A Year After Katrina and Rita. What are your thoughts

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[color=#9933ff][font=lucida calligraphy]Hi,

I'm sorry that this will be short but I'm pressed for time. Tomorrow- technically today- is the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina which was the most devistating hurricane in US history. So I'm wondering what everyone's thoughts are now.

The image that sticks in my head is of this woman holding her infant son. They showed her twice. The first time she was in a decent mood and her son was alert, The second time she was very upset because her son was listless. The reason I remember this is because her son looked to be about the same age as my daughter.

I can't believe that it's been a year and not much has been done. So does anyone have anything else to add? I'll put in more tomorrow[/color][/font]

[TheShinje]

[color=crimson]

This is the image that stuck in my head...
[img]http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/5638/speedcamfn6dl1.jpg[/img]
Imagine being that poor sucker.

I can't believe it's been a year already, then again. I don't live there and have to deal with the clean-up and restoration of a city devastated. I can only imagine time dragging on for those who have to face the carnage every day.

~Love to New Orleans.
[/color]

[Hanabishi Recca]

[QUOTE=ChibiHorsewoman][color=#9933ff][font=lucida calligraphy]Hi,

I'm sorry that this will be short but I'm pressed for time. Tomorrow- technically today- is the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina which was the most devistating hurricane in US history.[/font][/QUOTE]

Wow, one year already. Hurricane season again, what will happen this year? o.o

Anyway, I think know alot of people that helped, I'm in a blood covanant with them. So, I know that it will always go good over there. You all know about people sitting around complaining but never doing anything - if anyone does this then they should read this post.

I'm guessing that everyone has been in that state of mind. You all know what I'm talking about, 'I care, just not that much'. I just don't want to hear alot of people begging this year. My church helped alot of people out of the danger and housed them. I guess the point I'm trying to get across is [b]its all going to be alright (If everyone gets out of the way of danger)[/b]

You know last year was a time to remember for me. Alot of people thinking that they would go to church because it was the 'right thing' to do. I thought it was good alot of people went to church, at the same time no one really went there and stayed. I know alot of you people know what I'm saying.

People care, but some people care more than others. I think that if everyone cared the same amount then this season would be a great one OR this season will be the worst one we have ever had. Alot of people are saying that Jesus doesn't care because these things are happening, but the thing is that this was said to happen in the Bible as a for-warning. Anyway, thats not what this post is about, I guess here all I'm trying to say it that if everyone stayed calm cool and loving then this would be a good season (and Jesus loves everyone)

Anyway, I'll close with this, if people come together then unity would be a good thing this year!

Love you all, and remember...

Jesus is Lord!

[Albert Flasher]

[COLOR=Sienna]It's been a year and what are my thoughts? Umm... I don't know. I didn't really think about it. It was just a hurricane, and a *****-cat by most people's standards. Worse hurricanes happen all the time, it's become like white-noise to me. I feel sorry for the Katrina victims, of course, but I don't really consider it to be anything worth remembering... The only reason anyone remembers it is because it made the US realize that hurricanes could happen there too.[/COLOR]

[Jonesy251]

[quote name='Red 6][COLOR=Sienna']It's been a year and what are my thoughts? Umm... I don't know. I didn't really think about it. It was just a hurricane, and a *****-cat by most people's standards. Worse hurricanes happen all the time, it's become like white-noise to me. I feel sorry for the Katrina victims, of course, but I don't really consider it to be anything worth remembering... The only reason anyone remembers it is because it made the US realize that hurricanes could happen there too.[/COLOR][/quote]


Um, this wasn't just another hurricane, it wiped out entire towns that are barely even mentioned by the media b/c the focus is on New Orleans. All of my family is from southern Louisiana and Mississippi and homes that had been in my family for years are completely leveled now. There's barely been any rebuilding yet in MS because they are just now clearing out the remaining debris. I am so thankful to the people that have volunteered to help the people of the Gulf Coast. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected by this terrible storm and it is something that I will always remember.

[Albert Flasher]

[quote name='Jonesy251']Um, this wasn't just another hurricane, it wiped out entire towns that are barely even mentioned by the media b/c the focus is on New Orleans. All of my family is from southern Louisiana and Mississippi and homes that had been in my family for years are completely leveled now. There's barely been any rebuilding yet in MS because they are just now clearing out the remaining debris. I am so thankful to the people that have volunteered to help the people of the Gulf Coast. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected by this terrible storm and it is something that I will always remember.[/quote]
[COLOR=Sienna]
And I have sympathy for the victims, but the hurricane was nothing compared to what happens in other parts of the world. It's only ever remembered becasue it happened in the US, to Americans, and not in some dirt-poor nation in South America, where bigger hurricanes kill more people and do more damage all the time during Hurricane Season.[/COLOR]

[DeathKnight]

[quote name='Red 6][COLOR=Sienna']...where bigger hurricanes kill more people and do more damage all the time during Hurricane Season.[/COLOR][/quote]

[color=crimson]So your reasoning is that the amount of misery is what matters and not the fact that there is misery in the first place?[/color]

[2010DigitalBoy]

I'm saddened heavily by the losses in New Orleans. Admittedly, I didn't really feel much about it at first, but a certain Spike Lee movie on HBO turned my mind around. The total lack of help own there, the fact that it's STILL hell down there... these things are sick.

the media coverage and support speks volumes about Americans' short attention spans. It was on tv and got donations for like a month and then totally slipped out of everyone's minds -- just another hot topic for us folks unaffected.

the utter failure before and after the storm of the government to support the people of New Orleans is just terrible, and they should be in trouble for it.

[Jonesy251]

This event should be remembered because it happened in America. The poor people of New Orleans were left there for 5, count them, 5 days to starve and die when our country has all of the resources needed for these types of situations but did nothing. It's a wake up call to show what can happen when a disaster of this magnitude strikes and people don't do their jobs. It's scares the **** out of me that people were left to dehydrate and live in such unsanitary conditions because of class, or whatever other reasons they were left without aid. Also, our media covers all natural disasters regardless of where they happen, no countries are forgotten during times of need by the US.

[Albert Flasher]

[quote name='DeathKnight][color=crimson']So your reasoning is that the amount of misery is what matters and not the fact that there is misery in the first place?[/color][/quote]
[COLOR=Sienna]
Not at all. All I'm saying is that, as far as hurricanes go, Katrina/Rita was nothing special, and I don't see why there needs to be a special memorial for it whereas worse Hurricanes in South America or Indonesia only get a passing "In Other News" report on Faux News.[/COLOR]

[2010DigitalBoy]

[QUOTE=Red 6][COLOR=Sienna]
Not at all. All I'm saying is that, as far as hurricanes go, Katrina/Rita was nothing special, and I don't see why there needs to be a special memorial for it whereas worse Hurricanes in South America or Indonesia only get a passing "In Other News" report on Faux News.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

In one respect I agree with him, except instead of Katrina getting less attention, the right thing to do is give full attention to all the problems.

[DeathKnight]

[QUOTE=Red 6][COLOR=Sienna]
Not at all. All I'm saying is that, as far as hurricanes go, Katrina/Rita was nothing special, and I don't see why there needs to be a special memorial for it whereas worse Hurricanes in South America or Indonesia only get a passing "In Other News" report on Faux News.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

[color=crimson]There needs to be a special moment for it because it was a large-scale natural disaster that destroyed a huge portion of the Gulf Coast and killed almost two thousand people. The cost in property makes it the costliest hurricane that has formed in the Atlantic thus far. The suffering involved does not lessen with airtime and should not be ignored for being looped on the major news networks.

A well publicized disaster is still a disaster.[/color]

[Albert Flasher]

[QUOTE=DeathKnight][color=crimson]
A well publicized disaster is still a disaster.[/color][/QUOTE]
[COLOR=Sienna]
Indeed, but it doesn't mean it's any more of a disaster than any of the other natural disasters that happen elsewhere in the world, and I don't see why it deserves a special moment. [/COLOR]

[DeathKnight]

[QUOTE=Red 6][COLOR=Sienna]
Indeed, but it doesn't mean it's any more of a disaster than any of the other natural disasters that happen elsewhere in the world, and I don't see why it deserves a special moment. [/COLOR][/QUOTE]

[color=crimson]No it's not about being any [i]more[/i] of a disaster. It's about you lessening it in comparison to other disasters faced by people across the globe.

80 percent of a major port city was flooded. Hundreds of miles of constant devastation and destruction. Hundreds dead and an ineffective response by what is constantly referred to as the 'sole superpower' on the planet.

It [i]was[/i] important, more than for the just the suffering, damaged property and otherwise. It also showed how horribly inefficient and bumbling America's bureaucracy can be in times of dire need, when it's own citizens are trapped and need help.

If you don't want to agree with me, don't. It's obvious that one year later the victims are still struggling and that the ramifications from it are being felt in the Gulf Coast region while the political fallout from it is still going on at a national level. People have lost trust in the government across America, trust that they are well protected against these kinds of disaster.

I'd say that after considering all of the above it's somewhat noteworthy. Wouldn't you agree?[/color]

[Albert Flasher]

[QUOTE=DeathKnight][color=crimson]No it's not about being any [i]more[/i] of a disaster. It's about you lessening it in comparison to other disasters faced by people across the globe.

80 percent of a major port city was flooded. Hundreds of miles of constant devastation and destruction. Hundreds dead and an ineffective response by what is constantly referred to as the 'sole superpower' on the planet.

It [i]was[/i] important, more than for the just the suffering, damaged property and otherwise. It also showed how horribly inefficient and bumbling America's bureaucracy can be in times of dire need, when it's own citizens are trapped and need help.

If you don't want to agree with me, don't. It's obvious that one year later the victims are still struggling and that the ramifications from it are being felt in the Gulf Coast region while the political fallout from it is still going on at a national level. People have lost trust in the government across America, trust that they are well protected against these kinds of disaster.

I'd say that after considering all of the above it's somewhat noteworthy. Wouldn't you agree?[/color][/QUOTE]
[COLOR=Sienna]
Not really. All the things you listed were very apparant - at least to me - long before Katrina. [/COLOR]

[eleanor]

[color=dimgray] A year ago when it happened, I was busy writing a speech for debate about the elements of racism that were brought up with the whole thing. Some of the discrimination that black people suffered and what happened because of it was disgusting.

I'll admit that I've forgotten about Katrina. I know that it happened and that it was horrible, but like most things, people forgot about it and stopped caring. I don't even know how reconstruction is going, but I'm sure it's in need of help. [/color]

[Luck Cl]

[quote name='Red 6][COLOR=Sienna'] I feel sorry for the Katrina victims, of course, but I don't really consider it to be anything worth remembering... The only reason anyone remembers it is because it made the US realize that hurricanes could happen there too.[/COLOR][/quote]

ok but i bet people reminded about it everyday will remember it. I know i will.....

[QUOTE=Red 6]
Not at all. All I'm saying is that, as far as hurricanes go, Katrina/Rita was nothing special, and I don't see why there needs to be a special memorial for it whereas worse Hurricanes in South America or Indonesia only get a passing "In Other News" report on Faux News.[/QUOTE]

yeah, as far as hurricanes idk, but remember the tsunami in Idonesia. yeah we sent help in a very short time and do you realize how long it took help to get down there? no of course, because you seem to be one of those people that care more about what happens in the rest of the world then you do in places a little closer to you.

[quote name='Red 6][COLOR=Sienna']The only reason anyone remembers it is because it made the US realize that hurricanes could happen there too.[/COLOR][/quote]

yeah, we knew hurricanes could come....its not that we did not know.

thats all i have to say....and that ill remember the hurricane for probably the rest of my life

[PWNED]

Let's just be calm here Red 6 & Death Knight; I do agree with D-K in saying that it is one of the nastiest natural disasters to hit America but Red 6 is right in saying that it is fairly minor compared to what happens everywhere.

Down here in Australia we were hit by about 4-5 Cyclones in the previous Cyclone season which wiped out the majority of our Banana Industry and dealt a lot of damage to both Queensland and Western Australia. Being in the far colder south of Australia we don't get any but those that were used as examples are fairly minor compared to something like Cyclone Tracey which flattened Darwin and a lot of inland towns.

I don't know much on the ones that happen in South America except for the fact that they are massive.

[Retribution]

[quote name='Lunox][color=dimgray']I'll admit that I've forgotten about Katrina. I know that it happened and that it was horrible, but like most things, people forgot about it and stopped caring. I don't even know how reconstruction is going, but I'm sure it's in need of help. [/color][/quote]
[size=1]Yeah, I must admit I had forgotten about Katrina too.

Reconstruction is going very slowly and poorly, unfortunately. I watched the 60 Minutes special on it this last Sunday, and the pictures were certainly not encouraging. Some areas of New Orleans looked exactly as they did a month after Katrina struck.

I think DK touched all the points I was about to hit. It's absolutely disgusting that FEMA is halfassing their relief efforts; as if it wasn't disgusting enough that they don't budge because those primarily affected were black and poor. I bet if Katrina hit Orange County, California, there'd be relief and reconstruction immediately.[/size]

[BlackTigerGurl]

[FONT=Arial][COLOR=DarkRed][CENTER]Katrina....something that will be never be forgotten. I'm just curious how nothing has been seriously been done since then. It's been a whole year and some of my friends are still living in mobile homes, trailers, or has moved because the process was so slow.

Sometimes, I think the government, doesn't really care about the horrors a lot of people had to face and the fact that a lot of people lost [B]EVERYTHING[/B]! Some of friend's friends either lost something or lost a family memeber. Someone not far from me died! Died in my neighborhood. I could never walk around the streets again without thinking about Katrina.

I was scared out of my mind when I realized that I had to stay for the Hurricane. That I couldn't pack up and live. It was to late and traffic was pretty bad. That's why most of the cars got blown away. I know that there is a war going on in some places (that we shouldn't even be apart of), but help is needed here. Why doesn't anyone realize that?[/CENTER][/COLOR][/FONT]

[Horendithas]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]My thoughts? I?m sad it happened but even sadder at the usual reaction of people who quote other worse disasters as if that somehow makes it better. It?s as if people have lost the ability to feel sympathy with those who are affected by disasters. It?s like telling them this place had one that was worse so you should feel lucky, only that type of retarded thinking doesn?t undo the damaged homes or bring back the dead.

So sure I remember it if only because those who make light of such things seem to always speak their mind. And because the religion here makes a point of sending disaster aid to other states and countries. So I even though I?m not a member of the religion here I ended up helping my landlady who is a member organize a food drive for those affected. And there were families who gave some who were left homeless a place to stay in my area as well.

What?s even sadder is many of them still are unable to return to the place they use to call home.
[/COLOR]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[color=#9933ff][font=lucida calligraphy]Sorry I haven't returned to this thread recently I've been busy at work and getting my car on the road.

Entire cities and communities are gone. My mom lost a few people that she had trained in New Orleans. People who she had gotten to know after five years of training and talking with them. I know that's not the same as friends or family members, but it's close.

I think it's sick that the US government rushes to help other countries during their times of need and yet nearly forgets about people in their own back yards. What does that say? That US citizens are less worthy of aide than citizens of other nations?

I know that the woman's baby I mentioned in my first post is doing alright now. But as a parent of a young child it's nearly impossible to get the images of dehydrated, hungry crying frightened children out of my head. Because I know that if I lived in one of the gulf states that could have been me watching my daughter get heat stroke and get dehydrated while people watched. I'm not ashamed to say that I was bawling my eyes out watching that happen.

Last year's hurricane season was the most active- it was so active that they actually ran out of names! And Katrina was the most desrtuctive and expensive hurricane on record not only because of economic damage but because of the extreme loss of life. Most of which could have been prevented if New Orleans (Yes I know Gulfport Mississippi was completely destroyed as well, but the main focus is on the Crescent City) had a better evacuation plan...

I'm done with my rant for right now, but I know I'll have more soon.[/color][/font]