In fact, it has not been mentioned earlier, in those terms or specific way of doing it. We're arranging for fundraising here to contribute to the Red Cross, but you're right..........even for us, who are much closer, that's about all we can do ~ and all they really want us to do. They aren't really set up for receiving goods. Services are welcome, if someone wants to volunteer and has that kind of time available.
Thanks for adding that.
~ Lizzy
Because my post begins a new page, I'm copying-and-pasting yours, to which I've just now responded:
HI ~
I don't have the patience to back-track to see if this has been mentioned already...
I just went to Amazon.com and found they do have an easy (one-click) method for getting funds to the American Red Cross to go to those effected by hurricane Katrina, just as they had done for last year's tsunami disaster.
I'm sure there are other (simple) methods out there to donate money...the only thing those of us not in the vicinity can do to really help.
Thanks for the clarification on your graphic/emoticon. I didn't know where you were coming from and misinterpreted it.
Thanks for saying I'm expressing myself well with how I'm feeling about all this; but, for the most part, I'm just condensing what I'm seeing, hearing, and reading. Thanks, too, for the support regarding my not having to justify how I'm feeling, what I'm saying. Everyone is different. Yes, a sense of humour goes many miles in helping people through things. As soon as something strikes me funny, I'll be the first to laugh. However, I just haven't found any humour in anything I've seen so far. I've done better in staying away from the TV today. It's so overwhelming that even I'm beginning to have to filter it somewhat. When I heard about the rescue helicopters getting shot at, and the other violence that's beginning to occur, I got literally nauseated.
I'm glad to hear that Canada may be coming to help. I also agree that the U.S. Army/Armed Forces could handle it ~ but they seem to be tied up, elsewhere.
Last edited by lizzytysh on Thu Sep 01, 2005 11:06 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Thanks Ln. I read so very amazing stories. It is worth of being scrutinized, the thing, after all ermergencies will have been taking care of, of course.
for anyone who might be interested. I do not know if it works outside the U.S., so those in other countries who are interested in donating might need to do more research, if the above does not apply.
All attempts have still failed with regard to repairing the levee breaches. The water is not rushing in now because its level has equalized with the lake, Lake Pontchartrain. Once [presuming they will be] the breaches are repaired, it will take at least a month to drain the city.
4:50 PM ~ Report is that much of the Mississippi coast is destroyed. At the New Orleans Convention Center, people have been without food and water for 4 days, and adults and children are beginning to succumb.
I was hoping to be here for a Special Report that's coming up about some cab driver who survived the storm in his cab and made a trip of 1,300 miles to save his family. A good story. Not sure if those details are spot-on in their accuracy. I'll correct them as soon as I know more.
Last edited by lizzytysh on Thu Sep 01, 2005 11:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks a lot Laurie. Though I did not understand why you can not bring a link (which is my favorite hobby), it is not important, please don't explain further because as you said a search in that matter is not difficult to do. Anyway, it is even more easy when the thing is right there in front of you, so again, thanks for the US Red Cross link.
Lz, I understand that it is not always time to joke though, it could even make things worst in some case. Humour is like the rest, it depends of how one uses it.
If I refer to the ice storm, you'll see the extreme best and worst of the human nature during the days to come.
Maybe it is wise what you said. Take a break for a little while of all this. Have the dogs for a walk, breath look at nature, calm down, think you need you strengh to help what you can. Any other good idea? Take care.
Yes, I agree, Tchoc [with all of that]. Ice storms are also unfathomable. I remember some from when I lived in Michigan. The best and the worst. So true.
Former Presidents Clinton and Bush are, together, going to be leading a fundraising effort, per the current Bush's request.
Offers of financial help have come in from Germany, France, and some other countries. They are saying that the U.S. may just end up taking them up on their offers. Thank you to those countries ~ and whichever other ones are doing that ~ for offering.
What the hell is happening in New Orleans I can't believe that the richest country in the world is leaving these poor people to fend as best they can it is devastation out there. New Orleans is nearly wiped off the map and Missisippi is trashed. The area covered is the size of Britain thousands and thousands of people killed, injured and homeless.
I am watching the pictures and I can't believe what I am seeing.
They are busy to fix the world everywhere else, Paula This to show how responsible they are.
Fat Domino may be 'missing' i.e. too busy in helping other people to think to something else. I hope. Zachary Richard turned his house into a shelter and is doing his possible to help.
There is apparently a 72-hour Golden period [some term like that] that has to do with the window of time wherein people can be saved. That time has passed, and [now it's about to get political with me ~ this does not have to do with a treaty signing and the cause of the storm ~ but the RESPONSE to the storm, which has directly to do with saving lives and NOT SAVING LIVES]. Bush's response is being termed "anemic." He is being compared to his father, whose response to Hurricane Andrew hitting Florida was also slow ~ and to his brother, Jeb, whose responses to hurricanes has been swift and caring. Jeb has had resources lined up and ready to go, and has made personal visits to directly demonstrate compassion. Even though it appeared that Bush was sincere when he spoke on TV, the reality is that he did a fly-by enroute back to Washington, and then continued on to Washington. No stopping. He's supposedly coming back to do a float-by.
Radio and TV people are making active comparisons between this 'response' and that of those in war zones. In VietNam, the skies were filled with rescue units; food and water were being massively delivered without delay. They are saying, 'We have seen rescue missions, and this has NOT been a rescue mission. What's with helicopters bringing one person up at a time and then carrying them off, then coming back for another? He knew the hurricane was coming, and was to have been a Category 5. Massive destruction was predictable. The oil reserves should have been released prior to the the storm, and organization should have already been in place for rescue. Now, he has JUST met ~ yesterday ~ with his people to figure out what to do. It seems this is being done by the seat of his pants, planning being done as it all progresses. If TV stations can get their reporters in here, why is it the government can't get their rescue people in!?!' Even victims are shouting, "HELP US!!!" Even they are saying, "They dropped food and water to the people in Baghdad, but they can't do the same for people in their OWN COUNTRY!?!" When you hear deep discontent and anger expressed regarding the motivations behind 'world help,' it's this very kind of thing that people are contrasting it with.
Yes, it's very near impossible to believe that the government cares. It appears to be a blatant and abysmal case of sickening lip service. I wondered myself when I would see one person stretched out in the rescue 'cage' being hoisted up, and wondered why aren't there more people in that cage being lifted up at the same time. I've seen it done in other situations. I'm hearing of one medical case after another, where people are getting nothing, including infants exposed to the elements without food or water for days, in clear sight of the cameras doing the filming.
Major mobilization of rescue units and forces should have already been in place by the time the storm hit. Plans should have been firmed up and ready to go. Not only has the country known for years that a direct hit of a large storm in that area would be devastating, but they've had all that time to know it would require a massive rescue effort, afterward, if people were still in the area. When they were telling people to evacuate before it did, they could have been sending in buses then, ordering people to board them and getting them out of there.
Fats Domino really could be missing for real. If that's what the report was, it's likely that he was in the immediate company of others who are reporting it. I, too, hope that Tchoc's conjecture on it is correct. However.....I'm not very hopeful. There was an interview a couple days ago of an 80-year-old jazz and blues man, who was returning to his house, to try to wait for rescue.
People are rightfully talking about the political fallout from this for Bush. Unless a MAJOR THRUST is put into effect, immediately, people are going to, almost as immediately, start dying on a massive scale. They are still being found holed up in attics, in groups of 15, 18, 22, etc. The 'response' is also being called a "Disgrace" ~ that the Tsunami victims received aid sooner than these people are.
When the woman poses the question of 'If air drops were made in Baghdad, then why not here?' it's very difficult not to speak back to the TV and say, "Well, you're not only black, but your poor, and you're in America. Both are very bad things to be when you live in America." It could also be, "Well, you're either black, or you're poor, or you're both, and you're in America. Either is a very bad thing to be when you live in America." I'm trying not to be looking at this through those kind of jaded eyes, but it's tough. As far as all I'm seeing and hearing, the scenes we're all seeing speak for themselves.
***************************************************
I just checked the CNN site to see if it mentioned Fats Domino. So far, it hasn't. Praying he'll be located. Separation can happen so quickly and easily, yet all parties can be rescued, but no one know it due to lack of communication means. I'm still just putting the positive slant on this possibility, of course.
The photo on the 'front page' of the site was of two National Guard soldiers in their camouflage uniforms and rifles, one of them pointed and the other guy running, with his almost in pointed position. The headline is: "GROWING DESPAIR" ~ sub-headline is: "Relief workers face 'urban warfare' ~ the bulleted links are:
* Survivors living among corpses
* FEMA head: Working in "conditions of urban warfare"
* Armed gangs attempting rapes, police warn
* Bodies dragged into corners at convention center
* Mississippi death toll rising
Is it easy to say that one should have left the place but to go where when one has no where to go?
And for the little history Katrina was "only" of categorie 3 when it get to the cost.
When a hurricane of categorie 5 is expectedin an area under the sea level, the government should have taken measures as soon as it was aware about that, measures that can match the amplitude of the catastrophe to avoid the consequence similar to an atomic bomb, as you stressed it.
They did not (big silence, in which one minute of silence is kept for all the dead) now the least they can do is to hurry the boys over there and not let the Red Cross assumed this huge burden alone. It is a national emergency. Yes they should be able to cope with those kind of situation : they are the leaders, the government, the army. Wake up.
Once again YdF you should have used the zipped mouth emoticon.
I just wonder why they want to rebuild the place under de sea level, though.
I can't help now but to recall about my first gospel choir experience I made recently. I heard an Amazing Grace so beautifully sang. What I did not say is that despite all the good vibes, I had to fight a surge to cry, bizarre and out of place I was ashame of. I mean I am not sad, nor depressive or something, I did not (and still don't) understand where it came from, but, now, it would not be out of place, for sure. It is sad. What I like is that not doubt this choir will pray and sang and dance for what is happening now. I beleive in those kind of thing like creating good energy.
Fats Domino is an old man. He may be too busy to help, but more likely he is not at it now. I don't know. Yes Let's hope he is at Blueberry Hilton.
Lack of coordination. Lack of management. Lack of planning. People are asking where is FEMA? Where is the Red Cross? They were thinking of sending cruise ships days ago. Haven't heard a thing about them. Some [other?] huge ships that were just deployed will be there in a week. [To clean up the bodies?]
FEMA = Federal Extinct Management Agency.
Red Cross = "We're on the job. We'll be there in a couple weeks."
I am confused. On one inlet, to which people were transported to and dropped off by boat, because there were supposed to be buses to pick them up, the people are still waiting. Approximately 100 have died, while waiting, trying to endure the conditions.
The Astrodome's capacity was "misunderstood" ~ expected to be able to take in somewhere in the 30,000 range, it was downgraded to 22,000 ~ and has now stopped at 11,000.
A swift and coordinated effort should have already been in execution from day one. The TV crews are telling and showing where the people are. The government agencies can't find them?
There are going to be many harsh things said about the government's response/lack of response to this. YdF ~ They are NOT making their best effort. They have not MADE their best effort. They are planning as they go. There already is much bitterness which is appropriate for this situation.
I can't speak to the politics of New Orleans. I don't know. I will consult my Republican brother on that, as he has spent time there. It may be corrupt. The crime rate is extremely high. He commented that the success of the Mardi Gras [plural] have been judged according to how few people were killed. Robbery and rape during them are commonplace. It was cancelled one year, when the police went on strike. They said the city was too filled with crime to begin with; it would be impossible to control the Mardi Gras without police.
Have to get ready for work. Will check in later.
"As the President heads out on a tour . . . the White House defends its response to the disaster" ~ the pre-news 'headline.' I thought at first that it said, ". . . the White House suspends its response to the disaster." Perhaps, that would be more accurate.
Tetanus and Hepatitis A from contaminated water is now being talked about. Gotta go.
This to show how responsible they are.