Stunned

[Homeless]

Is it just me or is anyone else stunned by the fact that with advanced notice of katrina hitting the gulf coast, they still dont have food and supplies down there?

Im quite simply amazed that this federal responsibilty hasnt been seen too. Truckloads of food, water, clothing and shelter should have been there the day after the storm rolled through.

[Fireball Express]

I'm not stunned.

Evacuation was first priority. What I'm stunned about is that some people decided to stay.
Then the next priority would be search and rescue. So many died, were trapped and/or stranded. I almost cried out loud when I read the headlines that said the rescuers had to pass many dead bodies to get to the survivors
The next priority is followed by medical efforts to treat the wounded and dying.

If I see people starving to death down there then I'll be stunned.

I don't think anyone expected this extent of damage. Katrina is the worst natural disaster ever to hit the continental US. So there is an extreme to it. I mean part of the roof of the Super Dome, a storm shelter, was torn off.
I stunned by the shear power of nature.

[Mercer Boy]

Well, there was advanced notice, but it was probably only about 24 hours. The thing just ballooned out of control (meaning it went from a minor hurricane to a Category 4) overnight on Saturday (I think), and it hit on Monday morning. In order to round stuff up, get it in there, and then get out of there in that time frame could have been a problem.

Yeah, I think people (yes, children also) are starving...I just saw it on the news; of course they show that sort of stuff. People were looting parts of the Superdome that had food/water out in the open. There was also a ton of stuff behind locked gates. I wouldn't be surprised that those fences get cut up and broken into soon.

As far as people getting out of there...the only explanations I would have would be that they either a) didn't have a car because they live in the city and use public transportation, b) didn't have anywhere else to go, or c) didn't have enough money to get out of there.

I think I would have tried to find a way out of there...even if I didn't have money. They said this thing was going to destroy everything, and it seems that it has.

[mutantseabass]

This is a truely sad event. Like MB said it does take time to around up the supplies and manpower needed to handle this kind of undertaking. The only thing i do wonder is why they possibly didnt try to air drop supplies to the people? The only thing i could think of is it would ensue anarchy among the people. Well that has already taken place it seems. Hopefully they can get to the sick, young and elderly soon. The long term effects of this as far as enironmental issues are going to be staggering.

[awwchrist]

considering that a lot of the stranded are living in poverty. with no car. or no money to buy gas to leave town(literally, that reason was reported. I guess someone should have told Katrina to wait until the 1st of the month eh?)

I'm sure that there are more than a few that were simply

stupid
stubborn
incredulous

however, I'm guessing the majority had absolutely no where else to go.

whatever the reason...it is completely irrelevant.

[creamdoorthirtyniner]

Yes, I'm more stunned that people stayed around than them not being given supplies. I think it was Aww who said that it would create more problems with even distribution between the people, especially since they probably have a me first mentality if they dont have any other family with them.

All in all, this is just a terrible happening, and it's affected everyone in this world. I send my condolesence to New Orleans and the surrounding area and people involved in it. Sad event

[Fireball Express]

The city did provide bus service from the innercity out of the city or to the Super Dome. I don't know the extent of the service though.

I wonder how many stayed so they could loot what remained.
Funny though, where would you put something after you stole it? Everything is wet.

I made my donation today but I still feel like I should do more. I guess it's in the hands of someone else now.

[awwchrist]

tired of watching the national cable news?

http://www.wired.com/news/planet/0,2782,68725,00.html?tw=rss.TOP

here's a quip of a great story going on smack dab at ground zero. this is the real news.

this is the guy's blog being referenced:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/

There's some honest to goodness communication between him and readers in the early stages of the storm. Before he was crunched with "popularity" and before stuff started to hit the fan. I suggest highly to read as much of the user comments as you can. Particularly before it becomes inunndated with general well wishes and bs.

It's amazing what people will offer from 3000 miles away from behind a desk.