Bella0722,

I agree with a lot of what you say. Some of the people that stayed behind didn't heed the warnings & there are some they are still trying to get to leave. But the majority were the poor, disabled, & elderly. Many don't have cars or the money to rent a hotel room. The poor always get hurt the worst in a tragedy such as this. I don't know if there was enough time to help them get evacuated or where could they evacuate them to. I know there were major traffic jams leaving & it would have taken many buses.

Since you live in a hurricane area, I do have a question for you. Do they advise people to have a radio with batteries when a hurricane is coming to listen to? Or do they teach the children what to do in a hurricane? I understand everyone thought they made it through the hurricane but noone knew the levee had broke & when they started getting water just how bad it was going to get.

I can't imagine how hot the people must be that are trapped in their attics & couldn't get a hole to climb out on their roofs. I'm afraid they are going to find many dead that were stuck in their attics.

I heard the mayor on the news today saying that when he talked to Bush & told him their needs Bush acted immediately so somewhere during the first 3 days their must have been a very bad lack of communication somewhere.

Oprah.
 

Oprah has quite a great show on location about the hurricane victims today(Tuesday Sept. 6, 2005) as well as the next couple of days. She is talking about alot of interesting things and getting stories that haven't been heard before from the Mayor and such. And has a few other reporters insight like Lisa Ling a reporter from the NGC who brought to light some very interesting points. Very good show.

I truly believe our government does the best it can and that people expect the government to be able to perform miracles. Only God can perform miracles so maybe we should rely on him a little more :angel:

I think I am where you are right now. I hate to be wishey washey but until we know
the entire story which should not be our priority now, I will wait to pass judgement.
God Bless all those wonderful men and women who are saving people every day.
Fidel Castro of Cuba send $100,000 and nurses and medicine, Afganastan (sp?) sent $100.000 and North
Korea has helped so much, Germany and that is just a few that I can remember. This
whole thing is a HUGH job and let's concentrate on that and point fingers later. I'm
not afraid to point fingers at a President I voted for twice if he was at fault but
lets cool that part of it for now.

Yes, I saw it and found my self angry too. I really didn't sleep for 3 nights with
the picture of those poor poor people in my mind when I went to bed. I finally
got some sleep; thanks to YT and the fun we have been having on one of the
threads - it was such relief. These people get no such relief and we must
remember this and them for a long time.

The reason is they do not have the food or shelter for well meaning people (other
than military) to stay. They are trying to get people out - as of today there are
still about 10,000 there. Your sister must have a heart of gold but you can see
they know the number of military that are there and have no way to keep track
of others and it just complicates matters even worse. Send your donations through
your local red cross and it will get through.

I can't bash the president (alone) for what has happened. There are people delegated especially for situations like this. And weren't the government warned that something like this will happen because the levee is just not strong enough to hold off the river from flooding the city. I'm praying that the recovery would happen sooner so the victims can all move on and start a new life. I hope the young victims would be able to find family members and I'm also praying for the poor pets that were left behind. May the people delegated to take care of collecting them, do their jobs before it's too late.

I think once this is studied, they will find a lot of people & organizations at fault. It was advised to order evacuation & they waited another 24 hours before ordering an evacuation. Every city went through disaster scenarios & unfortunately they weren't followed through with either.

But one thing was never considered with the disaster scenarios; and that was that some of the first response responders had lost their homes & families too. The first respose responders were OK when practicing.

I think if Bush would have interfered he would have been blamed for interfering with state's rights. New Orleans & their levees have been talked about for 60 years & have always been a problem If you are a Democrat everything will be Bushie's fault period. They hate that man.

When all is said & done the federal government will probably get the power to overrule a state in a disaster situation to avoid what happened with New Orleans. Then we'll have a stink about state's rights. Don't you just love politics?

Do you agree on the government ordering to leave your home & you want to stay anyway? Is the government responsible if you die from all the toxic chemicals if they did allow to stay in their homes? Is the government responsible to give you food while refusing to evacuate?

ChrystalsMom ~ I think she was trying to explain her sister WAS in the military & was turned away.

Well, I don't live in the US, but I think that more could have been done alot sooner. I don't know who's fault it is, but it took 5 days for military to get in there... 'cmon???

No argument there. It was heartbreaking to hear of the conditions inside the "Dome" & the people on the bypasses wanting food & water. Every news reporter was beside themselves reporting & pleading for help.

On the 6:00 news today Red Cross stated they had water, food, blankets, camping equipment waiting to go in & authorities would not let them. It was FEMA alright but it was the Louisiana state agency. The reason they stopped the Red Cross they said was because they didn't want that area to become a magnet but wanted the people to leave. Which don't make sense because they had armed guards not allowing anyone to leave.

Why weren't the evacuation centers ready for everyone in Louisiana? Who knows. How did the Astrodome in Texas able to set up for thousands of of folks from New Orleans? Because the Astrodome is always set up to take thousands of people from Galveston if they ever have a disaster. Louisiana was supposed to be set up the same way. It wasn't. That fault lies with the state of Louisiana.

The state of Louisiana knew the federal govt. could move in but it would take 96 hours & it was supposed to be up to the local & state govt. to manage until then. That is the way it has always been set up & that has not changed. FEMA is supposed to coordinate Red Cross, etc. going in for disaster relief. The people of Louisiana were told to take 3 days worth of food & water with them. I believe the govenor wanted everyone on their own until the fed govt arrived & had no intention of helping anyone. She forgot to communicate that to everyone I think.

Even with all that you heard from 2 people who have loved ones in the military from different parts of the USA that were ready to go & told their help wasn't needed by Louisiana.

Bush, in my opinion, was at fault for not sending other state National Guard folks in & deliver water & food when he seen Louisiana derelict in helping their own people. I seen footages of the mayor crying out where is the help when the govenor of his state & their agencies wouldn't let help in.??????

Today the mayor wants to evacuate everyone regardless if they want to or not because the water is so hazardous. He makes the announcement & the govenor said she was in charge & not so fast. Again you can see the miscommunication within the state & local officials.

Bush wants to federalize the Louisiana National troops & asked the govenor & of course she said no. I think it would be easier if everything was coordinated but again we're dealing with the Louisiana govenor.

Tomorrow NBC evening news 6:30 pm EST Since so many had contacted them about the
pets in this storm, they are going to spend that time tomorrow evening on just
that subject. Th. 9-8-05

Alot of people could be at fault here, Many here think the mayor of New
Orleans should be impeached. 200 school buses never used that could have been
used to get people out. etc. etc. nothing in place with all the warning of the
storm heading right for them. Brown, sure didn't look like he came through and his
qualifications, for the job he is in, is less than none. Really who knows who was
taking orders from whom. I fault Bush for not getting in contact with them before
the storm hit to make sure this was all in place. This man has had alot to deal with
in his two terms and what makes it even harder is I don't think he was gifted with
the most brains in the world but he too can only do so much. What you offered was very well said and I agree with
most of it. When you said the Red Cross didn't get in when they had before; I'm
sure it has to do with the fact they have to remove people by force now and it
could get very dangerous again. Also there is another hurricane heading right
for them. Many say Katrina will change society as we have known it for
a very long time.

thanks for pointing that out
 

[QUOTE=cacbeary

ChrystalsMom ~ I think she was trying to explain her sister WAS in the military & was turned away.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, somehow I read things that aren't there I guess. She was
talking about Monday night and on Monday night they thought they
were home free so that is possibly the reason they were turned away.
The problems with the levee(s) didn't happen til Tuesday. She was
to go back and I agree with her sister; I wouldn't want a relative
of mine being shot at while they are trying to help.

God Bless Houston!
 

I posted earlier to this Thread...because of being based here at an Army Post...

What I will say now is:
GOD BLESS HOUSTON TEXAS~ :)

What they have done has been amazing...uplifting..American's at their best...

Each person stepping off that Bus on Texas soil was welcomed by a committe. :) They were clapped for and told "Welcome to Texas"... They gave them their pride back..and dignity....

I was at a Conference here today on FT Bragg...Our attention was focused to that..and what has come from despair to hope...

I'm real proud of the outreach :) ...We See True American Spririt... ;)

Yes, you're so right. Texas has really reached out above & beyond, so generous, and very hospitable. If all the country pulls together, we could actually improve their lives in getting them better homes, better jobs, & better educate the children.

We have a monumentous task ahead of us. But one thing about the US, the people are very generous. There have been so many stories of acts of kindness & people giving free housing for a year, etc.

I live in PA & I think Pittsburgh has 500 coming & are getting ready for them by giving them cars, furniture, clothing, will help find them jobs, & a check for $2,000 to get them started. Our winters aren't that bad but it will be quite a change for them after living in the Gulf.