umm, hurricanes have been hitting that area for centuries.  even the earliest explorers knew this. it's hard to feel sorry for people in hawaii, who build their house next to an active volcano then wonder why they have lava in the kitchen. 

Phantom says: "Bush is already wasting most of our taxes as it is, so what will this hurt? One of our strengths, even if it's rarely apparent, is that we can pull together in times of crisis."

I like the snow analogy. MC, sorry if I was blunt this a.m. I really do like Phantom's snow removal comment. I remember (oh no, here he goes again..) the Blizzard of 1977. Half-tracks and Green uniforms and parkas.

M.C., if you got snowed in during the Blizzard of 20__? And the Alabama National Guard sent all of their troops here to operate plows, snow blowers and shovels, I'd be the first to be cookin corn bread, black-eyed peas and short cakes to serve them:) 

Here's a deal--ANYONE GOT AN EXTRA BLANKET, Tooth brush, flashlight, plastic bags or T.P. that they'd like to send and help these people?  We can work on moving them sometime in the near future (like maybe before next hurricane season) and offer up the real spirit that makes us great for right now.

Any thoughts on advancing this? I'll call Red Cross or some others...maybe we could do it through WLVL?

What would it hurt if we only got ten blankets and a box of Hefty's?

Lou

http://www2.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf

 Latest news at USA National web site...

1-800-HELP-NOW
www.redcross.org

CAN YOU SAY ATLANTIS???

What distresses me about the people of this country is the observation someone once made about us, that is, Americans don't act, they react.

For years environmentalists have warned about the increase in frequency and severity of hurricanes because of climate change and they've been dismissed as crackpots and doomsayers.

I'd venture that we will have a couple more Katrinas by the time this hurricane season is over.

The next prediction: the bread-basket of the world, the American midwest, will starting turning into a Sahara desert within the next decade. Great Lakes water will be pumped in to prevent mass starvation.

Ok, have at me.

Jim Hufnagel wrote:

---

...Americans don't act, they react...

---

That is so true.

Well, it's only been a couple of days since the wind died down, and while the deluge of water remains, it hasn't stopped a veritable flood of assistance from other parts of the country. Wal-Mart donated $1 million in aid. Noco another million. Dozens of private corporations are doing the same. Hundreds of organizations such as the Boy Scouts, church groups, radio stations, PTA's, small stores and businesses, and even individuals are all pitching in. They're loading tractor trailers with food and water. They're donating everything from batteries to bandages. They're donating money, blood, equipment, and their time. All on their own. Out of their goodness of their hearts. Without prompting from the government. Americans will always help those in need because they care. We need the government to provide emergency rescue and maybe some assistance from the military. We don't need the government to hand out money for people insane enough to live in places like New Orleans. We can take care of our own.

Nuclear Lou wrote:

If someone told me that in three days the elements were going to sweep my town off the face of the Earth, or that the ground beneath my feet was going to swallow me up? I'd be gone in 1 week. I'd pack my car and I'd go. And whatever I couldn't fit in my car would be covered by insurance. I'd start over. But you bet your boots I wouldn't do it IN THE SAME PLACE.

I also have little remorse for those people who just stood there watching their windchimes instead of high-tailing it out of there. I live in the snow-belt. So you know what I did? I bought a snowbrush and some boots.

It seems really obvious that when a storm of that enormity comes along that you would, of course, leave. But I think there's a flip side to this: some of these areas are, unfortunately, very poverty stricken and not all of the people in the way of Katrina had the means to leave; the news coverage has been touching on this issue -- approximately 25% of New Orleans' residents live below the poverty line. Another issue is all of the looting: some people want to protect their homes from thieves who take advantage of a disaster like this. Also, not all of the areas affected by this storm are oceanfront properties; Jackson, MS experienced major flooding and it is, by no means, a coastal community. Are you suggesting that no one should live in the entire southeast because that region could be affected by a major hurricane? Some of these hurricanes are huge systems and a few of them have tracked all the way up to the northeast -- I believe in PA -- and caused flooding all the way up there; most of the country's regions have some kind of natural disaster waiting to happen and I think, in these situations, we ought to show a little compassion because, who knows, we could have another Blizzard of '77 and how many resources and Guardsmen will we need to dig us out of that? If I recall, the Nat'l Guard has been around quite a bit to dig our butts out of snow in the last few years...you don't think that costs $$ and takes up resources that could be allocated elsewhere?? 

Oh, and whoever made the joke about "lava in the kitchen" -- try not to use George Carlin's material the next time you're trying to sound clever.

All you naysayers just might get your wish--an uninhabitable South...coast.

Don't think it could happen?

Has anyone mentioned the nuclear reactors or fuel pools in any of the flooded areas?

Port Gibson (25 miles S of Vicksburg, MS; nearest major city: Jackson, MS)
 Grand Gulf Nuclear Station: Unit 1
http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=Jackson,+MS
 
Anonymous writes:
 Also, not all of the areas affected by this storm are oceanfront properties; Jackson, MS experienced major flooding and it is, by no means, a coastal community. Are you suggesting that no one should live in the entire southeast because that region could be affected by a major hurricane?
---------------------------

st. francisville, la
24 miles Baton Rouge
http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=Saint+Francisville,+LA

Taft twenty miles W of new Orleans
http://www.travelpost.com/NA/USA/Louisiana/Taft/map/3620796

Waterford 3, Taft, La. Nuclear energy supplies 17.0 percent of the electricity
generated in Louisiana.

Anonymous wrote:

---

Are you suggesting that no one should live in the entire southeast because that region could be affected by a major hurricane?

---

A number of people seem to think this follows my logic. It doesn't. I am not saying we should de-populate entire regions prone to a natural disaster. I'm saying you should be prepared for that disaster to happen. You are accepting the risk of living there. And you should be responsible enough to have a plan for when it happens, both before and after. For example, I'm the kind of person who, if I lived in New Orleans, I would have a car at the ready. If I couldn't afford that, I'd make sure I had a supply of batteries, flashlights, first-aid kit, a week's worth of canned food & water, maybe even an inflatable raft. Even poor people can afford to stockpile a little at a time. I know because I've done it.

And how is calling the national guard a waste of resources? That's what they're for, national emergency and defense. That's what they're paid for, let 'em do it.

MC writes:
If someone told me that in three days the elements were going to sweep my town off the face of the Earth, or that the ground beneath my feet was going to swallow me up? I'd be gone in 1 week. I'd pack my car and I'd go.   Yeah, I was tired when I wrote that, & left something out. My point was supposed to be, if someone said I had to move within a year, I'd be gone in a week.  If someone said I had to be gone in three days, I'd be out that night. There. That sounds better.

Anonymous wrote:
Oh, and whoever made the joke about "lava in the kitchen" -- try not to use George Carlin's material the next time you're trying to sound clever.

I wasn't trying to sound clever. George's material often makes far more sense than serious people. I think this was the vein MC was trying to tap.

You know, MC could won't get cancer if he eats some broccoli. Broccoli kills cancer. Bet ya didn't know that. You find out you've got some cancer just get yourself a bowl of broccoli.

So there