Only a small percentage of the National Guard is actually overseas, so I wouldn't think that would be the reason. After 5 days, they finally managed to get the Marines & US Marshalls in town. Sounds like there will finally be some resemblance of control going forward.
Incredible blog from someone holed up in a datacenter downtown
http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/
Incredible blog from someone holed up in a datacenter downtown
http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/
this crap is gut wrenching. i am almost at the point where i can't watch. Forget the damage done, i am seeing interviews with mothers holding infants and begging for help because their kids are dehydrating. I went through that with my daughter recently and its not pretty. These kids need help and the government is really sitting on its ass. How can there not be more help out there.
I dont want to hear that its tough to get in. They have helicopters and other vehicles that could get virtually anywhere. Drop tons of aid along with soldiers to disperse the aid safely. I am not saying its easy, but i just dont see the government doing 1/100th of what it should be doing.
You can't prevent deaths from a natural disaster, but i feel like we are a thirld world country unable to help out own.
I dont want to hear that its tough to get in. They have helicopters and other vehicles that could get virtually anywhere. Drop tons of aid along with soldiers to disperse the aid safely. I am not saying its easy, but i just dont see the government doing 1/100th of what it should be doing.
You can't prevent deaths from a natural disaster, but i feel like we are a thirld world country unable to help out own.
cmogly said:
not to turn this into an argument, but the actual destruction of property is probably going to be far greater here than for the tsunami. The buildings here cost a ton more and the devastation was far more powerful. Hotels stood up very well after the tsunami. Mainly shacks were destroyed during the tsunami. If you have seen casinos and hotels actually moved over highways by the strength of the hurrican i think you may have to reconsider.
No one will question the loss of life due to the tsunami will be far greater than the hurricane.
Blame the French for the first permanent settlement in the region. Stupid place for a large population base given the hazards of tropical storms and the elevation.
When the hell will we stop rebuilding in hurricane and earthquake areas? It's like third world nations building towns on volcanoes. The whole friggin continent pays the economic price. Don't mean to be callous, but for f sakes!
When the hell will we stop rebuilding in hurricane and earthquake areas? It's like third world nations building towns on volcanoes. The whole friggin continent pays the economic price. Don't mean to be callous, but for f sakes!
Does anyone here know if there is a way to find or communicate with people up in New Orleans or Biloxi??
Some of my best friends live there...I had an email 2 days before Katrina hit the gulf, they say the best option was to go up north, but now they don't answer my emails and phones dont work.
P.S i dont think they can use computers or phones right now, especially if they got stuck in biloxi
Some of my best friends live there...I had an email 2 days before Katrina hit the gulf, they say the best option was to go up north, but now they don't answer my emails and phones dont work.
P.S i dont think they can use computers or phones right now, especially if they got stuck in biloxi
Deerek - i have tried calling my friend's cell phone - he lives in Metairie. i have ZERO DOUBT he is OK and safe - but i also sense he lost EVERYTHING. when i try calling i can't get thru and know i won't for some time. e-mail or whatever is worthless for there is no way they can access a computer - right now that is dead last on their list of things to do.
************************************************
The WORST part of all this is that it didn't happen LAST year at this time
if it did CURRENT President John Kerry would have handled things differently
the moron we have in office now is one of thew worst we have ever had "leading" our country
i can proudly say i never voted for this mental midget
and to all those in LA and MS who are crying now - i hate to say this - but
SHUT UP!
you voted for George Bush. take away the 15 electoral votes Bush got from your states and give them to Kerry and guess who is and isn't Prez
you wanted George Bush as your Prez - YOU GOT HIM!
NOW YOU ARE PAYING THE PRICE FOR YOUR STUPIDITY!
I am truly sorry for all that has happened in that area - but the people who should be taking the MOST blame are the people in those 2 states who voted for Bush for President
there is a saying, "Be careful of what you wish for - you just may get it." the people of this region wished Bush to be the Prez - and they got it. right about now i doubt they are happy with that.
************************************************
The WORST part of all this is that it didn't happen LAST year at this time
if it did CURRENT President John Kerry would have handled things differently
the moron we have in office now is one of thew worst we have ever had "leading" our country
i can proudly say i never voted for this mental midget
and to all those in LA and MS who are crying now - i hate to say this - but
SHUT UP!
you voted for George Bush. take away the 15 electoral votes Bush got from your states and give them to Kerry and guess who is and isn't Prez
you wanted George Bush as your Prez - YOU GOT HIM!
NOW YOU ARE PAYING THE PRICE FOR YOUR STUPIDITY!
I am truly sorry for all that has happened in that area - but the people who should be taking the MOST blame are the people in those 2 states who voted for Bush for President
there is a saying, "Be careful of what you wish for - you just may get it." the people of this region wished Bush to be the Prez - and they got it. right about now i doubt they are happy with that.
I can't believe what i just read...
Corpses and killings reported
People at the center said 22 bodies of adults and children were stored inside the building, but troops guarding the building refused to confirm that and threatened to beat reporters seeking access to the makeshift morgue.
Witnesses said that overnight a young man was run down and then shot by a New Orleans police officer while another man seeking help was gunned down by a National Guard soldier.
“They killed a man here last night,” said Steve Banka, 28, said of National Guardsmen in a truck. “A young lady was being raped and stabbed. And the sounds of her screaming got to this man and so he ran out into the street to get help from troops, to try to flag down a passing truck of them, and he jumped up on the truck’s windscreen and they shot him dead.”
The report could not be confirmed.
Wade Batiste recounted another tale of horror. “Last night at 8 p.m. they shot a kid of just 16. He was just crossing the street. They ran him over, the New Orleans police did, and then they got out of the car and shot him in the head,” Batiste said.
The young man’s body lay in the street by the convention center’s entrance on Saturday morning, covered in a black blanket, a stream of congealed blood staining the street around him. Nearby his family sat in shock.
A member of that family, Africa Brumfield, confirmed the incident but declined to be quoted about it, saying her family did not wish to discuss it. But she spoke of general conditions here.
“There is rapes going on here. Women cannot go to the bathroom without men. They are raping them and slitting their throats.”
....I can't imagine the fucking hell these people is going through
Corpses and killings reported
People at the center said 22 bodies of adults and children were stored inside the building, but troops guarding the building refused to confirm that and threatened to beat reporters seeking access to the makeshift morgue.
Witnesses said that overnight a young man was run down and then shot by a New Orleans police officer while another man seeking help was gunned down by a National Guard soldier.
“They killed a man here last night,” said Steve Banka, 28, said of National Guardsmen in a truck. “A young lady was being raped and stabbed. And the sounds of her screaming got to this man and so he ran out into the street to get help from troops, to try to flag down a passing truck of them, and he jumped up on the truck’s windscreen and they shot him dead.”
The report could not be confirmed.
Wade Batiste recounted another tale of horror. “Last night at 8 p.m. they shot a kid of just 16. He was just crossing the street. They ran him over, the New Orleans police did, and then they got out of the car and shot him in the head,” Batiste said.
The young man’s body lay in the street by the convention center’s entrance on Saturday morning, covered in a black blanket, a stream of congealed blood staining the street around him. Nearby his family sat in shock.
A member of that family, Africa Brumfield, confirmed the incident but declined to be quoted about it, saying her family did not wish to discuss it. But she spoke of general conditions here.
“There is rapes going on here. Women cannot go to the bathroom without men. They are raping them and slitting their throats.”
....I can't imagine the fucking hell these people is going through
