Well my 2 cents. I live in New Orleans, at least used to. For years, the educated people knew it was going to happen, it was just a question of when. Being in the geography business, I always new it was going to happen, so I was prepared. I evacuated to Jonesboro Arkansas, but it was not easy. The traffic was unbelievable. It took 13 hours. I am relatively well off, so I could get out with my pets (not the fish). Originally, I planned on going to a hotel downtown. I'm glad I didn't. My father was not as lucky.
He works for the department of health, and was called in to work the headquaters in Baton Rouge (80 miles away) a day before the hurricane hit (Sunday). It took him 6 hours to get 12 miles. The winds started picking up, at that point he turned around.
He ended up working the special needs shelter in the Superdome. This is different from the normal shelter in the dome, but still pretty bad. I heard from him two days ago, and he said it was hell.
As for the regular sheter, it must be awful. Make no mistake, many of the people are good, but there is also a large portion that would really prefer to be out there looting. In the past when the dome has been used as a shelter, people have looted the dome, others have been shot. That is why they were padded down and sent through metal detectors.
Like my father, I work for the department of health, but I make maps (GIS on computers). I am not essential personel, so I could evacuate. I will be heading to Baton Rouge on friday to do what ever they tell me to do.
As for the looters, I think the city would be better off if they were killed....this is the same population that are in gangs and shoot people everyday. New Orleans usually has at least one murder per day...its always the same group. I would be willing to bet that many of the looters planned on doing this ahead of time. They have done it in the past, but not to this extent.
This may not be politically correct, but sometimes it would be better if there were no trials. Do those looters really need that big screen TV they are grabbing. Are we still presuming that they are innocent? Just shoot them. Once the message gets out that they are being killed, the looting will stop.
I'm more of a math and science guy, so words are not my strong point. I don't want peoples sympathy, I really don't need it. I hope my father will get to Baton Rouge soon and get some time off.
I guess what I would like is for more funding to go to coastal restoration in Louisiana. If funding is ever an issue in the government just remember what happened here. Not only that, but a good portion of your seafood, and petroleum products come through New Orleans.
I just heard that they realesed the prisoners...they should have killed them instead...I know thats not PC.
On a lighter note, I am curious to see what will happen to the Saints. Realistically, the city could not support them before the storm, and the owner threatened to move. Well now he has no stadium. I wonder if the NFL, which acts like it is a good citizen, will stay or leave. I think it would look pretty bad if they left now. Kind of like leaving your wife after you find out she as cancer.
My guess is that there will be at least 1000 people dead in New Orleans.
As for the guy who called someone a dork, that's just pitiful. Whats the point? If that's the best insult you could come up with, that's pathetic...you would not last a minute with my friends, you would be the butt of all of our jokes. Then, we would also make fun of you because you probably would not underestand the jokes. But i'm sure that you could respond with "dorks". Then we would make fun of you becuse that would be pretty lame. I'm sure that after minutes of think you could come up with something clever like "geek" or "nerd" but whats the point? Its time to move up to the big leagues...dork just doesn't cut it.
By the way, if you are 13 or younger, I apologize for my comments. Although, it is still not nice to call people dorks. When you get older, you will realise this. Hopefully by then, you will also have some more cleaver comebacks.
Sorry for the rambling, words are not my strong point (although slightly better than the dork guy).
Feel free to flame me (about the non-PC stuff). Even though I may not be able to respond it does not mean I mind. I am pretty thick skinned and can take care of myself. I will probably post again tomorrow, but then it will be a few days, maybe weeks.
Oh yeah, one more thing. As bad as the looting looks, I am amazed at the stories I see of the generosity of people outside of New Orleans. I see people advertising their houses for people to come and live. If I look in the mirror, I am not sure If I could do the same thing. These people are surely better then me.
