Wondering about Drince88

[Gn2Dlnd]

I apologize for not first acknowledging Drince, I'm glad you and your people are okay. Scrooge, what a horrifying experience for your friend, I hope he gets whatever treatment he needs and quickly.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Have you guys been hearing what the Mayor of NO is saying? He's cursing in interviews. They have to bleep him out. He is majorly pissed.

I don't think any resources were held back, or that no one cares. What I do feel is that nothing was put into readiness. Nothing was prepared. No one wanted to face what kind of scale this could end up at, and when it did happen, all the resources were still scattered. No one could say that NO hasn't had a target on it's back for 50 years. The lack of preparedness on all counts is incredible.

And unforgivable.

All this makes me wonder where the resources are.....where the food/blankets/other essentials are stored around city centers.....if anywhere at all.

[lizziebith]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Have you guys been hearing what the Mayor of NO is saying? He's cursing in interviews. They have to bleep him out. He is majorly pissed.

Oh I have totally heard and said Hallelujah!

He said "goddamn" on teevee. Bless his heart. I agree with everything he said including the expletives...

[SacTown Chronic]

Bush speech

Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house -- he's lost his entire house -- there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch. (Laughter.)

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

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

You've nailed it yet again, GC.

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Would you be critical if he didn't view the damage?

Nope.

The guy asked us to conserve fuel this Labor Day weekend and he's flying around for photo-ops.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by SacTown Chronic

Nope.

The guy asked us to conserve fuel this Labor Day weekend and he's flying around for photo-ops.

OK - I believe you. But I'll assure you that no matter what he did, the criticism would be erupting. If he didn't view it, or go to the scene, it would be viewed as evidence he doesn't care.

[SacTown Chronic]

Yeah, it's a no-win situation for him.

[scaeagles]

I have heard him. I think what happened is he started coming under a bunch of criticism for his own inaction and is trying to deflect it.

I agree, though, CP. I think everyone is trying now, but it is too late. The cliche "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is a complete understatement in this case.

[€uroMeinke]

I'm overwhellmed as all of you are at the situation. If anything it point to just how fragile modern civilized living really is. Everything I see and read seems like it should be coming out of a third world country, but instead it's coming from New Orleans, a place I've enjoyed several times. How could things deteriorate so quickly? How long will it take to restore? and what will the "new" New Orleans become - I am just dumbfounded by these questions.

But I think Prudence really hit it on what we oursleves should be doing, taking a look at our own situations and seeing what we would do to survive a disaster in our towns. Most disaster planners recommend that you have supplies enough to last 72 hours on your own, as it could take at least that long for someone to respond - clearly after Katrina, we'll have to up that expectation.

I used to make fun of the fact that when we bought our house we had to sign an aknowledgment that we were in a Tsunami inundation zone; however, today as I exited the freeway and crossed over the typically dry Los Angeles River bed, I cast a glance at the recently upgraded floodwalls and wondered if they were high enough, or strong enough to protect our home from a freak-tsunami-caused flood.

So perhaps it's time to check out the camping gear, the propane stove, and make sure they're in a higher elevation of the garage. Contemplate how would I keep our 5 cats safe (gotta get another carrier), wattered, and fed. Think about what I would need to take, and what could be left behind.

You see this stuff and think it shouldn't happen to us, as advanced as we are, yet nature always finds a way, and always triumphs. God, I hope things are finally turning around for those who live in the gulf coast but I know it will be a long time till anything is close to normal again.

[Scrooge McSam]

Bravo!

Drones to help rescuers

Unmanned remote-controlled airplanes used in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars may be deployed to find people trapped in New Orleans' buildings by Hurricane Katrina's flood waters, a U.S. congressman said Friday.

Five Silver Fox "unmanned aerial vehicles," or UAVs, equipped with thermal imaging technology to detect the body heat of storm survivors, are en route to the crippled city, Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Curt Weldon said.
Weldon told reporters in Baton Rouge that he had bypassed government bureaucracy to obtain the drones from a private company to be used in search and rescue operations in New Orleans, scene of one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.

"With thermal imaging capability ... you can actually see into the buildings and see the body image of a person still alive," Weldon, vice chairman of the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, said.

"It could help assess whether there are people trapped alive in attics or upper floors," Weldon said. "Once you've got them pinpointed you can send rescue teams in."

A new purpose for war machinery

I'm OK with that

[mousepod]

am I the only one who just saw Kanye West go completely off script on the NBC Hurricane Relief concert? wow. cool.