Louisiansa Updates? Keep safe fella\'s

[El Presidente]

Keep us in the loop on what is happening with Hurricane Katrina.

For all our Louisiana brethren...keep safe and stay in touch.

[habanablue]

Prez, my sister just arrived in New Orleans last week to do a semester of Law at Tulane Uni. Great Timing. She and her roommates were evacuated across to northern Florida where apparently they are staying in someone's home! Her email to let us all know she was ok was entitled 'Greetings from sunny Florida'. Nothing like a category 5 Hurricane to welcome you to the Good ol' USA!!

[^nsmoke]

I work for a helicopter company flying an S-92 out of Boothville, La.(3 miles south of Burus) Flew all weekend pulling people off of the Rigs, then evacuated northwest. Had to leave my personnal belonging behind which included a nice humidor with about 50 cigars all non-cubans in the trunk of my new MB C32 AMG (I smoke N/C at work because I'm prohibited from drinking and fidels favorites go so nice with a good rum or conac). Managed to rescue my travel humidor with 5 PLPC, 2LGC D'or #1, 2PSP2, 2Part. conn. #1, and 2 cohiba corona esp., a mans got to have priorities. The eye wall passed over the base, preliminary reports on the vehicle is that it is not visible because its under 12 feet of water, the levy was breeched, most of the pilots had to leave there cars about 40 in total. Also rumors of 7 semi-submersibles broken from there morrings and adrift. should be flying back out tomarrow to see what is left. Just glad I"m still breathing and able to sit back and enjoy a smoke, takes the edge off of what life throws at you. Say a prayer for the less fortunate who wern't able to get out of Katrina's path, because she was one big bad mother f**kin b**ch.

[Vetteman]

It's beginning to look like the aftermath is going to be worse than the storm itself.:-(

[herfkid]

Heard last night that one of my good friends who was living in NOLA had made it to Houston, and was waiting for a flight back to Oregon, where he's from. *whew*

Other folks I know from online interaction appear to be safe, at the very least. Still, this thing is going to be a serious problem for a long, long time. :-(

[Tebinium]

One thing to note: The guys from Cheaphumidors.com are around thbat area. Log on there and let them know we are thinking of them.

[El Presidente]

I can't believe I have just seen on TV two chidren who died in the Superdome.

Is this Uruguay or the US? Who is responsible for this shemozzle? Does the US have a National Disaster Authority which controls emergency situations? Some serious questions need to be asked.

[Colt45]

» Who is responsible for this shemozzle?

A 200 mile wide category 5 hurricane named Katrina.

[El Rushbo]

Rob,

Part of the problem regarding the logistical aspect of recovery/relief is in fact the question of who is indeed incharge?

Is it the Mayor of New Orleans (Ray Nagin)?

The Governor of Louisiana (Kathleen Blanco)?

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)?

Office of Homeland Security (Chertoff)?

Bush?

No doubt, confusion, poor, ineffective communication, poor military coordination (between state/national gov't.) and a host of other variables has led to this situation.

Sadly, as we usually do, American are busy fixing blame for this disaster, and many have already began the "race-baiting" as usual. Rapper Kanye West, Jesse Jackson, Elijah Cummings (a congressman from my home state and head of the Congressional Black Caucus), and others have made clear assertions that our President does not care about black people.

This is so unfortunate. As of today, the Mayor's office in N.O. has estimated deaths in the ballpark of 5000. Instead of dealing with the problem, our congresspeople are busy making accusations of racism within our government.

We have gone from bad to worse and I believe, sadly, that the trend will only continue for the next few weeks.

[GoatLocker]

» Christmas eve 1974 Cyclone Tracey hit the Australian City of Darwin.

» 12,000 dwellings were destroyed and 50,000 people displaced.

I've been through several typhoons and super-typhoons while living in Guam. Not so bad when you live in a concrete block house. So there's no power for a couple weeks. Everyone has full pantries, barbeques, etc. Many have generators. You get by fine.

New Orleans is a city of 1.4 Million. Several other cities larger than Darwin were also destroyed, but preparation and initial recovery have been much more effective. I don't know if you have a city below sea level, but imagine Sydney being hit with such a storm, and also sinking below sea level and flooding. The magnitude of this is stunning, but it's a disaster everyone knew would happen some day.

We should have been better prepared.

Certainly there were very poor decisions made, like waiting too long to evacuate, not preparing the shelters to deal with tens of thousands of people, not calling in the National Guard earlier, and plenty more. Some of the blame falls on the Federal Govt, but most responsibility was with the State and local Govts. After recovery is well underway, I hope they are held accountable.

[El Rushbo]

Goat,

That's exactly what I'm saying. Nagin ignored the city's 30 year-old emergency response plan. The "mandatory" issue came a bit late. I really think this should fall on the shoulders of local/state gov't. Some accountbility (after the dust settles), would be a refreshing drink.

[El Presidente]

No, we have nothing below sea level and I understand the scale is immense. However....keep in mind... authorities failed to manage effectively the people in the Convention Centre let alone the general population?

What has suprised and concerned all abroad was "what appeared" to be a lack of community spirit and Federal "get out of my way and get it done" determination.

Much is being made of poverty but no-one looted, raped or killed after Darwin nor to my knowledge after the Tsunami which occured in some of the poorest parts of the world. Something is seriously wrong.

Many of us have donated dollars and governments are offering to send whatever they can. It all feels so misiscule.

I have travelled widely throughout the US and inclusive New Orleans. I love the place. It just breaks my heart to see what I am seeing.

[El Rushbo]

Since the 'cane, I start every class I teach with something (video, article, statistics, etc.) current about the situation.

During class on Friday, I spoke about the contrast between 9/11 and the current situation in NO. That "lack of community" was at the heart of the matter. Towards the end of the discussion, a 14 year-old year asked, "How does this make us look to the rest of the world?"

I didn't know how to answer her, but I hoped the general response was one of inquiry and sorrow; similar to yours.

Does that seem to be the view shared by many down there?

[El Presidente]

The feeling is very much one of disbelief, sorrow and concern.

The concern is the thought at the back of ones head that maybe our society has become too materialistic and the sense of community has regressed to a complete sense of self..at least amongst large slabs of the community. If the killings, rapes, muggings, shootings we saw was occuiring in Somalia, we would not have been suprised. The fact it occured in the US stunned the world.

We wish only the best and to maybe learn why what occured...occured. If we can learn why (and I mean really get to the bottom of it) then maybe we can ensure it does not occur here or elsewhere.

[dysfunctional]

» Since the 'cane, I start every class I teach with something (video,

» article, statistics, etc.) current about the situation.

»

» During class on Friday, I spoke about the contrast between 9/11 and the

» current situation in NO. That "lack of community" was at the heart of the

» matter. Towards the end of the discussion, a 14 year-old year asked, "How

» does this make us look to the rest of the world?"

»

» I didn't know how to answer her, but I hoped the general response was one

» of inquiry and sorrow; similar to yours.

»

» Does that seem to be the view shared by many down there?

Whilst both were major disasters (natural and man made)... the 9/11 banded the people together... but now ???? your 14 year old student as a very good point.... sad thought....

[Colt45]

Rob, I Understood your point as well......

It just bothers me that the blame game started almost immediately.

Rush and Goat have stated, for the most part, how I feel about the situation.

Let's remember that the hurricane hit Mississippi, not New Orleans. The people and governor of Miss are taking care of business. One group interviewed stated they can take care of themselves, they just need some water, ice and gasoline for generators.

Also, the levee did not break for about a day and a half after the storm passed.

So, if we feel the need to find blame, let's look at NO:

They know they live below sea level

They know the Mississippi river has been altered for decades.

They know the levee probably could not withstand such a storm.

They know many people would not be able to get out on their own.

How did the city, and the state, prepare and execute?

I don't pretend to know all the facts - I doubt anyone does right now. I don't put blame on anyone. It happened - we have to deal with it.

[GoatLocker]

» The feeling is very much one of disbelief, sorrow and concern.

»

» The concern is the thought at the back of ones head that maybe our society

» has become too materialistic and the sense of community has regressed to a

» complete sense of self..at least amongst large slabs of the community. If

» the killings, rapes, muggings, shootings we saw was occuiring in Somalia,

» we would not have been suprised. The fact it occured in the US stunned the

» world.

»

» We wish only the best and to maybe learn why what occured...occured. If we

» can learn why (and I mean really get to the bottom of it) then maybe we can

» ensure it does not occur here or elsewhere.

Many here feel the same way Rob. NO is not a cross section of America. In fact, it's a big flashing neon sign, warning America of what is happening in some of our inner cities and the corrupt goverments that run them. How could they send people to a shelter and not have the shelter stocked with food, water, medicine and National Guard troops? The state and local goverments were only prepared for the storm (and not even for that really), not the flood that came when the levees broke. I hate to see the federal government involved in state issues, but it appears that Louisianna at least, needs major oversight.

[habanohal]

» » The feeling is very much one of disbelief, sorrow and concern.

» »

» » The concern is the thought at the back of ones head that maybe our

» society

» » has become too materialistic and the sense of community has regressed to

» a

» » complete sense of self..at least amongst large slabs of the community.

» If

» » the killings, rapes, muggings, shootings we saw was occuiring in

» Somalia,

» » we would not have been suprised. The fact it occured in the US stunned

» the

» » world.

» »

» » We wish only the best and to maybe learn why what occured...occured. If

» we

» » can learn why (and I mean really get to the bottom of it) then maybe we

» can

» » ensure it does not occur here or elsewhere.

»

» Many here feel the same way Rob. NO is not a cross section of America. In

» fact, it's a big flashing neon sign, warning America of what is happening

» in some of our inner cities and the corrupt goverments that run them.

» How could they send people to a shelter and not have the shelter stocked

» with food, water, medicine and National Guard troops? The state and local

» goverments were only prepared for the storm (and not even for that

» really), not the flood that came when the levees broke. I hate to see the

» federal government involved in state issues, but it appears that Louisianna

» at least, needs major oversight.

The devistation that happened has been foreseen for many, many years. If you goto a weather site and retrace all hurricane paths you will see that they mostly all go through there. Louisiana is a poor state for the most part. I am one who does not want to see it rebuilt for the only thing is in the future it will happen time after time again.

I do believe things would go better if Bush was up for re- election.

NO is 500,000 people. Total chaos is what it is. That brings it to surrive yourself at any costs if no help is to be seen immediately.

COmes down to the strongest survive. I see nmothing wrong with people looteing in stores to find food or medicne, or materials for what they need to surrvive. But takeing TVs' , even stealing cars from dealerships. There was even footage of police stuffing their pockets with items of personal use while looking for looters in stores.

US has short attention span. You havent heard 1 peep on Iraq war since this happened and give it some time and this will also be forgotten.

I could go on and on for ever about the politics of all this boulshit , but all it does is get me fired up.

[naga5]

around our house, we have a saying:

there is plenty of blame to go around.

it is a tragedy of astronomic proportions.

as many have already posted, unlike an earthquake (what i am familiar with) or a terrorist bomb or even a hurricane, there is technically a beginning and end. floods remain floods, especially below sea level, and it will take too long to "unwater" (latest greatest coined term) nola.

being in the medical field, i shudder at the death toll and the public health risk.

it ain't over till its over and i fear it ain't over yet.

rick

[El Presidente]

nsmoke.......commiserations mate. We are familiar with cyclones as we call them....bloody nasty pieces of work. Best wishes to all!

[El Presidente]

Colt I understand your point.

Christmas eve 1974 Cyclone Tracey hit the Australian City of Darwin. 12,000 dwellings were destroyed and 50,000 people displaced. Now Darwin is a 4 hr flight from any other Australian capital city in the middle of nowhere. It is surrounded by outback and swamp and Ocean.

From the pic below, you can see that Darwin ceased to exist as a city. The destruction was total.

Within two days 10,000 people were evacuated half by road and half by air. There was a National billet system set up. Within a week 25,628 people were evacuated. Remember...4 hrs flight from nearest major city.

The federal Govt became aware the gravityof the situation 11am Christmas morning and sent a senior member of Government and an emergency administrative response team which had approval to do whatever was required including :calling in troops, procuring supplies and transport from any state Government, Public/Private enterprise or private individual.

The special administrative team handed over reins to the civilian government a week later. The city took the best part of five years to re-build.

I understand that we are not talking about NOLA. The size of the problem in NO is immense. The point I am trying to make is that National disasters are not new. Response strategy planning is not new. What we witnessed on TV/cable and bloggs 5 days after the event is absolutley mindboggling.