A new day
Thanks to various folks on the Internet and from several other blogs, we’re finally getting a better look at things left pretty much UNdamaged by Katrina. Thank y’all for doing and finding stuff. I’d post the links here, but I’m not exactly Mr. Webworld.
The New Orleans Art Museum is okay. Much of Uptown is fine, including the universities. Much of the French Quarter is okay, or will be soon. Despite all the terrible scenes and all the deaths and the tragedy, so many more folks are now focused on what’s still there and what can be made workable in a surprisingly short amount of time (when we get power back, at least).
I know it will take some more time. But there are plenty of us who, if we can get a little gasoline and bring in generators, are all set to go back home to get rebuilding again by early next week. And I don’t mean rebuilding our own places (ours is apparently okay, thank God) — I mean rebuilding the city as a whole.
T’row me sumthin’ mistah! Like a chance to go back.
Today is a MUCH brighter day than yesterday. And thank all of you for your kind words.
Related posts:
If you are using generators, please be *extremely* careful about carbon monoxide poisoning. Here in Miami, there were at least 5 deaths due to this, including 2 where the unit was professionally installed before the hurricane.
They need to be down-wind, and always outside.
Also, be careful with lng or natural gas, it can be more volatile than gasoline and can explode in the right circumstances.
Good luck, and take care.
Dear Craig,
i do hope you will be able to rebuild your city and lives. It is a great sign to see how much optmism still exists although you and your people are going through a terrible time.
I wish you good luck and God bless you.
Leonardo from Hamburg, Germany
I’m brazilian,I just to say that I’m so sorry about the tragedy and deaths by katrina.Here in south of Brazil where I live,it’s happening something like that.I have faith in Jesus christ,so I hope that will be fine.I’m praying for all You in name of Jesus.best wishes.
M
Oh yeah. We’re experienced generator users. We’ve got a covered area that’s outside, so it’s an ideal spot for such a device. But thanks.
…Craig
hey,
your blog was in the german news - i saw a short report minutes ago at “n-tv”… so i searched the internet and found your blog.
3 weeks from now we have elections but new orleans destiny is the headline at all news - we are all shocked by the picture we see from the south of the usa. the chaos and suffer is unbelievable.
germany is far away - but we wish the american citizens that are involved alle the best for the next weeks and monthes
Thank you for this optimistic post. But I really fear for the future of New Orleans and the possibility of rebuilding. I just bought a home in the Bywater and wanted to call New Orleans home for some time. But without being able to return for two months or more, I will have to find work elsewhere…I love New Orleans, I love my neighborhood, I fear it will never be the same again…
Though I moved to San Antonio, TX some 20 years ago, I will always consider New Orleans my home, having been born and raised there–lived on Henry Clay, close to Audubon Park.
I am just devastated over all this, and to what has happened to the neighboring states. But I know that the citizens of New Orleans will persevere, though this will take time.
The looters–shoot them, every one of them.
They have lost all privileges by their heinious acts.
I would also like to ask–where are the words of sympathy from the other nations? I know that there are people in other countries that are feeling our pain, but what about the official words. And will they help to support our nation as we have done COUNTLESS times.
If there are words and $$ being discussed, then our news reporters are doing a poor job–but why would that not surprise any of us.
And finally–if you went to Ben Franklin, class of 1982–please email me at:
miranda.miller@baseballexpress.com
For that matter–anyone can.
May God give all faith and patience.
Miranda
“But there are plenty of us who, if we can get a little gasoline and bring in generators, are all set to go back home to get rebuilding again by early next week. And I don’t mean rebuilding our own places (ours is apparently okay, thank God) — I mean rebuilding the city as a whole.”
Seriously, there is no way you are going to be back in the city in the next 5 or 6 days. My god..you think they will let you back in just because you are assuming your place is dry?? There are dead bodies floating in the water man. I-10 is destroyed coming from the east. 80% of the city is still under water. They are still trying to evacuate and control looters who have seemingly taken over the city with their violence.
While I understand your frustration level, you have to be a litte more realistic.
Nagin said there will be a
The first song I heard on the radio today was “Beautiful Day” by U2 - I smiled - “after the floods all the colors came out” New Orleans will, ultimatley, be fine. :-)
God bless you all, thank you for taking the time to give us a firsthand look at all that is going on.
Oh, I know it’s not realistic to hope they’ll let us back in anytime soon. I agree with the plan to get EVERYONE out for at least a while and, frankly, I can’t imagine the vastness of the task ahead of the recovery and emergency planners. There’s no way to adequately plan for this kinda of disaster.
We don’t want to expose ourselves to the threat of rampant disease and, most importantly, we don’t want to get in the way of any emergency workers. Even if we could return, the fact we’re bringing in water and gasoline and food could, on its own, spark a riot. And even if we were able to keep that under wraps, we can only carry so much with us — gasoline for a few days, water and food for a week. There’s no place to get more, and won’t be for a long time. We want to contribute, not add to the already overwhelming burden.
It’s a case where hope and reality are again on two different pages or (in this case) in two different books for now.
I am thrilled to hear uptown and the universities and the museum are mostly okay. What is the news about the Zoo?
Regarding returning next week to rebuild, I doubt you’ll be allowed in town before the city begins to drain. Unless they can get the water out of most of the city, real rebuilding won’t be possible –even in some parts of it that are mostly dry. And what I read between the lines of the Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to repair the levees and drain the water is that they don’t really know how to do it. They are trying one thing after another, but so far there is no plan that is sure of success.
I am glad you are ready to go rebuild as soon as possible. Hang in there!
Mississippi College will open have a special registration for students affected by Hurricane Katrina. Registration will begin Tuesday, September 6 at 8:00 AM and conclude Wednesday, September 7, at 4:30 PM.
Any questions or comments need to be send to Landon Howell at Mississippi College (lhowell@mc.edu).
To all of you affected by this awful storm — I am so sorry for your suffering and loss and am sending prayers, good wishes, and the money I can your way. God speed.
jr
Chicago, IL
There is good news for New Orleans: the heart of the city, the oldest part of town, the lovely, historic French Quarter is mostly intact. As long as they can stop the looting and burning, the city can rebuild from the heart outward, starting along the other high ground: the Marigny, the Bywater, Downtown, St. Charles Avenue, Uptown — basically, da River.
Without the Quarter, a rebuilt New Orleans would be a cheap, modern replica of its former self. But with the Old Town, the French Quarter, St. Louis Cathedral, Royal Street, Bourbon Street, the city will have its heritage intact, its heart and soul, and that is a great foundation to rebuild a city on!
STEVE O’KEEFE
Marigny Refugee
It is such a relief to see that, although the media seems determined not to show them, some parts of town have faired pretty well. I lived in New Orleans from 1982-87 and was married there at Christ Church Cathedral on St Charles. I have a close friend who road out the storm in Mid-city and I haven’t heard from her since Monday morning. Not knowing is getting harder and harder. Seeing the looting and general bad behvior is very hard, especially knowing how many great people live in N.O. and are there right now doing the right thing and trying to cope.
Because all of you are there and we are not. What can we do in practical terms other than give money to some agency (which will take a hefty cut.)
Are there local agencies for us to donate directly to rather than go through the NY-dominated ones?
Many of us have second homes or vacation homes, would it be practical to open them up to a family or two? Perhaps organize a national listing of them.
Also I suggest news agencies use their technology to help including scrolling names of survivors and where they are located during broadcasts.
Know that millions of people like me want to help but want to make sure that it is getting to those who need it.
Cleveland, OHIO
I am so, so happy to see posts like this one from Craig. The only way to solve a problem is to face it with strength and determination, and it is such a relief to see a hint of daylight amid the anarchy, noise and confusion. A little cooperation can go a LONG way, and I trust that the next few weeks will show the true strength of New Orleans, as opposed to the news media obsession with lawlessness and their subtle method of blaming victims for their circumstance.
To put my comments in perspective, you should know that I’m a native New Yorker who lived through 9/11, and saw exactly how the politicos handled an unbearable situation. My fianc
“But there are plenty of us who, if we can get a little gasoline and bring in generators, are all set to go back home to get rebuilding again by early next week. And I don’t mean rebuilding our own places (ours is apparently okay, thank God) — I mean rebuilding the city as a whole.”
Forget showering — where, exactly, do you plan to piss and crap? Your enthusiasm is admirable, but dangerous. Unofficial “help” will tax whatever fragile infrastructure remains. There will be a time for helping rebuild. Early next week ain’t it.
Current satellite imagery of the city here.
Dear Craig and people from New Orleans:
Iam reading the news from USA and I can not bealive that this happend. Iam sending you a lot of energy from Argentina and hope,I will also pray for you and NO to have the strenght to rebuild the city and to go throug this sad situation.
In 1998, the U.S. Geological Survey was warning elementary schoolchildren about the dangers of “the big one” hitting New Orleans. pubs.usgs.gov/of/1998/of98-805/lessons/chpt8/act7.htm.
If only they had copied the White House and the Governor’s Office.
Dear Sir:
I write this through a veil of tears, as I cannot imagine what my home town endured! Although I’m in Denver, now, I have many relatives and friends that have not, yet, been heard from. (Mid-City area)
Your report was such a relief when I read it. Although I don’t have much, would you please verify a safe way to donate anything I may have, that will certainly get to New Orleans? In addition, I do have two working arms and legs and would be ready and willing to volunteer my time to help rebuild our fair city.
Please advise?
Marie Sokol
I am a reporter for an Education newspaper and we are trying to cover Katrina’s impact on schools, education in New Orleans…Any on the ground insight, contact info for teachers,principals, custodians, anyone associated with a school would be very helpful.
Thank you.
kmanzo@epe.org
Lt. Col. Trey Cate said top military officials are exploring ways to bring individual troops home to take care of families in need without altering the balance of forces in the war zones.
But top commanders are unsure if homecoming service members can yet visit areas stricken by Hurricane Katrina due to flooding and evacuation orders.
“There are lots of different options of getting soldiers back there,” said Cate, who is based in Qatar. “We’re going to do our best to take care of the troops and their families.”
National Guard units called up for rescue work in Louisiana and Mississippi had to make do without members currently deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
National Guard troops from Alabama and Wisconsin, along with other law enforcers, were ordered to deal with the shortfall.
Most Americans identify the National Guard with providing emergency services during natural disasters. But over the past three years, numerous Guard units have been sent to Iraq to fight alongside regular forces.
A brigade of roughly 5,000 soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard watched the disaster unfold on television at Camp Liberty, west of Baghdad. The troops are expected to leave Iraq by November, if their deployment is not extended.
In their absence, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle agreed to send 500 Wisconsin National Guard troops to Louisiana Wednesday to help out. The Wisconsin Guard itself is stretched, with 1,700 members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and another 1,000 mobilizing for deployment overseas.
Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said she has asked the White House to send more rescue workers to free up the 4,000 National Guard troops already in New Orleans to stop looting and return law and order to the flooded city.
THAT IS INCREDIBLE!!!!
That idiot of a cowboy Butch has really done it this time………he can go over and claim to rebuild a whole country but cannot keep up with the violence in a city???????……you remember when he read a book in kindergarden while the towers were under attack?….well he should have stayed and maybe continued to grade one ,and 2……..Katrina came in and wrecked Havoc….just like butch did…..ladies and gentleman i present to you, butch’s real wife……LADY KATRINA. and this hurricane kind of reminds me of Andrew……remember Andrew?….remember the shortfall of much needed help?….remember who was in power?….yep….daddy Bush….remember the gulf war??………take a step back people,…..the questions are there but so are the answers………
I do not live in the south, but am of the south, if you know what I mean. IMHO the most important part of NO appears okay - the old part, the Quarter, the original town. Everything else was built around it over the centuries. I am delighted to hear that it survived. In the meantime, you all just hunker down, and sooner or later, things will get better. Your fellow americans are with you all the way.
“I do not live in the south, but am of the south, if you know what I mean. IMHO the most important part of NO appears okay - the old part, the Quarter, the original town. Everything else was built around it over the centuries. I am delighted to hear that it survived….”
Karen, thank you for your concern. But I think you’ll find your HO doesn’t mean a damn thing to those who live in parts other than the “most important part of NO.”
I live in Illinois and have family who live in Mobile, AL. Thanks heavens there all safe. They introduced me to the GREAT CITY OF NEW ORLEANS! I love it. In fact I was to introduce my husband to your city in Jan. as we are taking a cruise out of New Orleans. My thoughts and prayers are with y’all. Were up here now gathering supplies to get to all of you great people down south. I do consider the south my second home, and would still make it my home at all times in a few years. Take care and God be with all of you.
I have been reading your blog since Monday and I just wanted to comment on how well you seem to be handling all this.In south Alabama where I am we had it rough but nothing like all of you.Poeple are fighting in gas lines and complaining because they have no power but good heavens at least we have homes.We should at least be greatful for that.I am happy your house is still there and happy you see a ray of light.I know NOLA will come back and things will be normal for all of you in time.Good luck and God bless.
New Orleans is one of the worlds’ most beloved cities. Good Luck!!!
Why can’t the TV Media let the survivors sign a log, that they would put on the screen in the form of a”CRAWL” so that their familes would know they have survived and where they are. The TV “Talking Heads” complain of NO PHOnES OR COMMUNICATION for these people yet the Media people have it all .. Let’s get them to use it. I would rather have the reporter let the poor survivor list his name rather than for the reporter to have the cameraman zoom in on a ruined “Ugly Bar”.
MSNBC and all TV MEDIA owe it to the nation to use
their COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT FOR A NEEDED PURPOSE AND DESPERATE SITUATION.
Kitty Zwissler
i am trying to find out about my home on 4th street between constance and magazine
does anyone have direct knowledge of any possible wind damage, flooding or looting?
p.s. can we all talk politics later?
after we have handled msome more urgent needs
Does anyone know of a map showing flooded areas? Anything like that been created yet? I saw a limited view map but nothing with different neighborhoods.
MIKE HOOD –
Your neighborhood (which is also mine — at Third and Laurel) is and has remained dry. Some trees and power poles reported down. No word on any looting or whatever. Also no word on which homes may or may not have roof damage.
See you at Parasol’s — whenever it reopens.
…Craig
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Sep2005/new_orleans_msi_aug31_2005_dg.jpg is dated yesterday, but is probably pretty much the same as today. It’s pretty easy to tell flooded areas from not by the color of roads, but unfortunately, comparing to a map of the city, user Lydia’s house is not on the map.
CNN has maps that aren’t as close up and so harder to read. But the one that contains your part of town is at http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/hurricanes/interactive/fullpage.nola.flood/3.2.html.
It’s hard for me to tell, but it looks like the location you mention is close to the boundary between flooded and unflooded areas. Good luck.
Oh, I meant Mike Hood’s home in my last post. 4th and Constance is somewhere on the CNN map link I posted, and appears to be close to the flood/no-flood line in that area.
I live in Jensen Beach Florida where Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne struck us last year. Compared to what has happened to the Gulf Coast with Katrina, what we fared last year was nothing! I pray for everyone (including the animals), and wish you all the best.
Help is on the way. I spoke with hardware folks earlier and they said Lowes was selling generators with a limit of 5 per person. Locals in Jax, Fl. were buying them up and heading for the Big Easy. They’re coming to help, not gouge. Hang in there, N’awlins!
I wrote some comments earlier in the day that I’d like to say I am sorry about. They were said in frustration and anger, which is never a great combination, but gives me no excuse to say the things I said about some of the thing that are going on in New Orleans. People are frustrated and hurt, just as I am, and I know that many didn’t leave because they could not leave. I will say once again, I am sorry what what I said earlier
I am wondering if anyone knows about an evacuation from Mercy Hospital to the Cajun Dome in Lafayette. A friend has a relative who is 80 who was in Mercy with a stroke and now he thinks she was released and sent to the Cajun Dome. The media has not reported on this evacuation. Does anyone know if this is true?
Mayor Nagin finally said on the air what I’ve been thinking for the last couple of days. People should start walking out of N.O. I’m renting a car and I’m gonna drive down there pick up some people. I’m going on faith that I won’t get hurt. Of course, I’m not going into the city. I’m looking for the elderly and/or women with kids to bring home with me. It’s been too long and the government seems incapable of handling the situation so I’m taking it upon myself to go help SOMEONE! Anybody wanna join me?
In the future three levees or dams need to be built, each one higher than the other to protect New Orleans. Even then it may be breached but not as easily as this time.
Another factor is the energy and intellect that is being expended on placing blame. I am a democrat and understand that things did not get going as quick as maybe should have been, but we are wasting our time placing blame. Let’s get to work on helping each other.
Stephan,
Thank you for your compasion. I am not in New Orleans but I weep for the pain and misery. God bless you for your thoughts.
Maybe someone can help us out here….I live in Montreal and the big debate in my town is……..what happened to the prisoners that were on a highway?what happened to the ones on rooftops( rooftops i did not see personally…the highway i remember them being there)……were THEY ” saved” or are they on the loose?……we are all convinced some sort of got away……but noone talked about where they went or at least we did not hear…..thank you
Mimi, God bless you
oh and what type of jail was this?….high security?
To the People who were affected by Hurricane Katrina:
On behalf of myself and others in the United States of America, we wish to extend our deepest condolences for any loss of life that occurred during this past week due to Hurricane Katrina. And we also understand the loss of property as well and know that all affected will recover. We will stand together as a Nation and help you all at all costs. You all will prevail.
Sincerely,
Judah Ben-Hur
My family and I evacuated to Bastrop, Louisiana, we’re fortunate to have family here. We have been welcomed with open arms by the communities surrounding and in Bastrop and we can’t say enough for the people here. They have opened their homes and hearts to us and we can’t say Thank you enough. Tonight they even invited evacuees to the University of Louisiana Monroe to their opening game for free. It’s a chance to get the kids out and get our minds off of our homes. We still don’t know if our home in Metairie is ok.
Thank you Bastrop, Monroe and Crossett (sorry if I’ve left anyone out).
Darlene
Brother of the sacred heart found dead next to dead naked child.
I read online that the inmates from the overpass had been evacukated to a prison near Baton Rouge and were secure. But I would not be suprised to hear that some inmates have been lost track of. Scary.
Though Ive never been there myself, I am a mother of 2 baby girls and just cried as I saw everything that happened there. I count my blessings everyday..that storm went right by us, here in Sarasota Florida. I have already made plans to do some donating to funds and food drives. I can’t give much, but I know every little bit helps. I saw a nice idea earlier.. if EVERYONE could donate 1 days pay to relief funds…… It would set me back for a while cause Im so budgeted especially with gas prices now, but think of how much it would do for all the residents who DIDNT have the means to leave.9-11 didnt bother me this much. And Bush is going there tomorrow? I hope the rioters shoot him. Tsunami victims recieved EVERYTHING they needed almost immediately. This is America, Bushs OWN country… quote “I know they want relief yesterday, but…” but nothing. Hopefully he leanrs from this and raises funds to get the people out BEFORE the storm next time. I know Im rabling on, but this has been on my mind constantly since monday. I wish you the best of luck and everyone else there too. I promise to do what I can to help as I know I would expect just the same if our city wasn’t so lucky. God Bless!
By the way… where are all the inmates in the jails there? Did they transport them out of state or are they just running loose out there? If anyone has heard anything about that please email me at Kristi_Nap@yahoo.com. ;o)
PS..get some food to those children most importantly…they are so much weaker than everyone else and have not gotten the chance to experience life yet.
Anyone trying to contact people in the hurricane area that can’t get through can text message…!!!!!!!!!!!!It works!!! Someone told me today that I could get through that way and my friends got the message and just called me back. My friends are safe in New Hampshire with family after traveling through TN. They have a 504 prefix cell phone and I did a text message after 5 days of calls that did not go through. PLEASE let everyone know that they need to TEXT MESSAGE!!!!!! PASS THIS ON!!!!!!!!!!!!
If anyone needs any phone calls made or ANY messages that I can help with..Heh, my long distance is free on my home phone and Im willing to take advantage of that. If ANYONE needs this I’m here, I just need a # to call and a name..along with any messages. Please email me Kristi_Nap@yahoo.com IM’s are forwarded to my cell phone 24 hours a day if I am away from my computer through AOL… StAlKrJaAlAn@aol.com
I was watching NBC news right now and was extremely concerned and agitated by the interview of Michael Brown, FEMA Director. This stupid FEMA director needs to be fired from his post!!! He indicated in the interview that the Federal Government just learned about the situation in New Orleans just today. How idiotic of him and his agency. Also earlier, he was basically blaming these poor people for not leaving New Orleans after they have been told to do so. Just a classic example of the government’s malfeasance and impolitic thinking. No offense to the people of New Orleans but don’t the government know that most of the people in New Orleans are dirt poor and way below the poverty line. Even if they wanted to go, most of them do not have the proper resources to take a bus, most do not have cars, and most do not have anywhere else to go. The FEMA Director’s statement did not help at all as one could only conclude that help is just being started and it sickened my stomach tonight. Where’s the President now? He has been so fast acting and helping in other countries’ disasters but he let his own constituents and people down!!!
Umm… I almost forgot…please title your emails ‘new orleans’ so i know its not just crap email coming through to my cell. Ill give my cell # for text messaging, but I wont answer to any phone #’s I dont know, so TEXT ONLY.. calls will only waste time and batteries and this way I can keep track of all messages. Thanks!
(941)914-2409
Too many of you are venting on this site. This is not for wannabe Chris Mathews types. Please leave this for genuine information. If you just want to sound off do so elsewhere.
For those who want to help, most of the newspaper and TV web sites have links for money and volunteer activities.
You are blog looters if you just want to call attention to yourself or drive a political agenda. Let’s get out real information to help people.
I live in Idaho but my son lives in Gonzales and has friends in New Orleans, my prayers go out to all of you.
My son was out of the country working in a refinery when the storm hit he now has several extra people living in his house that have no where to go. His truck is on the lower level parking at the air port, does anyone know if it flooded?
Thank You
tfisher_ok@yahoo.com
This is a possable way of plugging the rupture in the levy has anyone thought to try placeing a barge the length of the rupture and pumping water in to the barge thus sinking it along side the leak it may not stop all the water but i beleive it will slow it down enogh to get something more stationary in place at this point anything is worth a try, I wish you all the luck and gods blessing .im just a old ex river boat pilot that has run that area and all areas of the mississippi river, please try it , it just might work. thanks Jim Hutton (akatomcat4111945@aol.com)
Just wanted to let you guys know that you are LOVED IN BIRMINGHAM. You are one of our own and you have a safe haven here. God Bless You and hang tough…..
I can’t believe what I’ve been seeing on the news, but I have no time to go into it.
I hope that this info. can be passed along to people in the Gulf Coast area via contact with family members, access to the web if possible, etc… I know that’s too much to hope for considering conditions, but I’m posting it anyway.
Most drugstores and/or grocery stores have garlic and cayenne pepper in pill, granulated and raw form. Garlic is antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic and an excellent mosquito repellant. Also, cayenne powder poured directly on a wound will stop the bleeding. If taken internally, it will help with heart attack, stroke and may be useful for parasites. Also, probiotics are available in the vitamin section. They will supply the body with good bacteria.
In addition, solar water purifiers can be made out of such things as soda bottles, etc… There’s enough stuff laying around to do this.See
It is a shame that President Bush puts more focus on the looters instead of the suffering of people with no food, no water, no toilets–where is his urgency to evacuate these people? Where are the fleets of buses that were promised? Everyday that he delays more people die.
Our federal government needs to show the same resolve it shows foreign countries to our own citizens and that is sadly lacking here. The FEDS can drop food packets from airplanes to Iraqi citizens but not to our own. Where is the committment to our own citizens? FEMA is another waste, they didn’t even know that people were lined up at the convention center.
How come the reporters have no trouble getting in but the federal government has trouble getting relief to the refugees? It’s almost as if the FEDS are delaying because they think it’s easier to let people die then to put in the effor to save them. A lot of you need to be replaced
I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL CITIES - BUT HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST FOR A QUICK AND PAINLESS RECOVERY - I KNOW THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.
I HEARD SOMEONE SAY THAT THEY SHOULD LET THE LOOTERS TAKE WHAT THEY WANT - THEY NEED IT SO BAD - IT’S ONE THING TO LOOT FOOD, WATER, AND CLOTHING - BUT DO THEY REALLY NEED A TV, COMPUTER AND JEWLREY AT THIS TIME? ABSOULTLY SHAMEFULL. THEY SHOULD PUT AS MUCH EFFORT INTO HELPING OTHERS. I FEEL SO BAD FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THERE - IT’S ONLY THE LOOTERS THAT IS GETTING SO MUCH PRESS. BEST TO EVERYONE AND GOD BLESS.
Bush found over 200billion dollars to fight his war in Iraq.It was to stabilize the region and cheap gas.The region is a powder keg,over 1200 americans killed,gas in Atlanta 6.00, and he cant find a single bag of ice to help out the hurricane victems who helped fork over the 200billion in the first place.Its time for better management at the top!
Forgive me for being a little rude about a comment that was made earlier about ‘too many people venting’ Im no psychologist, but isnt venting a part of recovery? And I think it’s nice to see that people all over the world are not ignoring this… the people venting here are defending the victims if anything. Maybe some people dont have the resources to help financially or dont have the means to travel to help those people in need… but if anything they are giving their support. Im sure all the comments about the politicians and the military are greatly appreciated by those hurting right now because thats what they need right now is SOMEONE, anyone to speak out for them and let the country leaders know that we are not happy about the help (or not) that has been (or not)recieved. So please, if people want to vent a lil on a lil blog, let them. Maybe the right person just might see it. As a woman who tries her best to be a mother, wife and everything good that I need to be… a little bitching can go a long way once people have had enough. Vent on people..continue supporting!
Sorry, but I was right about the issue of this blog no longer being useful because people are using it to drive political agendas- and there is nothing wrong with having one, believe me.
But this site clearly has lost its usefulness to the people of New Orleans. When’s the last post from someone there? Where’s the information people need?
Sadly, many of you are guilty of what you accuse the politicians of - being blowhards, when real needs are going unmet. Which is why the last posts from real New Orleans people was a couple of days ago.
This is for Miranda-help from Foreign lands…
Europe to Send Oil Aid to U.S.
E-Mail This
Printer-Friendly
By REUTERS
Published: September 2, 2005
Filed at 9:44 a.m. ET
PARIS (Reuters) - Europe will dip into its emergency reserves of gasoline to help the United States through an energy crisis that began when Hurricane Katrina smashed into Gulf coast refiners, EU governments said on Friday.
Skip to next paragraph Spain and Germany said they were ready and able to send fuel across the Atlantic in an operation coordinated by the West’s energy watchdog, the International Energy Agency. The United States confirmed it had requested assistance.
EU nations have watched in horror as the world’s richest country struggles with the aftermath of Katrina. Thousands are feared dead and troops in the flooded city of New Orleans have been told to shoot-to-kill to crack down on looting.
Gasoline prices have soared by nearly a fifth over the past week and President George W. Bush has urged Americans to go easy on fuel. Unlike the IEA, the United States has only emergency reserves of crude and a small stockpile of heating oil.
“It’s self-evident that we support the American bid,” German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told a news conference in Berlin.
He expected a massive two million barrels per day of oil to be shipped over the next month — more or less offsetting lost output from the Gulf coast’s battered refineries.
“We assume that would lead to there being sufficient energy reserves in the market and, second, we would wish the pressure on the prices of oil products to be lessened,” Schroeder said.
Speaking at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Wales, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said: “Whatever the United States asks for they will be given.”
IEA TO MAKE FORMAL REQUEST FOR OIL
A Spanish official told Reuters the IEA had contacted Madrid on Thursday and indicated there would be a formal request for oil on Friday. Spain wanted a “balanced proposal” involving all IEA members - 26 industrialized nations including Japan.
“We are waiting (for the IEA request) and I think we will tell them ‘yes’,” a spokesman at Spain’s Industry Ministry said.
Crude oil prices have hit levels unseen in real terms since 1980 - the year of the Iran-Iraq war and a year after the Iranian revolution that choked off supply lines.
Prices fell by $1.07 a barrel to $68.40 on Friday on news that Europe was riding to the aid of the United States. Gasoline also eased.
But European oil will take at least 10 days to reach U.S. shores and tanker space is in short supply with many commercial ships already under charter and crossing the Atlantic.
The Paris-based IEA declined to confirm it would release oil to the United States. “We’re still consulting with all our members and the damage assessment is still going on,” an IEA spokeswoman said on Friday.
EU members Germany, France, Spain and Italy have substantial emergency reserves. The IEA last dipped into its emergency reserves in 1991 when a U.S.-led coalition ejected Iraqi troops from Kuwait. The agency, created after the 1973-74 oil crisis to protect consumers, must hold stocks of 90 days of net imports.
More Articles in News >
All of these are from the NYT-I don’t know why the other countries’ offers of aid have been so poorly publicized-supposedly Secretary of State Rice came home from her vacation to coordinate the foreign offers of aid. Anyway, here is another one, and I think fits Craig’s criteria of good news:NATO Offers Help to Hurricane - Hit U.S
E-Mail This
Printer-Friendly
By REUTERS
Published: September 2, 2005
Filed at 8:31 a.m. ET
SOFIA (Reuters) - NATO stands ready to help its biggest member, the United States, after it suffered heavy damage from the Hurricane Katrina, the head of the alliance said on Friday.
Skip to next paragraph The hurricane killed hundreds and possibly thousands and left large numbers of people homeless when it stormed through the Gulf of Mexico earlier this week in what was seen as one of the worst natural disasters to hit the United States.
“Where NATO can, NATO helps,” NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told reporters in Bulgaria, where he is on an official visit.
“Whenever and wherever our major partner, important friend the United States asks assistance … NATO stands ready to answer those calls, because NATO is based on solidarity.”
He did not give details on how the 26-nation alliance could help.
A NATO official said the alliance was not offering military help such as helicopters, but was ready to act as a clearing house for offers of humanitarian aid — such as water purification devices — from individual NATO allies.
The official told Reuters by telephone that NATO had acted as a clearing house for such aid during the floods in Romania and Bulgaria this summer. But he specified that Washington would have to ask for NATO’s involvement first.
The United Nations along with more than 20 countries, ranging from allies Germany and Japan to poor Honduras, have offered help to Washington.
On Thursday, the U.S. Senate approved President George W. Bush’s request for $10.5 billion in emergency disaster relief for the victims of the hurricane.
More Articles in News >
Last article I’ll post from the NYT-if you go to their website and. for some bizarre reason, search “water purification”, all these articles about foreign aid pop up.
Europe Offers U.S. Hurricane Assistance
E-Mail This
Printer-Friendly
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 2, 2005
Filed at 10:52 p.m. ET
VIENNA, Austria (AP) — As the enormity of Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath sinks in, Europeans have been moved to help in ways great and small: from an Austrian university proposing to take in 500 students from New Orleans, to nations agreeing to tap into strategic oil reserves.
Amid the compassion, there was also surprise that America appeared so vulnerable and unprepared, and dismay the Bush administration plays down the global warming threat so many Europeans link to the force and frequency of such storms.
Across the continent, the media and governments focused on the tragedy, with newspapers running photos of victims wading chest-deep in water and television screens filled with fires.
The French daily Liberation described the scenes of devastation as a cruel spectacle for President Bush, ”the champion of security.” Criticizing the disorder in the evacuation of hospitals, the editorial called Hurricane Katrina a ”natural disaster with political implications.” Terror mastermind Osama bin Laden ”must be dying of laughter,” it said.
In Italy, several newspapers said mounting criticism of Bush’s handling of the relief effort was damaging his credibility. And Germany’s Die Tageszeitung said the world was ‘’seeing scenes otherwise only known in African capitals. The forces of order are absent. Anarchy and chaos reign. Supermarkets are plundered, helicopters shot at.”
Some said perceived U.S. indifference to global warming was coming home to roost.
”What’s absent is a debate over the climate, over Kyoto, over the human-caused warming of the earth,” said an editorial in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, a Munich-based daily. ”But the oil shortage caused by the disaster will hurt Bush more than gaps in climate policy will.”
Concrete offers of help, though, were louder than the criticism. The governments of 26 countries agreed Friday to release the equivalent of 2 million barrels of oil per day from strategic fuel reserves to cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the International Energy Agency said.
With offers from around the globe pouring in, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice decided ”no offer that can help alleviate the suffering of the people in the afflicted area will be refused,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Thursday.
Spurred by images of people huddled on curbs begging for clean water and chaotic rescue efforts from rooftops, Europe also offered brainpower — specialists in coordinating disaster relief, experts in rebuilding devastated communities and rescue workers familiar with risky maneuvers.
The U.N. created a special task force to dispatch disaster experts, while the European Union volunteered to send water supply specialists.
Rice on Friday disputed a report from Moscow that a Russian offer had been rejected, but said said some offers were being taken up immediately and others ‘’somewhat later,” depending on need.
In televised comments late Friday, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia said three planes were ready to leave with rescue teams, equipment and aid, including water purification equipment and medicine.
”We are awaiting final confirmation from the American side,” Lavrov said on Channel One.
Italy offered two military transport planes loaded with pumps, generators, amphibious crafts and tents. Germany pledged medical supplies. France dispatched rescue workers to determine what it could offer. NATO pledged its help, too.
In the Balkans, where the U.S. military has been deployed to keep the peace following a decade of conflict, offers were steeped in gratitude. A Bosnian television station offered to raise money. In Kosovo, a civil emergency unit made up of former ethnic Albanian rebels offered to send a team to help rebuild.
Elsewhere, Asia-Pacific nations, including tsunami-battered Sri Lanka, pledged money and disaster relief experts.
”There should not be an assumption that because America is the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world, this isn’t a major challenge and a major crisis,” Australian Prime Minister John Howard told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.
El Salvador, the only Latin American country with troops still in Iraq, offered Thursday to send soldiers to the United States to help police zones flooded by Hurricane Katrina.
The French city of Orleans also rallied to help its hurricane-hit American namesake. The city south of Paris planned to donate money raised from ticket sales at local sports matches to help hurricane victims in New Orleans, a statement from City Hall said Friday. Orleans and its university also offered to take in 50 students from the University of New Orleans for the school year.
The proposal to take in 500 students from New Orleans at the University of Innsbruck in Austria for the winter semester was more personal. The two universities, both in cities that boast rich cultural histories, have spent decades building bonds of friendship and community and have exchanged students in summer programs for three decades.
The offer came only days after the western province of Tyrol suffered severe flooding of its own.
”People here have cold winters and avalanches — so we are familiar with the dangers of nature,” Schennach said. ”There is an understanding that if someone is in need, you help.”
-
Associated Press writers Karl Ritter in Stockholm, Sweden, David McHugh in Berlin, Jamey Keaten in Paris, Nicole Winfield in Rome and Mar Roman in Madrid, Spain, contributed to this story.
More Articles in International >
If people said looters among those hurricane
Your site is VERY VALUABLE. Even if some missuse it keep it going.
If people want to share their home they can log on to SHAREHOME.ORG
They need to realize that this is a real committment to our fellow human beings. LONG TERM
Commit to taking a family in, help them get a job and get their children into schools etc in order to normalize their lives.
Is there a way we can sent YOU even gas money so some of these unfortunate people can get out of there? Have more faith in you than in the supposed legitimate organizations and Gov. as they are too focused on money to even do what you all did.
Can you organize a shuttle service car/boat to/from the Domes to relieve the situation?
K.O. Zwissler
I am willing to share my home