Katrina 2005

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Dunno about France or the UN - I suspect they'll sincerely sympathize and advise avoiding hurricanes, in the future - I think the Gulf Coast could use some Dutch dike and flood plain reclaimation specialists.

I think the next problem will be the safe-drinking-water and mass immunization issues. All that flooding is going to trash public sanitation, for months.

[mmichaelson]

PSIP - there is an article here

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/30/katrina.neworleans/index.html

that mentions the rising water and close to the end, your hospital in particular. I don't think they're filtering what we know, I think they're just NOT sure.

[Shapley]

They're advising everyone still remaining in New Orleans to get out. There will be no services available for a long time: water, sanitary, or electricity. The city will be unlivable even in areas that are not completely flooded. According to the news, there is only one workable road out of the city, westward towards Baton Rouge.

What a mess!

V/R
Shapley

[piqaboo]

I bet there are a few navigable waterways, for those boats still functioning.
I wonder if people will think of leaving by boat?

[Schmeelkie]

I'm always amazed at the people who decide to ride out these storms. My brother was posted in Charleston, SC with the Air Force for about 6 years. I think they evacuated three times - but Charleston didn't get hit any time. I'd much rather evacuate and risk looters and be wrong about the storm hitting, than stay and 'take my chances'. Just pack up your very valuables and get out. No house or belongings are worth risking your life. Even our weather channel buddy Jim Cantore was bemoaning the number of people still in NO Sunday night. As a weather channel-junkie, I'd believe Jim when he told me to leave...

Way up here in Rochester we're supposed to get 2-4 inches of rain from Katrina tonight and tomorrow! As I've said before, I'd much rather risk the occasional blizzard or ice storm over living in a hurricane-, tornado-, earthquake-, landslide- or fire-prone area of the country.

[monkeymd2b]

They actually can't allow anyone to leave yet because of live wires and leaking gas lines not to mention the lack of viable roadways. They allowed follks out of the superdome for fresh air but made sure none left. I suppose leaving by boat would be an option for those with such a luxury if they could reach them. I just got an email from one of my friends who was able to catch a flight out of NOLA sunday night. She isn't hopeful for her house since the levees have broken. Tried to call a few friends but got a message that said due to the hurricane, cell phone lines are limited...or something like that. In regards to supporting the effort, it seems like providing funds for groups like the red cross or salvation army would be the easiest since I doubt delivery of supplies will be done by traditional mail options for awhile and those groups can purchase the appropriate materials and get them to the areas most in need.

We saw such great support for tsunami victims but whether or not the southeast will benefit from the same monetary benefit remains to be seen. I don't know the history of international monetary support for past us natural disasters to pass judgement. Time to head off for my clinic!

[zlosin]

I have just read on another forum that the Superdome is turning into a hell hole. At least 1 person has already jumped from the high level.
There is no where for these people to go. Its going to get worse. The water is rising around the dome. I fear that in a week, there will be few left.
God help them.
I am just thankful I have no family in that area but feel for friends that do. The scarry this is that a natural disaster of like proportions could almost happen anywhere.
Life is like a vacation, you have to go home eventually.

[OperaTenor]

Hmm, wouldn't it be prudent to start evacuating people from the Superdome by helicopter?

[piqaboo]

You dont have to actually own a boat to get a ride on one. Private owners provided ferry service post 9-11. I'd hope some will do so now as well: rooftop to Boston Whaler, to big boat to "outa there", perhaps.

Superdome - helicopter ....hmmmm.....expensive, but then the first folks let into the SD were the sick and disabled, so those folks probably need the most help and are the most urgent to evacuate (they were warned to bring 5 days supplies with them.)

Gotta be mosquito hell out there, in addition to all the other hardships.

Had an aquaintance living on Magazine St (she ran a B&B). I hope she was smart enough to leave in advance.

[Trumpetmaster]

PSIP,
Keep being a Smart A$$!


You bring out a great point. We are always helping other countries with relief etc....

I guess it's because.... never mind.. what I would write is not nice...

[OperaTenor]

Hi guys,

No intention of starting a flame war here, but....

I agree, it would be nice to see some reciprocal assistance from other countries(and we still might - if you'll remember, our response to the Indonesian tsunami didn't happen overnight), we might keep in mind that we live in the most prosperous country in the world, with the best general disaster response resources. Also, our disaster relief aid tends to go to third world countries, doesn't it? When's the last time we sent disaster relief to the Italians when they had one of their devastating floods, for instance?

Also, (just playing devil's advocate here) might it possibly be that other countries are waiting to see just what it is we require in the way of assistance? After all, we don't have a good assessment of damage yet, do we?

[snark] Of course, maybe the new democracy in Iraq could offer us some aid in the form of oil....[/snark]

[piqaboo]

Good points, OT. <sycophantic icon>

The country with the most experience in typhoon and flood damage would be Bangladesh. I doubt they're in a position to offer much in the way of aid.

Also, death tolls.....226,000 vs several hundred.

I expect, if the floods subside, we'll be offered dogteams to help seek out the dead. Remember, after 9/11 we had as much international aid as we could use.

[Shapley]

Whatever the general view is of Louisiana and Mississippi, they are a far cry from being "third world countries".

We sent aid to Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Niger, et. al., because they needed it. Europe has been undergoing some pretty serious flooding in the past few weeks. So far as I know, they've neither asked for assistance nor have we offered it. I sent money to the Catholic Charities to help out with relief to areas stricken by Katrina, as I did for tsunami relief and the Niger famine, but I hardly expect the Indonesian people to be in a position to reciprocate. (Well, Okay, that rich widow in Nigeria could help out, but I thinks she's still trying to find someone to help her get her dead husband's millions out of the country. )

Where would the other countries send their care packages: To the poor insurance companies who will be out billions to pay costs, or to our government, that will most likely make up the difference between what is lost and what is covered?

By the time the ships full of relief supplies could get here from France, UPS will have delivered everything they need to get started getting their lives together.

It isn't very charitable to start expecting reciprocity for charitable giving.

V/R
Shapley

[mmichaelson]

Well, I've donated money to the red cross disaster relief fund and am preparing a care package for my loved ones. At this point, I consider this the extent of my (limited) ability to help.

[Trumpetmaster]

Originally posted by Shapley:
Whatever the general view is of Louisiana and Mississippi, they are a far cry from being "third world countries".

We sent aid to Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Niger, et. al., because they needed it. Europe has been undergoing some pretty serious flooding in the past few weeks. So far as I know, they've neither asked for assistance nor have we offered it. I sent money to the Catholic Charities to help out with relief to areas stricken by Katrina, as I did for tsunami relief and the Niger famine, but I hardly expect the Indonesian people to be in a position to reciprocate. (Well, Okay, that rich widow in Nigeria could help out, but I thinks she's still trying to find someone to help her get her dead husband's millions out of the country. )

Where would the other countries send their care packages: To the poor insurance companies who will be out billions to pay costs, or to our government, that will most likely make up the difference between what is lost and what is covered?

By the time the ships full of relief supplies could get here from France, UPS will have delivered everything they need to get started getting their lives together.

It isn't very charitable to start expecting reciprocity for charitable giving.

V/R
Shapley

Shapley,
Excellent - point
"It isn't very charitable to start expecting reciprocity for charitable giving"

I retract my earlier comments.

TM

[Shapley]

TM,

That wasn't aimed at anyone in particular. I wasn't sure how many were aware of the flooding in Germany, Switzerland, and elsewhere in the past few weeks. I didn't donate to their relief efforts because, quite frankly, I don't recall seeing any appeals for them. I'm happy to help, to the extent I can, for those who can't help themselves. I think we in America can take care of ourselves.

That being said, I'm sure if we needed help, it would be there for the asking.

V/R
Shapley

<small>[ 08-30-2005, 03:57 PM: Message edited by: Shapley ]</small>

[OperaTenor]

Hey PSIP,

That's what you get for being a smart A$$!

[BigJon@Work]

It's time to rebuild New Orleans up the hill and let the Mississippi reclaim her own.

[Shapley]

http://a1022.g.akamai.net/f/1022/8165/5m/images.sun-sentinel.com/media/photo/2005-08/19219848.jpg

[zlosin]

The more I see of the calamity, the sicker I get, and know that this will only get worse. Heard that over 2K people have been rescued from roofs and attics. God knows how many did not make it up to the attic or are still there.
This is unfathomable.
I saw the man from Mississippi that was holding onto his wife but lost his grip, and her. Gut wrenching.

Why rebuild? We have lots of room and empty buildings in Detroit. They are welcome. It might get cold, but it does not flood.