Katrina Live Thread, Part XI

Various ^ | 30 August 2005 | Various

[beyond the sea]

This is becoming bigger than 9/11, if that were possible.

This is MUCH WORSE than 9/11, imo.

[Cboldt]

I heard the Ambulance guy asking for help with the looters (he's worried about his own people being shot) and yet right after him someone got on and explained the three tiers and how this only merited the National Guard, not the Army. I think in this case we have to toss the rule book.

The rule book is full of room for judgement. IOW, it's not the rules that are the problem, it's human fallability.

[foreign devil]

It may resemble Southeast Asia's tsunami more than 9-11 when the true death toll is admitted to. For now I guess they don't want to shock people more than they are but the truth is, they're not telling us except in very oblique ways what the true cost of this is in lost lives. Very soon though, many of those alive now will die as they succumb to heatstroke and other problems from lack of water and food. Eventually the unburied corpses will begin to smell and NO will be uninhabitable. Disease will be a real problem. This could start to happen in the next 24 hours.

[luckystarmom]

It makes you wonder what would happend during a major terrorist attack.

[luckystarmom]

It makes you wonder what would happend during a major terrorist attack.

[Strategerist]

Islamic extremists rejoiced in America's misfortune, giving the storm a military rank and declaring in Internet chatter that "Private" Katrina had joined the global jihad, or holy war. With "God's help," they declared, oil prices would hit $100 a barrel this year.

I'll comment on it.

They're the intellectual brethen of the people here that gleefully gloat and giggle over natural disasters in Muslim countries.

[Rokke]

Yes. It is a disaster. But that three year old boy was not "obviously dying". Miserable, hot, hungry, tired, bored yes. But dying...no.

[colorado tanker]

How to explain this? A commander is usually more effective at his headquarters, where he has the best communications and information. But there are times when he needs to go out in the field for no reason other than being seen by the troops.

[Coldwater Creek]

Well it is about time he did something worthwhile.

[Mr. Jeeves]

I could NOT believe the that official who wouldn't talk to Shep, on national TV, no less. Wouldn't look at him, wouldn't answer him. I was astounded.

Answering would mean taking responsibility.

[Howlin]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1474252/posts

[dfwgator]

Yes it is, it's more comparable to the Tsunamis in Asia, albeit on a smaller scale, but to the people in the path, they face the exact same reality.

[Coldwater Creek]

Well it is about time he did something worthwhile.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Um. I think you are being just a bit over dramatic here. Maybe it is time to take a break. And I mean that sincerely, not sarcastically."

Uhhh not that dramatic. That kid is suffering from either dehydration or fever or both (my guess from what I could see) If he is not given a large amount of water soon he will die. Soon they will have to resort to giving him water from the flood and that could be even worse.

[Not A Snowbird]

But there are times when he needs to go out in the field for no reason other than being seen by the troops.

Not right now. It would be like the President strolling into Fallujah while the battle was still going on so he could "be seen".

When the time is right, he'll go. I trust him to know when that time is.

[colorado tanker]

My suggestion was not a ground inspection. I agree it's too early. My suggestion was to do a preliminary inspection by helicopter. I'm glad he'll be there soon.

[dfwgator]

It's the Galveston of this century.

[Cboldt]

Did you just see Shep showing the little kid on the freeway? He looks awful. I have tears in my eyes. Fox news people have thrown down water to them. Poor baby.

I did. This disaster has so many sad stories in it, we'll be ably to cry for the rest of our lives.

Meanwhile, somebodies need to get their act together and get humping to help. I echo the sentiment about standardizing emergency comminications methods, as a minimum. A the same time, NOLA is a special circumstance, no other US city that I know of has this sort of evacuation challenge.

[luckystarmom]

Have you ever been to the south in 90 plus degree weather? It does not take long to become sick. It does not take long to die. They need to quickly get those people shade and water, and them get them the H*** out of NO.