More about Katrina

[dreamflower]

This just burns me up!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060302/ap_on_go_pr_wh/katrina_video

Cut for rant. Don't bother reading if you are sick of hearing about it.

I thought Bush was only clueless and not very bright. But apparently he just didn't care!

Six months later there are still millions of cubic feet of debris yet to be moved--and the deadline is looming: March 11. Hundreds of Mississippians are homeless, or still living in tents; and those with FEMA trailers will not be safe if we have even a mild hurricane this year. The majority of shelters were destroyed. And it is only three months until the new hurricane season. Yet on the national news, all you ever hear is New Orleans, New Orleans, New Orleans!

And we are still waiting on the mortgage company to return our reimbursement from our insurance.

Comments

[sila-lumenn.livejournal.com]

*tight hugs*

It's all so overwhelming, it's hard for those of us who haven't seen the devastation first-hand to fathom. I don't understand why most all the news is only about New Orleans either. Maybe because it's the most recognized city or something. But rest assured, we do hear about Gulfport/Biloxi, too. Just not as much as we should.

Jimmy Johnson, of Arlo and Janis fame, has talked in depth and posted many pictures on his website. His home was/is in Pass Christian. He has helped focus some attention onto Mississippi's plight, as has Elen Degeneres, who's grandmother also lived in Pass Christian.

It makes my heart hurt to remember how beautiful Mississippi was before.

[dreamflower]

((hugs back))

I think N.O. gets most of the publicity because in addition to the drama of the storm itself, there was the drama of the feud between the mayor and the governor and FEMA, and the riots and sniping at rescue workers, and the levees breaking--we just got on with getting on, and that's not nearly so "entertaining".

Oh, I know, and Robin Roberts (GMA's morning news anchor) who is from the Pass, and whose mother and sister live in Biloxi, has done her best to get ABC to focus on Mississippi more. "Extreme Home Makeover" was here a couple of week ago--that will be airing soon.

If you want to see some comparison of then and now:

Before and after Katrina
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/special_packages/renewal/before_after/

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

(((((((hugs you tightly)))))))

That must be truly frustrating. I remember that under the hurricane I was so annoyed because I didn't get any information on the area where you and Coney live and since I care about you I wanted to know what happened but all the news were about New Orleans. I have never liked Bush and this just confirms me not liking him even more. I really, really hope something happens soon because the States shouldn't be able to live with not building up communities after such a disaster. It is a shame that it's not done more!

Oh, well that became quite a bit of rant from my part too, lol.

((((more hugs)))

[dreamflower]

((((((hugs back))))))

Thank you very much for the rant! It makes me feel good to have someone else ranting on my behalf.

One reason I keep harping on things, is because I'm trying to do my little part on LJ to keep the awareness going of what things are like here. I'm high and dry, true, but so many of my friends are not.

[surgicalsteel.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I know - we still have people in Florida living in FEMA trailers from the 2004 hurricane season. It's pathetic, and makes me wonder if the government actually cares about these folks at all.

[dreamflower]

((hugs back))

Oh, they care--as long as the news media is around, and the cameras are rolling. (Do I sound cynical or bitter? After reading that bit, I suppose I do.)

And how did those folks cope in the 2005 season? And how will they cope with the upcoming season? *sheesh*

[surgicalsteel.livejournal.com]

They're far enough inland that they're not in an mandatory evacuation zone *snorts* or a designated flood plain *snorts again*. Which bascally means that FEMA's walking around with their fingers in their ears going 'lalalalala can't hear you dont believe you everything is fine fine fine...'

[dreamflower]

That's our government for you. And tonight, I see, Ol' Clueless is at it again.

[songspinner9.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw that last night and had to go watch some fluff so I could actually sleep. I can't sleep when I'm ticked off that much...I do not, in any way, shape, or form, understand why things aren't moving faster, and didn't back then. I read this letter in a magazine in which someone pointed out that volunteers from Canada (Vancouver) got to this particular parish first. On the bright side, I suppose it's a good thing that we've got freedom of the press here. I have fifth graders in my class who say that they can see quick ways to solve some of the problems they hear about, and don't understand why grownups aren't doing it. Sigh. You have every right to rant, my dear.

[dreamflower]

Most of the ordinary people can also see solutions, but no one wants to hear them.

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

That Bush didn't care was very obvious for the outside world back then. Aid from foreign countries were offered immediately and he declined, leaving us, allies, feeling quite powerless (yet we went in anyway ;), stubborn Dutch).

Just warm and lovin' hugs and know we cared (and still do) all along

[dreamflower]

(((hugs))) Thank you so much, dear! I know that all of *y'all* cared. I had plenty of evidence for that once I got back online!

Yes, a number of other countries came (and are still coming) to our assistance: in the last few weeks there have been stories about Scottish, Croation, and even Haitian groups that have come here to help folks rebuild. I can't imagine why Dubya would have rejected any offers of help, but then I've given up trying to figure out how that man's mind works. And I am glad a lot of them came anyway!

(((hugs back)))

[lil-banik-slave.livejournal.com]

*Tight hug*

[dreamflower]

(((hugs back)))

[westwindschild.livejournal.com]

*hugs*
I don't imagine any of us from "untouched" areas can be half as tired of hearing rants as you must be of the need to rant, so rant away! I never gave Dubya any credit for caring or having a brain in the first place - if he had even one drop of human compassion or sense we wouldn't have gone to Iraq - so I don't know why I am so shocked at his callous disregard for what the experts were telling him. I cannot believe that anyone could hear what was about to hit and just assume that it would all work out, when it was so patently obvious to everyone else that it wouldn't! It just seems that he can't believe that anything but al Qaeda is worth his attention. OK,somebody stop me before I really get going!
It is so sad and unbelievable that 6 months on, the tragedy is still unfolding, losses keep accruing, and the government is still just working it to gain "political capital". I hope that soon there will be real recovery.
How is your sister-in-law faring?

[dreamflower]

Amen to all you said!

Not sure; we haven't heard from her in a few days. The DH is driving over there tonight to see that she's OK.