I haven't written much lately

Sally · Post by **Sally** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:55 am

because I have been very busy with having my grandsons here. What a riot!!

Thank goodness for them, though, because I have been quite upset about New Orleans and Biloxi and everyone who was affected by Katrina. It is truly a national disaster. Brice and Korben have taken my mind off things for awhile. I really sorrow for all the people who are looking for family and who have nowhere to go. I almost feel guilty with all the blessings that I have.

Thanks for being here, everybody.

Lots of love,

Sally

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:58 am

You are so right Sally...I feel so srry for all the people effected by Katrina. Such a pretty name caused so much heartache for so many for a long time to come. Have fun with your grandson. Love Oma

Umber · Post by **Umber** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 12:20 pm

I too feel so bad for those effected by Katrina. I can't even begin to understand what they are going through. I am upset about the crime and the horrible people who are trying to make money from this tragedy. It should be against the law to charge more for services and take advantage of the people in such need.

I am glad your getting to spend time with your "guys"! I bet with all that energy x 2 = a very tired grandma!

Hugs,

Lori

JJ · Post by JJ » Sun Sep 04, 2005 9:40 pm

I'm sad too....JJ

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:02 pm

Glad you're enjoying your grands! :grandma:

I agree, they can be a riot at times.

My kids get mad at me for laughing at them when they should be scolded! They are constantly reminding me that "you never let us do that when we were that age"!!!!

I just laugh again! LOL

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 4:13 am

Morning Sally,

I am so happy you are getting time with your grandsons and they are helping to take your mind off of such a horrific time in the South. Wish I had more time with Gabrielle but the Atlantic Ocean prevents that. LOL

Love, Maggie

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:40 am

Hi All,

I have also not felt much like writing the past week because of the tragedy. I was glued to the TV whenever I had some time. I just can't seem to get over the lack of immediate federal response. I get angrier each day just thinking about it. I felt like I was there in the Convention Center with the victims. And I couldn't get over the talking heads on TV promising aid, rebuilding, safety, etc., while the people were BEGGING for water, food, medications.......and so obviously getting none of them and even dying in that awful heat/humidity. Something went terribly wrong. There is ALWAYS a way to get water and food to a discrete, identified group of several thousand victims of a tragedy within 24-48 hours. If not, then there is no point to even having an emergency preparedness plan, IMHO.

Thank God for our wonderful Texans and other citizens who are doing everything in their power to help. My state (MD) has sent some teams (one is a special chaplain team) and has set up a shelter and issued an invitation.

Love,

Polly

P.S. Sally, so glad you are enjoying your grandsons! Post some photos, kay?

Post by **tex** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 9:53 am

Hi Polly,

I agree that our tax dollars are being wasted on Federal programs that are virtually worthless to the people who need help the most.

A few years ago, when a residential section of a small town near here was totally destroyed by a huge F5 tornado, FEMA refused to help. The tornado was so intense, that even the slabs that the homes were built on were swept away, along with everything else. The pavement was sucked up, and people who hid in their basements for protection, were even carried away and killed. Only pieces of bodies were found, (the experts couldn't even tell if they were looking at body parts of animals, or humans, they were so badly ground up and disfigured, and there was nothing left of the subdivision but splinters of wood, and fragments of metal and glass, and yet FEMA said they couldn't offer any assistance, because the damage did not affect a large enough area.

I guess this time, the area affected is too large to suit them. As always, private citizens and charity organizations, (which, or course, are funded by private citizens), are left to do virtually all the work.

I'm very bitter about federal level disaster assistance programs. If we ever have another major terrorist attack in this country, we may fare better than we did the last time, but if we do, I doubt that it will be due to the quick action of "Homeland Security".

I agree, our "emergency preparedness programs" are a joke. A lot of money is being thrown at them, and a lot of lip service, but the programs, for the most part, are inneffective, due to an inability to handle the logistics involved.

Love,
Wayne

hazel · Post by **hazel** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 10:54 am

I agree. Any program is only as good as the people who administer it. There has to be an ACTION PLAN and for a PLAN we needed effective leadership that was working non-stop from the first warnings about Katrina's possible destruction. We are finally getting on track but unfortunately it is too late for somefolks.

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 4:33 am

Morning All,

Unfortunately, back in '82 I went through a flood and found FEMA to be totally ineffective. First question was do you have insurance and if so where is your policy. Definitely the last thing I grabbed as I exited the house - Right!!!!!! Also, the Army Corps of Engineers refused to even consider a flood control project on the water source we lived on since it was rated as a once in 100 year flood plain. Guess you are lucky if you weren't there when the 100 year mark happened.

They did get much better and now that they are under a new umbrealla of the Homeland Security Department they seem to have regressed dramatically.

There is no excuse for the lack of response but that is now history in some ways. Hopefully, things will be different in the future. If history is any indicator, it won't be.

Love, Maggie

kate_ce1995 · Post by **kate_ce1995** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 5:09 am

Not only has their response been slow, but why the heck wasn't food, water and port-a-pots placed pre-Katrina in these areas being used to shelter folks riding out the storm. But then again, I suppose its because the people they expect to deliver them had obeyed the evacuation order. So then, why wasn't every bus available to help evacuate those who didn't want to or couldn't go? Now we, as a society, will re-build here, with similar problems down the road when the next tropical storm/hurricane decides to take a similar path. GRRR.

Katy