If there are bodies in those trucks, then there must be a lot more than 14, otherwise the trucks would not be needed. There was a thread about "stacks of bodies", and also there was the hospital official interviewed on Fox who said there were 150 DOAs. But the count remains at 14 three days later.
Has anyone else found this curious?
I think when you're reporting fatalities, its not really our business to hear speculation. That only creates panic to families etc with uncontacted loved ones.
When they get firm numbers and make notifications they'll tell the truth. Until then we can wait.
It reminds me of 9/11 when everyone "speculated" that 10s of thousands were dead. All it did was create more (if its possible) panic, fear and sadness.
I don't find it curious at all. I see this more as an official who does not want to be misquoted or questioned as to why the numbers keep changing. I think they are more interested in taking care of the people and property in the area then letting the rest of us know how many bodies they have found so far.
For the life of me, I can't imagine any possible conspiracy that might be behind the delay.
When they have the correct number, they will release it.
... at her hospital, and she hadn't heard from the other three area hospitals. I'm somewhat curious about the way they're handling discussion of the actual count, but I think they're handling it tactfully. My prayers for the families affected by this catastrophe.
Once again, the media wants a body count. That is what they live for, not the well being of those living with the aftermath of the storm.
Besides if FEMA starts giving out numbers they have to put a name with that number which means someone should be notified.
Numbers are only important if you are keeping score. These people need help not conspiracy theories.
Yeah, I'd say "settle down."
In this instant news era, people think they have the right to every bit of information instantly.
Without electicity in the local funeral homes, it makes sense to store these bodies for a while in these special refrigerated trucks until relatives can take care of burial or medical examiners can perform autopsies.
I hate to say it but a lot of these old people will be dead before years end as a result of this thing. We lost our house in "mild" flood event a few years ago. The shock and stress made us both physically ill for a few months. There are going to be elderly who simply aren't going to be able to deal with it all. I doubt they will be included in any final total. Prayers with all.
The government can't admit that it is powerless, and that its "measures" don't stand up against Nature. After all, how would their preparations stand up to war on our soil?
As for covering up the truth about anything? Business as usual. It would be interesting to know the actual motive, apart from what I've postulated.
I do find it curious that they haven't released more details. I have no problem releasing data as appropriate but what I find strange is that this is not the way things usually work in this country (for the good or bad). With Andrew it seemed like 24/7 coverage. I get most of my updates from this storm on FR and TWC. It just seems strange. It's just BAU. Laci, Lori, Kobye, NJ Gov ...
If there had been no hurricane evacuation, they'd have probably lost more than that this weekend on the shuffleboard courts.
My point? Impressive forecasting technology was used and public-safety actions were taken. In many countries, there would be thousands dead.
I think you are putting more fath in baseless rumors and scurrilous reporting than in what is being presented as truth.
The stacks of bodies never existed except in the erroronous press reports.
they cant count to fourteen? do they have the Dewey Decimal System on the toe tags?
It would be better now to hear that they have located X number of bodies because X will grow. This is a REASON TO REPORT THE NUMBERS NOW in case the numbers get unreasonably high and they have to account for withholding devastating information.
The authorities may be Democrats holding out to register the dead to vote and are deciding how many they need. This would best explain the mishandling of the situation.
"Yes, there are fatalities. Yes, there are people in those refrigerated trucks at the temporary morgue, but we're not prepared to say how many. At this point, I'm not sure that I have the accurate number..."
We are receiving aid from quite a few southern states. However I have heard no news of help coming from other countries. I wonder how much aid has been sent to Cuba from our so called friends.
Dear God, can public officials in America not be honest about anything anymore?
Can these people not count past twenty or something?
As someone who lives at ground zero, I can tell you that the official local body count is 4 (Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte).
The claims of higher body counts were made by a shocked senior citizen immediately after the storm, who saw all the mobile homes that had been damaged in just one park.
This claim has been repeated by the national newscasters without comment about whether it reflected the truth.
The search and rescue teams have been going door to door in the 31 mobile home parks in Charlotte county - using dogs trained to sniff humans (live or dead). They are looking for anyone trapped.
Today, they did find two people - both alive.
So far, only 4 bodies found, and about 90% of the homes checked.
Most people did evacuate the mobile home parks. Most of the mobile homes were empty as the snow birds were still up north this time of the year.
The morgue trucks were brought in as a precaution. Good planning - just in case.
The media news hounds are looking for something sensational to report - as if the destruction were not enough.
But there is good news. Water is running (although there is a boil order). Some phone lines have been restored, in fact long distance calls can be made and received. But no local calls or cell phones yet.
Electricity is being restored - slowly.
Some local stores (Home Depot, Sams Club) and others are in business. Two hospitials now have power. Food shipments are coming in.
No looting reported. Their is martial law, and a 9pm to 7am curfew.
It is hot, humid, and plenty of mosquitos. People without roofs and air conditioning and TV and radio and phones.
But not stacks of bodies being hidden somewhere . . .