Katrina Live Thread, Part XIV

Various ^ | 2 September 2005 | Various

[NautiNurse]

President Bush continues to assess the catastrophic damage by air and on the ground in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Bush spent the day meeting with search and rescue personnel, relief commanders, and displaced residents in Mobile, Biloxi, and the New Orleans area. U.S. Congress passed a $10.5 billion relief package for the hurricane ravaged areas. First Lady Laura Bush issued a press statement from an evacuation shelter in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Patient and staff evacuations continue from numerous New Orleans Hospitals. Thousands of patients are being airlifted to a field hospital at Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport for triage, staging, and transport to hospitals throughout the United States.

The U.S. Coast Guard and civilian volunteers continue to evacuate thousands of survivors from their flooded homes in New Orleans. The Army Corps of Engineers continues work to repair the damaged levees.

The nation's airlines today began an operation intended to fly up to 25,000 refugees out of New Orleans. The airlines are volunteering their aircraft and crews for the program. Long convoys loaded with relief supplies arrived throughout the day into New Orleans, while convoys of buses are moving survivors out of the city.

Several large fires are burning in the city and greater New Orleans area. Reports indicate snipers are holding down firefighters. Reports of shots fired with LEO down in the St. Bernard Parish area. Rescue operations are underway. A bus carrying NOLA evauees rolled over in Opelousa, LA.

Links to various news, local and state government websites:

WLOX TV Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagula has link to locate family and friends
2theAdvocate - Baton Rouge Includes Slidell, St. John Parish, St. Bernard Parish updates, and other locations.
NOLA.com
Inside Houma Today includes shelter and volunteer updates
WLBT.com Jackson MS
WALA Channel 4 Mobile, AL Includes links to distribution centers, Emergency Ops, etc.
Sun-Herald Gulfport MS Includes link to town by town reports
Gulfport News via Topix.net
WAFB Baton Rouge
Mobile Register via al.com
Mississippi updates via Jackson Ledger
Lafayette LA Daily Advertiser
Pensacola News Journal
St Bernard Local Government
Alabama Homeland Security Volunteers can sign up online
Alabama DOT
Alabama.gov
Louisiana Homeland Security
Louisiana State Police road closure info
State of Mississippi Website has traffic alerts, emergency contact numbers

Streaming Video:

New Orleans Emergency Operations Center - is now open:
504-463-1000
504-463-1001
504-463-1002

WWL-TV New Orleans (via WFAA Dallas) - WWL-TV is operating from studios at Louisiana Public Broadcasting. CBS has a relay during the morning and afternoon. When available, use the CBS relay first as they have greater streaming capacity. Yahoo has also provided a relay.

WDSU-TV New Orleans - The news staff has started to return to temporary news studios near New Orleans. However, expect evening coverage from Hearst-Argyle sister stations WAPT Jackson and WESH Orlando when the New Orleans staff needs to take a break.

WGNO-TV New Orleans - New Orleans' ABC affiliate has returned to the air with WBRZ-TV and launched video streaming with continuous Katrina coverage.

WPMI-TV Mobile, AL - WPMI is webcasting from 5:30am - 10:30pm CDT. When off air, you can view pre-recorded reports on demand. This feed is often unreliable.

WKRG-TV Mobile, AL - This station is providing good coverage of the situation to the east in Mississippi and Alabama. However, the station is now signing off at around 10:30pm CDT like WWL and WPMI.

WJTV-TV Jackson, MS - The CBS affiliate in Jackson is providing live coverage for both the Jackson area and south Mississippi (knowing a lot of media in that area is off the air).

United Radio From New Orleans: WWL-AM, WNOE-FM, "KISS-FM," WRNO-FM, WYLD-FM, and WJBO-AM who have joined forces as United Radio From New Orleans, and they are streaming.

Related FR Threads:

FYI: Hurricane Katrina Freeper SIGN IN Thread FReeper Check In thread
Discussion Thread - Hurricane Katrina - What Went Wrong?!?
Post Hurricane Katrina IMAGES Here
Looting Begins In New Orleans
Hurricane Katrina HOUSING Thread
Martial Law Declared in New Orleans

Due to the number of requests to assist, the following list of some charities is provided.
This is not intended as an endorsement for any of the charities.

www.redcross.org or 1-800 HELP NOW - note: website is slow, and lines are busy
Salvation Army - 1-800-SAL-ARMY or Salvation Army currently looking for in-state volunteers - (888)363-2769
Operation Blessing: (800) 436-6348.
America's Second Harvest: (800) 344-8070.
Catholic Charities USA: (800) 919-9338, or www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee: (800) 848-5818.
Church World Service: (800) 297-1516 or online at www.churchworldservice. org.
Lutheran Disaster Response: (800) 638-3522.
Nazarene Disaster Response: (888) 256-5886.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: (800) 872-3283.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is accepting donations at its 3,800 stores and Web site, www.walmart.com.
National Black Home Educators Resource Association http://www.nbhera.org/ Southern Baptist: NAMB - http://www.namb.net/
Samaritan's Purse - http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

Previous Threads:
Katrina Live Thread, Part XIII
Katrina Live Thread, Party XII
Katrina Live Thread, Part XI
Katrina Live Thread, Part X
Katrina Live Thread, Part IX
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VIII
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VII
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VI
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part V
Hurricane Katrina, Live Thread, Part IV
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part III
Katrina Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm 12

[LadyBuzz]

wasn't Brown arrogant x10 last night? that smirk & smug face was horrible

[Michael Goldsberry]

"My husband wants to know where you go for target practice?"

Mostly the range near Westheimer and six. But I usually concentrate on hand gun skills, not sniping.

When I want to snipe, the .308 comes out. I own the AK just because I can be a mean SOB at times.

[Soul Seeker]

Said anything but what?

Rush was practically one of the only people responding to the political attacks, he didn't fall for the 'politics can wait' attitude of many. He won't be on Monday though, will be back Tuesday.

[A. Morgan]

Did you see the CNN guy standing in Jackson Square saying that Jackson was honored for liberating NO from the French!

No, missed it. Thank God Jackson Square is safe, though, and, that the French are surrendering across the sea.

[Ellesu]

Agree, I can't watch him. It's bad enough when you have family that have lost everything, then add that cr*p they are saying and it makes us all the more upset. I had a house full shouting at the TV and at Landrieu, etc. Somebody may go postal on these guys if they don't shut up. Seriously, people are on the edge right now and the media is not helping.

[Aliska]

Sell them and use the money to buy some survival gear. If you want to, help the really needy with some of it. The nice donated clothes often get taken home by the people who distribute them.

So much money has been poured into this now, some from me, that it's time to sit back and see what they do with it and save some for another crisis that people won't be so open-hearted and generous about.

[mystery-ak]

Very well said...thank you

[Ellesu]

Thanks, I've missed him all week, but radio says they will resume normal program next week. I can't wait for him to let them have it.

[Types_with_Fist]

You are welcome, of course. I have been fortunate in friends and family down there. As far as I know, everyone is okay. I am still waiting to hear about my step-father in Kenner however. But, he's former Navy and I suspect he got out of there. Very efficient man.

[Rokke]

"This is all the press and politicians doing, it isn't the way the vast majority feels."

I'm just catching up on this thread, but your comment prompts me to relate an experience I had today. I am doing some training with my civilian employer and am partnered with a long time democrat, big union chief. He's a great guy, but I dreaded hearing his comments on the current situation. During a break we caught some coverage on CNN. I asked him what he thought of the mess in New Orleans. He responded, "The people running that city could not have screwed things up any worse than they did. There is no way the Federal government could solve the problems that city made for itself." You could have knocked me over with a feather. He want on to explain that he's got some contacts from the area who stated New Orlean's hurricane response effort existed entirely on paper. They created a plan and funded none of it, including personnel, equipment and supplies. As he was explaining this other folks in the background were commenting on how screwed up the governor and mayor were, and that any sympathy they had for the people of New Orleans ended when shots started being fired at rescuers.

The folks saying this stuff are all union members and generally apolitical. But they were mad. Not at the federal government, and certainly not at Bush (he wasn't even mentioned). They were mad at the governor, the mayor and the trash in that city that have made America look bad. I was really surprised. Their comments made this site look like DU.

[76834]

The world has changed now.
It is more than evident that the only one that can protect you and your family is yourself.
Would strongly advise you to purchase a weapon for every member in your family old enough understand what weapons are and what they are for.
Learn how to use them and learn well.

[NautiNurse]

All things children have been requested. They are assimilating the children into the surrounding school systems next week. They need clothes, and likely school supplies.

Also heard a request for children's books at the shelters.

[fedupjohn]

The shelters here are begging for volunteers because many of those who have been helping can't get there because they don't have gas.

.Why don't they ask 1 member of each family being housed, to work at the shelter, since it is now thier home for short term....JUST A THOUGHT.

[Michael Goldsberry]

Is it really that desperate there? Do you really need something like this?

[Torie]

Hi there. It must have been quite an adventure for you, and will continue to be. New place, new climate, and then a hurricane. Life is interesting. Thank heavens you are safe and well. I am still quite distressed and emotional about this from afar, I hope to regain my equilibrium in time.

[bjs1779]

I'm in Michigan and it's not playing well at all with those I know of all political stripes.

I think Bush did good by saying the effort was "unacceptible". Then the fur flew in the last 24 hours. I think he is okay now. Results matter, even if a little late.....

[onyx]

Former Navy man? Yep, efficient and independent. Likely unable to call you, because even from here, it's DIFFICULT to make and receive calls. Takes several attempts, on both landlines and cells.

[PleaseNoMore]

NN, I don't know if this link has been posted, but I have been listening to a NO police scanner online and they are communicating needs over the radio. At this moment they are stating a soldier is in critical need of high blood pressure medicine and blood thinner.

I have had this on throughout the day and it's an interesting listen.

Police scanner:

http://205.252.89.181:8000/live.m3u

[pollyg107]

Some of those housed at the shelters here are helping out -- cleaning, helping with meals, washing clothes, etc. However, several of the shelters are filled with nursing home patients and disabled persons. Those shelter residents can't help out and they need a lot more volunteers per capita than shelters filled with able-bodied families. I know a few volunteers who are living at the shelters because they don't have gas to go back and forth. They won't be able to do that indefinitely, because some of them have young children at home.

[NautiNurse]

I'm not sure I should reply to your post...but I will take a deep breath and try...

There are no people available to distribute clothes. Boxes are opened, put into a bin or dumped onto a table, and the hurricane survivors take what is there when they get there. Children are wearing adult clothes.