Hurricane Katrina

JimO,
I hope you were not thinking I was "excusing" the actions of anybody. Mayor, or criminal element. I was merely trying to look on the other side of the fence. To see both sides of the story. To be understanding.

So if it happened to you, (I know, you would evacuate, and that shows some intelligence on your part), but lets say you could not, for some reason. And you have to sit there and watch your child die from drowning, lack of potable water, or food, or whatever the case may be. How are you gonna react? Can you say for sure you will mantain all sensibility, or rationality?

Like I said, our strongest instinct is survival. It's how we choose to go about it that makes a situation good or bad.

The mind is alot like a parachute. It works ALOT better when opened up.

Ciao,
Rick

Originally Posted by crotalusadamanteus

The mind is alot like a parachute. It works ALOT better when opened up.

Ain't that ever the truth!

And living in hurricane country, and having been through a bad one here, you're not just whistling Dixie. I would bail out (armed, of course) if a category 4 or 5 storm was headed this way and seriously consider it for a category 3.

But what has rape to do with "survival"? Explain how stealing stereos and televisions have to do with survival. Opportunism yes, survival no. Playing the race card have anything to do with survival? Blaming others for your own failures have anything to do with survival (aside perhaps from political survival)?

Again, I have no issues with taking necessities like food, water, baby formula, diapers, etc. But the rest? No way.

Originally Posted by Jim O

Ain't that ever the truth!

And living in hurricane country, and having been through a bad one here, you're not just whistling Dixie. I would bail out (armed, of course) if a category 4 or 5 storm was headed this way and seriously consider it for a category 3.

But what has rape to do with "survival"? Explain how stealing stereos and televisions have to do with survival. Opportunism yes, survival no. Playing the race card have anything to do with survival? Blaming others for your own failures have anything to do with survival (aside perhaps from political survival)?

Again, I have no issues with taking necessities like food, water, baby formula, diapers, etc. But the rest? No way.

It doesn't. Plain and simple.

As I said, "the criminal element should be dealt with swiftly, harshly, even barbarically" There is no excuse for a "Human being" (regardless of race, or ethnicity) to rape another human being. I'm trying not to go there, because I believe in "An eye for an eye" Drunk drivers should be ran over IMO. Rapists should be raped. With EXTREME prejudice. You get the picture. Maybe barbaric, but effective IMO.

As for the minority race card. I live in EL PASO, where that card is pulled on a "DAILY" basis, regardless of disaster or not. LULAC out here is fighting against the minute men, for turning in (via phone calls) the Illegal border crossings. Their claim, "it is a vilation of their rights". So by trying to make them do it legally, we are violating their minority rights. I thought those rights came with citizenship?
Ive Been turned down for jobs in my own country, for not speaking spanish. I don't grab any of my guns (and I got a few ) and start shooting people. I dont scream violation of my rights, (though it, in some ways is).

I pick myself up, and move on. Like song #1 of the Suicidal Tendancies album, Lights, Camera Revelution......"You can't bring me down"

But I also try to understand that, they were not neccessarily taught the same morals or ethics that You or I were taught.

An old indian proverb......."Don't criticize your neighbor, till you have walked a mile in his moccasins" Though I too am guilty of this from time to time, I do try to keep a tight rein on it.

Ciao,
Rick

Foamy's hurricane report.... http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/262703 *warning- adult language*

Originally Posted by Ken Harbart

One of the biggest reasons for sticking it out is to deter/prevent looting. One of the constants in life is that there are those who prey on the misfortune of others. The pictures of folks sitting on their porch, gun in lap, and a sign saying looters will be shot is no joke. After Andrew, looting and crime became so rampant that OPM released a memo officially stating that anyone considering a job at Homestead AFB requuired special counseling.

Additionally, the uncertainty of not knowing what happened to your home and personal possessions wreaks havoc on your mind while you sit and wait for the all clear.

Another is the sheer logistics of bugging out. When I left town during Hurricane Frances, the few gas stations that had gas were rationing it out to 2 gallons per customer... just enough to get you to the next station that was open for business. The bright side is that driving 5mph on the interstate somewhat improves mileage. The downside is that what should have been a five hour drive lasted well over eleven hours.

Finding lodging is another sticking point. I had planned on only going as far north as Jacksonville, but ended up in Hinesville, GA due to nothing being available between here and there. The cheapest available room, even at my discounted rate, cost $110 per night. This was booked "just in case" days before I knew for sure I'd be evacuating.

Including car repairs necessitated by a frozen brake caliper that I had to drive several hours on, my evac related expenses, which were unforeseen and unbudgeted, were over $1K. Not everyone has the spare cash for an evac. In my case, Uncle Sam paid me back for a portion of it.

In the case of New Orleans, I can see why there was not more of an evacuation. Many of the folks there are too poor to own a car. As such, they've no choice but to stay.

Personally, I wouldn'tgive a second thought to sticking out a Cat 1 or 2. A Cat 3 would get me thinking about it. A Cat 4 or 5 would definitely give me the incentive to evac.

If I may continue along the lines of Ken's thoughts . . . Thank you Ken.

Jim, Sammy and Shelly . . .
As for sick comments contributed from Sammy "It is called thinning the heard", Jim's "survival of the fittest" and Shelly's "Where do you think I got the news article from? The internet." Let me first say Shelly, you are brilliant! Those people can't afford tv's, radio's and many other things like a place to stay and you think they have access to the internet?! BRILLIANT!

MOST of the people COULD NOT AFFORD to leave. Do you think everyone has the $ to just pick up residence and move? Gas was then $2.55 a gal., Now let's add infants and children to that equation, how about their family members, how about everyone that makes minimum wage or below poverty level, don't forget about the elderly cared for by Hospice . . . Do you really think that entire cities can just pick up and move?

You're talking about the ENTIRE Mississippi Delta genius. That ONLY receives more than half of the countries produce and supplies. Do you have a clue how important those ports are?

Katrina hit New Orleans as a Category 5. That's the equivalent of a F4 tornado, except hurricanes are much, much bigger and produce/ carry tornadoes within them. She was the 2nd worst hurricane the U.S. has had. The worst was the Sept. 8, 1900, "Galveston Hurricane", an estimated 6,000–8,000 died.

1/2 of my immediate family in New Orleans lived by the 17th Street Levey and lost EVERYTHING once that levee broke to add to the destruction. Their houses, jobs . . . EVERYTHING. ALL of my mom's family lives in N.O. My parents, my friends, their kids . . . are still there. LA and MS closed damn near all roads and those that are open, are STILL not allowing anyone, including immediate family members, in to even try to get them out!

I'm still struggling with taking this all in and really just trying to keep from falling apart. We were just down there July 16th - 23rd.

It physically makes me sick when I hear people just adding to the situation. I think the lot of them should enroll in some sort of Humanities class.

Are the conditions down there so different from when America was struggling to house the immigrants pouring in? I know it's not the exact same, but they're struggling with the exact same issues . . . shelter, food, water, toilets, bedding, clothing, transportation, space, etc. Cities have been completely destroyed, burned, vandalized and looted. We had to call the National Guard present to restore law, not only to help rebuild things, but to protect officers and citizens alike that were being shot by looters that stayed behind to trash what they could!!!

Your parents never tell you as bad as what it is to try and spare your feelings and stuff. So I'm going nuts and studying has about gone out the window, not completely, but all of my free time is spent scouring over Red Cross registries and whatnot. A friend's father called me yesterday . . . he's STILL not heard from his daughter . . . she lived in Waveland and could not leave.The storm surge there topped another friends 2nd story house and was over 40 feet.

My friend, Ruth Biehl, lived in apartments in Waveland rowed in a rubber raft from building to building during Katrina's eye and plucked CHILDREN out of the storm surge. Many did not have adults with them . . . for many it was too late, they had already died and their parent's did not want to leave. They had already lost everything . . . their children, their parents, their home . . . some could not find a reason to live any longer.

Another close friend, Melissa Bennett, had her power turned on last night and had opened her home to more then 15 survivors, giving such simple things as shelter, food, water, clothing . . . hope.

I do find some comfort speaking with those I can . . . and I have a very unselfish reason to study and go to class . . . I went to Dr. Karsen's Animal Biology class last night and he said he had a message for me. He told me Jeffery W. Floyd asked if I would send him my notes, we had traded before and even if we hadn't it was no big deal. Dr. Karsen just kind of stood there with a rather long face about him, then said . . . Jeff was called up for duty for the National Guard to help with disaster relief . . . that took my breath away.

This has really effect my studies and I honestly just want to go down there just to hug my mom, my dad, my sisters and my brothers . . . my family. To feel their warm skin, hear their breath and see their faces . . . you know?


It's amazing to see so many coming together to help people in need. I wish everyone would.


My apologies to all but I am STILL trying to locate my family in Gulfport and Kiln, MS and New Orleans, LA.

If you know the where abouts, or have heard from ANYONE in those areas PLEASE contact me. We have been desperately trying to get in touch with ANYONE from that area.

I'm searching for the familys of:

New Orleans, LA area:
George, Donnie, Barbara, Clay and Kathy Bohn
Faith and Joyce Champagne

Gulfport, MS area:
Judy Davis
Gene, Jan, and Charlie Swearengine (Charlie is a Life Flight paramedic)
Justin (Gerald) Richardson
Laurie, Cowles and Will Sims (Laurie taught @ Long Beach Jr High)
Lyisha Barkum
John Paul and Leslie Corassco
Tereasa Ungarro
Theresa Ouilette
Georgeanna Kinney
Vicky Lindsey (taught @ Bayou View Jr High)
Vickey Lindsey
Gerald Tate (mom taught @ Bayou View Jr High)

Kiln, MS area:
Janet Fayard

And others I'm still too shocked to think of.


*** IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE RELOCATING TO OKLAHOMA, OR IS STILL IN MISSISSIPPI NEEDING ASSISTANCE CONTACT ME. *** Some of my friends and I are setting up a network to help transport and care for those in need.

THANK ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE HELPED UPDATE THIS LIST!
(9/12 11:37am CST)
Sincerely,
Julie K. Coultes (Favre)

Originally Posted by DragonCharm

Foamy's hurricane report.... http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/262703 *warning- adult language*

I could NOT agree more! If you can help . . . PLEASE HELP.

*** IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE RELOCATING TO OKLAHOMA, OR IS STILL IN MISSISSIPPI NEEDING ASSISTANCE CONTACT ME. *** Some of my friends and I are setting up a network to help transport and care for those in need. IF YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF HELPING to provide transport, shelter, water, food, clothing, bedding, etc. CONTACT ME.

Originally Posted by listenn

Jim, Sammy and Shelly . . .
As for sick comments contributed from Sammy "It is called thinning the heard", Jim's "survival of the fittest" and Shelly's "Where do you think I got the news article from? The internet." Let me first say Shelly, you are brilliant! Those people can't afford tv's, radio's and many other things like a place to stay and you think they have access to the internet?! BRILLIANT!

Attacking people for their opinions will not bring your family home.

If you had read through you might realize I was unhappy about the people who could leave and did not. The ones who chose to risk themselves and others. The ones who then cried "save me" when they had made the choice in the first place. The same people who had the means to leave and could have assisted others.

I made a statement to the effect that I don't use the common forms of media due to the sensationalism and I use the internet so I can read what is important. I can share knowledge gained from the internet with others not so fortunate. It's a simple thing. Don't recall saying that everyone had internet access.

Yes, it's terrible that your family is missing. My parents and brothers live in Florida. I go through this hurricane stuff every year. It was very interesting last year when three hurricanes hit near my parents home and my local news didn't report it. My mother called me in a panic after the first one because her and dad could have been killed and I didn't even call. My local news didn't report it. Wasn't interesting enough, I guess.

Right before the second one hit I asked them to come to MI and ride the storm out here. Guess what, they wouldn't leave either. Too much trouble they said. You think I might not be going through the same thing you are soon? Every bloody year I go through this with them. I lived there for three years and went through one tropical storm. I moved back here. People from the north have steadily been moving south for years.....maybe it's time for them to come home.

I know you are upset and I feel for you and your suffering, but that doesn't give you the right to judge me. You don't know what I have been through or what I will experience in the future.

I hope your family is found and that they are safe.

Julie,

Why didn't your family leave?

Originally Posted by kiote9

I don't watch the news, read the paper or listen to the radio. Why?


"NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Hurricane Katrina plowed into the Gulf Coast at daybreak Monday with shrieking, 145-mph winds and blinding rain, submerging entire neighborhoods up to the rooflines in New Orleans, hurling boats onto land and sending water pouring into Mississippi's strip of beachfront casinos.

At least two highways deaths in Alabama were blamed on the storm, and an untold number of others were feared dead in flooded neighborhoods.

"Some of them, it was their last night on earth," Terry Ebbert, chief of homeland security for New Orleans, said of people who ignored evacuation orders. "That's a hard way to learn a lesson."

Katrina weakened overnight to a Category 4 storm and made a slight turn to the right before coming ashore at 6:10 a.m. CDT near the Louisiana bayou town of Buras. The storm passed just to the east of New Orleans as it moved inland, sparing this vulnerable below-sea-level city its full fury and the apocalyptic damage that forecasters had feared."

The news story goes on and on about stranded people in New Orleans shouting from rooftops for help. In this age of technology these people WATCHED the storm come at them and stayed anyway. It's like standing in the middle of a highway lane and believing that Tractor-trailer WILL miss you at the last second.

My faith in humanity in nearly non existent at this point....

You, yourself said "I don't watch the news, read the paper or listen to the radio." and in another post said "Where do you think I got the news article from? The internet."

My point was that not everyone has access to the variety of news media. I was not judging your character, nor your opinion. Simply pointing out and reiterating your point.

Originally Posted by DAND

Julie,

Why didn't your family leave?

My mom manages a major chemical company in Gulfport, and had to stay and make sure the plant was stable. They have to monitor all reactors, holding containers, load chemicals etc. The EPA gave their blessings the day after Katrina went inland.

2nd Dad works at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS. The base Commander is wanting the classes up and ready for students in two weeks, so he's very busy too.

My father stayed in Kiln, MS, because he is a Veterinarian and needed to be there to offer medical assistance as soon as it could be administered.

They, like everyone else, are beginning a long clean up process and helping however they can.