Hurricane Katrina and Rita's "VICTOMS"

What a laff. I have eluded a little to some of the "Victoms" actions...in the below blogs.

And I have posted a longer thought on my CLOSED forum to the members that i know will understand where I am coming from.

This was posted by one of my members today and it will tell the whole story...

Read and think seriously about what you read...Think of all the incidents where you hve seen simular, selfish, arrogant, unappreciative, sloven, behavior. There is way too much of this going on and being passed down to the children of the future... God Help Us ALL!!!!.

First My one story. I took my son down to the Minute Maid Ball Park in 2003 for American Idol.. Un like most other cities prior the people had to live outside for the 3 days. But becasue of a storm everyone was let into the Park that day. We were only in line for about 6 hrs but you should have seen the mess that was left on the sidewalk and parking area where they had us staged before we got let in. No excuse for this as there were trash cans etc placed all around for the trash to be put in.
Once we were in the Park (totally locked in for 3 days) it was no better. We all sat in assigned seats and then at night they let us go up to the round about where all the consesions and what not were to make pallets to sleep on. I like some slept on the floor by my seat or in the seat 9I can sleep just about any time andy where LOL.

any way there was about 7000 people camped out with about 3000 of them being the kids that were going to perform. i saw almost No one putting trash into a bin. Most people just threw their trash on the floor by their seats. (this was the first evening) I went up and procured a couple of large trash bags and tied them to the railings on our stairs hand rail. I replaced them each day. But if everyone would have use them they would have had to be replaced 3 times a day. At first no one would put any trash into the bags. So I got a bag and started at the top of the stairs and embarised everyone by going down and row by row requesting that the people sitting there pick up the trash and put it in the bag. i also said that if they were going to sleep on the floor there that they had better keep it clean... Had a full bag 1/2 way down. But sadly to say no one ever got the idea on the other stair hand rails to do the same.
the place was a TIP (Australian for garbage dump) by the end of the 3rd day. i just can't beleive that people are such PIGS>>>

Anyway now here is the Story Of Katrina forwered to me by Toulouse

I
thought I would forward this to you from a person who went to help the
ones who came to Houston from New Orleans, and the experience he had as
he wanted to help. If this offends you, I certainly do mean for it to
hit you that way. Some of it may be slanted with the man's anger after
people who were hurting and desperate, but I imagine that most of it is
true, as I have been seeing some of the same actions reported on TV
News.

Soooooooooo sad but tooooo true!!!








It's scarry to predict what is going to take place in the months/years
to come as a result of this disaster after reading this account of this
following report of the Houston volunteer!!!








HOUSTON'S NEW RESIDENTS





Here is the real truth. I went to volunteer on Saturday, September
10, to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Houston for two reasons.





1. I wanted to help people.


2. I was curious.




I have been watching the news lately, like everyone else, and I
have seen some scenes that have made me physically ill. No, it was not
the death and the destruction that made me ill. It was PEOPLE'S
BEHAVIOR that bothered me the most.




So many of the displaced people were DEMANDING help. They were not
asking nicely, but were demanding it - as if society owed them
something. Well, the honest truth is society does NOT owe them
anything! Help should be asked for in a kind manner and then
appreciated after received, but this is definitely not what the
different news organizations were witnessing and reporting.





What most of us have seen, on television and in the print media,
have been individuals/groups who are yelling, demanding, looting,
killing, raping, and even SHOOTING back at those who have arrived to
help. MSNBC even showed one news report of several New Orleans
policewomen looting a Wal-Mart!




I am thinking to myself, This cannot possibly be true - or can
it?!?! Truthfully, I did not want to believe this could be true of the
people who so desperately need help during this crisis. I now tell my
story, and you can decide.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I arrived at the Astrodome only to find out there were too many
volunteers at that location. Volunteers were needed elsewhere -
especially at the George R. Brown Convention Center.




As I walked up to the Convention Center, I noticed a line of
vehicles that wrapped around for blocks. These were "ordinary"
Houstonians coming with water, diapers, clothes, blankets, food, every
type of needed item; lots of it was NEW. As I helped to unload these
vehicles, I felt such great pride that the wonderful residents of
Houston would be so generous.




I then went inside the building and noticed approximately 100,000
square feet of clothing, toys, all types of needed items, that were
organized and ready for the people in need. I signed in as a volunteer,
received a name badge, and was on my way, eager to be useful.




I toured the place to become familiar with my surroundings. The
entire Center is probably about 2 million square feet. I noticed rows,
as far as the eye could see, of mattresses - not cots - but blown-up
mattresses, that had nice pillows and plenty of blankets. There were
also two or three bottles of water resting on each bed. These full-size
to queen-size mattresses, by the way, were comfortable. I briefly
rested on one of them, just to see for myself!





Next I went to look at the medical area, and I could not believe
what I was seeing. A makeshift hospital had been created in 24 hours!
They even had a pharmacy.




As my tour continued, I also noticed that other volunteers had
worked hard to create showers...with hot water! Then upstairs, on the
third floor, I found a huge cafeteria that had also been established in
24 hours. There were rows and rows of tables and chairs and food
everywhere! There was enough food to feed an army, and I am not talking
about crappy food either! They had Jason's Deli food, fresh fruit,
snack foods, sandwiches and lots of beverages. By the way, the
beverages were put on ice and chilled!! All of this "mini-city" -
including a library and a theater room - had been created in about 24
hours by volunteers, so the evacuees would have a comfortable shelter.




Here is what further happened during my time there. I started by
handing bottles of COLD water to evacuees, as they exited their bus.
Many took the water, but only 20% or less even said, "Thank you." Lots
of the evacuees would shake their heads and ask for sodas! This went on
for about 20-30 minutes, until I was weary of being an unappreciated
servant. I then decided that certainly these folks would appreciate
some food! So, I went upstairs to serve these evacuees with some GOOD
food. (Food that I wished I could have had at the moment!)




Evacuees came slowly to receive this mountain of food, worthy of a
king, that was being served. I explained to them that we had two types
of great deli sandwiches to choose from: ham and turkey. Many looked at
the food in
and DEMANDED burgers, pizza, and even McDonalds! (Let me tell all of
you folks who may read this, that Jason's Deli is better than McDonalds
any day!!) Even many of the children were demanding and rude! Only one
out of ten people who took something would say, "Thank you." The
remainder took items, as if it were their God-given right to be served,
without a shred of appreciation. Some even asked for beer and liquor!
Many complained that we did not have "good-enough" food. Some went so
far as to refuse the offers of food and laughed at and/or cursed at the
volunteers. This was not true of all of them, but at least 70% of the!
e evacuees treated us volunteers with total disrespect. Maybe 20% were
appreciative, 10% took the food without any comment, and the remainder
had some disgusting comment to say.





We volunteers then began to observe that many of the people would eat
their food and leave their mess on the table. Oh sure, a few would
clear their tables, but the majority left their tables for the
volunteers to clear and clean. Needless to say, I was in utter shock at
their behavior.




From the food area, I went down to help set up some additional
mattresses. That is when I observed something else! I saw many young
ladies carrying mattresses, but WHERE were the hundreds of able-bodied
young men evacuees who could help?! When I asked a group of young
evacuees in their teens and early twenties to help, they cursed at me!!
One said, "We just lost our ****ing homes and you want us to work?!?!"
The next one said, "Cracker, you got a home...we don't."




I looked at them in total disbelief. Here were women carrying THEIR
beds and these young men would not lift a finger to help themselves!! I
started to wonder, WHY SHOULD I HELP PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT TO HELP
THEMSELVES?!?!?! As I turned away, they laughed at me and made obscene
and distasteful comments. This is when I began realize that I did not
need to waste my time on a bunch of pitiful losers in this area of the
shelter.




Next, I went to a nearby restroom where I noticed a man shaving. I
used the restroom, washed my hands, and then saw this same man throw
his razor towards the trash can. He missed. He also walked out, leaving
his dirty razor on the floor for someone else to pick up!




I could call these people ignorant ("lacking knowledge"), but they
were not ignorant. They were arrogant ("proud and overbearing through
an exaggerated feeling of one's superiority")! To put it bluntly, the
majority of them are thugs...and lazy!




We are inviting the lowest-of-the-low to Houson and, like idiots,
we are serving the people who will most likely soon steal, rape,
murder, and attempt to destroy our beloved city. We are funding our own
destruction!





Please note, I am absolutely NOT referring to a specific race of
people!! People who WANT to help themselves should be helped in every
possible way. Those who do not want to help themselves should be left
to destroy themselves, but they should not be allowed to destroy
Houston at the same time.




I do not believe in being poor for life. My family immigrated here.
We came here very poor and now, thank God and due to HARD WORK, we are
doing well. If immigrants who come here - and do not even initially
know the language - can work and become successful, why can't the
majority of the other poor "homegrown" citizens do the same thing?!




I have personally just witnessed selfish, arrogant, unappreciative
behavior by the very people who needed the help the most. These same
people cursed me and other volunteers. They refused my city's
generosity. They refused to help themselves. They pranced around as if
they deserved to be waited on. When they did receive something, they
said it was not good enough. As far as I am concerned, from now on,
these people can fend for themselves!

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Hurricane RITA

Morning,
I am sitting here approx. 100 miles directly due N of Galveston, and expecting winds in excess of 75 miles per hour.

I watched the news most of all yesterday on different channels. As usual I was not impressed with and of the Weather People. Just a bunch of sensationalized stories and pictures and really NOT a lot of "News or Information" that is help full.

At about 2 pm yesterday the Mayor was talking about bringing in FREE gas to the Preferred evacuation routes. When asked about the routes other than 45, 10 and 290, Tex Dot said that if you were not on the
Preferred" evacuation routes (those 3) then you had to fend for your self. I do not know when I10 became a "Preferred route" because when they put the 4 evacuation routes on the television Wednesday, there were 4 routes: 146 to Lufkin, 45 to Dallas, 290 to College Station/Austin and 146 to Lufkin/Jasper. Route map:

On the roads being turned into "One Ways" running North... They said that they could not do it for 59 because it ran through cities and towns and had cross traffic. But yet this morning in Beaumont and Lake Charles they have turned their main evacuation roads, above I10, into one way north... and most of those roads are just little roads that run through cities and towns.
Also they said that they could not do it for I10 as they needed it open for their emergency teams during and after the storm. Well, why not open it up and get the people out "Before the Storm" and then it would be clear and closed back up after the people are gone. DUH! So....what does TexDot have to say about that.

The news is still reporting on the immediate area around Houston and the freeways. They show the freeways all clear except for the ones stranded without gas. Why are they not going up the roads past Huntsville and towards Dallas and report on how the traffic is going? I heard that on 290 everything was clear from Houston to Waller County (not that far our of town) and then it gets bumper to bumper again. Well, News break is reporting that there is a bus fire just S of Dallas near Wilmer and has created a 17 mile back up.

Ok, Lets look at the realities of this whole thing.
With reports of the wind and rain in large amounts with this storm most all the cities and towns from Houston on up the citizens of these places went out Wed and Thur and put a run on the groceries and gas stations in their area. So very possibly there was no gas or groceries in these places before the evacuation even started. My Comment: I am sure the old timers knew to get gas cans and take at least a couple of them with them so as not to run out and get where they were headed. I know some did because it was reported. THINK before you leave you house. Use common sense... Be totally prepared.
When leaving home : Insure you take gas, water, and food. And if you are going in a Large auto or truck try to take extra if can so you can assist others.

We have been so spoiled buy a gas station or food store on every corner.. I remember when one never left home even to work with out a can of gas and water. What has happened to this country and the people???

Bulletin::: just ran buses to Cleveland and picked up a bunch of people that have had to leave their cars in the Wall-Mart parking lot. They will be taken to Austin but have got to leave their cars behind. My Comment: this is all fine and dandy but if they can get buses up there then why did not some one think to load flatbeds with 5gal gas cans full and just take gas to these people. 5 gallons would have gotten most of them to or past Lufkin. another DUH!!!!...

The thought I have on the Mandatory evacuation is this.
First: All the buses that took the people out of the 3 zones who did not have transportation were out of town and in their allocated shelter areas on schedule.

Each zone had an evacuation day and time. I realize that people have a tendency to do and go when and where they want. But I would have set up the evacuation in each zone this way.
1. tell people in vehicles that they need to meet in a selected area at a selected date and time (one of these "Park and Ride" car parks or a large shopping center with large parking lot)
2. at that day and time provide a police escort up the road towards the allocated shelter location. Kind of like a funeral procession. This would ensure that the Evacuees would get to the place they need to go without any time delays.

Keep the non- mandatory evacuees out of the way and tell them to please just stay put till the 3 zones are moved.

If this had been done in the first place there would have been plenty of time for all volunteer evacuation to be done with out clogging up the road ways. The government was very smart in not broadcasting the outlaying shelters... These shelters were for the Zone people. Sometimes the Media is more of a hindrance than a help...

I think, all in all the whole process went very well in moving as many people as they did. But I sure hope that the Government sits down and reevaluates the procedure for future....

Also If TexDot had staged some of these gas tankers along the evacuation routes instead of way out of town at roadside rests... there probably would not have been the clean up that there is now. All one would have had to do is:
On the day of the first evacuation stage the tankers every 10 miles up the routes above I10 (at one of the large Gas stations or Truck stops).
also have a truck loaded with water at same place (able to get gas and water at same time)

Now instruct that only people with proof of address from the evacuation area is to receive gas and water.

day 2 & 3, second & third evacuation area. proceed the same.

A side bar on the Routes and the traffic and assistance.
Did you know that 45 and I10 running from Houston to Dallas/San Antonio goes through very "well to do" counties and cities?
Did you know that 59 runs through some of the "Poorest" counties and cities in the state?

Second side bar on the people the media interviewed.
Watch closly, there were very little interviews with any group of people other than the African Americans. Did not see any with the Mexican American, Aisian American.....nor many with the Caucation American... :)

Wonder about the 39 horses in galveston that were being rescued? There was a guy that came all the way from North of austin to get 6 of them. Neaver heard anymore about them since yesterday.
Just rang ABC channel 13 news and they were going to do an update. Seems the reporter is catching a few ZZZZZZZZZ's at this time.

My final thoughts on any Act of Nature.
Follow your heart (this is God speeking) not you head.
Put your life and faith in God.
God is going to calll you home no matter where or what you are doing.

If you don't beleive this then read about all the tornados, fires, huricanes, etc that have gone through WHOLE neighborhoods and have selectively left homes etc totally intact with out any damage. The plane crash that one person has walked away from without a scratch. The car accident that mangles a car but the people have walked away from. The car accident that hardley dents the bumper and all or some inside are called home.

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Hurricane KATRINA News results for katrina

JUST FOUND This is really disturbing: Washington Post Link will open your eyes:

Washington Post Articles on Katrina

Pictures and Vidios pages link:

Washington Post Pictures and Vidios on Katrina

I, as most of the world have been watching the tragedy of Katrina.
I hope everyone has been "Listening" not just hearing what is said.

Have we forgotten Mississippi, Alabama and Florida???? do you realize that if the levies had not been breached in NO that the Mississippi coast would be the most devistated area due to the storm. They received much more huricane damage than NO and Florida and Alabama. But because they only got the BRUNT of the storm they are proceeding to recovery much faster than NO. I am not even sure that they are getting any federal assistance (manpower or equiptment) You do not see them on the news or hear about any personal aid going to them?? I know that NO is the most in need at the time but LET US NOT FORGET THAT THE "HURICANE ITSELF" DAMAGED AND LEFT HOMELESS OTHER CITIES AND PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY.


Comparative satellite imagery of Biloxi, Missisippi, pre- and post-Hurricane Katrina

Pre- and post-Hurricane Katrina comparative satellite imagery of Biloxi, Mississippi

[Source: USGS]

Biloxi before ..............................Biloxi after
..

click on images for larger views


this is what I have deduced from all the numerous media (including the BBC) broadcasts.

Bottom Line: If the Federal Government had not cut the budget for the revamping of the levies in NO there would be a great probability of it not breaking and flooding NO. Even though the levies were only built to withstand a cat 3.



so it is my bottom line opinion that the Federal Government is responsible for rebuilding and restoring all the houses and businesses that were affected by the flooding.
(IT WAS REPORTED THAT ANYONE AFFECTED BY THE FLOODING THAT DID NOT HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE WAS AT A TOTAL LOSS WITH OUT COMPENSATION----THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE SINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FLOODING)
If it had not been for the breach in the levy there would not have been the massive destruction in NO. The storm itself did minor damage to the coast line but left most of the area that was flooded untouched or at least in a condition that could have left everyone in there homes and normality restored in a normal amount of time.

Evacuations:
At the time of the first call to evacuate there was not the threat of flooding or levy breaks. As Katrina made landfall to the East of NO I can understand why people in the North West of the city would not consider evacuating. AGAIN if the levies had held there would have been not reason to evacuate.
I can also understand people that are still in the city and not threatened by the flood waters not wanting to leave. Especially if they have done the preparations for a disaster as many might have done for the 2000 scare. If one has done the disaster prepare then there is no reason to leave a standing and secure house or building and add to the refugee count and dollars needed to supply these refugees.

Fema and the RedCross:
You would think that they both would have learned a few lessons from 9-11. Why are these two organizations not organized and working together to handle these disasters? They need to get on the same page and get compatible computer programs so that it facilitates tracking and identifying people who get displaced or lost.
My suggestion. Work with the Social Security Department (everyone in this country has or is suspose to have a social security number DUH!)
Fema and Red Cross and all other organizations should be inputting all these people by ssn's, first & last names and their intake location. also having a site set up that people who have gone to other locations (friends-family-volunteer homes-hotels etc) can log on and input the same information (ssn, name and location/contact #)
All information from the intakes and websites should be sent to one central location so as people do not have to search all over the net and bullenten boards for loved ones.
I know all this can be done with a very simple computer program and there is no excuse for all the confusion and spreadout information.

FUNNY SIDE NOTE: This morning I listened to the news and found out that FEMA had taken over one of the hotels on Cannel Street and Had all utilities on including lights.
It puts me to wondering that if they can do this to a highrise building in the middle of the disaster, then why could not they have done something like this for the Super Dome?????

On that note: If this government can FLY in medical, MRE's and water to other countries within 48 hours after a disaster then why did not they do this for the thousands that were stranded in the Super Dome.

Here is how it should have happened. Immediately Fly in an organized guard to manage the people at the Super Dome. Fly in doctors, MRE's, Water to staging area (the I10 right there would have done good) and set up everything and start putting people through. RedCross could have been there to do an intake of people so they would have had a list of who was there. Sort people after intake to areas set up for different circumstances. (i.e. families, single people, children without adults, elderly, sick, very ill) this would have let everyone be assessed and the loading and evacuation of people could have run much more smother.
There is NO reason that anyone at the SuperDome should have perished....

I do think the Rescue Teams did excellent even though they were a bit late in getting started.

And that all leads me to the Subject of "the Governor or the State" having to "Request" Federal help before the Federal government authorizes and help (i.e. troops, equipment etc)

BOO on YOU FED GOV......The minute that a major city of over 500,000 people is in major distress YOUR ASS SHOULD BE THERE request or not...... If your neighbors house is on fire do you wait for them to come over and ask you for help????? NO you jump in there and do what you can. DUH.... And you call yourselves God Fearing Christian People.... Bull.....

I hate to say this but the late Gov Wallace had the right idea. "take care of your own backyard before you go taking care of someone else's!!!!!" I really think this country should get all their "stuff in one sock" before trying to take on the rest of the world.

Before 9-11 this countries budget was in the red and now it is so far in the red that Christ will be here before it is ever in the black. If I ran my household like this I would be locked up. I would like to help all the people in this country or who I see that needs a leg up but if I surpassed my budget or income to do it, again they would lock me up. So why should our government be allowed to spend money that they do not have.

I do not have an answer for this. Because we all know that the government, be it Fed, State or City that are supplying the infrastructure of this country. But let us understand that it is the people that , through taxes etc, are giving the government the money to do this.

This puts us back to the Taxing of the people. If the government is not getting enough tax dollars to do the job then the Tax system is in need of overhaul. And the government needs a large watchdog to stop the PORK or NON-ESSENTIAL spending of the money.

I am not going to get into that here (it is a whole other topic) but as a last note.
GAS: First the gas companies have showed over a 35% profit in the last 6 months. Now if those profits were in the millions and the government taxed them at even 25% no deductions or loop holes there would be quite a lot of money in the gov bank.

speaking of Gas: I heard (but only once, which means that the story has been squashed by someone) that Hawaii was going to cap all their gas prices and hold them at the cap price. No Increases.
Now I know it would be a good thing for the Fed Gov to do this for the Nation. But I also know that if they refuse that the States can do it if they want to. Remember the Late Gov Reagan capped the rents in California for a time to keep Landlords from going crazy. So I know this could be done if the Government was really concerned about all of us little people.
The gas has gotten so high and the Employers out there have not increased the Employees pay to compensate so right now we are all working just to make enough money to be able to buy gas to get to work. But again this is another topic for later.



I close this with Pride that so many of the country's people have come to the aid of their fellow country man & woman in the time of great need.

See the Washington Post Links at top of page for news and pictures.

FOOT NOTE: just spoke with a will educated person and all they could say is that there was enough blame to go around to all gov agencies.

But what one does not understand is that there would be NO BLAME to go around
IF THE FED GOV (BUSH) HAD NOT CUT THE LEVY BUDGET....... BOTTOM LINE THE FED GOV IS TO BLAME FOR ALL INCLUDING THE BLAME.

I am not a Bush Basher or Fed Gov Basher. I love my country but it just makes me sick when the government makes bad choices and invloves people lives. I thought the Government was to Protect and Serve...opps sorry that is the police another GOVERNMENTAL Dept. HUMMMMMMMMM

Remember our taxes are paying the governments wages and materials. Ya think it is time for a Tea Party. I don't mind being taxed but I do mind if the money is spent wongly.... and so should every one in this country.

Why are the polititions in Washington and the states paid more, plus furnished homes and all kinds of perks to set on their back sides, than the men and women who go out and fight in the dirt, loose sleep, get separated from loved ones and lead a worse life than our convicts. Are brains (and I use this loosley when talking about polititions) more highly valued in this country than the brawn and might of the fighting force?

don't mind the soap box here...at the last. Nothing can or will be done till the coming of the Lord and as fortold things are going to get worse not better.

all we can do is to follow our HEARTS, set good examples, take care of our own and say many prayers for all.

let us all pray for the swift coming of the Lord who can end all the injustice.

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