Official Hurricane Katrina Thread

[ObiwanGinobili]

2:11 P.M. - Blanco: Please stop broadcasting that there is "shooting in the Superdome." She said everyone brought inside was checked for weapons before entering. "There is no shooting inside the Superdome." She says the incorrect reports are upsetting the people inside of the dome who have been very calm.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Michael Savage said last night that FEMA a few years ago identified the problems, had an action plan which would have been implemented by now, and asked for funding, but were told, sorry, we have to spend that money on the Iraq war.

So, let me get this straight: we're in Iraq to protect the homeland (somehow) from terrorist attacks which may or may not happen, so we can't spend money to mitigate natural disasters which are guaranteed to happen.

On 9/11, we lost 3,000 people and a few city blocks. Now, we're losing probably 50,000 people and an entire city.

Great priorities, Republicans!

This is the current Democratic rallying cry, and total BS. FEMA has known about the New Orleans situation for nearly 20 years, and no one on Capitol Hill felt it was important enough to do anything about.

The whole "there's no money due to Iraq thing" is something someone put in an article, but not relevant. Even the governor of La. and the senators there didn't do much to try and facilitate any kind of work to protect NO, instead going with the "roll the dice it won't happen on my watch" gameplan.

[j-6]

I don't know how much longer these people are going to last. Snipers shooting at medical workers, rescue helicopters drawing fire, people overturning ambulances.

The actions of a few are about to the majority out of their lives.

[MannyIsGod]

ES, It is like that up and down the eastern seaboard and on the gulf coast. People have built wherever they can and thats why even weak 'canes that come in cause so much damage.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

The good about another storm coming in is all the assholes ing things up will be wiped out.

The bad thing is all the good people who genuinely want to live will be too.

[MannyIsGod]

Look, I've tried to look at this situation without bringing Iraq into it...but the fact is our troops being in Iraq has hurt us here in regards to the recovery. We have so many assests over there, that we can't normally do some things we do here. It is extremely apparent in regards to manpower.

Now, if you feel Iraq is justified is not the point. But you have to realize that our troops being over there is having a very real effect on this situation.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Airport spokeswoman Mic e Duffourc: Armstrong International Airport did become operational on Tuesday, August 30 for humanitarian relief flights and civilian and military rescue efforts. Since opening the airfield, several of our commercial air carriers, including American, Southwest, Northwest, Continental, United, and Delta have all sent in aircraft with relief supplies and have taken out the stranded travelers as well as all others who wanted to depart the Airport. In total over 100 employees, 200 stranded passengers and 400 others were flown out of Armstrong International.

They should be flying out everyone they can.

Corps of Engineers: Lake water continues to go down. Dropped two to two and a half feet in the past two days. Work progressing on plugging break in levee. Sandbags dropped and pilings being driven. Engineer says progress is "looking good."

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

but the fact is our troops being in Iraq has hurt us here in regards to the recovery. We have so many assests over there, that we can't normally do some things we do here. It is extremely apparent in regards to manpower

Last night on NBC they discussed this with the governor of La. and she said they had over 50% of their National Guard troops available, and that the war in Iraq was not an issue as far as resources go.

Bringing the politics of Iraq into it is misguided, IMO. The most obvious and dominant problem is that FEMA doesn't know what the they are doing. We couldn't bring in the US Army to NO anyway, it's not allowable. NG is, and they are there.

I will concede that they need to be getting more troops in there faster, right now it looks like FEMA just doesn't give a or doesn't know where to begin.

[MannyIsGod]

I don't understand why there isn't a massive airlift of supplies at this time. Are all of our military transport planes in service ? .

[Jelly]

If this situation doesn't turn around quickly, the Katarina disaster debacle is going to haunt Bush far longer than Iraq will.

[j-6]

I've been using WWL for my news, but I have CNN on in the other room.

It is a sad ing thing that the rescue teams can't evacuate those hospitals. It's Thursday, goddamnit. We've been hearing of their plight since Monday.

[2pac]

Fats Domino is missing and feared dead.

[Jelly]

Well, they just interviewed a refugee who arrived at the Astrodome and said he got lots of help and sent "much love" to Bush and the government. I don't think he was a plant. lol.

So that's one happy customer.

[Jelly]

I think Bush is going to be crucified when all this is over. Seriously.

[1369]

. We couldn't bring in the US Army to NO anyway, it's not allowable. NG is, and they are there.

You sure AHF? I do realize that troops are bound by posse howeveryouspellit, but remember back during the riots in L.A. after the Rodney King verdict that U.S. Marines were sent from Camp Pendleton to help establish order there.

[1369]

I think Bush is going to be crucified when all this is over. Seriously.

I think you're right. Even though most policies and plans were made well before his administration, it happened on his watch and right about now the government (city, state and federal) looks like it doesn't have a clue what to do.

[Jelly]

Fats Domino is missing and feared dead.

Very sad. But you know, he is an example of people that most definitely could have evacuated and didn't.

[MannyIsGod]

12,000 troops on the ground, so hopefully the area will be secured.

[ObiwanGinobili]

I think Bush is going to be crucified when all this is over. Seriously.

Jack Cafferty just went off. Not against Bush- more against FEMA.
He said that in his 62 years after having seen watts riots, the San Fransisco quake etc etc that he's never seen an operation as bungled as this.

[Ginofan]

I don't know if anyone has seen this or not, but I figured I'd post it anyway...

How You Can Help

LAST UPDATE: 9/1/2005 2:07:16 PM
Posted By: CyberBob
This story is available on your cell phone at mobile.woai.com.

The number one way you can help the Katrina refugees is by making a monetary donation at StormAID.com.

But many generous San Antonians have called us wanting to know how they can donate something besides money.

* Would you like to volunteer some of your time?
* Do you have a job you can offer?
* Bulk food supplies?
* Donate vehicles?
* How can you adopt a pet?
* Want to offer your home to a family?

Whatever it is, the number to call is 211. If you live outside of San Antonio or have a cell phone, you can call (210) 227-4357.

The 211 hotline is a public/private partnership between the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar county. This is the central information clearinghouse for all volunteer and donation activities.

Important Note: The relief agencies strongly discourage the donation of clothes.
Link

[j-6]

I think Bush is going to be crucified when all this is over. Seriously.

He went into this with a pretty low approval rating, and with the way this is being handled, I can't argue.

[Vashner]

I think Bush is going to be crucified when all this is over. Seriously.

Can we put the Bush hate aside or keep it in the political forum for now?

WTF is he supposed to do? He did his job now it's up to the machine to work.

If you want to bash the President more please go to NBADans' tin foil post.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Well, they just interviewed a refugee who arrived at the Astrodome and said he got lots of help and sent "much love" to Bush and the government. I don't think he was a plant. lol.

So that's one happy customer.

I've seen many refugees interviewed, and there seems to be a stark difference in the mindset of the ones who went to the Superdome and rode it out (happy, feel they're being taken care of), versus the ones that rode it out, got in trouble, and are now *expecting* their needs to be met first.

Like I said, I watched some lady last night sit there and on CNN about how her and her family didn't think it was going to be bad (dumbass), had to be rescued by chopper, and now were at the Dome stuck in a long line waiting for their turn to get on a bus (shocker).

Said she wanted hot food, warm showers, and a place to live for her and her family. Lady, look around, there's an entire city looking for the same thing.

She did everything but play the race card.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I think Bush is going to be crucified when all this is over. Seriously

Well the buck does stop at the top and unfortunately for him FEMA/DHS is looking like the penultimate keystone kops at the moment.

[j-6]

I've seen many refugees interviewed, and there seems to be a stark difference in the mindset of the ones who went to the Superdome and rode it out (happy, feel they're being taken care of), versus the ones that rode it out, got in trouble, and are now *expecting* their needs to be met first.

Like I said, I watched some lady last night sit there and on CNN about how her and her family didn't think it was going to be bad (dumbass), had to be rescued by chopper, and now were at the Dome stuck in a long line waiting for their turn to get on a bus (shocker).

Said she wanted hot food, warm showers, and a place to live for her and her family. Lady, look around, there's an entire city looking for the same thing.

She did everything but play the race card.

Something to think about is when people like that lady start poisoning the at udes of the grateful folks that played by the rules when they were read after they all get placed in refugee shelters.