Just the facts, m'am...

And some good commentary ...

Holy crud. I feel reaaaaly grateful right now.

I have serious doubts about those "facts". Right off the bat, he says "3000 rescued", failing to note the minimum 50,000 people accounted for between the Superdome and the convention center.

I think that he wrote that pretty early into this...the entire article is a quote. Even if not entirely up-to-date it gives one pause...

He's been located.


There's a quote from NOLA Native Harry Connick Jr. in the article that just made my soul bleed.

There are few cities that inspire that kind of love and reverie.

Thanks for the update, Lisa! :)

I'm wondering what is happening to the babies and toddlers that are without food and water. It's not very likely that many formula feeding moms that didn't evacuate had very much formula stocked up. Babies go through a lot of that stuff. Even the moms that are fortunate enough to be breastfeeding in a time when formula isn't available won't be able to make milk after a few days of dehydration. Are the babies just going to starve? I know there were moms having babies on overpasses and such. Tiny babies can't survive for more than a few days without some kind of hydration or sustenance.

I can't imagine having small children and not evacuating. I suppose that many of them didn't have the resources to evacuate. My heart goes out to the moms and dads and babies that are suffering. I simply can't fathom not being able to feed my babies.

Finally made it back here for a little while (here to the Lounge - most of my surfing time has been spent on news sites, trying to find out if my house flooded).

If any of you have a chance to watch CNN, they've been playing sound bites from the Mayor of New Orleans - that man is severely (and rightly) peeved. I'm not sure if they STILL have got the levee breach fixed. Ok, I just found this - (This is Central time on Friday morning)

And the 'going to a place with an office for my company' is for my own personal sanity, not for some 'altruistic' type reasons - I evacuated from Ivan (unnecessarily in retrospect) to a small town between Jackson, MS and Memphis, TN (Grenada) and it was tough being someplace like that, where I only had dial up, and wanted to do some work to take my mind off of questions in my mind (before the hurricane hit). For that one, we had a little more warning, too. I was in the office for 8 hours on Tues and Wed, and between the 2 days, got 2 hours of work done - so it's more for the structured support and ability to communicate than anything else (and to not feel 'stuck' in a hotel room).

They are letting people into my Parish to check on stuff starting on Monday, but don't want anybody coming back for good for about a month (I live in Metaire, in Jefferson Parish - the New Orleans airport is in Kenner in Jefferson Parish - Metairie is between Kenner and Orleans Parish). I saw one FEMA map that showed my house may have flooded, but I really don't know (but unless there was damage from a tree, it shouldn't have been deep enough to sweep it off the foundation). I did find a NOAA-related site that has some photos - but couldn't quite bring myself to look at them quite yet to see. I'm NOT going back on Monday - I need to hear that there aren't problems with car jacking and looting of people going back before I'll do that. I am going to have either my Dad or a Brother-in-Law come to Dallas to drive with me there to check on things.

There were some houses along the Mississippi coast that had survived MANY a hurricane that were leveled by this one. Including the house of one of the Senators (I'm thinking Trent Lott, if he's from MS). Fortunately, they're able to start their recovery efforts (I'm sure they don't fell fortunate, though!) That's what toughest for me to deal with right now - I can't even start an insurance claim because I DON'T KNOW if I have damage, or if I do, is it from the wind (and therefore covered by homeowners) or rising water (and therefore covered by my flood insurance, which is a different policy).

Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers for everyone in the region - And no matter what Hastert may say - New Orleans (and the whole region) WILL rebuild! As soon as it's up and running, you all make sure and visit and support the economy!

I am glad to hear you aren't heading back just yet. The last thing I heard last night was that car jacking is running rampant, mostly from desperate people trying to get out. My local news talked to a couple from Bakersfield, who were turned away at the only reamining bridge out saying that they couldn't leave yet and would have to wait until they were called. I am just glad that you are safe, and that you are planning to remain that way until the coast is clear (no pun intended).

Well, the director of FEMA really stepped in it: Blame the victims .

I suppose he's not aware of the shut-down of public transport and massive gridlock going out of the city in the hours prior to the storm. Many of the people stranded were tourists, elderly, poor, sick, etc. I'm sure a fair amount were people who could have left but chose not to, but to blame them for the current situation is beyond asinine.

Hang in there, Drince 88. :)
I agree. He got a lot of heated reactions for the inaction FEMA took initially. He's trying to pass on the blame to someone else. Nice. :(
Here's the quote that pissed me off last night:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...kathast02.html
Uh, isn't Hastert 3rd in line to run this country should something happen to Bush and President Cheney? This isn't how a leader should be speaking as people are stranded and dying in New Orleans.
He retracted the statement today, but his hopeless attitude towards the rebuilding process is staggering.

It's almost as staggering as Bush's yet again uncaring attitude after a crisis.