Okay, we’ve seen the footage of the looting, the flooded cities, the lack of communication, people who can’t find loved ones. Now, let’s share the good stuff.
On Fox News, Shepard Smith hailed a cop to help a mother and her five-day old infant. The baby was overheated and lethargic, the family had spent two days in an attic, and after a boat rescued them they were dropped off on the highway with no where to go. They came across Smith and the engineer grabbed a cop, and as they were interviewing them the police came and piled them into a car to take them, presumably, to a hospital.
The strategic oil reserves will be released, and so far, the American Red Cross has not had to ask for help from other agencies.
What else? I know there’s good stuff out there, but the news just seems to be focusing on the bad stuff.
I just learned my friends who lived in Destrehan are not only safe, but their neighborhood suffered very little flood damage, just a lot of wind damage. They’re waiting to see when or if they can go home and get some of their belongings.
I’m sure that someone will Pit me for this, but I think it’s just amazing to see something like this happen - the complete destruction of a city. Because of modern planning and technology, we simply haven’t had something like this happen on this scale in my lifetime - it’s truly a Pompeii-esque event, and I’m very fascinated by it and feel morbidly glad to have been able to see it.
My dad has lived in NO for a few years now but he always kept his house in Oxford (North Mississippi). Some of us kids teased him about it over the years, but you know what?
I’ts a good thing that he kept it. A VERY good thing. Tonight he, his lady friend, and her aged mother (with Alzheimers) are safe and sound in Oxford; they have electricity, water, etc. A full working house with washer & dryer, TV; they are good to go. Plus since he’s retired he doesnt’ have to worry about a job.
I’m so very thankfull that my baby sister, her hubby and little girl left New Orleans on Sunday morning. A drive which takes 3 hours normally got them here in 9 and a half. We put them up until this morning, when they lit out for Oxford. Another blessing is that my brother has a rental home there which is unoccupied. So; they can stay there as long as they want to. She is going to enroll her first grader in school there and look for temp work at University of Mississippi.
I’m thankfull that we decided to have our daughter bring her car out of New Orleans on Saturday. She was trying to move into University there. The only things we will lose are the items which we put in the dorm. Material stuff… she is up here in Jackson and safe.
I’m awash in grief and relief at the same time. But the good and best part is that my kinfolk are OK.
BTW: Southern Dopers: a lot of International students have been displaced from University at this time, throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. Please give thought to housing an international who might not be able to afford going home (tickets to Asia for example are very pricey). These kids need our help.
We’ve got convoys from as far away as California and Montana converging on the area. The Superdome refugees will be able to take a hot shower in Houston.
My e mail list Setters-L has been amazing. It is a list of Setter(Irish , Endlish , Gordon & Irish Red & White) owners all over the world , and many , many , many have offered refuge to total strangers , or even to take in pets if anyone needs a place for them to stay. I have never seen such an outpouring of care from a group of strangers with only one real thing in common.
I don’t have a cite anymore specific than saying I heard it on the morning radio news update that Mexico and Venezuela (yup, the same one that is run by the idiot Chavez, targeted by the bigger idiot Robertson) are stepping up with charitable donations, logistical support, and foreign aid (!).
The good people of Port Gibson, Mississippi, who let me and several other refugees from New Orleans stay in a Baptist church, fed us, and kept us in good spirits. Thanks, y’all!
I would pit your for this except I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say that I feel some of the same things. I am from Louisiana and went to college at Tulane in New Orleans. I love the city with all my heart. Still, I have been reading about this exact problem for years and assumed that it would happen. When Katrina was finally certain to hit New Orleans in some way, I called all my family members and told them the city was going to be destroyed. They blew me off and made fun of me. After the hurricane passed and the damage seemed only moderate, my family made fun of me for being an “alarmist” and a “know it all”. When the levees broke, I actually felt vindicated.
It is fascinating to see what happens when a city is nearly destroyed and law and order cease to exist. So far, all of my predictions have come true. I have lost all respect for bleeding heart liberal ideas when it comes to dealing with extreme crisis.
At the same time, I feel horrible for friends that still live in New Orleans including one that is staying with us and has basically lost his entire life. I always feel like I am going to throw up. I want Tulane to be Ok. My little brother is a Baton Rouge police officer and I am sure that he survived the storm but he may be on very hazardous duty right. I don’t know because the phone lines have been done for days.
I justify these very mixed emotions by convincing myself that New Orleans will be rebuilt better than ever and all the good will be kept while all the bad that was there before will be fixed.
Ah. I was operating off an old link from the Canadian Red Cross, that said the American Red Cross had not asked for help, but that Canadians could still donate if they wished.
Several Jesuit universities here, including Seattle U, are taking in students from Tulane, Xavier U of NO, and Loyola U of NO as visiting nonmatriculated students until their home institutions can reopen. From LA to WA state… that’s a hell of a move.
We’re also sending several disaster relief crews there, plus looking for volunteer medical staff to send.
And the owner of several local restaurants, who’s originally from NO, is donating 20% of proceeds on Tuesday-Thursday to the Salvation Army for hurricane relief.
I never thought he was a hottie before. But I’ve been watching him all week, and hey! he’s human instead of just another cyborg news guy. He gets so emotional about the things he’s seeing.
Several Jesuit universities here, including Seattle U, are taking in students from Tulane, Xavier U of NO, and Loyola U of NO as visiting nonmatriculated students until their home institutions can reopen. From LA to WA state… that’s a hell of a move.
We’re also sending several disaster relief crews there, plus looking for volunteer medical staff to send.
And the owner of several local restaurants, who’s originally from NO, is donating 20% of proceeds on Tuesday-Thursday to the Salvation Army for hurricane relief.
Shagnasty: you can check on the status of Tulane at this web site: www.emergency.tulane.edu. From what I understand the head administrators have all relocated to Houston. I think this emergency site’s server is there, so it’s working. Any other Tulane web site will not work.
University of Arkansas is also offering late enrollment and tuition discounts for students displaced by Katrina. In fact, if you are an Arkansan I believe you can go there this semester tuition free. More info here.
But the good and best part is that my kinfolk are OK.