Author Topic: Hurricane Katrina (first hand report) (Read 11397 times)

nemo_83 · « **on:** September 01, 2005, 01:07:11 PM »

I was down in Hattiesburg, MS through this. My mom thought I was nuts going back down there, but I was worried about someone. I will update again when I can; I just got back to Forest earlier. Hattiesburg has had no power, water, or gas. People in New Orleans are chanting, "we need help." To say the least people are getting pissed off, babies are dying, and it just doesn't seem like the federal gov't is doing anything. The help that is coming is from private companies and neighboring states. I went five days without gas, plumbing, and electricity. I have been living off of crackers and fruit; very few stores have had power to open.

I just want to say, where the **** are the air drops?

Hostile Creation · « **Reply #1 on:** September 01, 2005, 02:44:01 PM »

Didn't the government just send in 30,000 troops, the largest aid America's ever given itself?

Anyway, stuff sounds like it's really bad down there. I live in Louisiana, but I'm up in the northern regions for college (we didn't even get rain). My house is fine, aside from some minor tree damage.
I hear there's been looting, shootings, and tons of crap like that. People shooting at helicopters that are trying to save people. People shooting at people trying to evacuate from a hospital. It's ridiculous. Something along the lines of some men (gang members or something, I'm uncertain) breaking into a Wal-mart and stealing guns. Not to mention all the flooding and everything.
I was keeping tabs on one friend in New Orleans, but she's safe in Baton Rouge now. Best of luck to everyone left, though.

nemo_83 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 01, 2005, 02:58:13 PM »

People were breaking into an Exon one day when I was out looking for a working payphone, gas, and water. Every truck and every bit of help that I have seen; I have watched it ride into Hattiesburg and keep on trucking. Noone has stoped for the people in many of these small towns. I know the coast got hit hard, but they need to stop ignoring the small towns that are essentially helpless right now. All I hear from the big media is concern over those stupid ass casinos. **** the casinos, there are people, thousands, that are going to be dead if help does not start showing.

What I have gathered from reports is they are sending troops down there to "secure" things and stop the looters. The only way to stop them is to start delivering aid; not policing them. People don't care about the guard; they want food so they can feed their children. It doesn't matter if they send 900,000 troops; troops are trained to destroy. People need, let me repeat that; NEED food and water.

The MS heat and humidity is not a joke; without power and water, it can kill you.

just one story from cnn

Pale · « **Reply #3 on:** September 01, 2005, 03:39:53 PM »

My uncle and cousins are down there and we still haven't heard from them... We hope to god that they just can't call out yet.

But anyway, I understand your stress Nemo even though I'm not down there myself. I want to both stick up for the government now and tell them they are idiots.

1. Contrary to what you are saying, they are sending tons of food and water right now. TONS... They realize crap is up and they are taking care of it. You don't have to be all "They are ignoring us."

2. The one thing you should be complaining about is the fact that this was a well forcasted storm yet the government did nothing before it hit short of warning people they should leave. The boats filled with the food and water left after the storm passed. Some of them are as many as 5 days out. They should have had the guts to send one before the storm hit. Worst case scenario is they waist some gas...

Edit: Well I finally got word from them and it turns out they are fine and so is their house. They were far enough outside NO to avoid it I guess.

kennyb27 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 01, 2005, 05:14:32 PM »

I live just outside of New Orleans in a suburb called Metairie. I'm up in Missouri with relatives right now. My house is supposed to be OK, without water damage. But, I'm really worried about all the freaking looting. Now after they loot a house, they torch it afterwards. These people doing this really just need to be shot. I'm serious, just send in the military and shoot them all. The police right now are not doing anything. It just pisses me off to no end.

But anyway, I hope to get back to check on my house sometime early next week.

IceCold · « **Reply #5 on:** September 01, 2005, 05:39:39 PM »

I heard on the news that now there are thieves going into the hospitals and stealing drugs while this is happening. Has anyone else heard this? That's really going overboard - only someone without a trace of conscience would do that.

Hostile Creation · « **Reply #6 on:** September 01, 2005, 07:53:45 PM »

Things have gone absolutely freaking nuts there.
Looting and stealing drugs are almost nothing. There have been several murders and at least twelve rapes around the superdome. The looters that stole guns and ammunition are shooting at buses and boats that are trying to evacuate refugees. At this point, I daresay that while food and water should still be brought in, the troops are a necessity and need to eliminate all of the criminals (ie, outright kill. There's no redemption for crap like that) before anything else can get done.
It's good to hear from you, too, kenny. I knew you lived around New Orleans, so it's good to know you're alright.

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #7 on:** September 01, 2005, 07:57:11 PM »

Rape? RAPE? Yay, there's no more hope for humanity!

Shecky · « **Reply #8 on:** September 01, 2005, 07:57:57 PM »

I heard on the news today that they plan on flying in pallets of water/food to the center of New Orleans ASAP. I'd imagine most of the effort prior was to the thousands in the stadium. The local government did a pretty lousy job before the storm. They should have called for the evacuation much earlier, not a freaking day before it hits.... especially since the storm took and eastward turn "for the better" at the last min.

Deguello · « **Reply #9 on:** September 01, 2005, 11:22:14 PM »

Trying as hard as I can to not make this political and blame certain members of our government for this colossal clusterf***, and from pointing out certain members of the government cut funding from levee construction for a war.

kennyb27 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 02, 2005, 06:20:00 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Deguello
Trying as hard as I can to not make this political and blame certain members of our government for this colossal clusterf***, and from pointing out certain members of the government cut funding from levee construction for a war.

You might want to actually have some first-hand knowledge of the current levee systems before throwing out statements that you just heard on the news. The war had nothing to do with the current levee system (and I know because I live(d) there).

Quick personal story: my uncle works as the dispatcher for the New Orleans area, and there was a pregnant lady who was bleeding who came to the dispatch station. So they sent her in a police car to this doctor. Of course these a**holes shot at the police car, so they had to come back.

Anywho, hopefully the worst of this is over. The military was sent in with the command, "if they shoot at you, shoot to kill." And considering these f***ing jerks are shooting at everyone trying to help, there won't be too many of them left soon.

nemo_83 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 02, 2005, 06:23:54 AM »

There are way way more people without food, water, electricity, and gas than there are materials coming in. Here in Forest at my parent's shop we have sold 150 generators this week. The buisnesses down here, the individual people are doing as much as they can; the rescue workers, the nurses, everyone is out of supplies. Gas is running out and prices are soaring, and people are running out of money. In the words of journalists on the national news networks, this is not like America; there are bodies rotting in houses (all the police can do is put red X's on the houses, they are undermaned even with the help of the guard; trying not to get political here but Bush is the one who cut the funding for the levies and sent all our National Guardsmen over seas where there can not help us), I've heard the chief of police in New Orleans has not been heard from, there are bodies lying on the interstate highways in Louisiana, the hospitals are full of dying people (they have nowhere to put the bodies but the stairwells). The other day a man shot his sister dead over a single bag of ice.

Its good to hear you guys are safe.

My issue right now is that the federal gov't still has not passed the 10.5 billion dollars for relief. People needed help the next day and now its been a week and people are still waiting for buses to come pick them up.

I'm sorry I sound so negative guys; its just been a rough week man. The news media, the states, and the federal gov't did little more leading up to this storm other than warn us. They have done more in the past for storms that were nothing compared to this thing.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #12 on:** September 02, 2005, 07:22:52 AM »

What sort of EVIL f*cks shoot at people trying to help? I can sort of get looting. At least you gain something when you steal. But what sort of sick piece of sh!t just shoots at random people for kicks? This is the sort of stuff you typically associate with third world dictatorships and such. The fact that people from the United States are doing this just depresses the hell out of me.

I'm not usually pro-violence but if the military came and just starting killing these f*ckers I honestly wouldn't care. The only problem is that some innocent people would probably get killed and that's not fair. But that's the fault of these f*cks for creating a situation that would require such measures.

PaLaDiN · « **Reply #13 on:** September 02, 2005, 07:59:52 AM »

I just reread "Lord of the Flies" the other week.

I'm not even American but this is the most depressing news I've heard in a long while.

Pale · « **Reply #14 on:** September 02, 2005, 08:46:37 AM »

Hindsight is 20/20...

Stuff sucks... we know that...

No amount of help could make everyone happy. There could always be more. The fact of the matter is, we all weren't prepared for this. It was really hard to be. As I said above, there are some things they could have done ahead of time, but even with those, there would still be much of the same.

The reason we are seeing what "isn't america" is because its so widespread. People should have been out ahead of time. The problem with saying that is that a lot of them had nowhere to go. Poverty level and low income people without relatives or friends to go to had nothing else to do. The damage was so widespread that now we don't have the facilities to take care of all of these people. You people should be more pissed off at the media who are hollywooding the whole thing, or even the store owners that are marking things up. Ever think that people who want to help are having issues helping for the same reason your parent's didn't give away those 150 generators? I'm not trashing them at all. I understand that they most likely couldn't afford that and that is very respectable. I would sell them if I was in their shoes. Charity can only go so far, and that's all I'm saying.

I just wish people would stop pointing the finger at our damn scapegoat of a president and start being pissed at the a3sholes who are committing these crimes. If everyone would want to actually help each other get through it, it wouldn't be this bad.

nemo_83 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 02, 2005, 09:13:44 AM »

the interview with the mayor of new orleans; read this please or listen to the audio

"I don't want to see anybody do anymore goddamn press conferences. Put a moratorium on press conferences. Don't do another press conference until the resources are in this city. And then come down to this city and stand with us when there are military trucks and troops that we can't even count.

Don't tell me 40,000 people are coming here. They're not here. It's too doggone late. Now get off your asses and do something, and let's fix the biggest goddamn crisis in the history of this country."

nickmitch · « **Reply #16 on:** September 02, 2005, 12:32:59 PM »

I live(d) in New Orleans. I was born and raised there. I sad to see it go. I just got in to a new school, C.E. Byrd, in Shreveport and it's nothing like my dear Ben Franklin. Most of my family that was in N.O. is living with our cousin and her husband and the little ones aren't even sure of what's going on. I still got two cousins and a gret aunt not accounted for. I've only been able to contact two of my friends so far. I hope to GOD that they're all safe. What was worse was that my parents were in Virginia brining my older brother to college so I was able to evacuate with my cousins. However, with the short notice and lack of anyone at my house to help me I was unable to board up the windows and keep the house on full lock down. Then to make things worse, the damn hurricane hit on my birthday. My house is destroyed I may never go home. I'll probably just live up here until it's time for me to go to college. I'm at a kinkos right now, they're giving 60 minutes of free internet to evacuees, I'm pretty much living out in the country, as opposed to where the majority of everyone is staying in the city, on a farm by the lake. So, this may explain my lack of posts lately.

kennyb27 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 02, 2005, 04:48:01 PM »

Quote
You people should be more pissed off at the media who are hollywooding the whole thing

Don't worry, I'm already pissed off at the media. It seems like every national station is interviewing the looters:

Reporter: Why are you looting?
Looter #1: We neeta feed our families, bra.
Looter #2: Yeah, dog, it's all about our families.
(Looters 1 and 2 take football jerseys, video games, and tvs off walmart shelves)
Reporter: Of course, a very noble cause, back to you in the studio.

It's just freaking ridiculous. The media are allowing this to go on.

On mayor Nagin: He really is a breath of fresh air after our previous corrupt mayors. This guy genuinely cares about the good in the city. Like nemo said, READ the transcript, it really is good to have someone in our local politics say what they mean and vice-versa.

Up in Missouri, I have met with nothing but goodwill from everyone and everyone I converse with both on the internet and everyday has been supportive.

Oh, and Ian: I couldn't have said it better myself.

Nemo, Pale, HC, TVman, and everyone else on this forums affected by this disaster, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and yours missing, lost, and affected by the hurricane. Good luck to all (it looks as if we may need it).

slacker · « **Reply #18 on:** September 02, 2005, 06:11:33 PM »

Living in California, I can only see what is reported on TV. I know the storm affected Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. All I have seen is the despair in New Orleans, and bits of Biloxi, MS. I heard the federal response in Alabama and Mississippi was pretty good. Can any one here confirm that? I am embarrass by the lack of coordination by FEMA in this crisis. The initial rescue response, (as far as I can tell) was pretty good. However, by the third day when I saw reports of quite a few people congregating at the convention center and the head director of FEMA only finding out about it by news reporter, I was (as an American) embarassed and angry by the lack of communication and structure of this rescue operation. Yet, it took nearly 24 hours to get food and supplies to these group of people. I am not angry at the President, but angry by the poor execution. Granted this disaster affected a wide geographical area, but damn it, we pay people to come up with worst case scenarios, train for them, have plans in place for them, allocate resources for them, and finally deploy those resources if neccessary.

The effort was well intentioned by FEMA, but for the most part, ineffective. If there is one good thing that came out of this, is that perhaps after all is said and done, a better plan would be in place and now Americans truly know how vulnerable they are in a major disaster.

As for them folks who are shooting at rescuers, lightning should strike on them. They aren't making the situation any better, but in fact are making things 10 times worst.

I like New Orlean's mayor's straight talk and its refreshing to see someone like him as a public figure. Anyways, it looks like the resources are getting there today and that is great news. Hopefully, things will finally go well and smoothly.

nickmitch · « **Reply #19 on:** September 03, 2005, 05:44:08 PM »

Nagin is a great guy, I've met him and MMM, both great guys with firm handshakes. When they talk it seems like they actually know what's going on.
On the looters: MOST of them are, in fact, genuine in their looting interests. The rest are just scared and confused so they need the most pity.
Good news: Everyone in my family is now in a safe area!

nickmitch · « **Reply #20 on:** September 04, 2005, 03:56:48 PM »

My house.

RABicle · « **Reply #21 on:** September 04, 2005, 10:11:37 PM »

Woah you live in Venice!

Anyway the whole city will be written off, may as well salvage what you can through looting.

nemo_83 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 05, 2005, 08:29:22 AM »

Kanye West (sp?) spoke the truth in my opinion on CNBC's relief concert before being cut off. "George Bush does not care about black people."

Pale · « **Reply #23 on:** September 05, 2005, 09:23:55 AM »

olol america is d00md.

nemo_83 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 05, 2005, 09:36:52 AM »

The federal gov't has killed more people than the storm with their impotence and inaction following Katrina.

News:

Author Topic: Hurricane Katrina (first hand report) (Read 11397 times)