Katrina survivior who stayed in New Orleans. If you have time, read the captions too, though it takes a while to get through.

[Jelly]

I honestly feel sorry for Brown. How much xanax has that guy got to be popping by now? I mean, come on, how many of you can say you've never scfewed up royally at your job? I have screwed up at work before and felt incredible pressure, stress, and guilt because of it, and my screw-ups didn't lead to a national tragedy, costs thousands of lives, and disgrace the entire country. Seriously, if I were Brownie I'd be on suicide watch right now. I do feel bad for the guy.

[j-6]

I honestly feel sorry for Brown. How much xanax has that guy got to be popping by now? I mean, come on, how many of you can say you've never scfewed up royally at your job? I have screwed up at work before and felt incredible pressure, stress, and guilt because of it, and my screw-ups didn't lead to a national tragedy, costs thousands of lives, and disgrace the entire country. Seriously, if I were Brownie I'd be on suicide watch right now. I do feel bad for the guy.

I hope he doesn't eat a gun like the PR officer of the NOPD did. And I still wonder how much of this is his fault, how much is the administration's for putting Brownie in that kind of position (where he knew that he was woefully underqualified), and how much was flat-out unavoidable.

[JoeChalupa]

I honestly feel sorry for Brown. How much xanax has that guy got to be popping by now? I mean, come on, how many of you can say you've never scfewed up royally at your job? I have screwed up at work before and felt incredible pressure, stress, and guilt because of it, and my screw-ups didn't lead to a national tragedy, costs thousands of lives, and disgrace the entire country. Seriously, if I were Brownie I'd be on suicide watch right now. I do feel bad for the guy.

I feel bad too but in my opinion he was in over his head and from what I've read his credentials didn't support his being appointed the Head of FEMA.

Good job President Bush.

[SWC Bonfire]

Who was in charge of FEMA when the four hurricanes hit Florida last year?

[JoeChalupa]

I believe he was but I think, and I could be wrong, they were better handled all the way around and with better experienced local and state governments.

I think the major concern this time around is how screwed up FEMA handled this disaster but I don't want to politicize things.

[Vashner]

Uh .. But FEMA was delayed by 24 hours while the gov wanted to "think about it".. Also the local govt held back trucks of Red Cross from getting to the convention ctr and the Superdome.

[JoeChalupa]

I'll keep my thoughts in the political forum.

[Ginofan]

Vashner, I'm 23...I work at a methadone clinic...I'm not a nurse but nurses have informed me of all kinds of things that deal with addiction. I was told it was a couple of weeks to get over the withdrawl symptoms if they stopped cold turkey.

True Methadone is just another substitute for the heroin, but it's way easier to ween off of the methadone than heroin. And while true it can be addicting, if done the right way you can get off of it. People who usually don't ever get off of it are usually using and taking methadone at the same time. I'll post more later or hit me up with a PM, i'd like to discuss it further but I'm pressed for time.

[SWC Bonfire]

Vashner, I'm 23...I work at a methadone clinic...I'm not a nurse but nurses have informed me of all kinds of things that deal with addiction.

And she must have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. :lol

[Jelly]

I hope he doesn't eat a gun like the PR officer of the NOPD did. And I still wonder how much of this is his fault, how much is the administration's for putting Brownie in that kind of position (where he knew that he was woefully underqualified), and how much was flat-out unavoidable.

Me too. But the whole country is ready to roast him right now. He has got to be the most stressed out miserable person in the world.

[Clandestino]

but you can't really fire a governor can you. this way, at least someone is being held accountable and people can stop worrying about who to blame.. personally, i don't think he was the problem..

[JoeChalupa]

Me too. But the whole country is ready to roast him right now. He has got to be the most stressed out miserable person in the world.

Sorry, but I'm sure there are thousands who are far more stressed and miserable right now than Mr. Brown.

But that's just me.

[Jelly]

And she must have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. :lol

from what I can tell, she has a lot more credibility on this subject than Vashner.

[ObiwanGinobili]

about Brown.
I can feel sorry for him a bit.. he just fucked up super bad. He was under qualified and in over his head to start with.. and he may be getting blame for some thigns that arn't his fault.

but the truth is the buck stops at the top. and he;s the top of FEMA. So he'll be taking a truck load.

I certainly wouldn't want to be him at this moment in time...... but I don;t hink I would've turned down the job offer either. Who would've?

[Shelly]

Vashner, I'm 23...I work at a methadone clinic...I'm not a nurse but nurses have informed me of all kinds of things that deal with addiction. I was told it was a couple of weeks to get over the withdrawl symptoms if they stopped cold turkey.

True Methadone is just another substitute for the heroin, but it's way easier to ween off of the methadone than heroin. And while true it can be addicting, if done the right way you can get off of it. People who usually don't ever get off of it are usually using and taking methadone at the same time. I'll post more later or hit me up with a PM, i'd like to discuss it further but I'm pressed for time.

Is it true that you can addicted to heroin just after the first time using? Or is that just a myth. I've seen and *coughtriedcough* my share of illegal substances, but I've never known anyone who's tried it.

[j-6]

I believe he was but I think, and I could be wrong, they were better handled all the way around and with better experienced local and state governments.

I think the major concern this time around is how screwed up FEMA handled this disaster but I don't want to politicize things.

From Brownie's Wiki page:

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel published an editorial comment on September 8, 2005: "Nothing can restore FEMA's full functionality so long as the agency's incompetent director, Michael Brown, remains at the helm. Brown, a patronage appointee with no previous disaster management experience, embarrassed himself last year with his attempts to justify FEMA's waste of more than $31 million in hurricane relief given to areas not affected by a hurricane. After a South Florida Sun-Sentinel investigation exposed the waste, the newspaper called for Brown to be fired. It now repeats that call."

[Ginofan]

Is it true that you can addicted to heroin just after the first time using? Or is that just a myth. I've seen and *coughtriedcough* my share of illegal substances, but I've never known anyone who's tried it.

Supposedly if you try it once you can get addicted because the high is so potent. I've been told that it also can depend on how you use it. You're less likely to become addicted if you snort it or smoke it than you would if you used it intravenously (shooting up).

[Kori Ellis]

Ken Rodriguez: Finally, a chance to make sure hurricane donations stay in S.A.
Web Posted: 09/11/2005 12:00 AM CDT

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA091105.3A.krod.262e20a.html

San Antonio Express-News

Let's say you want to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Let's say you visit the local office of the American Red Cross and donate $100.


Special Section
Hurricane Katrina: News, video, multimedia, information for victims and volunteers


If you expect the Red Cross to use your gift in San Antonio, you might be disappointed.

Your donation could wind up in Houston, Baton Rouge or Biloxi, Miss.

Bits and pieces of your $100 could end up in a half dozen cities sheltering evacuees.

Would that matter to you?

It might not matter to many. But it would to some, which is why the San Antonio Hurricane Relief Fund is a good idea.

Contributions to this fund will be used exclusively for local relief efforts.

The idea came to Mayor Phil Hardberger shortly after evacuees began arriving here.

Someone wanted to give $40,000 toward relief efforts. Hardberger suggested a contribution to the American Red Cross.

"There was a distinct pause" in the conversation, the mayor recalls.

The interested donor wanted assurance the cash gift would benefit local evacuees.

Hardberger could not provide such assurance.

"They did give $10,000," the mayor says, "but they left $30,000 on the table."

Calls from corporate CEOs and private individuals followed.

How can we help, they wanted to know.

Give to the American Red Cross, the mayor replied.

"But they weren't enthused about it," Hardberger says.

When you give to the local chapter of the American Red Cross, all the money is logged and directed to national headquarters in Washington, D.C.

From there, funds are disbursed to cities according to need.

Baton Rouge has far more evacuees than San Antonio, and therefore, needs more money.

So what you give to the Red Cross here this week might end up somewhere else next week.

"Without a doubt, the Red Cross is a very good organization," Hardberger says. "But you can make the argument that human nature wants to take care of neighbors and family first."

Hardberger doesn't remember how many conversations it took before he grasped that truth. But once he did, he consulted with USAA Chairman and CEO Robert G. Davis, and the San Antonio Hurricane Relief Fund was born.

Money collected may go to the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other relief agencies — but only if those agencies use the funds in San Antonio.

The local chapter of the Salvation Army knows how supporters feel about keeping donations local.

Many who have given cash gifts — now totaling $400,000 — designated them for San Antonio relief efforts.

J.D. Lawtum, director of development for the local Salvation Army office, said: "Mainline supporters know (non-designated gifts) will be supplied where they're most needed. But there has been a sizable interest in making sure the funds are applied locally."

Former Spurs guard Devin Brown is one example. Brown called Lawtum and said he wanted to organize a fundraiser for evacuees. Brown offered one stipulation: All donations had to fund local relief efforts.

"He said he had a lot of relatives in Louisiana," Lawtum says, "and he wanted to help the people from Louisiana who were in our shelters."

Every dollar that was collected at Brown's relief event Saturday will stay home.

Good idea?

Some corporate citizens and charitable foundations think so.

USAA kick-started the San Antonio Hurricane Relief Fund with a $1 million donation. The San Antonio Area Foundation contributed $500,000. Frost Bank gave $50,000.

Others in the public and private sectors are giving, too.

The new relief fund will capture money that would never have gone to local evacuees.

Hardberger, in fact, will use the new fund to go after some unfinished business.

Remember the donor who wanted to contribute $40,000 but only gave $10,000?

"Before it's all over, we'll get the full 40," the mayor promises. "I'm not through with that story."

HOW TO GIVE:

Donations to the fund are tax-deductible. They can be made online at www.saafdn.org. Or they can be mailed to the San Antonio Hurricane Relief Fund, in care of the San Antonio Area Foundation, 110 Broadway, Suite 230, San Antonio 78205.

[Nbadan]

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel published an editorial comment on September 8, 2005: "Nothing can restore FEMA's full functionality so long as the agency's incompetent director, Michael Brown, remains at the helm. Brown, a patronage appointee with no previous disaster management experience, embarrassed himself last year with his attempts to justify FEMA's waste of more than $31 million in hurricane relief given to areas not affected by a hurricane. After a South Florida Sun-Sentinel investigation exposed the waste, the newspaper called for Brown to be fired. It now repeats that call."

Keep it in the Poltical forum asshole!

:lol

[Spurtacular]

:lmao

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/486288-brian-williams-nyts-gay-roasted-over-math-flub-saddest-clip-in-tv-history

[Chucho]

Derp bumping another 15 year old thread.


He's definitely not a retarded sociopath no one takes seriously. Hes the SpursTalk MVP multiple times over and everyone respects and values his presence. All 63 of his perverted, retarded and unfunny alts agree.

[Blake]

Oh derp did research on old ST threads/posters?

It must be late Friday or Saturday night?

[benefactor]

lol banned

[Trainwreck2100]

lol banned

wtf happened?

[Millennial_Messiah]

That was a fun year, fun hurricane year, fun basketball year. Maybe best year of my life, or tied with 2014.