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November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | Any word from our friends in the storm ravaged south? |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | Bump |
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December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | News from that area is not looking good. Let's hope no news is good news and keep everyone in that area in our thoughts and prayers.
And for anyone so inclined, now would probably be a good time to donate to red cross. |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 42
Location: Hernando Beach (Tampa area) | I just copied an email to the board since it applies to those wanting to help -- they'll need more than money in about a month -- they'll start to need replacement volunteers as the initial wave of volunteers has to go home for a break and tend to their own families.
Larry:
The grandkids grabbed Uncle Elton and took him to Little Rock Arkansas. That's the last I've heard. His place was right on the Pearl River at Picayune and that's where the center went over. I doubt he (or they) can even get back in that area for some time. I'm checking in to see what I can do to volunteer for FEMA or somebody since I do have an RN (+ USCG Master's Lisc. + Com. Pilot) they might be able to use. I doubt they'll let anyone in the area without some initial disaster training though (that's just normal and common sense) as that is SOP.
You might want to consider clicking on "local Red Cross" in the article and getting trained (won't be much for you) and getting down there to help. They'll need help for many months and the initial volunteers will be burned out in about a month's time. By the time the initial training is over, they'll have a slot for you to fill down there in all probablility.
http://redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_4495,00.html
Copied this to Princess Obriot who is interested in volunteer work too.
Matt |
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July 2005
Posts: 55
Location: lewisburg ohio | I will also second that about the red cross they are going to need all the money they can get I dont have much but I donated 10 bucks today first time ive ever donated to them |
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March 2005
Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | The Salvation Army does a LOT of good work during times like these also. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Got word last night (via company-wide e-mail) that all of the employees in our Nawlins office (thankfully) are accounted for and safe.
The company is paying them through next week, and arrangements are being made to temporarily relocate those who can/want to work in other cities and continue earning while their families rebuild. Monetary/Material Drives are also being established, along with a “PTO Day Pool” where co-workers can donate paid days-off to those who’ll really need them . . .
There’s always been a strong connection between our NewYork and NewOrleans staff(s). When the the NY offices were opened here some 18 years ago, a lot of Nawlins people came up here to establish it. Needless t’say, I’ve made a LOT of Cajun and “CoonAss” friends (that I can openly CALL that, because they know I say it with Love).
Nawlins reached out to us during the tough months after 9/11 when FEMA commandeered the Javits Convention Center as a morgue/command post, and we virtually had NO business . . . now it’s OUR turn to reciprocate.
Rest assured, any of our people (and there a LOT of ‘em) who want the help, will be getting it.
My heart goes out to those who have a less fortunate situation.
I was sickened yesterday and last night while I heard/watched the reports of the total anarchy of those who were left stranded “Lord of the Flies”-style at the Morial Convention Center in N.O. for four days. While I’ve never personally BEEN to the venue, I’ve become familiar with the building from designing events there. The floorplans and digital files will now leave me with an eerie feeling whenever I see ‘em (much like the WorldTradeCenter plans that I’ve been unable to “delete”).
Feds “dropped the ball” BIG time on this one . . . .
When Chertoff was asked in a NY radio interview about the people left at Morial, his response was that he wasn’t “familiar with the situation” and that he wasn’t in a position to argue “unsubstantiated rumor”. When the host offered to connect him directly to a correspondent who was ON the phone and had been ON the scene for quite some time, he curtly refused, offered up some politico-spoo, and “had to go”.
I just thank God that “dimWit” had the absolute foresight to graciously cut his five-week vacation short by two days to oversee the situation (after the fact) and deem it “unacceptable”.
Best we Tend to Our Own.
Anybody heard ANYTHING from Madame LeStrange or Master Hebert???
Hope they’re okay . . . . |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | Best we Tend to Our Own.
...seems that Madame DeFarge may be knitting again.... |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I PM'd LeStrange a few days back...no reply yet |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Good news. I just heard that the national guard is finally going in to New Orleans to establish security. In New York we learned our lesson after the riots and blackout in 1979, and then during the Dinkins adminsitration. Since then the drill is flood the place with police after a disaster or unrest. Unfortunate, but that's the way it is, especially in areas of poverty. My prediction is that within 24 hours looting will become much less.
As far as I can tell, our economy depends on a there being a city on the mouth of the mississippi, so I'm sure we'll rebuild it, but I hope our brain trust don't repeat the mistakes of the past. The whole thing makes my stomache churn. Crap, why I'm I writing this stuff on a Guitar Board. Never mind.
At least there's a light at the end of the tunnel now. |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | We are getting alot of people here in Lafayette as the escape from New Orleans. All of our shelters are full, and the traffic on the roads around here has really picked up. Seems things are getting rough in Baton Rouge, as they are really taking in alot of people. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | It's good t'hear from ya', Paul . . . |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | A former Wilmington physician writes from New Orleans
Aug. 31, 2005
This is a dispatch from New Orleans from Dr. Greg Henderson, a pathologist who recently moved from Wilmington:
Thanks to all of you who have sent your notes of concern and your prayers. I am writing this note on Tuesday at 2 p.m.. I wanted to update all of you as to the situation here. I don't know how much information you are getting but I am certain it is more than we are getting. Be advised that almost everything I am telling you is from direct observation or rumor from reasonable sources. They are allowing limited internet access, so I hope to send this dispatch today.
Personally, my family and I are fine. My family is safe in Jackson, Miss., and I am now a temporary resident of the Ritz Carleton Hotel in New Orleans. I figured if it was my time to go, I wanted to go in a place with a good wine list. In addition, this hotel is in a very old building on Canal Street that could and did sustain little damage. Many of the other hotels sustained significant loss of windows, and we expect that many of the guests may be evacuated here.
Things were obviously bad yesterday, but they are much worse today. Overnight the water arrived. Now Canal Street (true to its origins) is indeed a canal. The first floor of all downtown buildings is underwater. I have heard that Charity Hospital and Tulane are limited in their ability to care for patients because of water. Ochsner is the only hospital that remains fully functional. However, I spoke with them today and they too are on generator and losing food and water fast.
The city now has no clean water, no sewerage system, no electricity, and no real communications. Bodies are still being recovered floating in the floods. We are worried about a cholera epidemic. Even the police are without effective communications. We have a group of armed police here with us at the hotel that is admirably trying to exert some local law enforcement. This is tough because looting is now rampant. Most of it is not malicious looting. These are poor and desperate people with no housing and no medical care and no food or water trying to take care of themselves and their families. Unfortunately, the people are armed and dangerous. We hear gunshots frequently. Most of Canal street is occupied by armed looters who have a low threshold for discharging their weapons. We hear gunshots frequently. The looters are using makeshift boats made of pieces of styrofoam to access. We are still waiting for a significant national guard presence.
The health care situation here has dramatically worsened overnight. Many people in the hotel are elderly and small children. Many other guests have unusual diseases. ... There are (Infectious Disease) physicians in at this hotel attending an HIV confection. We have commandered the world famous French Quarter Bar to turn into an makeshift clinic. There is a team of about seven doctors and PAs and pharmacists. We anticipate that this will be the major medical facility in the central business district and French Quarter.
Our biggest adventure today was raiding the Walgreens on Canal under police escort. The pharmacy was dark and full of water. We basically scooped the entire drug sets into garbage bags and removed them. All under police excort. The looters had to be held back at gunpoint. After a dose of prophylactic Cipro I hope to be fine.
In all we are faring well. We have set up a hospital in the the French Qarter bar in the hotel, and will start admitting patients today. Many will be from the hotel, but many will not. We are anticipating dealing with multiple medical problems, medications and and acute injuries. Infection and perhaps even cholera are anticipated major problems. Food and water shortages are imminent.
The biggest question to all of us is where is the National Guard. We hear jet fignters and helicopters, but no real armed presence, and hence the rampant looting. There is no Red Cross and no Salvation Army.
In a sort of cliché way, this is an edifying experience. One is rapidly focused away from the transient and material to the bare necessities of life. It has been challenging to me to learn how to be a primary care phyisican. We are under martial law so return to our homes is impossible. I don't know how long it will be and this is my greatest fear. Despite it all, this is a soul-edifying experience. The greatest pain is to think about the loss. And how long the rebuid will take. And the horror of so many dead people .
PLEASE SEND THIS DISPATCH TO ALL YOU THING MAY BE INTERSTED IN A DISPATCH from the front. I will send more according to your interest. Hopefully their collective prayers will be answered. By the way, suture packs, sterile gloves and stethoscopes will be needed as the Ritz turns into a MASH
Greg Henderson |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Thanks for posting that Mitchrx. |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Continue to say a prayer for those affected in the Gulf Coast Area and Please donate to The American Red Cross, and or The Salvation Army.
these organizations really help in times like these. |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | I am on the Acadian-Cajun geneaology site and sent the following response to someone posting about "slow response." I am sure that I will be criticized for my response. So, fire away.
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From what I have seen, the police and fire personnel pre-positioned as many of their staff and equipment as possible at great risk to their own lives. Individuals that had to leave their families. They had to leave their loved
ones to either evacuate or attempt to stay on their own.
Communication, bridges/roads, etc. were destroyed. And, unlike many other areas that have been damaged by hurricanes - it was flooded and all infrastructure has been destroyed.
How do you prepare for this? Even military and civilian aircraft and ships are moved out of the area from airfields and ports.
The only area that I see would have been evacuation plans for those (usually
indigent and disabled) requiring transportation out of the area. Yet, thousands of those that could have left would not leave.
Now, many of those that need evacuation are accessible only by boat or helicopter. We are talking about 3-5 at a time. We have seen boats dropping their passengers on the only dry land available. Helicopters have limited fuel and range. There has been no such thing as air traffic control to avoid accidents. And, this was a rescue operation from rooftops to save lives.
As to supplies and equipment, fixed wing aircraft had no airfields to land in the nearby area. Everything had to travel by helicopter or boat.
Landing areas for the helicopters was limited or had to be repaired. Even when supplies could be obtained, there was no land access to get the supplies to an individual family.
Medical support - hospitals were without water and power, in addition to being damaged. Field hospitals require dry land to be set up. Those injured needed access to the hospitals. Again, water everywhere.
I am not blaming those that stayed. As a Marine Officer, I went through Camille in 1969. People are afraid and don't want to leave their homes.
Yet, the fact is that the thousands that did not (or could not) evacuate created this tragedy.
I am not taking issue with the concern or frustration. However, the civilian and military personnel that are in the area are working at great risk and sacrifice. Aid is being rushed to the area as quickly as possible.
Anyone along the Gulf Coast is at risk several times a year from hurricanes. New Orleans has always been a high risk from the way the city was built.
Yet, we see other cities and states standing tall to assist any way possible. |
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November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Thanks Tony, I could not have said it better myself. |
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April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | I agreee. You were not that harsh with what you said. you just stated the facts. You also added that other cities and states are standin tall to assist in any way possible. Well said Tony. |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Got some Cajuns that don't agree...thanks. Cudos for Lafayette and the many other neighbors that are standing tall.
Always good to stir the pot on a Friday.
Bet Paul will be playing to standing room only at church this Sunday. |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Tony, we were really watching the path of Hurricane Katrina. If it would have not taken the turn to the north, Lafayette would be in the shape of New Orleans. Three years ago we had hurricane Lili, and that really did a number on Lafayette. With much hurricane season left, we will keep an eye on the gulf of Mexico. |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Law and Order?
things go back to zero in situations like this... the regular rules can't apply..... |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12754
Location: Boise, Idaho | There still should be a moral code to live by and that cops especially should abide by. Unfortunately, we don't seem to have that in this country any more. And I don't limit that to any particular location. We have been having numerous drive by shootings in little old Idaho. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | A guy I work with has a bro-in -law who is a policeman stationed in between the superdome and downtown. At the last report the police had their hands full protecting their own building. They could only leave the station in groups of 10 or so or risk being attacked. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Hopefully we will all live and learn from this.
Advanced Preparedness. That is what is needed.
I did see on the news some people playing guitar in the hard hit areas. A small but hopefully effective solace to this immense disaster. |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 42
Location: Hernando Beach (Tampa area) | This won't be a popular post either . . .
For over 20 years we've had numerous recording artists spew all kinds of anti-society lyrics pushed by big recording companies -- is it any wonder that in a real breakdown the youth raised on these lyrics don't practice what is preached? Perhaps the blame for society breaking down rests in large part with us either turning a blind eye, or being out and out purveyors by buying or marketing anti-societal pornography packaged as "art." Just a thought.
I just pulled the below at random, more lyrics here:
http://www.ohhla.com/YFA_busta.html
Artist: Busta Rhymes
Album: When Disaster Strikes
Song: Things We Be Doin' For Money (Part One)
Lyrics deleted -- but in no way are these lyrics non-typical of what our young people get 24-7 indoctrination of . . . In fact -- THEY ARE TAME!
(Fades to Outro/Intro to Things We Be Doin' For Money - Part 2)
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Maybe Bing Crosby and Lawrence Welk weren't that bad after all???? |
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Gulf Coast Friends
