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Main Area => Odds n Ends => Topic started by: The Buddha on September 14, 2005, 11:16:27 AM

Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: The Buddha on September 14, 2005, 11:16:27 AM
OK so who is to blame for the collapse of society following Katrina ...
I heard that city of NO had over 1000 which could have been dep;oyed to cart off people the day before the hurricane, leaving just the hold out's. There by averting the superdome catastrophe ... instead the busses stood in the yard and got flooded and washed out. I dont have any real opinions here, just what I heard. The Mayor/Governor was too cheap to have state funded transpoin the mandatory evacuation ... or truly complacent ... Again just what I heard.
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: indestructibleman on September 14, 2005, 11:38:01 AM
they did use city busses.  from what i've heard those busses were carrying only about half capacity on their last trips.  indicating that they didn't use more busses or run more trips because they couldn't find enough people to pick up.

which sounds to me like they really screwed up the task of rounding up the people.

i understand that in Florida they had a list prepared of the elderly and infirm that they could use to figure out who needed help.

there are so many stories and so much spinning coming out right now that it's really difficult to figure out what really went wrong.

i'm hoping that a comprehensive bi-partisan congressional investigation can tell us what really happened.
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: Jake D on September 14, 2005, 11:38:58 AM
W.

He accepted responsiblity today.
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: indestructibleman on September 14, 2005, 11:58:06 AM
"And to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility. I want to know what went right and what went wrong,''

--President George W. Bush


i have to say i respect him for making that statement.

now, hopefully there'll be some meaningful follow through on this.  hopefully the administration and congress will work together to do what's necessary to fix the system.  and hopefully they won't give into special interests along the way.
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: Stephen072774 on September 14, 2005, 11:59:24 AM
I don't understand why we are asking these kinds of questions.  No one expected what happened to happen.  Folks went to the superdome to ride out the hurricane, the hurricane wasn't all that bad but when it forced lake Ponch into the city it became a huge problem.  They didn't have supplies to last for a week when they were planning to ride out the storm for a day...  It became a dire situation.  Sometimes the worse case happens.  I think positive things will come of this.
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: 97gs500e on September 14, 2005, 12:00:26 PM
Don't get me wrong, I'm all about helping those who are faced with this kinda trauma.  
However, a friend of mine just returned last week from volunteering down in New Orleans.  He left KC with good intentions and a positive attitude that he was going to help people down there.  He came back dissapointed and frustrated.
He said the majority still in the city were totally capable of helping themselves, but would rather sit around and smoke crack.  no kidding.

whats the deal with that?
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: Jake D on September 14, 2005, 12:20:37 PM
"Cocaine is a powerful drug." ~ Rick James
Title: He
Post by: The Buddha on September 14, 2005, 12:26:01 PM
Quote from: Jake DW.

He accepted responsiblity today.

Hell no - he did it only to thwart any attempts to make that FEMA situation any worse, and have it negatively impact the Roberts confirmation. he also is not eligible for re-election and hence doesn't want it to drown the rest of the repubuickan party ... Its like Me and me alone acting wihtout the knowledge of anyone else put this nincompoop friend of mine in charge of FEMA and then arranged for katrina to come over and destroy NO, while the whole repubuickan party is behind Roberts and please vote for Cheney in 2008. Thank you.
Yea right ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: jake42 on September 14, 2005, 01:11:02 PM
i'm hoping that a comprehensive bi-partisan congressional investigation can tell us what really happened.[/quote]

now that's satire!
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: indestructibleman on September 14, 2005, 01:32:41 PM
i did say hoping, not expecting.
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: RVertigo on September 14, 2005, 01:52:51 PM
We all remember the comprehensive bi-partisan congressional investigation into 9/11 right?
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: oppy00 on September 14, 2005, 01:55:58 PM
If anyone is up to speed on their geology/meteorology they would've known, that "if" a Cat. 5 hurricane, like Katrina, hit NO that the whole city would be under water for ages.  NO is below sea-level, meaning water doesn't leave the city.  They have to pump out the water after heavy rains.  Another thing is that this hurricane was something like a 1000 (or 10000) year storm, which means statistically a storm like Katrina will hit that region of the coast once ever 1000 (or 10000) years.  This is a rare thing, but any half educated person in the NO area should've known that WHEN a big storm hit the city would be practically wiped out.  If you want to blame the gov't go ahead, they should've done more to inform people to get the hell out.  The real blame, at least in my mind, is on the people of NO.  Seriously, what is it that seperates us, humans, from animals?  Conscious thought, or in other words WE KNOW BETTER!  Hell, I bet if you asked a wildlife commissioner he could've told you that the critters were buggin out, and leaving.  I would like to say for the record, that I do feel sorry for many, maybe most, of the people from NO.  The storm, destruction, death, and flooding were bad enough, but then WAY too many completely selfish A*HOLES decided they wanted to rape, and pilledge, and basically act like they were in a bad movie (Waterworld).  These are the people I have zero simpathy for, in fact if I were a law maker I would do everything in my power to have these fools exterminated like the vermin they are.  
Here's a piece of history for you...
After the 1904 (not quite sure of that date) earthquake, the mayor of San Fransico declared that ANYONE caught looting would be killed on sight.  That's right you steal anything that ain't food or water, you die.  Let me say this another way, if you are so selfish, that even though you are able bodied, you refuse to help other VICTIMS, and instead you take advantage of you fellows you don' deserve to live, and you WILL BE KILLED.  Maybe I'm a Neo-con @$$hole, or whatever anyone wants to call me, but I think that was the right idea.  If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem.  There are way to many good quotes that apply, but I think I've gotten my point across.

I'm sorry I got on a soap box, but I'm done preaching for now. :cheers:
Title: Nope
Post by: The Buddha on September 14, 2005, 02:14:29 PM
Quote from: oppy00If anyone is up to speed on their geology/meteorology they would've known, that "if" a Cat. 5 hurricane, like Katrina, hit NO that the whole city would be under water for ages.  NO is below sea-level, meaning water doesn't leave the city.  They have to pump out the water after heavy rains.  Another thing is that this hurricane was something like a 1000 (or 10000) year storm, which means statistically a storm like Katrina will hit that region of the coast once ever 1000 (or 10000) years.  

That is incorrect. I believe the return period for a direct NO hit is closer to 35 years for a Cat 5. This was just a High cat 4, and not a direct NO hit. Add in a 50 mile wide swath on either side of NO, and cat 4 and the window is a very very pedestrian 10-12 years. The previos Cat 5 to make land in NO was Camille in 1969. It was a Cat 5 and it made a direct hit on NO. Cat 4 return periods are like 60 years for charlotte, which is over 100 miles inland. Cat 4 for any coastal city is right in the 10 year range. Charleston, Outer banks, anywhere ... a few cat 3-4's grazed NO, Ivan, Floyd, just in the last 2-3 years ... Katrina was not a freak oddity like an auto accident, its a measurable item like the wear on your tires ... If they're worn, they're done ... ride 5K miles and they will most likely be done ... OK if you were very easy on the throttle and rode only down hill with light loads and stayed off your brakes ... OK you may get a few more K's ... that's it ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: Ed_in_Az on September 14, 2005, 02:44:40 PM
 ;)
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: indestructibleman on September 14, 2005, 02:54:48 PM
tilt at windmills much?
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: Ed_in_Az on September 14, 2005, 03:17:39 PM
 :icon_razz:
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: pandy on September 14, 2005, 03:52:07 PM
Quote from: Ed_in_AzOK, well you MUST be right, as always. BUSH, the BUSHIE, the CHIMP did say it was his fault. :bs:

Well, I came into this thread looking forward to a spirited, fact-based debate, but then I saw Ed was....uh... was posting.  :roll:

Oh well.....maybe the NEXT thread will require that knives and guns be left at the door.  :nana:
Title: No one
Post by: The Buddha on September 14, 2005, 04:34:34 PM
Quote from: Ed_in_AzAs long as BUSH, the BUSHIE, the CHIMP gets the blame that's all that matters isnt' it? :dunno:

No? :dunno:

What's that you say? Oh I see, as long as the RepubliKan party is outlawed, all the elected officials in the RepubliKan party from BUSH, the BUSHIE, the CHIMP on down, go to prison and pay hefty fines, the country might be able to recover. :roll:

OK, well you MUST be right, as always. BUSH, the BUSHIE, the CHIMP did say it was his fault. :bs:

No one blamed "Bushie the chimpie" for anyhitng really in this disaster ... you have to think though here ... he never takes blame for anyhting, even the ones for which a generous portion does come to his door ... and he takes blame for a hurricane ... He must really think we're really really stoopid ... Besides. I am trying to get away from the clouding of the issue and seeing what else is there ... buses standing ... any other venues not used.
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Re: No one
Post by: Ed_in_Az on September 14, 2005, 04:42:29 PM
 :icon_confused:
Title: Re: No one
Post by: The Buddha on September 14, 2005, 04:55:10 PM
Quote from: Ed_in_Az
Quote from: seshadri_srinathNo one blamed "Bushie the chimpie" for anyhitng really in this disaster ... you have to think though here ... he never takes blame for anyhting, even the ones for which a generous portion does come to his door ... and he takes blame for a hurricane ... He must really think we're really really stoopid ... Besides. I am trying to get away from the clouding of the issue and seeing what else is there ... buses standing ... any other venues not used.
Cool.
Srinath.

The bait here was - RepubliKan ???????? Give me a break. To blame the party is wacked.

To blame the people in charge of, with authority over, dozens of school buses left standing in a lake that could have been used pre-emptively by those drivers that knew the city routes blindfolded to ferry people out before the flood, now that would make sense. Agreed?

RepubliKan - I didn't say that ... I said repu - buick - an ... been saying it for years, that means nothing ... I also say demi crat, Demi Craze ... and they are demi craze cos they like demi moore all sorts of crap ... doesn't make me one way or another ...
The point about buses - yes I saw that and was wondering what else we're not being told about the problem ... If people had been carted out of there, the state/city will have had to pay transportation costs for them ... or what else ... Good call Ed ... lets see what else was left un used ... well I guess its all well used now ...  :lol:
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: ktrim on September 14, 2005, 05:40:06 PM
I think the blame for alot of what happened needs to fall on the shoulders of the people of NO themselves.  this is obviously not a popular opinion but I dont care.  If the people are wll enough to loot stores,  attach people, shoot at helicopters then they were perfectly capable of getting out of the city when warned.  They should have looked after those that couldn't get out on there own,  but there is No excuse for the need to rescue twenty something year old men and women. there was no reason for any children to be in the area.  NO is not so large that prior to the storm you could not have walked to the superdome and been first in line for evac.  or how bout this,  left 2-3 days before it hit when the mayor issued a voluntary evac order.  whats up with that.  would any of you stay at your house if you knew there was a 90% chance it would be destroyed??
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: Blingmasta on September 14, 2005, 08:47:43 PM
Quote from: ktrimI think the blame for alot of what happened needs to fall on the shoulders of the people of NO themselves.  this is obviously not a popular opinion but I dont care.  If the people are wll enough to loot stores,  attach people, shoot at helicopters then they were perfectly capable of getting out of the city when warned.  They should have looked after those that couldn't get out on there own,  but there is No excuse for the need to rescue twenty something year old men and women. there was no reason for any children to be in the area.  NO is not so large that prior to the storm you could not have walked to the superdome and been first in line for evac.  or how bout this,  left 2-3 days before it hit when the mayor issued a voluntary evac order.  whats up with that.  would any of you stay at your house if you knew there was a 90% chance it would be destroyed??

^^^^^^^^^^^^I agree with every word of this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Title: Twist
Post by: The Buddha on September 15, 2005, 08:51:52 AM
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: oppy00 on September 15, 2005, 11:13:40 AM
Srinath, the big difference between NO, and Charlotte is not being inland, it is Florida.  Florida eats a lot of hurricanes, so they either don't reach NO at full speed, or they bump north and miss NO.  Although I definately agree that NO getting hit by a hurricane is an inevitability I think this type of hit is fairly rare.  My numbers were total speculation on my part, but I'm not ignorant on the subject.  Take Savannah, GA into consideration.  Savannah doesn't get hit by hurricanes.  Why?  because of the shape of the coast.  Coastal currents, and winds from inland tend to blow storms away from Savannah, either that or the storm tags Fla. first.  Since I've lived in GA, '90, every year a big storm is supposed to destroy Savannah, and every year it gets blown north, or hits Fla, or gets sucked into the Gulf.  If a Cat. V storm ever did hit Savannah head on, many of the barrier islands would be no more, and flooding would extend 20-50 mi. inland.  Major destruction!  However, the odds are really bad, so I'm not too worried, also I don't live in Savannah.  Anyway, I'm not totally right, but I'm not as wrong as you made me sound.  So, cheers I guess. :cheers:
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: juno on September 15, 2005, 12:02:22 PM
Ed said:
QuoteThe bait here was - RepubliKan ???????? Give me a break. To blame the party is wacked.

To blame the people in charge of, with authority over, dozens of school buses left standing in a lake that could have been used pre-emptively by those drivers that knew the city routes blindfolded to ferry people out before the flood, now that would make sense. Agreed?

AGREED!

KTRIM said:


QuoteI think the blame for alot of what happened needs to fall on the shoulders of the people of NO themselves. this is obviously not a popular opinion but I dont care. If the people are wll enough to loot stores, attach people, shoot at helicopters then they were perfectly capable of getting out of the city when warned. They should have looked after those that couldn't get out on there own, but there is No excuse for the need to rescue twenty something year old men and women. there was no reason for any children to be in the area. NO is not so large that prior to the storm you could not have walked to the superdome and been first in line for evac. or how bout this, left 2-3 days before it hit when the mayor issued a voluntary evac order. whats up with that. would any of you stay at your house if you knew there was a 90% chance it would be destroyed??

AGREED

I don't think this (hurricane/flood) is the President's fault.  
As far as the flooding, it was only a matter of time.  
Blame the local government--it was their responsibility.
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: juno on September 15, 2005, 12:05:21 PM
I think the owners of that retirement home should FRY for what they did. :nana:
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: Old Mr. Wilson on September 15, 2005, 04:21:38 PM
There were a lot of decent poor people, regular folk (definitely tardy on leaving) and the elderly, and tourists forced to cohabitate (did I spell that right?) with pure unadulterated savages. A lot of these savages, who were armed, were gangbangers. The normal citizenry there, forced into close proximity with the sorry wenches and bastard children were not armed. It truly was a horrible nightmare for most. But hell, that is what these scum do everyday. Rape, kill, sodomize and steal. It's a way of life.
Did you read about the little children (boys) that were raped in the anus?
The woman who were violated? The unbridled thievery? Well a group of citizens did stick together and killed that animal that raped a boy in the bathroom, cut his throat afterward and  he bled to death. Well that crowd of "decent folk" beat him to death. So be it. Have you heard of the skyrocketing crime wave that has hit Houston with the arrival of the Hurricane "victims"? It's the gangbangers again. Hell, they are even trying to establish "new turf". Give me a break. You know what I think about all this and what needs to happen to them. Some would like for the taxpayers to buy them a 2000 sq. ft. home and set them up a bank account with $10K in checking and ask them politely to stop it. Not me my brethren. The only thing they understand is extremely harsh force delivered with an unbending iron hand all the way to the boneyard.
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: indestructibleman on September 15, 2005, 05:33:38 PM
Quote from: Old Mr. WilsonDid you read about the little children (boys) that were raped in the anus?


i'm betting you clipped that article.




that said, liberal that i am, under these conditions a gang killing a rapist doesn't really bother me that much.
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: oppy00 on September 15, 2005, 09:15:48 PM
Wilson's got it right, and to quote a Marine DI,

"Kill'em all! Let God sort'em out!"

The conservative in me says I'm glad the decent folks stood up and took out some good 'ol vigelante justice.

Not sure exactly how this quote goes, but

The greatest sin is not caring, it is when good men stand by and do nothing.
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: Ed_in_Az on September 15, 2005, 10:02:08 PM
 ;)
Title: Cops arrest
Post by: The Buddha on September 16, 2005, 10:38:45 AM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9356608/

Yea a 73 year old woman was arrested and jailed for 16 days for looting ... Nice ... moron's ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Re: Cops arrest
Post by: pandy on September 16, 2005, 11:35:08 AM
Quote from: seshadri_srinathYea a 73 year old woman was arrested and jailed for 16 days for looting ... Nice ... moron's ...

She's obviously one of those hardened criminals, out raping and pillaging, wasting good air...she's probably a liberal, too.  :roll:
Title: Who is to blame for NO's humanitarian tragedy - not katrina
Post by: callmelenny on September 16, 2005, 01:40:58 PM
You can never get all the people to evacuate. When Andrew hit S. Florida there were lots of middle class white and tan people that got slammed. The outcome was similar, looting and price gouging was rampant. If they really reduced NO population by 80% then that was one of the most effective evacuations ever.

One thing I want to know more about is why did the levees fail? From what I've seen they weren't topped but rather gave way in a few places. If that is true, then the Corps of Engineers bears a great deal of blame. The post-hurricane flood was the biggest problem in NO. The folks in Miss and East LA had much more storm damage, though.
Title: Levee's
Post by: The Buddha on September 16, 2005, 01:55:19 PM
Levees or anything similar only has a certain period which it it will stand, they have to be rebuild, shored, re vamped etc every so often. If you dont want to, build a damn dam ... They may have been shoring or reinforcing them often or maybe they weren't. They are really at best temporary safegaurds.
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Re: Levee's
Post by: callmelenny on September 17, 2005, 10:18:48 PM
Quote from: seshadri_srinathLevees or anything similar only has a certain period which it it will stand, they have to be rebuild, shored, re vamped etc every so often. If you dont want to, build a damn dam ... They may have been shoring or reinforcing them often or maybe they weren't. They are really at best temporary safegaurds.
Cool.
Srinath.

I know what you are saying but it seems the levees did not fail, it was concrete and steel flood walls. Those are not supposed to require maintenance.  Lots of people smarter than me are working on this, thank goodness :roll:

more info: http://www.nola.com/newslogs/tporleans/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_tporleans/archives/2005_09_13.html#079207
Title: Very good
Post by: The Buddha on September 18, 2005, 08:43:26 AM
Very good call man ... levees have a serious amount of seepage and hence give ... that is also why they need constant work and maintenance ... whihc is why they probably survived. My bad, I thought they gave away since the manitainance was not done. not concrete and steel will be too stiff, they will constantly need shoring and strengthening and even so are likely to have brittle and catastrophic failure if not done right. Maybe thatw as the problem.
Cool.
Srinath.