I have been in 3 hurricanes. In 1979 landed in Charleston SC got bused to Some Army Fort near Columbia to out process off of active duty. And boom that got smacked by Charlie. It wasn't too fun and I was inland close to a hundred miles. Got home to Anniston Alabama and two days later got hit by Floyd which was even worse. Years later I was in Montgomery Alabama and another passed through. These have been some of the worse storms I have ever seen with the 80 mile an hour winds and the rain falling so thick you can't see more that 15 feet in front of you. In all cases I was on land far enough away that the ocean din' t affect me. I see the pictures of our southern coast and I just want to cry for those people. I have bee sitting here feeling sorry for mysel because today is the first day I got some work in 3 months. Earned a whopping 50 dollars but these people lost everything, they have no food, water or shelter. I have a roof over my head, food in my belly. I have enough money in my bank account to pay my bills for a few months s well. I think that 4 hours ago I was in the general modeling section crying about gas prices and "I can't get to the HObby Shop".

It really puts thing in perspective...

It hurts to see the devestation, the loss and the suffering.

Prayers to all those affected.

Jim

HI guys

I've been watching the TV coverage myself, and to say it hurts does not do it justice. We can cry, and we can pray [ Lord knows they need it ] But what we need, no what we must do is give!!! Be it food, supplies, or money The American Red Cross has a local office in I believe every city, and town in th US. Come on gang, I feel very strongly about very few things. I normally just let the world go by. But I will not be able to look at my kids if I do nothing. I am not being over dramatic here guys. This is the single worse disaster that has hit the US I know in my life time.

Harry

Harry, I got to agree with you. My wife and I have the day off tomorrow...time to go to the Red Cross and give something.

I've never seen anything like this. It seems to be slowly degenerating. It is a problem of immense proportions. As I sit here, I just heard that they are now turning people away from the Astrodome...

Jim

My scout troop is going to the Salvation Army this weekend to help organize the collection / relief efforts

Hi, Unfortunatey this latest natural disaster that has occured along the Gulf Coast is just one more example of how vulnerable man kind is, and always will be, to the powers of Mother Nature. Esp. in those areas along the coast and around the world, where hurricanes and such as this are not a rarity, but something more of a common happening.

Who in their right mind would build, much less live, in a city that is below sea level, along the coast and surrounded by swamps? Not too logical I have to say.

Will these cites be rebuilt? Of course they will. New dikes and dams and other such things will be built to help protect them from such a thing never happening again. But this is only man kind's ego talking and sooner or later, more likely sooner, according to the future predictions of hurricane activity over the next 20 years. Mother Nature will once again prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that all of man's construction efforts to help protect himself from the elements are mere scratchings on the surface and does not compare to a hill of beans, compared to the force and power of Mother Earth.

Much like the million and a half folks who currently live around the base of Mt. Vesuvius in Italy or who live down-range from the volcanoes along the Western U.S., or populate the many islands of the Far East, it's not a matter of IF it occur, but only WHEN. And since the world is long over-due for a major natural disaster, at least major in the sense or our understanding of it, the WHEN is really just around around the corner.

Take care, Sgirty

Well, We Dutch did it, and still do lol.

Seriously: What happened is horrible, and Holland now officially has offered their help should it be needed.

A list of countries that have offered to help in one way or another at the link below.

Shaun

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168203,00.html#cool

Katrina is truly a disaster of biblical preportions.

What upsets me is that:
The City of New Orleans seems to have done little to none planning and was way overwhelmed by the storm. The State of Louisiana likewise. Lawlessness broke out almost as soon as the winds died down. The amount of aid needed is great and amassing that aid takes time. Even President Bush today stated he felt the response time was unacceptable.

SO Today, I saw the HEMTT's rolling into New Orleans loaded with food, water and Medicine.

The Mayor of New Orleans cursed and blamed the federal government for the suffering of the people and the deaths of some - Hey Mr. Mayor - what the heck did you and the rest of the city government do to respond? Did you think about this or is it earier to lay blame than to take blame.

George Patton once said - "Never make excuses, even if its not your fault." I guess the Mayor needs to look to himself and his administration rather than blaming the Feds.

IAs I stated earlier, I am working on a crew (pro-bono) organizing disaster relief. To listen to the mayor of New Orleans, I have to agree it angers me about his comments. The state should have mobilized the National Guard when Katrina was still a day off. The Federal Army cannot "come into" the state until asked by the governor. Fema had already set things in motion beofre the storm, but has had problems getting in. The remaining residents are rioting, raping, looting and shooting at these folks trying to come in and help. But once again.....its all Bush's fault. And the media is once again exploiting this. Last night I'm listening to some reporter complain that no one is telling these people where to go . They have no TV's and radios so someone should help. I was aghast. I shouted at the TV "So why the +#*% aren't you doing it. Become part of the solution, don't sit back and finger point. The "thas not my job man" don't wash in a disaster. As usual reporters are nothing more than ticks.

While I am also frustrated by some of the obvious politicizing of the situation, let's not let this discussion devolve into a political rant please. Or it will simply get locked or deleted.

Thanks,
Jim

Politics aside I would like to make a simple observation: Why, on Wednesday when they were moving people out of the Superdome on buses, did they send the buses in empty? It would seem to me that someone would have thought to load them up with MREs and bottled water and off-loaded that before loading them up with people.

Shaun

I'm proud to say that my little city of Grand Prairie Texas took in 2 busloads of folks today. We had so many volunteers show up we had to turn them away. We filled 3 rooms up with food, water, clothing, diapers and toys. LOcal merchants have flooded the place with sandwiches, Pizza, water and soda. They opened up the nearby pool for the kids. We are setting up getting their children bused to schools, many have offered to take some into their homes and they will begin the process of helping them try to find jobs in an area already financially strapped. This is what America is about. I know that if they bused these people to Ohio and California the response would be the same............................... in fact anytown USA . I also find it quite gratifying to hear of so many countries outside offering their aid as well.

One day after Katrina hit I got a call from my boss at work saying they were activating our disaster team. He was asked if anyone would/could go down to bring medical care closer to the people that couldn't make it out.
I was number 5 on the list, our department sent 4( that is all they needed at the time) out last Friday. They were looking at being down there anywhere from 9days to 19 weeks.
If enough people signed up they would make a list and start rotating people about a week at a time. We got about 20 out of the 35 people put on the list.
So needless to say I dug out my old Sea bag and started gathering the stuff I think I might need.
Because the way it sounds if things don't get better real soon I will be heading out Friday.