Posted on 08/31/2005 2:36:51 PM PDT by Smogger
The coastal communities of South Mississippi are desperately in need of an unprecedented relief effort. We understand that New Orleans also was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, but surely this nation has the resources to rescue both that metropolitan and ours.
Whatever plans that were in place to deal with such a natural disaster have proven inadequate. Perhaps destruction on this scale could not have been adequately prepared for.
But now that it has taken place, no effort should be spared to mitigate the hurricane's impact.
The essentials -- ice, gasoline, medicine -- simply are not getting here fast enough.
We are not calling on the nation and the state to make life more comfortable in South Mississippi, we are calling on the nation and the state to make life here possible.
We would bolster our argument with the number of Katrina casualties confirmed thus far, but if there is such a confirmed number, no one is releasing it to the public. This lack of faith in the publics' ability to handle the truth is not sparing anyone's feelings, it is instead fueling terrifying rumors.
While the flow of information is frustratingly difficult, our reporters have yet to find evidence of a coordinated approach to relieve pain and hunger or to secure property and maintain order.
People are hurting and people are being vandalized.
Yet where is the National Guard, why hasn't every able-bodied member of the armed forces in South Mississippi been pressed into service?
On Wednesday reporters listening to horrific stories of death and survival at the Biloxi Junior High School shelter looked north across Irish Hill Road and saw Air Force personnel playing basketball and performing calisthenics.
Playing basketball and performing calisthenics!
When asked why these young men were not being used to help in the recovery effort, our reporters were told that it would be pointless to send military personnel down to the beach to pick up debris.
Litter is the least of our problems. We need the president to back up his declaration of a disaster with a declaration of every man and woman under his command will do whatever is necessary to deal with that disaster.
We need the governor to provide whatever assistance is at his command.
We certainly need our own county and city officials to come together and identify the most pressing needs of their constituents and then allocate resources to meet those needs. We appreciate the stress that theses elected and appointed officials have been under since the weekend but they must do a better job restoring public confidence in their ability to meet this challenge.
This editorial represents the view of the Sun-Herald editorial board: President- Publisher Ricky R. Mathews, Vice President and Executive Editor Stan Tiner, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Flora S. Point, Opinion Page Editor Marie Harris, and Associate Editor Ed. Tony Biffle.
You are right. We are obviously not prepared to handle a widespread emergency like this. I truly hope Bin Laden is not watching this pitiful exercise on TV somewhere, because it would surely embolden him to try something spectacular at two or three sites simultaneously knowing our government can't handle it. How many BILLIONS have we spent on Homeland Security and we can't even provide water for people after three days?
FINALLY got word on my in-laws in Gulfport. They all stayed in one house (all 9 of them) in Orange Grove (Gulfport north of I-10).
Very bad connection via cell.
House is still standing; lost half the roof; lots of water damage from rain, not flooding; garage door gone; privacy fence gone; several old pine trees are on the ground now.
Important thing is they're ok. They have a gennie and lots of food (and guns just in case). Still haven't heard from my folks up in McComb/Brookhaven MS. I'm thinking they're okay, just without power.
I have cousins in Bay St Louis, MS. Haven't heard a word.
A friend of mine from near Brookhaven made it to Starkville and checked in. The Brookhaven area has no electricity, water, or phones. She had no damage to her house but lost several big trees on her property.
Sh*t man. I got credit cards with high limits, two cars, cellphones, and plenty of homeowner's insurance. If the call came to evacuate I would reluctantly leave town, and wait it out from a plush hotel room somewhere.
If I didn't have any of that I think I would be highly tempted to stay behind and protect my meager belongings come Hell or highwater as so many did.
As for the looters if they're not getting groceries, or candles they should be shot on sight.
They should be court martialed.
We have the easy job. We get to sit back and commentate on others' shortcomings, while they are dealing with scared, tired, hungry, thirsty, angry people who have absolutely nowhere to turn at the moment. We need to give those organizations and the authorities a little time. Consider how hard it is to get supplies in to NO right now, and how hard it is to get people out. If you have never been in a flood, it is unimaginable.
Each of us needs to do what we can to help, and we need to do what we do best, pull together to make it happen for those people. I live in Houston. I am going tomorrow to the Houston Food Bank to help stock supplies for the refugees that will be arriving here in our city. I have a friend in Boston, a young EMT who is arriving in Lafayette tomorrow to help at the shelters there with medical needs. Another friend is going to be helping with counselling those who have that need. My dad, who lives in western La. has already opened his home to two families who came to the hotel where he works and there was just no more room for them, so he took them home with him.
I know not all of us can help in like manner, but there is always something to be done, if its donations of all kinds, prayers, or even just kind words for the victims. If we all do what we do best, this won't end up being the worst disaster in our nation's history, but rather our nation's finest hour.
I want to say one more thing about the looting going on. Looting jewelry or electronics is one thing. In fact, it sucks. But just about anything else and I personally can overlook it. If I were in that situation I know I would do whatever it took to survive. And I also know that after a day or two of wearing wet shoes, I would take the first dry pair I found. If you are honest, I bet you would too. Violence is not to be countenanced during this awful time, but I saw police using nightsticks against children carrying off clothes and groceries. If that is not a crime, it should be...
Off my soapbox now. Carry on.
"Please pray with me for United States of America-hurricane"
Prayers for Romulus, Askel 5, and others from New Orleans and Louisiana
Prayers for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina
Catholic Caucus: Virgin of Prompt Succor - Hurricanes and Dangers
How about a Prayer for the Kat Hurricane folks Drstevej former freeper
The National Guard is working doing clean up and rescue. We may not see it on the TV, and the Sun Herald may not see it, but somebody is picking up those bodies and moving debris around in the Back Bay area.
The Sun Herald can be as snarky as they want about the authorities not releasing the numbers of the dead, but truly, what would that serve except to pique people's curiousity at this point?
Have you tried calling the Pascagoula Police Dept? I think P'goula has phone service because my sister called her son yesterday morning to let him know that they were OK. It could be that they had to be taken to a shelter and have just not had the chance to call.
It may seem ridiculous to you, on the outside looking in, but truly, the 'victims' are the only ones who know where they are. If they can reach the authorities, they can likely get access to a phone. It only takes a call to one family member to get the word out.
I just found out this evening that my brother and his wife survived in Bay St. Louis, though they lost everything. They stayed in their home because her mother is in a nursing home in the area, and her brother is in an assisted living facility. They knew that if they left, they would not be allowed to return. They gambled, and thankfully, won. They called his son, and his son was able to contact one of his cousins. I was finally able to reach my oldest brother tonight, and it was the first time his phone had rung since late Sunday, just before the storm hit his place in Hattiesburg. I was frantic because I didn't know about my brother in BSL, and had no way of contacting any other family member because I'm in MA, and NO ONE in MS had phone service!
It is frustrating, but like I suggested, if you want to try something, call the PD. They might know of a place that people are using as a clearinghouse for info on missing relatives.
We have more resources to deliver services and goods than any other country on Earth. Trucks. Manpower. Water. Supplies. Ice. Bedding. Volunteers.
Yet, people are dying from thirst, suffering from injuries, they have no place to sleep, to urinate, no food, no clothing, no diapers, no bedding, no nothing, and it is hotter than hell in areas that reek of decay and debris.
Police and fire personnel can barely help themselves, and have lost staff due to the disaster also. Many of them have no homes left, but are trying to tend to their families and the public at the same time. They have no facilities to operate from, and communication is limited. They can barely get around from one street to the next in some areas.
I think you're right, people just don't realize the magnitude. This editorial is written with that in mind.
Time is of the essence.
Our country IS helping these people. Today I was on I-85 in Alabama. The southside of the interstate was nothing but long lines of power trucks and disaster response vehicles. It simply takes a little time. Remember that so many of the major roads were impassable yesterday because of the flood waters. I know that the Red Cross was assembling volunteers in staging areas before the storm hit. I know that is little comfort to the family in a small town isolated by flood waters, but to say we are not helping is simply not true.
Anyone who wants out is getting out. The first buses have gone to Texas. Those that remain are chosing to do so.
This will be handled and repaired and life will return to normal.
The real culprit in this is the inability of the media and the leaders of New Orleans to convince people to leave BEFORE the storm. It was clear it was going to hit, but no one believed the politicians and the media.
The amazing thing is that we will clean it up and make it all stronger and better.
God Bless America baby!!!!
Tarps, something to sleep on. Good post - thanks.
Russia, Japan. More recently a few others.... I think.
Only those who were in the superdome can go to Texas.
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