Views of Katrina devastation.

consulting the directory, and Google Maps, Polly lives about 15 miles inland, north of Pascagoula, east of Bilo xi. Hopefully, the major storm surge was moderated by the time it got 15 miles inland. continuing to hope for the best

Cathy > I'm pretty sure that they must be without power; and that that is why we

We've had a bit of good news as of last night. My step-nephew (step-sister's son -- the same step-sister who gave me some frequent-flier miles to get to China to visit my twin last spring) has made it out of NO! He'd just moved there a few weeks ago to start work in a restaurant and was told he could "ride out" the storm. Oops. He was lucky that his apartment was on the third floor. When the water reached the second floor, he left with the clothes on his back; his car was already ten feet under water. He was lucky that he was able to swim/walk to a highway where he was allowed to board a bus that traveled until it ran out of gas. From there he hitchhiked to where he could call his mother, who wired him enough money that he could get a meal and a hotel room. He's now on the way to her (in Washington state), where he'll try to figure out what to do. No possessions, no job, no car, no money, no insurance -- but he's alive and well! Whew!

Thanks, Pat. We're all delighted and relieved, of course, though we're still praying for those who are still caught up in the mess. Our family will help this young man get back on his feet, too, so he's really lucky

-- lots luckier than some.

Of course it isn't 'okay' for Americans or anyone to lose everything. I admit when I first heard the comparison to the tsunami I thought it was over the top. I apologise, it is just as bad. The pictures are unbelievable. But - the United States is the richest most powerful country on the planet so we assume that its government will use its resources to help its citizens. If the government tells people to evacuate ahead of a storm they know is coming they have to make provision for the people who do not have cars or family to go to or money to stay in hotels. As far as I understand people depend on the medical insurance they get through their work, so if the jobs have gone so has the health insurance. That is not a good system. I am listening to the radio news as I type. People begging for water. Descriptions of elderly residents of a home sitting in wheelchairs waiting for help. My heart goes out to those who are suffering, but where is the government disaster plan?

Howdy! Have you ever had a level 4/5 hurricane? Neither had we. Not so far as anyone living remembers.

Most of the evacuees/refugees in the Hurricane Katrina disaster area did not have insurance; no one had enough insurance to cover all losses.

Got a crystal ball? Maybe you could loan it to the U.S. govt. so they could know just how big a disaster to plan for, and be ready for it yesterday.

"Some people look for someone to blame; others get up and help."

There's a reason it's called "disaster." American Heritage Dictionary defines "Disaster" 1.. An occurrence causing widespread destruction and distress; a catastrophe. 2.. A grave misfortune.

Meanwhile, we're dancing as fast as we can. ;-)

Ragmop/Sandy--digging thru' the quilt stash

I want to thank you for this Ms. Ragmop. You said, in a way I have been unable to, what I have felt. Over and over I have seen people (not pointing fingers at any ONE person - please don't take it that way) blame the government, Mr. Bush, and even those unfortunate enough to have been unable to evacuate (I don't believe that EVERYONE there simply decided not to leave) - I hate the blame game, I really do. I've heard it during every terrible thing that has happened here lately - even

9/11- it isn't fair to anyone and it takes energy away from where it belongs..helping these people who have lost it all...not just THINGS but family as well. They have no idea if or when help is coming - it's scary, it's sad...let's help them, hug our friends and family, and thank God (or your lucky stars - whatever) that we haven't ever had to experience this.

Roberta (in VA)

I may step on some sensitivities here, but from what I hear, there is a large percent of people in the New Orleans/Miss area that live near or below the poverty level. If they are living on welfare, they are accustomed to the government taking care of them. Now that they have gone through this kind of tragedy, they are still looking for the government to take care of them. They don't know how to do it for themselves because they have never had to do for themselves and could even be second and third generation in this situation. Add to the mix the fact that no one was prepared for this type of storm. I think it would have been a different story had the levies not given way. The water is what is compounding the disaster. No power, no access, no food, no water, no fuel, no way to communicate, plus disease, gators, snakes and mosquitoes. It's a tragedy of the highest degree and I can't blame the people for their frustration. My heart breaks for the babies and young children and the aged. They all count on others because they have no other choice. I am glued to the TV and stare in disbelief. There is no way I can begin to understand what they are experiencing. My brain just can't comprehend what it would be like to go through a storm like that. God be with them.

Iraq.

NightMist

I'm sure it depends on your hospital, but while people without insurance are not sent away they often do take an awfully long time to get to them.

Our local hospital is particularly (and on occasion spectacularly) bad about this.

NightMist

Sue: Thank you for your concern. What makes you think there is no plan?? The governments do have plans. That is what FEMA does. FEMA = Federal Emergency Management Agency. They work year round with other agencies of the US, the states, the cities, and the counties to plan for emergency situations. The plans are being implemented, and were started even before the rain hit. I have a friend who has a job consulting/advising with such agencies. He said that the work seems to be going along in timely fashion, judging from what he sees on television. It does not happen overnight.

Let's look at the National Guard, for an example. The NG is a part of each state. It is made up of civilians who have regular jobs and are part time soldiers. They train one weekend per month, and some weeks every summer. Each unit has a special function. They get called to help now and then, and work along with Regular Army and Air Force. You need to understand that when the National Guard is called up, it would take about 24 hours for all the personnel to report to their station. Then they need to take care of administrative processing, get the appropriate supplies loaded, be assigned transport; probably another 12 - 24 hours for this, depending on the particular type of unit. Then the troops have to be transported. Maybe another 12 - 24 hours, depending on where they start, how they travel, where they land. They need to find roads that will take them to the sites; remember, the major roads and bridges are damaged or destroyed. Then they need to set up their own base camp, maybe 6 hours, again depending on mission; they cannot help others unless they have a field headquarters for their own needs. So, hey that is about 3 or 4 days ... of working fast!! That is just *MY UNPROFESSIONAL guess work* and opinion. But it seems plausible to me. All the agencies have the same constraints. They do not transport by 'Beam me up Scotty!'

You need ot realize that the area of this problem is approximately the size of the whole United Kingdom. Is that not amazing, and frightening?

PAT, organizing to get some quilts done

Sewingsue wrote: ....cut...

It takes time to molbilize and we are all doing the best we can, including the government. This isn't a small isolated space, but includes more than one state. Five minutes of planning saves one hour of work, I've been taught. No one could have a plan for something that has never been this outrageous before. WE are the government so it is WE who should be doing the helping, and I am glad they are planning what to do before they do it rather than running willy nilly and not doing what needs to be done.

Texans have the biggest hearts I've ever seen and I'm from Ohio, not Texas. I just wish every state, no matter how far north, would do the same.

I am so happy to have found this newsgroup. I've never seen so many pe> >

You said it Pat, in your usual well thought out eloquent style.

I have worked for FEMA in the past, it takes time to get things set up. In my day we had 48 hrs. to get to our duty stations.

We worked 12 hr. + shifts 7 days a week, but it was worth it. These are going to be the worst conditions. These folks don't have anything, not even addresses.

You're so right, they have plans, but this disaster is beyond planning!

Bonnie, in Middletown, VA

Bravo for an excellent explanation of why these things take time, much as we'd wish otherwise.

Well put Pat. Thanks for laying it out there. Disaster plans require, well...planning....because disasters don't happen 'by the book' and this one is a biggie....

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

--------------

I do agree with you but I have to wonder why couldn't these folks have gotten out ahead of the storm, which would have made a vast difference.

=46or example, since there was a mandatory evacuation, obviously folks were supposed to leave, but couldn't, for one reason or other...no car, sick, etc. So shouldn't something have been done to help them get out...for example, utilize the city school buses to take them out....the mayor would have had the authority to arrange that but didn't. These buses were already there, after all...weems like a lot of lives could have been spared the hardship and suffering. =20

And since the fed. government can't get involved until the states ask, couldn't the governor had asked for it befhorehand...at least request to have the help standing by and relief efforts ready to be mobilized just in case.... =20

Just my 2 cents.

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

--------------