<p align="center"><img border="0" src="http://somd.com/news/kingscorner/images/king-head.GIF" alt="King's Corner" width="336" height="143"></p>

Well it should be easy to guess what has my interest this time. With out a doubt it has to be Katrina. Though, I’m not going to go about this as many of you would. I’m not concentrating on the devastation; we have the media for that. 90,000 square miles is no small thing that is for sure (I’ve heard that it is about the size of Kansas), but we all are seeing that every time we look at the tube.

I’m not going to be talking about the victims either. There are way to many and some are in worse shape then others. This has a lot to do with how they ended up facing the storm in the first place. Some got out and have lost everything, others stayed and lost everything, many have died, and many are still missing. They will be taken care of as best as they can.

What I want to talk about is the storm itself and why we weren’t as prepared as many think we should have been.

This is what I remember of the event. Katrina started off as a category 1 hurricane that did little but rustle the feathers of southern Florida as it hit. Granted a handful died but for the most part this was a minor storm. Up to and during the time it was crossing Florida we were being told that it would pass over Florida and hug the Gulf coast as it made its way north. The estimates were that it might retain category 1 but that was it.

Then Katrina gave us a twist. She shot straight out into the warm Gulf and started gaining strength. On the 27th she crept up to a category 2 with sustained winds holding at 100 knots. Early on the 28th (0200) she started her turn to the northwest well out in the Gulf and now reaching category 3, winds 125 knots. By that morning (0800) she had reached category 4 with winds of 140 knots and around noon the storm was peaking out as a category 5 packing winds of 150 knots. It was still heading northwest with no clear target as of yet. Many forecasters were calling for a hit in southern Louisiana and this is about when they were giving a serious get out of here warning.

That night Katrina was still heading to the northwest when right around midnight the morning of the 29th she turned hard north and made straight for New Orleans. Within 12 hours of the turn Katrina had hit and crossed New Orleans leaving behind what we have all been seeing since.

Now remember that she left in her wake 90,000 square miles of total destruction. Remember that millions of people are in need of aide in one manner or another. Remember that main arteries of transportation, communications and power are nonexistent and remember that we didn’t know where we were going to need them until the storm actually hit. Now I ask, how could anyone get a response team in any quicker then what is currently being done?

I’ll ask that before you fire off your responses as to what your plan for getting things done would have included that you think of the things that needed to be contended with along the way. You had a city under water that for the most part is still under water. There were those hanging on for their lives in trees and roof tops that needed to be reached first and foremost. This ate up the local assets immediately as they were in the life saving mode for those in imminent danger.

Next the Guard was called out, almost at once, but they had to marshal, organize, load up, and then hit the road from their staging area. Enroute they discovered that many roads were blocked or totally missing as they got closer to the epicenter. Detours, slow moving, and back tracking make just getting there a nightmare. But now that they had blazed the trail so others wouldn’t have to contend with what they did and getting in to the area has been easier.

I guess what I am getting at is that while it seems like feet were being drug getting in there to help these people out they are getting there about as fast as I could ever imagine. This is a huge task with hundreds of thousands of victims and many will feel like they are getting no attention but how could any nation prepare for devastation such as this and be everywhere all at once?

We can’t have thousands upon thousands of rescuers on call every minute of the day just waiting or can we? The payroll cost alone would be staggering and then all the equipment and supplies that would need to be maintained makes it cost prohibitive unless we all want to cough up more and more of our money in taxes.

We can’t use the military unless it is solely humanitarian and there is no chance of it turning into a police action like what has been needed to try to regain control of the area without specific Congressional approval. Should we already have a law in place saying that the President can use the military for actions such as this? Do you think it is wise to turn that power over to just one person for them to decide when the military can be used to restore order on our soil?

So now I’ll ask, how could this have been handled any better? And no John Kerry type responses please.

It couldn't (that I can see). I'm not qualified to criticize but I believe things are happening as fast as they can. Relief doesn't begin falling from the sky soon as the winds die.

Furthermore.... the place is underwater. This greatly hampers efforts.

I have said a couple of times, it is so easy to Monday morning quarterback anything and say what you would do in particular situation/crises and how one would react, but until you’ve lived it, done it, experienced it, you don’t know.

Even now, many of us are thinking what would I/we do if a hurricane was heading this way and we were advised to evacuate. Where would we go? Is our insurance paperwork or just important papers in general in order?



We can’t have thousands upon thousands of rescuers on call every minute of the day just waiting or can we?

Sure we can, it is called our military and our reserves.

Should we already have a law in place saying that the President can use the military for actions such as this? Do you think it is wise to turn that power over to just one person for them to decide when the military can be used to restore order on our soil?

I feel the President should be able to call up the military for whatever purpose he deems necessary and it should be his (or her) decision. Timely decisions are important in situations like these and there is always those people on any “team” who want to throw curve balls and “what ifs?” at emergency situations which is what the purpose is crises classes and practice crises, but when the shiat hits the fan, reaction is imperative to saving lives.

So far, I think the situation has been handled as well as to be expected.

Hurricanes are unpredictable. Therefore relief efforts to the whole area, not just N O, were also unpredictable until damage could be assessed and some communication and access to the coast were available.
It seems full effort is underway in a timely manner, given the circumstances and unpredictability of nature.

Sure we can, it is called our military and our reserves.
So the military just drops what they are doing elsewhere? They're already stretched thin and when do we get the time to train them to do this?



I feel the President should be able to call up the military for whatever purpose he deems necessary and it should be his (or her) decision. Timely decisions are important in situations like these and there is always those people on any “team” who want to throw curve balls and “what ifs?” at emergency situations which is what the purpose is crises classes and practice crises, but when the shiat hits the fan, reaction is imperative to saving lives.

What about election night 2008 when Hillary Clinton beats the Republican challenger and GW Bush declares mashal law and activates the military services in the protection of his new government. Is that the power you want him to have?

What about election night 2008 when Hillary Clinton beats the Republican challenger and GW Bush declares mashal law and activates the military services in the protection of his new government. Is that the power you want him to have?Have laws in place making that specifically illegal?? :shrug:

I can't find it now but will keep looking. It is a picture of a lot, maybe hundreds, of school buses under water. Before the mayor does all the condemnation towards others, maybe he can explain why he didn't order those buses into action.

Have laws in place making that specifically illegal?? :shrug:
We do already, my response was to the "for whatever purpose" portion of that statement.

So the military just drops what they are doing elsewhere? They're already stretched thin and when do we get the time to train them to do this?


I don't think they should be stretched thin to the point of protecting our country from foreign enemies, but I’m sure they have “some” fat that can be cut and sent down to help and they also have the reserves.

I agree that it wouldn't be in the best financial interest to keep a group of people trained solely for this purpose, but all they can do is the best they can with what they have available, IMO.


What about election night 2008 when Hillary Clinton beats the Republican challenger and GW Bush declares mashal law and activates the military services in the protection of his new government. Is that the power you want him to have?

Are there laws now in which the President can declare Martial Law?

I was under the assumption that this could only be done when there is a civil civil crisis or in a war. Also, like this situation, when 60% of the police force walked off the job, and the police are not able to restore public order and safety.

If there are no laws on WHEN it can be declared, there should be.

Mentioning that Hillary might be our next President made me :bawl:

could any nation prepare for devastation such as this and be everywhere all at once?


No, not even the United States, we're good but it is ridiculous to expect the Federal Government to swoop in within minutes of a Natural disaster and rescue everyone and fix everything. It is impossible to organize an evacuation and rescue of such a large number of people as quick as those people would like. Not to mention it's assinine to go bounding into a disaster area before evaluating what you're getting into.

Maybe, just MAYBE the relief effort could have gone much smoother if those who were financially and physically able to leave, left. The amount of people that had to be rescued because they CHOSE to stay is apalling. I would pass legislation that required all able bodied people (who are not staying behind with a skill to provide immediate disaster relief) to evacuate when a mandatory evacuation is put in place. If you chose to stay just to see what it was like to live through a hurricane, you should be fined, jailed, and forced to pay back what it cost for your rescue. I suggest jailed because in my opinion, you are directly responsible for lack of rescue personnel to save those who are truly in need.

Everyone keeps saying this should be a wake up call to the Federal Government. I suggest that it should be a wake up call for individuals. Individuals must learn to be at least semi self sufficient in times of crisis. It is shocking to me that so many people don't have the basic skills or motivation to sustain themselves for a couple of days without government intervention.

That's just my two cents. :shrug:

No, not even the United States, we're good but it is ridiculous to expect the Federal Government to swoop in within minutes of a Natural disaster and rescue everyone and fix everything. It is impossible to organize an evacuation and rescue of such a large number of people as quick as those people would like. Not to mention it's assinine to go bounding into a disaster area before evaluating what you're getting into.

Maybe, just MAYBE the relief effort could have gone much smoother if those who were financially and physically able to leave, left. The amount of people that had to be rescued because they CHOSE to stay is apalling. I would pass legislation that required all able bodied people (who are not staying behind with a skill to provide immediate disaster relief) to evacuate when a mandatory evacuation is put in place. If you chose to stay just to see what it was like to live through a hurricane, you should be fined, jailed, and forced to pay back what it cost for your rescue. I suggest jailed because in my opinion, you are directly responsible for lack of rescue personnel to save those who are truly in need.

Everyone keeps saying this should be a wake up call to the Federal Government. I suggest that it should be a wake up call for individuals. Individuals must learn to be at least semi self sufficient in times of crisis. It is shocking to me that so many people don't have the basic skills or motivation to sustain themselves for a couple of days without government intervention.

That's just my two cents. :shrug:
:clap: :clap:

In a city that is below sea level with a hurricane with 18-10 feet storm surge, I would get out of the city no matter what. Walk!! Grab a sheet and some sticks and hike your way out of town and pitch a tent. If southern MD was below sea level, I'd do the same thing if I had no money. The people who use the fact that they had no money to leave town were just sitting there waiting for the government to take care of them.

I don't mean to be insensitive, because this really is a tragedy, but come on.... where is the common sense here?

No, not even the United States, we're good but it is ridiculous to expect the Federal Government to swoop in within minutes of a Natural disaster and rescue everyone and fix everything. It is impossible to organize an evacuation and rescue of such a large number of people as quick as those people would like. Not to mention it's assinine to go bounding into a disaster area before evaluating what you're getting into.

Maybe, just MAYBE the relief effort could have gone much smoother if those who were financially and physically able to leave, left. The amount of people that had to be rescued because they CHOSE to stay is apalling. I would pass legislation that required all able bodied people (who are not staying behind with a skill to provide immediate disaster relief) to evacuate when a mandatory evacuation is put in place. If you chose to stay just to see what it was like to live through a hurricane, you should be fined, jailed, and forced to pay back what it cost for your rescue. I suggest jailed because in my opinion, you are directly responsible for lack of rescue personnel to save those who are truly in need.

Everyone keeps saying this should be a wake up call to the Federal Government. I suggest that it should be a wake up call for individuals. Individuals must learn to be at least semi self sufficient in times of crisis. It is shocking to me that so many people don't have the basic skills or motivation to sustain themselves for a couple of days without government intervention.

That's just my two cents. :shrug:Lady, you rock!!! :clap:

Lady, you rock!!! :clap:
Kudos to all of these comments! Makesme proud to live in So. Md.!
<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm824YYUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_15_55.gif' border=0></a>

I don't think they should be stretched thin to the point of protecting our country from foreign enemies, but I’m sure they have “some” fat that can be cut and sent down to help and they also have the reserves.

That is not the mission of the military..... we are no more responsible than the police or the fire dept. With today's military there is no "fat." A lot of the units are operating at less than full manning. Also bases in east Asia that are near North Korea have a lot less people than needed since they have been sent to Iraq. If something happened in Korea we may be screwed. The reserves? No such thing now......they may as well join active duty for the near future.

The Navy does have sea and shore duty. I guess you could send people on shore duty but normally the navy already has the highest divorce rate of military branches. Shall we start deploying them after years of difficult sea duty in which some cases they get deployed so often that kids grow up without knowing their parent? Shore duty is supposed to be a time where we get reaquainted with our family, get some schooling, or just recharge.

I've already been "trained" to do enough things by the military.....

Originally
Structural Mechanic working on flight controls and landing gears.
Also corrosion control.

Then I got on the job training for Hydraulic systems.

Now I'm working as Naval Security.

This isn't counting the medical training I received.

Everyone keeps saying this should be a wake up call to the Federal Government. I suggest that it should be a wake up call for individuals. Individuals must learn to be at least semi self sufficient in times of crisis. It is shocking to me that so many people don't have the basic skills or motivation to sustain themselves for a couple of days without government intervention.

That's just my two cents. :shrug:

:yay: :yay: :yay:

I take it from your response you are military. I work for the state government. In the past few months we have lost 3 employees in my office, we have no clue in life when they will or if they will be replaced. All we know is that the workload has increased in massive amounts and employees are growing increasingly frustrated with the high volume of work with so few people. (I also work in a field with a very high divorce rate and so does my husband). We know it is a matter of time before something happens, something doesn’t get done, and in what I do, what he does, it could affect the safety of the public. Too many hats to wear and not enough people.

But now, here we have a problem on our own soil and it leaves that ability for something to happen wide open, because the military is running on a skeleton crew, and the thought of that is a sickening feeling, but I just cannot think of any other feasible option for disaster relief. Somebody has to maintain order I would think? Even the volunteer groups will need direction of somesort?

We cannot leave these people there to fin for themselves and make no effort, even if it is just a small group, to do something, anything. Like what Christy posted earlier, evacuate means get the hell out and hopefully we will learn from this and it will be minimized next time.

It sounds as if the police/military whatever already had to shot somebody and leave them in the street in front of children. As I said in my very first post

Even now, many of us are thinking what would I/we do if a hurricane was heading this way and we were advised to evacuate. Where would we go? Is our insurance paperwork or just important papers in general in order?

After the news reports, I think many people can see the repercussions of the decisions they have made.

P.S. Triggerfish - I see you edited and it is clear you are military.

We've pretty much cutback the military too much if the government wants to fight in Afganistan, Iraq, and anything else that comes up and also wants the military to respond to something like Katrina. I don't know but I feel a bit uneasy about sending federal troops to maintain order domestically. That's pretty much a job for the National Guard who I think get training to do just that.

We've pretty much cutback the military too much if the government wants to fight in Afganistan, Iraq, and anything else that comes up and also wants the military to respond to something like Katrina. I don't know but I feel a bit uneasy about sending federal troops to maintain order domestically. That's pretty much a job for the National Guard who I think get training to do just that.
Good answer, Trig. And regardless of the disaster, the military is stretched way too thin.

I think the mayor of New Orleans and Gov really dropped the ball on this one. Most people who lived in New Orleans knew that it would be decimated by even a near hit by flooding if nothing else. Those school buses should have been sent into the city and everyone ordered out when the hurricane reached a level 3. Call it marshall law if neccesary as people left behind would possibly (probably?) loot if given the opportunity. But better a few upset people alive than those who felt they had no means to evacuate in the situations we have now. It seems some people in charge are afraid to lead.

I think the mayor of New Orleans and Gov really dropped the ball on this one. Most people who lived in New Orleans knew that it would be decimated by even a near hit by flooding if nothing else.

A lot of people living outside New Orleans also found that out when Florida got hit by multiple hurricanes and several agencies announced that a direct hit on New Orleans by a major hurricane could destroy New Orleans because of it's low elevation.

I have received some red karma because of my 'special' brand of sarcasm, so I have given that path up...for now. :elaine:

Everytime a hurricane hits the Southeastern United States, everyone acts like it is a big surprise. It is a fact of life, and N.O. was living on borrowed time.

Kenny asked for my recommendations?

Pre-position stores of MREs, bottled water, medicine, diapers (child and adult) and tarps in secure locations, such as National Guard armories. Maybe throw in some ciggies as insurance.

COOPERATE:
The hurricane-prone states should have a pact among their first-responders (e.g. National Guard, ambulance services, search and rescue) to help each other out. Might have been tough in this case, though, with such a massive hit.

EVACUATE:
Don't just tell folks to leave, but have an advance force at the ready to distribute information to churches, civic groups, schools and governmental offices at a moment's notice. Give people instructions that buses will be waiting at this location at this time and you are allowed one bag per person. And then, to quote the police chief of New Orleans, "Haul Ass."

Positively secure anything that could possibly add to civil unrest. Gun shops, liquor stores, drug stores should all be required to clear their stock to a secure location as a proviso for their license.

CONGREGATE:
First responders as described above should be forward-deployed into the heart of hurricane areas, to include medics and an armed response to thwart looting and violence. Danger to personnel can be mitigated by placing them in vehicles such as HEMTTs, amphibs or Bradleys.

Then, after it hits the fan...

COMMUNICATE:
DoD has portable cell sites that we have put up all over Afghanistan and Iraq. They go up just as easy in New Orleans. Items like these should be preplaced in hurricane-prone zones.

NAVIGATE:
DoD has portable air traffic control radars. Items like these should be preplaced in hurricane-prone zones. Establish ATC ASAP to allow evacuation/supply.

Damn, I'm out of 'ATE's!

Deploy forces with strong direction to discourage looting.

Distribute pre-positioned rations and supplies (meds only given out by medics.)

Establish a central prison facility AND USE IT. A barge in the middle of Lake Ponchartrain works just fine.

If the situation is as bad as N.O. is, continue evacuation.

Provide merciful care to the suffering.

Be stone-cold heartless to the violent.

My $.02.

Kenny asked for my recommendations?

Pre-position stores of MREs, bottled water, medicine, diapers (child and adult) and tarps in secure locations, such as National Guard armories. Maybe throw in some ciggies as insurance.
How many meals, for how many people and for what length of time? How often would they need replaced if unused (both medicines and MREs have a shelf life)?

COOPERATE:
The hurricane-prone states should have a pact among their first-responders (e.g. National Guard, ambulance services, search and rescue) to help each other out. Might have been tough in this case, though, with such a massive hit.
Why just the prone states? Shouldn't all states be willing and eager to assist others in time of need?

EVACUATE:
Don't just tell folks to leave, but have an advance force at the ready to distribute information to churches, civic groups, schools and governmental offices at a moment's notice. Give people instructions that buses will be waiting at this location at this time and you are allowed one bag per person. And then, to quote the police chief of New Orleans, "Haul Ass."

Positively secure anything that could possibly add to civil unrest. Gun shops, liquor stores, drug stores should all be required to clear their stock to a secure location as a proviso for their license.
Good idea, thought they did something similar but many chose not to do so. Can you force someone to save their own ass? I don't know how you can secure an area from those determined to get into it.

CONGREGATE:
First responders as described above should be forward-deployed into the heart of hurricane areas, to include medics and an armed response to thwart looting and violence. Danger to personnel can be mitigated by placing them in vehicles such as HEMTTs, amphibs or Bradleys.
How much will all the additional equipment cost to obtain and maintain on the chance that it might be needed?

COMMUNICATE:
DoD has portable cell sites that we have put up all over Afghanistan and Iraq. They go up just as easy in New Orleans. Items like these should be preplaced in hurricane-prone zones.
Couldn't the facility that you house these items in be destroyed or blocked from access as was seen with many areas down there now?

NAVIGATE:
DoD has portable air traffic control radars. Items like these should be preplaced in hurricane-prone zones. Establish ATC ASAP to allow evacuation/supply.
Besides equipment you need those that know the approach procedures, reliable power (though generators could work for a while), and a place that is hurricane proof to store them to avoid damage. And when and where will they be needed next? This is only the second big storm that has hit that area since 1969 with Camille. Is it smart or worth the cost to plan for something that might not happen for another 36 years?

Damn, I'm out of 'ATE's!

Deploy forces with strong direction to discourage looting.

Distribute pre-positioned rations and supplies (meds only given out by medics.)

Establish a central prison facility AND USE IT. A barge in the middle of Lake Ponchartrain works just fine.

If the situation is as bad as N.O. is, continue evacuation.

Provide merciful care to the suffering.

Be stone-cold heartless to the violent.

My $.02.
You don't need to discourage looting you need to halt it once it starts.

Can we get the pre-positioned stuff to those in need or are there more immediate concerns like plucking people off their roofs or out of trees that needs tending to?

The location for the central prison facility is good idea, just do away with the barge. :biggrin:

As for New Orleans, couldn't they truck in a sh!t load of soil and rebuild the city above sea-level instead of just setting this up to happen again at a later date with what I would suspect as equal results?

Good answer but I thought he was being sarcastic.

Good answer but I thought he was being sarcastic.
:confused: It's hard to tell with these emoticon deficient/challenged posters. I wonder if they can claim it as a disability? :sarcasm: :biggrin:

I can't find it now but will keep looking. It is a picture of a lot, maybe hundreds, of school buses under water. Before the mayor does all the condemnation towards others, maybe he can explain why he didn't order those buses into action.

Here they are:

Here they are:
You could have moved a sh!tload of people with them. Well Mayor, what's up with this? :tap:

Well Mayor, what's up with this?
Certainly this has been addressed in one of the thousand Katrina threads we have on here.

This Mayor and Governor are complaining about the federal government not responding more quickly - what about the state? They were a hell of a lot closer and better positioned to help, so why didn't they step up instead of waiting for the feds?

It's been about 7 days since the storm ended and some 100,000 people have been evacuated from NO. That's about 600 people per hour, 10 per minute, rescued and moved to safety and relief, almost all by helicopter.

Now, none of that is exact and a great many people were rescued from one place, the Superdome, but as some are jumping up and down like organ grinder monkeys that this wasn't done and that wasn't done and nobody cares and racism this and that, I think we'll find estimates bubble to the surface that were done long before the storm showing that it would be more than a week before most everyone who needed aid would get it.

This also does not take into account all the other towns and victims outside NO, all along the Gulf coast. They needed help to.

Just keep in mind that every single one of the people who would not leave because they 'couldn't' or 'wouldn't', every one of them would have found a way to get out, to listen to the authorities they now curse, if they had it to do over.

Also remember that it was predicted to be a cat 5, not the 4 that hit. These people are damn lucky to be alive and owe their lives to those who've risked theirs to help them, to help total strangers.

It's been about 7 days since the storm ended and some 100,000 people have been evacuated from NO. That's about 600 people per hour, 10 per minute, rescued and moved to safety and relief, almost all by helicopter.

Now, none of that is exact and a great many people were rescued from one place, the Superdome, but as some are jumping up and down like organ grinder monkeys that this wasn't done and that wasn't done and nobody cares and racism this and that, I think we'll find estimates bubble to the surface that were done long before the storm showing that it would be more than a week before most everyone who needed aid would get it.

This also does not take into account all the other towns and victims outside NO, all along the Gulf coast. They needed help to.

Just keep in mind that every single one of the people who would not leave because they 'couldn't' or 'wouldn't', every one of them would have found a way to get out, to listen to the authorities they now curse, if they had it to do over.

Also remember that it was predicted to be a cat 5, not the 4 that hit. These people are damn lucky to be alive and owe their lives to those who've risked theirs to help them, to help total strangers.
:yeahthat: :clap:

It's been about 7 days since the storm ended and some 100,000 people have been evacuated from NO. That's about 600 people per hour, 10 per minute, rescued and moved to safety and relief, almost all by helicopter.

Now, none of that is exact and a great many people were rescued from one place, the Superdome, but as some are jumping up and down like organ grinder monkeys that this wasn't done and that wasn't done and nobody cares and racism this and that, I think we'll find estimates bubble to the surface that were done long before the storm showing that it would be more than a week before most everyone who needed aid would get it.

This also does not take into account all the other towns and victims outside NO, all along the Gulf coast. They needed help to.

Just keep in mind that every single one of the people who would not leave because they 'couldn't' or 'wouldn't', every one of them would have found a way to get out, to listen to the authorities they now curse, if they had it to do over.

Also remember that it was predicted to be a cat 5, not the 4 that hit. These people are damn lucky to be alive and owe their lives to those who've risked theirs to help them, to help total strangers.
Bush sucks! Bush sucks! YARRRGGGHHH! YARRRGGGHHH!

Oh...wait...what were we talking about? :confused:

Bush sucks! Bush sucks! YARRRGGGHHH! YARRRGGGHHH!

Oh...wait...what were we talking about? :confused:I wonder when Moore's next film will be due.:biggrin:

I wonder when Moore's next film will be due.:biggrin:
What will he call it? The French Quarter is now a Dime. :biggrin:

What will he call it? The French Quarter is now a Dime.
Nah - he tends to like to steal from other titles. My suggestion: The French Quarter Connection.

Michael Moore really should pay George Bush royalties. Before Bush, Moore was just a second-rate hack - now he's world famous, thanks to Bush and the psychos who foam at the mouth over him.

Destroyed the whole Democratic party to make his career, and he owes it all to Bush. :yay:

Nah - he tends to like to steal from other titles. My suggestion: The French Quarter Connection.
:yeahthat:Or maybe: The Deep - French Quarter :lmao:

:yeahthat:Or maybe: The Deep - French Quarter :lmao:Maybe they'll get in there and change it to the Freedom Quarter.:lol:

Maybe they'll get in there and change it to the Freedom Quarter.:lol:
I bet you could buy a lot of it for less then a quarter right now.

A Streetcar Named Liar: How George Bush Created a Hurricane to Kill Black People

:lmao: Or leave the main title as A Streetcar Named Desire - Bush's Real Agenda, Killing America's Blacks (as the subtitle). :biggrin:

Dang - we should make the movie ourselves. If a two-bit loser like Moore can make a fortune off the kennedys, we should be able to too, don't you think?

Dang - we should make the movie ourselves. If a two-bit loser like Moore can make a fortune off the kennedys, we should be able to too, don't you think?
And boy do I have a scene for you. :biggrin:

OMG!!!! 2,500 evacuees going to Cape Cod!! Those folks are in for a treat!! They've never seen a black person except on TV!! :jet:

OMG!!!! 2,500 evacuees going to Cape Cod!! Those folks are in for a treat!! They've never seen a black person except on TV!! :jet:
Did you see that Carnival Cruise Lines is sending ships as temporary housing for these people?

Watch them complain about the small cabins. :rolleyes:

OMG!!!! 2,500 evacuees going to Cape Cod!! Those folks are in for a treat!! They've never seen a black person except on TV!! :jet::lmao: And not just that, its the Jumbalaya Voo Doo 'You gonna dieeeeee' fortune teller types.:sarcasm::killingme

Did you see that Carnival Cruise Lines is sending ships as temporary housing for these people?

Watch them complain about the small cabins. :rolleyes:
*ahem* Mike and Pete. You've both spoken of going on a cruise, guess you missed your free chance. :sarcasm: :whistle:

*whew* Good thing you put the sarcasm smiley in there!


:lmao:

I just saw a pic on TV where they started pumping water from the flooded city. Although it was a huge (18-24") pipe they were pumping through, at that rate it will take years to drain that cesspool.

As the camera withdrew (they were in a chopper) I could see where the levee was holding the water in the city. My question is, why don't they break open the levees at strategic locations and let he water drain?

I just saw a pic on TV where they started pumping water from the flooded city. Although it was a huge (18-24") pipe they were pumping through, at that rate it will take years to drain that cesspool.I wonder how often it will get clogged.:ohwell:

I just saw a pic on TV where they started pumping water from the flooded city. Although it was a huge (18-24") pipe they were pumping through, at that rate it will take years to drain that cesspool.

As the camera withdrew (they were in a chopper) I could see where the levee was holding the water in the city. My question is, why don't they break open the levees at strategic locations and let he water drain?
The estimate I heard was 6 months to totally dry out the city. The drainage, I am sure, will include partial destruction of a few sections of the levee, but the levels of the water outside the levee must still reduce enough to allow that to happen.

I wonder how often it will get clogged.
:killingme Clogged pipes. Clogged with what? Cajuns :biggrin:

You could have moved a sh!tload of people with them. Well Mayor, what's up with this? :tap:

...

...
Cute Sharon. :clap:

OMG!!!! 2,500 evacuees going to Cape Cod!! Those folks are in for a treat!! They've never seen a black person except on TV!! :jet:

How true, I was 19 before I did :killingme
Send the to P-Town and the "light in the loafers" crowds will handle it:whistle:

*ahem* Mike and Pete. You've both spoken of going on a cruise, guess you missed your free chance. :sarcasm: :whistle:
Hey now!! :lol: Why are Pete & I getting picked on so much here lately?? :lmao:

Hey now!! :lol: Why are Pete & I getting picked on so much here lately?? :lmao:
:smooch: See Vrai? I told you he'd think it was funny.

Just wondering -- has anyone created a poll on here on the whole katrina governement handling? Or if folks feel they just got what they deserved for not evacuating before the hurricane? :confused: If so, can someone post a link? :shrug:

Thanks! :flowers:

A Streetcar Named Liar: How George Bush Created a Hurricane to Kill Black People


...winnah!

Very nice.

The estimate I heard was 6 months to totally dry out the city. The drainage, I am sure, will include partial destruction of a few sections of the levee, but the levels of the water outside the levee must still reduce enough to allow that to happen.


Hurricane season is JUST starting!

Central Fla got four in a row last year. Imagine even a small one hitting NO in the next few weeks.

Did you see that Carnival Cruise Lines is sending ships as temporary housing for these people?

Watch them complain about the small cabins. :rolleyes::roflmao:

With all the buses flooded out no wonder the mayor was complaining about the buses sent. They flooded all theirs and expected bigger and better to come along. :ohwell:

If you listne to the Mayor of N O speak, you can tell he is a BIG part of the problem. Ignorant and confused. What did he do to prepare his city?

New Orleans has known for YERAS the levees could not take more than a category 3 storm, yet he didn't bother updating the levees. Nor did anyone else.

Hurricanes are UNPREDICTABLE as proven by this storm. It was supposed to hit Fort Lauderdale and instead, turned South and hit Hoemstead and the Florida Keys (mainly the upper keys and Key West, the ones in the middle were spared). Than, into the Gulf, where landfall was predicted from The Florida pan handle to Texas until finally narrowed down. So where do you forward-post all your rescue crews? You should REMOVE all your rescue, fire and police personnel to safe zones until the storm passes, than send them out en-masse, but how do you do that in a flooded city?

I think we responded just fine, all things considered. The Federal Government suggested to the Governor of Louisiana that she sign over control of the National Guard AND let the feds take over. She declined to do this on 3 seperate occasions, yet she continues to BLAME the feds. Shame on her.

The citizens of New Orleans need to look in the mirror for the cause of their woes. They should have left, and chose to stay. The Mayor should have put some of those busses to use LONG before the storm hit, parking them on street corners and loading them up for a ride out of town. If you were sick or elderly, call 800-we'll come and arrange to be picked up.

The fact is, if they had left when they were told, they would not need the assistance they need today, and those that are dead will never get the chance to re-think that decision.

nuff said!

If you listne to the Mayor of N O speak, you can tell he is a BIG part of the problem. Ignorant and confused. What did he do to prepare his city?

New Orleans has known for YERAS the levees could not take more than a category 3 storm, yet he didn't bother updating the levees. Nor did anyone else.

nuff said!

Are you trying to be funny?

Are you trying to be funny?
Actually I am sure he is serious . Get beyond the typing errors and grasp the content as he is correct in what he says.

Actually I am sure he is serious . Get beyond the typing errors and grasp the content as he is correct in what he says.


:mad:

Actually I am sure he is serious . Get beyond the typing errors and grasp the content as he is correct in what he says.

Yeah, after last year's multiple hits on FL they were saying that a direct hit on New Orleans would be a disaster so great that the city may not be worth rebuilding.

The fact is, if they had left when they were told, they would not need the assistance they need today, and those that are dead will never get the chance to re-think that decision. nuff said!
I agree!!

All we know is that the workload has increased in massive amounts and employees are growing increasingly frustrated with the high volume of work with so few people. (I also work in a field with a very high divorce rate and so does my husband). We know it is a matter of time before something happens, something doesn’t get done, and in what I do, what he does, it could affect the safety of the public.

I have been having major problems with my internet connection so I couldn't say this earlier but please keep this in mind. Your career and your husband's may both have high divorce rates but the navy has traditionally have had higher divirce rates than the other branches. Also in all the branches of the military we get deployed to the other side of the world for several months to years without our families. Even on an aircraft carrier a few of those deployed do not come back alive so they may be saying their good byes for the last time. Finally my main point.....when was the last time at work you had to consider if the person coming up to you is dangerous or not and you had to decide whether you should pull out your firearm and possibly take someone's life?

I think there are a few points about the storm that haven't been discussed. First, I've heard a lot of talk about how the levies were designed to survive a Cat 3 storm, but should have been upgraded to survive a 4/5 storm. Katrina was a Cat 5 storm while in the gulf, but was a Cat 4 as she neared shore and only a Cat 3 when she came ashore yet the levies failed anyway. I think this shows that no matter how well you build the system, or how many billion bucks you invest, Ma Nature will find a way to better you. In this case it wasn't storm surges as expected, but simple fluid dynamics that did the job.

As for prepositioning relief supplies in the effected area, you can't. As has been mentioned, storms are unpredictable so it's impossible to tell exactly what area will get hit. But even more important is the fact that relief supplies are of no use if they are destroyed along with everything else. Had masses of supplies been stockpiled in New Orleans before the storm, they would have been destroyed along with everything else that got in the path of the flood waters. Relief supplies have to be positioned far enough away that there's little danger of their destruction, which means that there will be delays in the arrival onsite and there's just no way to avoid that.

Lastly, I think that few are looking at the media's role in what happened. This was really the first real wide-spread disaster that we've had since Andrew in 1992, and back then all we had for news was the networks and CNN. Now we have news out the backside, and all of these horrible stories that we never heard about before are now beamed into our homes in realtime. While this news capability is great for ratings and stirring viewer emotions, it doesn't do a damn thing to make the lives of those effected easier. So, you have all these people who are suffering clogging up the TV tubes of millions of Americans, and as always in cases like this, we look for someone to blame for the suffering. It doesn't matter that people have suffered like this, and far worse, in disasters throughout our history; what's different now is that the suffering is being thrown in our faces and as Americans most of us feel like someone has been wronged. And as Americans, when we feel someone has been wronged the tendency is to first blame someone, even when there is no one to blame, and here we are today making baseless allegations, insinuations, allegations, and playing the blame game.