Suzuki_Sam wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:


I'm doing some research on the disaster situation on the gulf coast.  Donations can be made online through these 2 organizations, if anyone is interested.

Salvation Army

The Red Cross

The servers are very busy so you need to be patient.

The Salvation Army site states that a $100 donation will provide one family with enough food, water, and household supplies for 2 days....for example.

I think that my overtime money in this weeks check is going there.

Tony wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:


It won't be fun, but it has to be done.  You knew that and you volunteered.  That's all that has to be said.  You're a good man.

I cannot believe that the images I am seeing are from the richest country in the world, they look like a third world African country....all those thousands of desperate, starving, homesless human beings, dead bodies, people dying in the streets and now the law-lessness.
Dont want  to sound off politically, but it only took 2 days for aid to reach the tsunami hit countries..what is going on Mr Bush?
Have made my little donation...lots of littles = alot....so I hope it helps and soon.

Let's not be too quick to politicize this issue.  Things haven't been done correctly in a few ways, and maybe there was some foot dragging initially.  But part of the problem here is our own arrogance and confidence....we under-estimated the effect of a category 5 storm hitting an area that is (stupidly) under sea level to begin with.  The people were told to evacuate, but that was only possible for people with the means to do so.  Those that normally rely on public transportation were the ones left behind....and they should have been bussed away before the storm hit.  Now, it is all hind-sight which is always a real b_i_t_c_h.

Being prepared?  Part of my old Boy Scout motto.  I remember 9-11 and the warnings that we (the people) should be prepared?  Homeland security told us to stockpile food and goods, duct tape, blankets, etc.  Remember all that?  We did.  We had coolers of food and water stored away for a couple years as they warned us to do.  But over time, Jules and I slowly emptied our "emergency supplies" to where we have none, now.  It just seemed less important as time went on....and that sense of false security is what caused this situation in New Orleans....no one was prepared for what could happen, both on an individual basis and a government level.  

It is always easiest to point fingers after something happens, and certainly no one expected that relief helicopters with volunteers would be getting shot at by idiots with weapons.  There was a National guard soldier that struggled with someone over his weapon and he got shot in the leg.  There were shots fired at police officers, too.  In a loose comparison. anyone ever seen the movie "Escape from L.A."?  It's a dumb movie, that might actually contain an element of realism...

We are just a lazy species that prefers being reactive to being proactive.  Let's make our donations, learn something from this, and then make our government (and ourselves) be better prepared for the next disaster.  There will be one....

Let's just hope that Jbird simply got out of town, and hasn't been able to log in yet.  Hopefully his bike is okay too.

RadarORiley wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:


Well, personally, I feel that we, the people, should make the government do what is needed.  It isn't really the fault of government that a city was built below sea level.  It is the people's fault.  The people allowed it.  After all, how many of us would knowingly build a house at the base of a dam?  Then why didn't people have more concern about their levies?  The news has remembered hurricane Camille in 1969 (I was a sailor in Pensacola, Fla. then), and I remember helping with some of that clean up.  How come 35 years have passed and the levies were never strengthened?

I happen to think that not enough people are ever willing to get on a soap box.  If people don't speak out, then our government is exactly what we deserve.

" the storm was predicted, and so were the effects.  There should have been resources ready to go as soon as the storm passed.  America really should have done better."
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It was known that the storm was coming, of course, but the VASTNESS OF THE DISTRUCTION could not be known.  We never know for sure what will happen.  So many times a storm starts coming and at the last minute before in comes ashore it disipates and the damage is relatively small.
Only God knows what the ultimate result will be.  All we can do is try to prepare, and when we fall short, to make adjustments for our shortcomings and then go on.  All the while helping as best as we can those who have been hurt.
There has been some negative talk about the Federal gov'ts slow response to this terrible disaster...just keep in mind that the area involved is over 90,000 square miles...that is more than the ENTIRE STATE OF IDAHO.  Does anyone really believe that ANY gov't can cover that kind of land mass with security and relief in less that 96 hours???? And at the same time a huge part of that area is STILL UNDER WATER???  Anyone who thinks that is unrealistic is living in the "twilight zone".