A different view of Katrina

BubbaJr · Aug 31, 2005

I've been in awe of the power and deeply saddened by the deaths and destruction due to Katrina in the south. But there was some good that came out of Katrina too. We've been in the grips of a moderate drought this year since Feb. I just emptied my rain gauge, and it had 5.7" of rain in it. That's more than we've gotten all together since Feb. The rain came in light to moderate showers so most of it soaked into the ground. We have a creek behind our house that was bone dry, and now it has only about 2-3" flowing in it, so there wasn't much runoff. I don't mean to take anything away from those who have suffered dearly from Katrina, but sometimes there is a silver lining in the clouds (for some of us).

By the way, I extend my deepest sympathies to those who lost loved ones and property from Katrina.

deere755 · Aug 31, 2005

Glad to hear you got some rain. God be with the victims of Katrina they are in our thoughts and prays. I can't imagine what they are going through. I some times wish I could have landed in a different part of the country, but other then a tornado ounce in a while things are pretty quiet here in central Illinois.

jmc · Aug 31, 2005

Another silver lining, as painful as it may be, is it will give us all a preview of what tight energy supplies will feel like. Even after this temporary glitch is over, more people are likely to reconsider buying a bigger vehicle or house than they really need, knowing how precarious cheap energy is.

BlueRidge · Sep 1, 2005

We got quite a dump here - all at once. Took a gutter off of my roof. We've had a wet summer.

Engineers have been saying for 30 years or more that New Orleans was toast if it got hit with a decent sized hurricane. All the politicing that goes on about levees and storm control systems - and the associated spending and taxes - sure looks small next to the real suffering that has resulted from this oft predicted disaster.

_RaT_ · Sep 1, 2005

I love seeing the outpouring of help. There is a lot of goodness out there. Massive thanks to Houston and setting up the Astrodome. They and so many others are doing a wonderful job. I know there is far greater good being done then a few folks here might lead one to believe. Contrary to a few views here at TBN, I don't see folks whinning about high fuel prices, at least, not in the context that they voice concern about the hurricane victims. I give far more credit to folks in this country. I'm very happy to see it. The shear volume of this is beyond the federal government, the local government, the military, business, and us citizens. Together, it can be done, it will be done.

BubbaJr · Sep 1, 2005

We are a compassionate country, so the outpouring of help doesn't surprise me at all. I even expected some looting, but I am sickened and outraged by the violence that has befallen the good people of New Orleans by the thugs that would shoot at medivac helicopters, rape women and girls in the Super Dome, and all the other violence they can dream up.

When I lived in Chicago in the 60's, there was a tornado that went through south Chicago. The looting started up, and Mayor Daly requested the National Guard be brought in with orders to shoot to kill looters. If memory serves me correctly, there were over 20 of them shot and 7 of them killed in 2 days. The looting quickly ceased. I guess it's not politcally correct to shoot them any more. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

_RaT_ · Sep 1, 2005

The one thing about California is that we are filled with people from every state in the country. Our local radio talk show hosted folks living here now from New Orleans. It was very interesting to hear what they had to say. The Southern hospitalitiy is not a myth. It lives. Folks there are some of the most genuine good hearted folks you will find. I believe that there are far, far more wonderful people there then the relative handful of thugs. Whatever the eventual outcome, I hope for nothing but the absolute best for all the folks in the gulf states that have suffered so much. I have no doubt that folks will help. We here in Northern California have had nothing but 24 hours of New Orleans on our local radio. Folks do care, they know how fortunate they are, they know that whatever the reason, we are here to help, not because we should, but because just pure and simple, we want to. Its really that simple. We may complain about paying $3.50 for gas, but we also complain about taxes, the price of real estate, and everything else you can imagine, but in the end, very few folks pack up and leave. Underneath it all, we know how fortunate we are. All the best to those in the Gulf states and tremendous thanks to all the folks who contibute.

BlueRidge · Sep 2, 2005

Got this email this morning from someone who was there, and has been flying in and out doing what he could.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The city of New Orleans as we knew it will never exist again.
A new New Orleans will eventually rise, but the "bowl" will be
uninhabitable for years to come. There are thousands of homes
that will have no option but to be demolished, and the land on
which they sit will be contaminated from the chemicals in the
flood waters. What will remain of the old New Orleans will
likely be a small strip of town running between the river and
St. Charles Ave. which will include the French Quarter if they
can get a handle on the levee breaches. )</font>

JimMorrissey · Sep 3, 2005

I believe there were initial orders to shoot to kill the thugs, not the looters. The thugs were (still are) armed and roaming at night in the backs of pick-up trucks. The National Guard stops partolling when the sun goes down becuase it's too dangerous. At least that was the case last night and I'd imagine tonight as there will be no power for days.

Personally I am disgusted by the break-down of any remote form of civil behavior by large numbers of N.O. residents. It's more than a "handful" of people. There are countless criminals running wild and have no control of themselves. They feel they have a free ticket to destroy life and property.

There was a story of a hundred or so people from Vietnam who were also stranded and lost their homes in the flood. The reporter said they wanted to wait for everybody else to be removed before they took the bus out; "we don't want to get in the way" They sat quietly and spoke to each other and seemed to be laughing at times, trying to pass the time. It is sad to contrast our own people's behavior with these new citizens. They waited with complete cooperation and with their dignity waiting to take orders in an emergency. It's a national discrace that's been broadcast globally that loooting, murder, rape, screaming and vicious fighting was a major factor among a natural disaster of this magnatude. They were actually having gang fights in the Superdome. Is this really the time to have a gang fight? What planet do they come from.

I too know that our country is very giving and caring. I am not surprised by the outpouring of help. The local Red Cross in my town had a line around the block yesterday with people waiting to give food, water and cloths to those in need.

texbaylea · Sep 3, 2005

Our community, which is a couple of hours further down the road from Houston, has a number of evacuees from NO. There were the early ones who put up in hotels but we have made room for quite a few later ones that have been bussed in. From interviews a fair number have expressed interest in settling here and becoming part of the community. They have said they will NOT go back.

Vernon