Immense Hurricane Roars Toward New Orleans

[ericsp23]

When you have entire neighborhoods flooded to the rooftops you can bet most of those houses will be a total loss regardless of how well built they are.

[tinybear]

OK, here's my question: Now that Katrina has hit us hard and caused over 50 deaths and massive damage, how come no one is offering us any aid? Hey, remember the Asian tsunamis? We offered aid and was scolded for being too stingy. Well, where's OUR aid??? No one has even bothered to offer us any!!

[Chris]

Well its probably because America is a very rich western nation and the Tsunami victims were not as fortunate.

[Chris]

Does not look good:

link

Hundreds may have been killed by Hurricane Katrina in the Mississippi Gulf Coast city of Biloxi after being trapped in their homes when a nine-metre storm surge came ashore, a city official said... ...Eighty per cent of the city, including its two airports, is underwater.... ...The economic cost of the hurricane's rampage could be the highest in US history, according to damage estimates in the order of $26 billion. The Red Cross is mounting the largest relief operation in history, the UK's Independent newspaper reports. Martial law has been declared in at least two New Orleans parishes, local media are reporting.

I can't post the whole article but you should read it. Seems like more than simply the "Hong Kong typoon" TB.

[Libertarian]

Quote by: tinybear OK, here's my question: Now that Katrina has hit us hard and caused over 50 deaths and massive damage, how come no one is offering us any aid? Hey, remember the Asian tsunamis? We offered aid and was scolded for being too stingy. Well, where's OUR aid??? No one has even bothered to offer us any!!

I saw this arugement come up on FoxNews. My answer. We have money compaired to the countries that were and still are effected by the december tsunami. We give where we can, but can't expect money and aid from counties that can't support aid totally for themselves on a mass scale of a distaster such as the tsunami or Katrina.

[monty of ll]

The strength of the hurricane was obviously enhanced by the warm water it passed over before hitting land. Most experts are now saying that the water was warmer due to global warming. Will this be a wakeup call to the U.S. government to get onside with the rest of the world or will they still hold out in denial?

My guess is that Bush and company will have to see a few more like it before they admit that they were very wrong about global warming.

[tinybear]

Quote by: Libertarian I saw this arugement come up on FoxNews. My answer. We have money compaired to the countries that were and still are effected by the december tsunami. We give where we can, but can't expect money and aid from counties that can't support aid totally for themselves on a mass scale of a distaster such as the tsunami or Katrina.

Well, how come there's no offer of aid from our wealthy friends such as the EU for example?

[tinybear]

Quote by: |Chris| Does not look good: link I can't post the whole article but you should read it. Seems like more than simply the "Hong Kong typoon" TB.

OK, Katrina was exceptionally strong, but fact is Hong Kong has never had to evacuate its citizens despite being right smack in the middle of typhoon zone and has been directly hit for more times than I can remember. On the other hand, how many mass evacuations have been carried out in Florida last year alone?

[Chris]

How many square miles is HK? Those modern buildings were engineered to withstand high winds and even earthquakes.

FL is spread out. NO is an old city with old buildings. Again you are comparing something like a rural area with trailer homes with someplace like NYC.

Lopsided comparison.

[PatrickHenry]

Question for tinybear: How many feet below sea level is the city of Hong Kong?

[Matt W]

Well, how come there's no offer of aid from our wealthy friends such as the EU for example?

You don't need our help. Others do.

[tinybear]

Anyone hit with a big disaster needs help. Anyway, it's nice to be offered help.

[Matt W]

*shrugs* Ah well. Better luck next time.

[Libertarian]

Quote by: tinybear Well, how come there's no offer of aid from our wealthy friends such as the EU for example?

B/c we have enough money to cover the costs, or at least in their eyes we do. We are seen as the most powerful (and wealthy) nation in the world, and if we can devote our time to war in other countires than we should be able to afford our own aid. I am not saying that other countires are right in all of these aspects, but if you step back, that is what it looks like.

[Chris]

heard Loads of international aid is coming. Venezula offered help with oil, loads of private donations from around the world...

[YourTokah]

I live on the gulf coast and all I can think is Damn, it coulda been me. It could have been my entire town obliterated. I would hope that someone would come get us, would bring us water and food and medicine, if I hadn't been able to evacuate and got stuck. Things are getting so damn deadly over there - my husband and I were planning on going to NO to try to help with search and rescue efforts, but it's too dangerous and lawless now. I feel so horrible for those people. I don't have any money; I wish I could do something else Right Now, you know?

Wasn't it nice of Prez Bush to cut his vacation short by two whole days?

[tinybear]

Quote by: Libertarian B/c we have enough money to cover the costs, or at least in their eyes we do. We are seen as the most powerful (and wealthy) nation in the world, and if we can devote our time to war in other countires than we should be able to afford our own aid. I am not saying that other countires are right in all of these aspects, but if you step back, that is what it looks like.

Well, watching those hordes of poor people looting from stores and even private residences, you can be forgiven for thinking you're watching scenes from a poor third world country. *Sigh*

[Chris]

Shoot to kill, National Guard told

Does not look good:

A detachment of 300 National Guard troops, who have served in Iraq, have been authorised to shoot to kill "hoodlums" in the hurricane-ravaged city of New Orleans, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco said. "Three hundred of the Arkansas National Guard have landed in the city of New Orleans," Blanco said. "These troops are fresh back from Iraq, well-trained, experienced, battle-tested and under my orders to restore order in the streets," Blanco said. "They have M-16s and they are locked and loaded. "These troops know how to shoot and kill and they are more than willing to do so if necessary and I expect they will," said Blanco. The military has increased the National Guard force in the US Gulf states to 30,000 amid growing lawlessness in New Orleans and mounting relief needs, officials said today.

[tinybear]

"Shoot to kill"? Gee, I never thought I'd ask this, but is this order really necessary?