CarrieMpls said:

Governor Blanco is also saying the 30,000 in the superdome have to evacuate as well.

OH, GM is granting flood vicitms 90 days before another car payment is due. Dude! Who has a car still running?!

From http://www.cnn.com/2005/W...index.html


Unrest grows in flooded New Orleans

Louisiana governor calls for prayer as conditions worsen

Wednesday, August 31, 2005; Posted: 7:15 a.m. EDT (11:15 GMT)

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- As parts of flooded New Orleans slip into chaos and Gulf Coast communities struggle to deal with the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana's governor is declaring Wednesday a day of prayer.

Officials in New Orleans have not even begun tallying the dead -- there hasn't been time. With waters rising from broken levees, all efforts have been focused on rescuing survivors.

Those survivors are facing dire conditions -- no power, little drinking water, dwindling food supplies, gunfire in the distance -- with no way to get out.

And the waters are still rising, at times dotted by the bodies of those who perished when the hurricane roared into town Monday morning.

Authorities were having to evacuate the thousands of people at city shelters, including the Louisiana Superdome, where a policeman told CNN unrest was escalating.

The officer expressed concern that the situation could worsen after three shootings, looting and a number of attempted carjackings during the afternoon. (See video of the looting -- 1:25)

National Guard troops moved into the downtown business district, and state police squads backed by SWAT teams were sent in to scatter looters and restore order, authorities said late Tuesday. (Full story)

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said it was "impossible to even begin to estimate" how long it will take to restore power and drinking water in New Orleans.

"This is a tragedy of great proportions, greater than any we've see in our lifetimes," Blanco said. "We know many lives have been lost."

The death toll from the storm so far is estimated at 70 -- mostly in Mississippi. Officials stressed that the number is uncertain and likely to be much higher. (See aerial video of the aftermath -- 3:02)

In New Orleans and elsewhere along the Gulf Coast, authorities used boats and helicopters to reach stranded residents and search for survivors.

The storm ripped ashore in Louisiana on Monday morning with winds topping 140 mph before scourging Mississippi and Alabama.

In declaring Wednesday a day of prayer in the state of Louisiana, Blanco asked residents to ask "that God give us all the physical and spiritual strength to work through this crisis and rebuild."

"As we face the devastation wrought by Katrina, as we search for those in need, as we comfort those in pain and as we begin the long task of rebuilding, we turn to God for strength, hope and comfort," Blanco said.

Anger on the rise in New Orleans

Anger was rising along with the muddy water in New Orleans.

Mayor Ray Nagin on Tuesday night blasted what he called a lack of coordination in relief efforts for setting behind the city's recovery.

"There is way too many fricking ... cooks in the kitchen," Nagin said in a phone interview with WAPT-TV in Jackson, Mississippi. (Full story)

Nagin was fuming over what he said were scuttled plans to plug a 200-yard breach near the 17th Street Canal, allowing Lake Pontchartrain to spill into the central business district. (Map)

An earlier breach occurred along the Industrial Canal in the city's Lower 9th Ward.

The rising flood waters overwhelmed pumping stations that would normally keep the city dry. About 80 percent of the city was flooded with water up to 20 feet deep after the two levees collapsed. (See video of knee-deep and rising water in the French Quarter -- 1:19)

Nagin told CNN that at least 30 buildings had collapsed but that no attempt had been made to determine a death toll.

"There are dead bodies floating in some of the water," Nagin said. "The rescuers would basically push them aside as they were trying to save individuals."

Nagin said that as of late Tuesday "a significant amount of water" is flowing into the bowl-shaped city and sections of the city now dry could be under 9 or 10 feet of water within hours.

"The bowl is filling up," he said.

Frustration was also rising among people who now find themselves refugees in their own city.

Thousands of people were being housed in the Louisiana Superdome, where toilets were overflowing and there was no air conditioning to provide relief from 90-degree heat.

Nagin estimated the number of people in the Superdome at between 12,000 and 15,000 people as of late Tuesday. He said they could be there for a week unless evacuated sooner.

Blanco said officials are making plans to evacuate people from the Superdome and other shelters, but she did not say when that might happen or where they might be taken.

The city's main public hospital, Charity Hospital, was no longer functioning and was being evacuated, Blanco said.

Also under way was the evacuation of more than 1,000 people from Tulane University Hospital with the help of the U.S. military, hospital spokeswoman Karen Troyer Caraway said.

"It's an unbelievable situation," she said. "We're completely surrounded by water. There's looting going on in the streets around the hospital."

Hundreds of people were looting businesses downtown, throwing rocks through store windows and hauling away goods.

Nagin told Mississippi television station WAPT a police officer was shot and wounded when he surprised a looter Tuesday, but the officer was expected to recover.

The biggest problem facing authorities, they said, was an inability to communicate.

Nearly all of the parishes in the New Orleans area -- Orleans, St. John the Baptist, Plaquemines, St. Tammany and Jefferson -- have curfews in place.

Inmates from a flooded parish jail were relocated to a freeway on-ramp, where they sat out in the sun, under the watch of armed officers.

Authorities warned that efforts to limit the flooding have been unsuccessful, and that residents may not be able to return home for a month.

"The Corps Of Engineers has attempted to fix the situation under emergency conditions," Blanco told CNN. "They're not the best conditions, and probably too little, too late."

Getting anything into New Orleans will be difficult because of the damage to two bridge spans seven miles long that carry Interstate 10 over Lake Pontchartrain, linking the city to points east.

Heart felt thoughts and prayers to those affected by Katrina's destruction.
There's a long road ahead... GODSPEED
[Edited 8/31/05 6:04am]

Reincarnate said:

If they are ok, it may be weeks before they can get on here and let us know. All we can do is hope and pray for their and all others' safety who are trying to survive this catastrophie

Just watching the news this morning here in New York. My thoughts and best wishes go to everybody directly dealing with this horrible disaster.

newpower99 said:

amen i was just asking about them yesterday ....

i cant imagine being there

To all the Big Easy orgers, and all orgers from surronding areas, their friends and family.

God Bless!

I hope you are able to find some peace in and this and a speedy recovery

Sending all my energy to that region of the country! They are not seeing any light anytime soon. The mayor said it will be about 12-16 weeks before the city will even be inhabitable again!!

All the best to my fellow orgers in that area and all that are suffering the after affects of this horrendous natural disaster.

I just seen an interview of a woman who said..."I can't believe this! THIS IS AMERICA! I can see if this were a foreign country, but not here."

What the Fuck!!!!

Some people just need slapped and their mouths sewn shut!!!

DexMSR said:

It's amazing what happens to the minds of people when disaster strikes them. People either rise to the occasion or fail miserably. Hopefully, the looting will decrease and people won't do things that they'll regret later. I just hope that the people of the Gulf Coast Region can keep themselves together during this time for themselves and their families. My prayers will contiue to go to these people.
[Edited 8/31/05 13:12pm]

Go Mayor Nagin! Hold it down brother man! He almost cursed while being interviewed via phone with CNN. He will deffinately get nat'l recognition after this.

nakedpianoplayer said:

Our news here is now saying "thousands are feared dead in New Orleans". I'm so worried about our guys over there - it's hearbreaking to think of all the dead, bereaved and homeless out there.

purplecam said:

I can understand stealing food & water when your family's facing starvation. I'd probably do the same thing if I was in that horrible situation. But those a$$-wipes stealing electronic equipment need a serious smackdown(along with jail time).

What an amazing display of our vulnerability. Prayers and money, when I can decide exactly where to, will definitely go out.

Some comments:

* The real estate market for the areas in and around New Orleans are gonna go through the ROOF in the intermediate future! Not only can't the city proper go anywhere but up from here for those brave enough to stick around, but there is gonna be a swarm of people moving to more outlying areas. You probably couldn't give away land in New Orleans right this minute, but since virtually 80% of the city will have to start from scratch, in the next couple years, I see commercial and residential developers swarming to seize land razed by Katrina. Just imagine the vitality of that market! Unfortunately, though, this is gonna wildly gentrify the city when it's rebuilt.

* Contracting firms are also gonna make a killing with rebuilding the city.

* It's gonna take at LEAST 10 years to restore New Orleans to anything remotely close to what it was.

* ...But it will be EXTREMELY interesting. I've heard some people comment that the best thing for New Orleans civil engineers to do would be to redesign the old levies (some are pushing 100 years old) and dikes and create more water thoroughfares throughout the city -- like a Venice or Amsterdam. I think that would be stunning, and a great way to revive such a beloved city.
[Edited 8/31/05 14:43pm]

Lammastide said:

I can't imagine folks wanting to move back to such a high-risk area. But then again, look at parts of California. But TEN YEARS to restore the city? Where will the poor & elderly folks go?

KatSkrizzle said:

I SAW THAT INTERVIEW ALSO. AS THE MAYOR STATED "THERE'S TOO MANY FRICKIN COOKS IN THE KITCHEN" GO 'HEAD BROTHA MAN!

KatSkrizzle said:

9O DAY GRACE PERIOD, YEAH RIGHT! THE BIG THREE KNOW DAMN WELL THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GET CHECKS FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALLING THOSE CARS OUT!

I'M GETTING PISSED ABOUT THE RELIEF EFFORT. THEY KNEW IN ADVANCED THAT THIS WILL BE A CATASTORPHIC HURRICANE AND JUST KNOW DEPLOYING TROOPS(AIRCRAFT & MEDICAL CARRIERS)THAT WILL ARRIVE NEXT WEEK! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON! THE GOVERNMENT WAS QUICK TO FIND SADDEM IN A HOLE, BUT DRAGGING THEIR ASS TO SEND HELP! THOSE CARRIERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAILING THE HURRICANE

ASSHOLES!

Please donate & help those that are less fortunate:

http://www.redcross.org/

debbiedean2 said:

Katrina was only a category 1 hurricane when it went through Florida, so I don't think anyone would have guessed that it would turn into a category 5 when it hit the gulf states. And moving troops is not the fastest operation especially when they're being shipped by sea. And what do you mean they were "quick to find Saddam"? That didn't happen quick at all. Hell, they're still looking for Bin Laden and it's been 4 years! I understand the frustration, but you're sounding like the Democratic Party who are attacking the Bush Administration while they themselves could be helping the effort more rather than pointing fingers. It's a very complex situation and decisions like these are not to be taken lightly. Leave the decision making to those who are more qualified, please.

TMPletz said:

HOLD UP PARTNER! IF YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS HURRICANE LIKE I WAS, AGAIN THEY KNEW THAT KATRINA WOULD BE A CAT 4 OR 5 HITTING THE GULF COAST AT LEAST 24 HRS BEFORE LANDFALL, SO WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE THOSE TROOPS ON STAND BY AT THAT POINT. THIS GOES TO SHOW HOW WELL THESE SO-CALLED QUALIFIED DECISION MAKERS CAN HANDEL THIS COMPLEX SITUATION. IT DOESN'T TAKE A DEM OR REPUB TO USE COMMON SENSE.

What a nightmare.

A couple of years ago I visited N.O. to work at an AIDS shelter. I pray for the beautiful souls I met there.

And for all the victims and their families.



I'm at a loss for words.

popgodazipa said:

I saw a picture of that motherfucker gleefully strumming a guitar just a couple of days ago as the hurricane was advancing/hitting. Fucking ass. I hate him.

uPtoWnNY said:

SHOOT ALL THEM F*CKING LOOTERS!!!!!
I'm serious! The police has been diverted in many areas from search-and-rescue missions in order to control those f*cking armed looters!
Send the f*cking Marines in there and just shoot all of them on sight!!!!

PurpleJedi said:

They did declare martial law, so I'm hoping they go to it!

PurpleJedi said:

THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING EARLIER THAT THE TROOPS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON STAND-BY, INSTEAD OF ARRIVING NEXT WEEK WHEN EVERYTHING GONE. I CAN UNDERSTAND FOOD, WATER, DIAPERS(I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE STEALING HUGGIES), AND PERSONAL HYGINE ITEMS. BUT THE ELECTRONICS WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PLUG IT UP, DUMBASSES

debbiedean2 said:

I saw a video clip of some hoodlum with his jeans barely covering his butt-crack as he used a pole trying to smash the door in to some business (some boutique or something). Then when a patrol drove by he just walked away very non-chalant with a f*cking smile on his face.
They should've grabbed that pole and shoved it up his ASS!!!

I know I keep posting the same thing, but I'm really worried about TonyVanDam and Saintsation. I can't stop thinking about them. Here are the last threads they posted on:

http://www.prince.org/msg/100/158511
http://www.prince.org/msg/100/158517
http://www.prince.org/msg/100/158494
http://www.prince.org/msg/100/158543

If anyone does, by chance, hear from either of them could you please post it here? I didn't know either of them that well but did know them as well as I know most of you. I just pray they're both safe and will come back here in a few weeks. Keep well guys

gemini13 said:

so sad