Hurricane Katrina

Whew, it has been a rough few days for us. We evacuated to Shreveport, La and returned monday night. While we are located only 45 miles from New Orleans we have fared very well. Power just came back on a few minutes ago and to my suprise the cable internet is up.

Our mild suffering is absolutely nothing compared to areas east of us. I will try to get some pictures tomorrow to share some of what has happened to our area.

I would like to hear from some fellow POTN members that were affected and assist in any way possible. I know we have several members from the affected areas.

Thanks for all the support and PLEASE contribute!

They are in our thoughts.

My thoughts are with you all too. I heard from a friend yesterday. He said his photography studio is lost, his house pretty bad off and he hasn't heard from many friends. I've been to New Orleans once and it's scary to see the images.

Our prayers and thoughts are with all those in the affected areas.
We suffered through an ice storm several years back but it was nothing compared to this.
Hopefully relief will come quickly and people can start rebuilding their lives.

My thoughts and prayers as well. I've been totally captivated with this event, and it has taken much of my time as I followed things out on other web sites. Absolutely devastating to New Orleans, as well as a good portion of the gulf coast. I've been to New Orleans, and recognize the city a bit. It is really difficult to grasp the intensity, the horror, the impact of this whole thing. I may still be in a bit of a state of shock.

Lost, you're near ground zero and it's good to see that you're OK. I've made a donation already, and most likely, will make another. I've got a couple of friends involved with FEMA that are heading towards the area right now.

BTW, here's what really illustrated the impact to me:

http://alt.ngs.noaa.go​v/katrina/KATRINA0000.​HTM

Each square on the first image takes you in closer to a selection of individual aerial photos of the area. Extremely devastating, and it doesn't really show the impact of the flooded New Orleans.

http://www.sky.com …0,,30200-13428121,00.html

http://www.sky.com/sky​news/home


help is arriving in some form now at last .
water and food , and buses where it is possible to move anything on dry land

I am sure I speak for many that this devastation has been the saddest thing , to watch and to feel so helpless as we watched
so many are suffering in ways we cannot ever imagine

our love and thoughts go out to you all wherever and whatever you are going though

help is on the way
it may be too little a little too late
but help is coming
the enormous scale of it all has shocked even those in power

hoping many will hold on and hold out until a better day for all
those caught up in this terrible disaster of such magnitude

our sympathy , thoughts, love and prayers go out to all our friends in the United States who may be feeling so vulnerable and helpless at this time also
x

For those that can, please make a donation to the Red Cross or the Salvation Army. We have so many people here in Houston from the New Orleans area that need basically everything. We have been volunteering at one of the shelters and it is moving, to say the least.

Lost - it's good to hear that things are returning in Houma. I have done quite a bit of work in Houma and Grand Isle. Most recently, I have done some work in Venice. I have seen some pictures of the damage there and it is breath taking.

Tim

Looks like Grand Isle is about 50% lost and Venice is about 90% lost. Whole communities have been totally wiped off the face of the earth. I found that NOAA site from WWLs website. It is breath taking.

Help is way too late.

This is a disgrace to America.

Why can we dispatch troops to other countries much quicker then we can dispatch to help our own people. Why do we ignore our own research. Why do we complement efforts that are a complete and utter failure. Why do we spend $40 billion on homeland security that is neither homeland nor security. How many press conferences can we hold to say help is on the way but that never seems to come. Why does our President hug and kiss black girls in an "effort to reassure the survivors" when the survivors aren't the ones watching. There are way too many questions. Lastly, and very much rhetorical, would help take this long to come had these people been well off or predominantly white.

Don't go there.

Thank you Skip. Wasn't sure how to responed to that myself. This is not the place or the time for any of that.

Not a time to blame anyone just help as much as everyone can!!!

Trust me, I've helped (hope you have as well), and like the rest of us, will continue to pay for this disaster - and I'm not referring to the hurricane.

I am amazed at the ineptitude and dichotomy. This is apolotical, and shouldn't really be inflammatory because there isn't much to disagree with.

Now I'm not asking anyone for anything, I'm not debating anyone, and thus no reply is required. But don't tell me to "not go there", or that this isn't the right time. I choose to voice my opinion on an atrocious situation ... and if a link to photography is required - if you watched CNN, when Bush staged the hugs and kisses to the teenage black girls, the sound of MKIIs set at High was unmistakable and somewhat made a mockery out of the entire scene!

Cheers and peace

I think it's the wrong forum to discuss politics. Especially when it involves false accusations. If you wish to start laying blame instead of helping, at least take a look at what role local and state government play in emergency situations. Hint - Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi don't seem to have a problem with response to hurricanes.

Perhaps.

A. I have helped

B. Do you consider 5 days lag on an organized response (and help is not all there) a job well done.

Kudos to Texas though.

Regards,