[Kurt_D]

That's amazing... people KNEW that the Hurricane was going to hit them. They knew it with enough days in advance. In any case, now it's time to send some help to this devastated region.

[kinghorse]

It's been a long time since a real live storm surging Cat 4 or 5 rolled through. The damage effects increase exponetially as you move up the scale. Too many near misses conditioned people to think it's hype.

Then the big one comes and educates another generation.

Galveston was hit in 1900 and it still hasn't recovered. Houston took it from Galveston. Baton Rouge is going to take it from NO.

[Daus]

That's amazing... people KNEW that the Hurricane was going to hit them.

Some knew, but you have to understand that there is a whole sub-culture than does not read newspapers, and that the TV is for PlayStation2 and/or watching cable TV channels which do not carry news. As amazing as it sounds, there are people who went to bed Sunday night without any knowledge there was a storm coming or had only heard rumor of it.

[najida]

You also have folks (like around here) who've lived through near miss after near miss after near miss.

Then the few storms that did blow over were lightweight 2's or 3's....

Honestly, I can see where lots of folks would be thinking "Nah, it won't be that bad, it'll be just like last time."

[Alas Babylon!]

In my wallet and I have several credit cards with no balances and huge credit limits. I have a brand new car and truck that can take me cross country without worrying about breakdowns and repairs. I am a professional that could get a good job virtually anywhere, because I've kept up my skills.

Now imagine what it is like to have none of these. No credit cards, no cash money. Will a hotel let you stay overnight? No car, or a clunker that just might make 100 miles before it broke down, leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere. Care to head out in that? Sick elderly parents that cannot take a long drive anywhere, or are handicapped in various ways. Some have jobs that only pay by the hour and will give your job to someone else in a heartbeat if you don't show up.

I have a great deal of sympathy for these folks. We should not assume they're all middle class folks of means.

Luke 16:
19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

   ²⁰And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

   ²¹And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

   ²²And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

   ²³And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

   ²⁴And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

   ²⁵But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

   ²⁶And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

[al_again]

KNEW the hurricane was going to hit them??? Living in Florida - I'm vary used to hearing news reports about exactly where the Hurricane is going to hit and how strong it will be.

There are several times when evacuations have been ordered and predictions of CAT IV strength that never hit and/or turn out to be CAT I and II.

I personally would have run like hell but to say people knew is ridiculous.

[al_again]

and i kant spel either!

[rdl6989]

To me the worst part of this catastrophe is that the mayor, Ray Nagin, waited so long to issue the mandatory evacuation order.