Taking the state of the nation seriously?

[riptides]

I don’t think we are taking this latest hurricane and the current after effects seriously.
Are we all in a state of shock? I think I am.
After two days we have some states that still have not gotten a handle on the magnitude of the disaster befallen them. As a nation we seem to be more concerned about oil and gas products than we do the citizens of our country.
Reports are still coming in, but basically we have hundreds dead, upwards of 3 million people without power, entire communities – gone. We are still reacting to the flooding in New Orleans, there is no more New Orleans.

People are what is important, why has this not been called a National Emergency? Yes, all the relief efforts are underway, but we still have people in trailers from the Florida hurricanes of last year! What is going on? Are we in a state of denial?

-Mike Z.

 

[_RaT_]

Perhaps it is different where you are, I can assure you, here in Northern California your about 180 degrees out of phase. We have thousands of fire fighters and utility workers at this very moment pouring into the South to aid. The California National Guard, donations to American Red Cross drives, blood drives etc., are exactly what is going on. I will bet you all other cities are doing the same. Our local Budweiser brewery has been shipping canned water. The untold story may well suprise you. Just because you may not be hearing it, does not mean it is not happening. Very few companies will advertise the help they are providing during a crisis. The same I am sure holds true for us citizens. Keep the spirits up, we do come together when the need arises. RaT...

 

[dmccarty]

AND, the reports of the failing levees first came out yesterday. The day before everything looked like it was going to be ok. No good but not a disaster. And then the levees failed.

I heard that the stock prices on major insurance companies went down by ONE percent yesterday. Maybe they will go down today but one percent is nothing.

People in NC where in trailers for a couple of years after Floyd. It takes time. And for some people the trailers, and these where travel trailers, are better than what they had before the storm so they did not want to leave.

People will come togather. I saw a power truck heading west today at high speed. I did not think them things could go that fast. Progress already has crews in Florida and I'm sure they and the private contractors will send the south. I saw a load of power poles going west today as well. I don't know if he was making a delivery to the staging area down the road from me or head west and then south.

The Navy has sent some ships including a hospital ship. The rescue and recovery has just started....

I sent out two emails this morning proding some orgranizations I work with to start up some recovery help. I don't know if anything will come out of the notes since its legally complicated but its a try and a start.

Later,
Dan

 

[DocHeb]

Good news is not news, as far as the mainstream media is concerned.

 

[cmhyland]

Mike,
The damage is serious, but New Orleans is not GONE.
It's under water and will rise again to it's fabled glory.

One thing I have learned is that when faced with a
massive undertaking it's best to proceed slowly until
you fully understand the magnitude of the task.
They cannot afford to do things twice.

In areas where storms have damaged them years
ago, the reason people are still in trailers is they can't
get carpenters or they don't have the money to rebuild
to modern standards.

Keep the faith. Maybe we'll consider spending american
tax dollars to help those close to home instead of
thousands of miles away.

Regards,
Chris

 

[HGM]

Mike,
With all due respect, it is being taken very seriously. Before the storm hit,the President declared it a National Emergency. The Army Corps of Engineers got there yesterday to begin rebuilding the leve's, Naval ships are on their way, Red Cross is there, every state is pouring resources into the effort, Venezuala, Saudi Arabia, and others I'm not aware of are also pledging assistance. I for one expect to see Sumatra and the rest of that area here as a show of god faith for what we did for them. Maybe even the Hollywood bunch and music industry with deep pockets could help.... Maybe not, they have other countries on thier mind......It's the working man you can count on, and they are thereor on the way now.

Doc's comment couldnt be more true. The media flocks on the bad like flies on ^%$#, good news does not make people stand up and listen. The same goes with the war and everything else that happens involving this country. The shear magnatude of destruction is unimmaginable unless you have seen it, I was in Miami for Andrew, although I didnt recieve the worst of it, I can attest to the fact that TV doesnt do it justice. The clean up will go on for many years. Our economy has just taken a major blow because of Mother Nature and we will all feel it.Just to help the magnatude sink in, have you checked gas prices? At 1:45 its 3.25 per gal here in Atlanta and its going up. Thats .50 higher than yesterday.

Its all relative, please dont loose sight of relevance. Some groups are already pointing political fingers and assigning blame for Mother Nature, right now the survivors need help. They will be getting it, no matter what the news says. The rest will come later. . We should all do what we can, remember 9-11 before politics came into it. We were a united country again for the first time in many years.

Greg

 

[riptides]

Moving quicker now....

BREAKING NEWS Federal officials declare public health emergency for entire Gulf Coast. Details soon.

I am still stunned. I cannot imagine the cost of raw materials in the next few day/weeks/months for the rebuild efforts.

Perhaps we should nationalize the oil industry for a few days and use the proffers to help in relief. That would give every American something to focus on.

I am saying my prayers for our southern citizens.

-Mike Z.

 

[slowrev]

Perhaps we should nationalize the oil industry for a few days and use the proffers to help in relief.
//

I think it is working the other way around.

Ben

 

[Bird]

I just came from our new Northern Tool store and they were in the process of pulling all the generators off the shelves to go to Louisiana. I didn't ask who was paying for them, but the guy said they're all on their way.

 

[Jagmandave]

Here in the KC area they've been doing bottled water drives, some should ship today.
Also 18 local power and light trucks with full crews and extra supplies left here Monday for the area..........

Local Red Cross crews were mobilized days ago, they're already there..........