Waiting for the storm (photo). Shit. Some of these people are stuck there.

[katinmn]

David Riley sits with his head in his hands as he waits with hundreds of others outside the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

Associated Press
Published August 28, 2005
2005 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.



New Orleans evacuated as Hurricane Katrina bears down
http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5583239.html
exerpt:
Despite the dire predictions, a group of residents in a poor neighborhood of central New Orleans sat on a porch with no car, no way out and, surprisingly, no fear.

"We're not evacuating,'' said 57-year-old Julie Paul. "None of us have any place to go. We're counting on the Superdome. That's our lifesaver.''

The Superdome, the 70,000-seat home of football's Saints and the New Year's Sugar Bowl, opened at daybreak today, giving first priority to frail, elderly people on walkers, some with oxygen tanks. They were told to bring enough food, water and medicine to last up to five days.

[Bluebear]

1. ....."in a poor neighborhood".... Say no more. nt

[katinmn]

8. Yep. The "haves" can save their asses.

[Maine-ah]

30. a'ya, and they're probably all driving two to a car

probably could be taking people with them that don't have cars.

Do they have a public transportation system (buses)? If so, couldn't they be loading these up with people to get them out?

[Tallison]

59. Or worse, bringing more than one car

per household (Just to ensure the second doesn't sustain any damage) :eyes:

[Skittles]

33. I hope I am not the only one who would have offered others assistance

as I was hauling my ass in my car out of thare

[barbaraann]

2. They have to bring their own food and water???????

FEMA doesn't even have water for the Superdome??????

[SouthernDem2004]

4. They do BUT....

They want people to bring their own so they do not run out. We are talking about alot of people and alot of supplies needed for several days. It is best to bring your own.

[iamjoy]

7. How ARe They Supposed To Do That

If they are elderly and/or frail and/or don't have a car how are they supposed to carry five gallons of water (1 gal per person per day of water is recommended) much less a couple grocery bags of food plus all their medicines and supplies?

[barbaraann]

9. Steal a grocery cart?

n/t

[Olney Blue]

80. My grandmother's walker had some little pockets on it....

more than enough room to store 5 days' supplies.

:sarcasm:

[Roy]

88. If they are poor

where the hell will they get five days worth of food?

[AmandaRuth]

3. That's really sad.

Nominated.

[tjdee]

5. Something about that photo struck me....

:(

It's not particularly sad insofar as the subject matter is...but those people might not be alive a week from now...and they know it.

I just hope the Superdome holds out. I really, really do.

And I hope for the best for those who can't get in there.

[Mnemosyne]

11. They may be gone by Tues. This is

so awful to watch. Hope we will be able to do enough to help those left after it's over.
I'm hoping for a miracle at this point.

[Carni]

41. Most sickening thing I have ever seen in this country

Where is the FUCKING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

[Mnemosyne]

75. On fucking vacation!

* needs his ass kicked through his rotten nose, the cartilage being gone could be a help in this. :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr:

[friesianrider]

6. Heartbreaking...and sickening. Gee, where's our National Guard?

Oh that's right. They're in Iraq.

[katinmn]

14. If it turns out there is loss of life because of the NG being tied up in

Iraq in an elective war there will be hell to pay.

The National Guard exists for emrgencies just like this one.

It's too soon to tell. But we will find out. And if that's the case it falls squarely on Bushitler's evil shoulders and there is another count of impeachment against him.

I hate that fucker.

[sunnystarr]

20. I heard that 1500 National Guard were going to arrive

some from LA and some from someplace else. I don't know how many they need, but I'm praying it will be enough.

This is really frightening. While some people are foolishly electing to stay and believe the reports are "hyped" cause the media has hyped before, others who really want to leave are stuck.

[FreedomAngel82]

68. That's why hyping when it's not hyped like that is dangerous

People don't believe it and you won't ever know to trust them again. With the weather we mostly watch the weather channel. They're all pretty reliable.

[Donailin]

21. Katinmn

>>I hate that fucker<<

So do I. With a passion.

[katinmn]

22. Yeah. I may even be jumping the gun on this one.

LOL.

[rateyes]

24. Meanwhile, * has to get on with his life...

mountain-biking in Crawford. This country is in desperate need of REAL LEADERSHIP who cares about people. * is such a spoiled asshat.

[Skittles]

35. oh there is no doubt the lacik of NG is affecting them

it is affecting them already

[applegrove]

10. Shouldn't the flights no longer bringing tourists to NO be filled up

with homeless & poor & kids and dropped off at the return destination - where a far away city would have the resources to take care of them for weeks on end?

[shadowknows69]

12. that would mean the federal government gives a shit

can't be having that. people will think they're special or something.

[Mnemosyne]

13. I wish that plan were in force apple, if funding hadn't

been cut maybe. Now I imagine they just care about saving their property.
I hope I am proved wrong.

[stray cat]

15. People are stranded at the airport because flights cancelled.

People who have had tickets for days are stranded at the airport because flights were overbooked and cancelled. No rental cars available anymore. A fair number of tourists who flew into New Orleans on vacation are also stranded in New Orleans.

[katinmn]

18. oh. I feel sick

:(

[Bluebear]

16. "They could have gotten jobs, you know."

:sarcasm:

Remember, the government is the enemy to the RW mindset.

[Mabus]

82. If they'd just followed their out-sourced job to the new country

they wouldn't be in this mess. :sarcasm:

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. Please, let the building hold up!

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

58. "Overall, the Louisiana Superdome has withstood the test of time;

Louisiana Superdome
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/l/lo/louisiana_superdome.htm

SNIP:
"The Superdome is a massive structure located on 52 acres (210,000 m²) of land; the dome has an interior space of 125,000,000 ft³ (3,500,000 m²), a height of 253 feet (82.3 meters), a dome diameter of 680 feet (210 meters), and a total floor area of 269,000 ft² (25,000 m²), making it the largest domed structure in the world."

"Overall, the Louisiana Superdome has withstood the test of time; it has a surprisingly undated look to it, even as fixed domed stadium construction began to fade in the early (The decade from 1990 to 1999) 1990s and others having even been closed. The Superdome is built to withstand catastrophes; the roof is built to stand up to 200 MPH wind and even deep flood water wouldn't reach the second level 35 feet from the ground. It has thus been used as an emergency shelter but is not designed for the task; in 1998 during (Click link for more info and facts about Hurricane Georges) Hurricane Georges problems included looting and supplying 14,000 people with necessities."

Let's hope we can still say that on Tuesday!

[Mutley]

19. God help those people. I really mean it.

And I'm an atheist. :scared:

[rateyes]

23. Can't the city get buses to those folk...

and get them the heck out of Dodge? NO is a freaking 6-feet below sea-level city---50 ft. surges, leaving the city 15 feet under water for 4 months, is what could result. DAMN.

[Stinky The Clown]

25. I've been watching local news out of NO over the internet all day

One of the NO stations has a live stream going.

This is VERY serious shit. They had a news conference with all the local mayors and parish executives and those people were scared and acted it. They were literally begging residents to evacuate. They also said any special needs cases should go to the Superdome where they would be further evacuated to safer areas like Baton Rouge.

Tellingly, one of the parish execs said he had asked the governor to call the feds and ask for 'sister states' to send their National Guard M.A.S.H. units ... and then added with great emphasis .... 'M.A.S.H. units with experience in dealing with death.'

It seems to me that this is one time that media coverage is not a distraction. This is a serious story of a possible massive disaster. The storm is a high Cat5 and NO is ill equipped to handle the onslaught. In the worst of worst cases, the levee system could fail and the river would simply reroute out of the crescent and simply wash the city out to sea.

God Help New Orleans.

[katinmn]

26. Amen.

[tgnyc]

27. One of the cable nets read a statement over the air an hour ago.

Can't remember which net -- I think Fox -- and I'm not sure the source -- perhaps the National Weather Service. But it was very bleak. It went something like:

Half of the homes with modern construction will be destroyed.

All houses with wood construction will be destroyed.

Many commercial buildings will be destroyed.

Tall bulidings will sway, some to the point of collapse.

Winds will carry debris that means certain death for anyone struck.

Water contamination will lead to human suffering "on a scale unimaginable in modern times."

[SeveneightyWhoa]

81. Here's a link to that statement:

http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/raw/ww/wwus74.klix.npw.lix.txt

[Chico Man]

28. The superdome is going to flood

There will be no AC, the field is going to flood from what I've heard, and I am wondering if there will be lights.

The people inside should survive, but what a hellish experience that would be.

Also, all bags are being searched and there are huge lines to get in.

I would feel so trapped. My heart goes out to them...

[CottonBear]

32. My brother-in law helped to build the Superdome. It should survive.

He was a master welder. I feel so very sorry for those poor people. Their homes will be gone or mostly destroyed by the time it's all over. Their lives are going to be ruined if the worst case comes true: up to 30 feet of water. :scared:

My sister-in law and her extended family live in Lacombe, LA, just on the north side of the lake. She's resigned to her house flooding. Her son is going to stay at the house with their dogs while she goes to stay with her cousin in a less flood prone neighborhood.

[bklyncowgirl]

69. Builders know. My uncle was a steamfitter who worked on the WTC.

He told me that I should never take a job in that building--there was too much bullshit going on with materials and shortcuts.

I hope you're right about the Superdome and that those people will be safe. Watching those ghouls on CNN you get the feeling that they wouldn't be the slightest bit upset if the damn thing collapsed and killed a whole lot of people just as long as they got good footage.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

73. Interesting OT

I work in a library that looks like a 1950s bunker: square with lots of concrete, two floors are underground, but the top floor overhands the next to the top one by about 10 feet on all sides. At lunch last week one of my colleagues mentioned that in every conversation she's had with someone who was involved in the construction of it, they've mentioned how unsound the whole thing is.

:scared:

[Boomer]

29. Latest reports from the superdome

As of about 4:45pm EST, some 10,000 people are inside the superdome, but another 2,000 are still waiting in line outside. They've been there for hours and no idea how long it will take to get inside.

Evidently it's taking so long because everyone is being searched. Security has confiscated guns, knives, and drugs. Their concern is based on the assumption that people may be stranded in the building for days, making for a very tense situation, one prone to violence.

NO has known of this danger since Camille and yet the superdome is the only designated shelter.

That is criminial negligence.

[caligirl]

34. How often does significant change happen without a body count?

[ClintonTyree]

50. There are no other shelters.......

because there are no other buildings strong enough to fend off a hurricane like this. They're closing their 911 center because IT won't stand the onslaught of Katrina. It would be total chaos there WITH a functioning 911 center, up and running, without it.........

New Orleans is poorly equipped to handle a storm like this, I agree. I think they should have made other preparations for situations like this, but the general topography of New Orleans does not lend itself to the construction of more shelters. You can spend millions of dollars building shelters but if they're not going to stand up to something like this, what's the point?

There comes a time when people have to take responsibility for their own lives as well. Anyone who's lived in New Orleans more than six months and never put a hurricane plan together is crazy. These are the things you prepare for. This is basic, "Life- 101" in New Orleans. I know some don't have cars, basically the poor, but those are the people who need a plan in place the most. If they haven't prepared for something like this, we can't expect the government to be personally responsible for 1.3 million people. It's just not possible.

I really feel for these people, I really do. I have many friends in the area and nearby. I don't care what your situation is, you can always have a plan in place. To do nothing and expect the government to bail your butt out is foolish. I would expect the government to help as much as possible, I would expect them to bend over backward to help people. But in the end, people are responsible for their own lives. If they've never prepared for this, God help them now.

I hope this doesn't come off like I'm a heartless SOB. I care, I care A LOT! But by gosh, we can't always rely on the government to save our butts. We have to take some initiative ourselves.

That being said, may God help everyone down there. My prayers are with you all.

[Boomer]

53. Thank god some people didn't wait

Someone on DU (lost track of the thread) reported that their 70+ year old grandparents left Friday at the urging of relatives, and are now safe in Texas.

I'm a weather junkie so I've been following hurricane activity for years and expected that the moment Katrina hit the unusually warm Gulf waters that it would strengthen. When it was a Cat 3 with still several days to go before landfall, I knew it was going to be a mother of a storm.

But a lot of other people seem to have been caught by surprise. They also don't seem to have any conception of how much MORE dangerous a Cat 4 or 5 is from a Cat 1, 2 or even 3.

[kath]

85. Helloooo - if you have no car and NO money, how the fokitty-fok can you

put together a hurricane plan? And really poor people don't have credit cards, either. So they are absolutely STUCK there.

[ClintonTyree]

86. I would say.........

that MOST people have friends or relatives who have transportation. It's incumbent upon them to have SOME sort of plan in place. That's what I mean, you can't plan for this at the last minute. If you live in New Orleans you KNOW this is going to happen sometime. To let years go by and never formulate a worst case scenario plan is foolish. You can't just shrug your shoulders and say "I don't know what I'll do". MAKE A PLAN, ANY PLAN! I agree, there are some who are totally without a support structure of family or friends, and those people should be taken care of by emergency services and as it appears, are. Some of these people have lived their entire lives in New Orleans and don't have an emergency plan? That's not being very responsible as a human being.
I hate almost sounding like a Republican here, but we can't expect the government to be our Mom and Dad. Personal responsibility in events such as this is crucial. Those who take no personal responsibility are in grave danger. We all know that government services have been cut to the bone by the Slugs, which makes it MORE important to prepare for yourself.
Like I said, I'm not trying to be a cold-hearted SOB, but we all have to take SOME responsibility for ourselves. Those without support systems must plan even more than those that do. Find out what government contingencies are in place. Find out what and where and who are available to help in situations like this. BUT FIND OUT! That's free. Information is free. To just ignore everything until the last minute and then claim the government did nothing to help you are being disingenuous.
I expect to get flamed for my position. Many think that the government should be your nursemaid from cradle to grave. I don't. Even the most poor and disenfranchised can have a plan.

[benito]

31. almost all of the graveyards are above ground

try not to freeq when you see pictures of coffins floating through the city.
I live 200 miles to the west of N.O. and traffic has been steady all day through here. Everyone knows that getting all pissy isn't gonna get them away any faster, so from what I've seen most people are cooperating.

We *really* appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers directed to us in LA. We can use them.

[CottonBear]

36. Take care and be safe. My husband's family lives in Lacombe. LA.

They are preparing the houses, filling up every container and tub with water, and filling up every car and can with gas. They have a generator and lots of food and water. I hope the giant live oak trees around their house don't fall on the house. It is very likely that the house will be flooded. It almost flooded a few years ago. I am so worried. I love New Orleans. It may never be the same. It may not be there at all.

[rat618]

37. Couldn't be any uglier

As I said on an earlier thread this storm has the potential to easily kill more people than 9/11. The WWL feed had one of the Parish Presidents on and when he commented that approximately 20% of his residents had no way to get out, the interviewer asked what would become of these folks? His only answer was grim, "they will become part of the search and rescue mission tomorrow".

With the National Guard spread out all over I would hope that someone is planning to mobilize regular forces from Polk and other nearby bases, but I am afraid that the only thing going on in Crawford is Rove trying to determine where the best post-storm photo ops will be for Bush.

From a Galveston resident (currently in MN) good luck to all in the New Orleans area and while not personally religious, hopefully your prayers will be answered and comfort you.

[newyawker99]

42. Hi rat618!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[SammyWinstonJack]

48. Oh no! "they will become part of the search and rescue mission tomorrow"

:cry:

[teknomanzer]

38. New Orleans...

Has to be one of the most poverty stricken metropolitan areas in the country. Some of the homes that I've seen there don't look like they could take this kind of beating. Vast preparations should have been made beginning early Saturday. God help them all.

Global warming? Climate change? Fuzzy science... :sarcasm:

BTW George wants to remind you all... SEPTEMBER 11!

[Straight Shooter]

39. These people being stranded and herded like cattle is criminal

It's CRIMINAL!!!!!

I can't stand it, this country is going to shit, and the proof is when you have people in harm's way and very little resources to help them. What the hell did they ever do to deserve this? Doesn't the Christian God love these people, too?

I saw a car with a "Proud To Be An American" bumpersticker today and it was all I could do to keep from ramming into it. I wanted to yell at him, "What the hell are you so f*cking proud of?"

The haves, the have mores, and the never-will-have. Proud to be an American, my a**.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[katinmn]

55. You know, I would love to see that. I bet the Bush clan would be living

in a trailer park in Florida and some of the people lined up to get into the Superdome would be riding bikes at the ranch.

I would love it!

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[katinmn]

64. Sorry. Not familiar with that phrase.

You better not be talking rudely.

[eyepaddle]

63. Hey that's a good one

:sarcasm: since most people who are rich got that way by brilliantly inheriting money (screw anybody who isn't smart enoug to do that) I wonder what skill set they would have to get all that cash back.

There'd likely be rich and poor but the noveau rich would those able to take advantage of the chaos.

Now, moving on short-timer, natural disasters WILL occur regardless of who is in office. The interesting thing about mothre nature is she will NEVER back off. She specifically try to kill you, BUT if you get in the way she never lets up out of pity either. We can't change the storm, we can only change how we react to it.

I'm not sure if the General Spaatz and the 8th Air Force could do the same kind of job on NO as Katrina will. This is gonna hit a level of ugliness that is unprecedented.

[mwb970]

40. A lot of people who could leave, aren't.

Depending on how things go, they may regret that decision.

[Boomer]

56. Heard some of them interviewed today

Quite a few businessmen were determined to stay so they could protect their property.

And I keep wondering just how they think they can stop a 25 foot storm surge. Stand in front of it and wave? Or what will be worth protecting when the city is under water?

[katinmn]

43. Images from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[BamaBecky]

44. NEXT TIME....they need to bring in extra busses to get these

folks out of harms way........sheesh......I do hope they will be ok.....they will have to bring them food and water by helicopter..
Bama

[I_Make_Mistakes]

46. They are saying the tidal flooding could surge 10 = 20 ft.

That is two stories. PLEASE, If possible, N. Orleaners get a train out. That is the best way at this point in time. God, I feel so hopeless, just sitting here and begging GOD for Mercy. If anyone knows what we can do to help, please let me know.

[AuntPatsy]

47. God, lets pray there is a next time that such can be avoided....

this is maddening what msnbc is showing concering these long lines of people standing outside as the storm inches ever closer..

[fearnobush]

45. New Orleans is one of the best cities I've ever visited.

In 24hrs It is likely it won't be here anymore. If this CAT5 hits NO at it's current intensity, many of the downtown tall building will indeed topple. They are built for 150 mi winds max, however, storm surge could also slam 35' waves against them - an even greater threat. The Super dome was built for 200 mi winds max, currently Katrina is kicking gust as high as 220mph. God bless these folks inside the metro dome. The fucking Chimp should be flying these folks out in Helicopters.

[Lisa]

65. Bill Clinton probably feels the same way ...

In his book, he described his visits to the city in great detail, saying it's been one of his favorite places since childhood.

[Ladyhawk]

49. I was going to try to get out a bit today, but I'm riveted by pics

like this and the hurricane. :( I've felt a need to check in to see what's happening. From the descriptions I've read, this could be devastating beyond belief. Most of the people in those pictures are poor African Americans. It's sickening that the US won't get them out.

[novak goes postal]

52. How sad.... Why can we not supply safety to our own people......

Peace


"Casey knew that the war was wrong from the beginning. But he felt it was his duty to go, that his buddies were going, and that he had no choice. The people who send our young, honorable, brave soldiers to die in this war, have no skin in the game. They don't have any loved ones in harm's way. As for people like O'Reilly and Hannity and Michelle Malkin and Rush Limbaugh and all the others who are attacking me and parroting the administration line that we must complete the mission there – they don't have one thing at stake. They don't suffer through sleepless nights worrying about their loved ones."
-- Cindy Sheehan

[tandot]

54. I feel really bad for ALL of the people affected

this will be even worse for all of the poor, sick, and people who don't have a car...or people who don't have the money to fill up their tank. And, as someone posted earlier, the rich got probably out in time...with a maximum of two persons in their huge SUV. Why should the wealthy care? They rarely do...

I hope that you ALL make it out whole and alive (at this point, I forgive some of you who have voted for Bush). This will be the worst storm ever to hit this region. This will effect all of America for a long, long time.

My thoughts are with you all...but, my thoughts are especially with the poor, sick, and all of the DUers, who are affected in this region.

:grouphug:

[AnnieBW]

57. No NG in Florida, Either

I remember last year during the hurricanes that hit Florida that there were a lot of problems because the National Guardsmen were all in Iraq. I mean, I can see the Reservists - that's what they're in for. But the Guard are for emergencies like hurricanes! Grrrr.

[bobaloo2]

60. You can't help stupid

There's a lot of rage in this thread about why the authorities haven't evacuated everyone.

My daughter's boyfriend spent all morning on the phone with his mom, begging her to evacuate. She lives in south Louisiana, about 100' from the beach, maybe 2 feet above sea level. Her reply was she has the bathtub full of water, the fridge is full of beer, she's been through lots of hurricanes and she ain't going nowhere. Her other son is coming over with more beer to wait out the hurricane with her. She thinks it's funny all her relatives all over the country all calling her all excited and telling her to get out.

He finally decided he'd done his part, he can't fly 2000 miles and drag her away, it's her decision no matter how stupid. There's bound to be lots of other folks there with the same attitude.

[rat618]

61. Backlash against Iraq spending

I wonder if this will raise the debate about the amount of money that has gone to Iraq, will people now begin to ask why we are spending money to rebuild Iraq (of course we caused most of the destruction) instead of using it for our own citizens?

To me the interesting thing is that if you see the reports of money spent to actually rebuild Iraq, just a fraction has been spent to date. I wonder what kind of response you would get from the Administration if you said "Well just take that money that was allocated and shift it to Katrina relief".? Of course the reality is that the money has been stolen, shifted to Halliburton, or just lost.

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FreedomAngel82]

67. This is so horrible

:cry: What will happen if the elderly with oxygen tanks run out???

[dxstone]

70. Let's hope that the news services have overstated the threat...

Let's hope it's not the major terrible cataclysm they do seem to be predicting.
All your points are correct; I'm just trying to be optimistic here. New Orleans has been there for something around two centuries; they must have some decent contingency plans at least... and all ANYONE can do at this point is hope for the best.
I agree that resources that could help in these emergencies have been systematically looted by this misadministration for nearly 5 years straight now, and we all know how helpful the neocon/bidness cabal's blind-eye policies on global warming have been.
And god yes, who in America REALLY doesn't hate that nastly little Gollum-creature scuttling and creeping and skulking about in the White House on all fours with a dead fish in his teeth and two Secret Service guys with low-voltage cattle prods leading him around and getting him to sit up straight and perform his tricks when need be?
I would blame him personally for this hurricane if I could, but THAT would sound a bit too silly, even for me.
On the other hand, and being DEADLY serious for a moment, I'm really quite sure that if Butcho COULD send titanic hurricanes to destroy whole cities right here in America, he WOULD. Just for the FUCK of it. I have NO doubt about that.
Would probably be good for his poll numbers, too.
They used to say that nothing sells like sex... but in fact, as has been proven to a truly frightening degree by the ass-hats in this mad-tea-party admin, NOTHING sells like fear.
So let's wait and see. If it's like nothing they've ever seen, then they don't KNOW what it will do. Maybe it'll alter course, or hitting land will knock most of the wind out of it, as so often seems to be the case with these things.
Let's just hope for the best for now, that's all I'm saying.
Much luck to you, New Orleans!
d

[demo dutch]

71. Nope, not overstated! Went thru hurricane Andrew Cat 5 in '92

in south Miami-Dade. We were in the NE side near the center of the hurricane, which was the worst place to be and never even experienced the eye! When it was all over the area looked like a bomb dropped.
The hurricane center at the time lost its rador half way thru the storm. They have reconstructed over the years what might have happend, and concluded that tornados formed inside of the hurricane (this is common) with winds well over 200 mph. There was total destruction for miles and miles. Andrew was a relatively dry hurricane, without the major flooding they're predicting now, plus South Dade does not lie below sealevel. We lost everything! and so did thousands upon thousands! the official death toll was relatively low, however friends of mine that worked in law enforcement, have told us that a few hundred illegal aliens (mostly mexican and central american migrant workers, crop pickers etc,) were unaccounted for, and families were afraid to come forward.
New Orleans has never experienced a Cat 4 or 5 in its history. I fear for everyone in New Orleans, it could potentially be wiped off the map!

[osaMABUSh]

72. Sounds like a lot of stubborn folk will pay with their lives

for not leaving their homes.

[Bluerthanblue]

74. and go WHERE????

easy to blame from a distance- and from a position of mobility and means- many folks DON'T have a choice.

and that, in this, the richest fucking nation in the g-damn world, who spend trillions on killing- SHAME ON US. For crying out loud, blame the victims why don't you. If it makes you feel less disturbed. Or is a balm on your conscience.

[progressivebydesign]

77. I think the ones left behind are poor, not stupid.

They have no car, no money, and no way out of town. They're not like the morans who think that they need to stay behind with their belongings in case someone wants to steal them or something.

[progressivebydesign]

76. Shouldn't there have been plans to evacuate EVERYONE?

I mean... shouldn' the Nat'l Guard drive up with donated buses and take these people out of harm's way?? Isn't that what our Nat'l Guard is FOR?

Perhaps, when all of this is over, some REAL questions will be asked of Bush about why he is destroying our National Guard by sending them OVERSEAS to fight? I live in a military area, and wonder why there are so many military personnel still around here and not in Iraq, while the civilian soldiers are being used incorrectly.

I hope the people in those neighborhoods are able to get to safety... this is outrageous.

[melissinha]

78. breaks my heart

to see the despair and that they have to count on the Superdome... please please let it hold. I am with the people who are stranded, may you make it through safely... one tangent concern...

I remember when Houston had a flood and one of the emergencies was the flooding of animal shelters, I sure hope volunteers have been taking their charges outta there.. not to say people are not more important .. but I am also praying for the critters, and the natural habitat of NOLa...

[CC]

79. The govt. could of gotten them out

At one time when the last passenger trains were going out of business the government took over, Amtrak. They didn't do it for convenience or to save the railroads. They did it so that if a large population center needed emptied in a hurry they could just add more cars and send masses of people to safety. Railroads also got aid so that the would be available to move large quantities of supplies to where they were needed. Course most people have forgotten why trains weren't allowed to go by the wayside, specially this government. Trains can carry hundreds of cars per locomotive, more than one locomotive can be placed in a line of cars. NO still has plenty of RR tacks and trains could of been used. I have been listening to Norfolk Southern and Amtrak employees having a fit all day over the fact that trains haven't been used.

I loved NO when I went and think of all the great people I met, you couldn't ask for a nicer bunch of people in a city, rich or poor. Hoping for the best for them.

[enid602]

84. New Orleans

I was thinking that the city could have at least used every available municipal, school and Greyhound bus to transport those without cars to higher ground.

[3girlsma]

83. OMG ::tears:: So much feels like a bad dream lately. n/t

[fleabert]

87. that is so fucked up.

Why did no one volunteer the empty seats in their H2's and H3's? I am sure there are plenty of DINK's (double income no kids) that drive monstrosities that could have fit extra poor folks in with them.

[Ganja Ninja]

89. And after the storm passes where are these people going to go?

Their homes (those that have them) will be flooded out or knocked down. These people are going to have to be bussed out of the city to some place where there is shelter. Maybe even out of state.