[GreyBear]

Well, tomorrow will be a year since my home of Nawlins got beaten up by Mother Nature, then raped by FEMA and politicians more concerned with getting publicity photos than taking care of what needed to be done. That isn't my beef though. All that has been played and replayed so many times by so many with so many slants on it people are pretty much numb.
My gripe is with the people that act like "Hell it's been a year.....haven't they gotten it together yet?" People like that amaze me. How long did it take to clear the debris from the Twin Towers? And that was one building....this was not just one city but an entire multi parish/county multi state disaster. I guess it is a sign of our instant, throw away society...but ****. It took them 5 months to clear a site and build a BoJangles chicken store here DUH!!!!!
So I will pour some of my drink on the ground tonight for the ones that died.....and for my city that will never be the same again.

Ride Free.............

[05glide]

GrayBear, sorry to hear you one of the Katrina victims. I live in Georgia and miss most on the violence form these storm but that doesn't mean I don't feel your pain. I have family in Slidell, LA and all tole five homes were lost to Katrina in my family. There is no way the disaster could have been cleared up in a year. Not to say that a whole hell of a lot more could've been done! But lets not go there. I'll never forget the devastation when I went to help. TV can't show what it really looks like and words can't describe devastation. I moved my boy out to Houston in March this year and he couldn't believe how dead the vegetation was. Looking at a picture you can't tell it was summer. There was no color, the trees were dead and forget grass. I'm hoping the coast, especially Nawlins, can get through this summer without a direct hit. If were lucky Castro will keep'm all to himself

[Red Rider]

I'm sorry for the devastation, too. I lived in Pensacola for over five years, was a firefighter there, so I know about hurricane destruction. I loved to visit the Quarter, too. But I also lived in Okinawa, and it was there I saw that buildings and preparations can be made that extremely minimize the damage. We had one storm come through there with over 190MPH winds and only lost two people: one old man that decided to walk out on top of some SEATRAIN cargo at Naha, and a Marine that figured it was a good day for a swim. That from nearly 2 million people.

After living where typhoons routinely whip the land, I marvel at how ignorant we are here when it comes to the power of Nature. I mean, look at all the buildings that go up on sandbars in the Gulf, sandbars that were built/shifted/moved/removed by hurricanes. And then there is the lack of personal responsibilty so characteristc of America - few store water/provisions, fewer still have generators. And some try to ride out storms in their little stick houses. Makes no sense. So much "it can't happen here" and "the government will save us" blindness. Oh well.

[2fastnaz]

Lifting my glass for you Grey Bear. I had a buddy from the Navy down there. I still haven't heard from him. Don't know if I ever will again.

[GreyBear]

You make some very valid points RR, and I couldn't agree more. I was raised so that when something happens you don't worry about it unless it lasts over 90 days or so. I am well versed as most of the people I know were in saw dust toilets and having a stocked pantry etc. The problem there was that even with the people that were so prepared....you were reduced to what you could pack out on you. That makes a big difference. I can still do pretty good with a 70 lb pack but even if you only carry water that is less than 10 gals. In August in New New Orleans that isnt a lot.
It has always been a situation where those that had the financial resources left. Except of course the idiots who had hurricane parties and considered drinking hurricanes to ward off hurricanes. For a great number of the inner city poor and elderly, leaving was not an option. Which is why the Superdome was always used. Was that a bad plan? Sure it was. But it was the plan that was in effect courtesy of our wonderful politicians. They did have a way out though, you didn't see our illustrous mayor passing out blankets did you?
The Levves have been crap since the 40's at least and probably before. When money was tagged for it, once the several levee boards got through bickering, it was usually used for something else.
Was the response crappy? Oh baby, just go to N'awlins with a I love FEMA Tshirt...and wear body armor when you do. Was it Bush's fault? Partly. Since he apointed FEMA's head and he dropped the ball completely. Just like if you are the CEO and appoint a treasurer that makes off with the treasury. DId he spend more time having his picture made than getting the job done? Yeah, but so what it's nothing new. Back when Camille came through the boat we were pulling people out with was almost swamped by the Presidential "on site damage assessment" craft. If ButtF*% Tony hadn't fired one across thier bow and got thier attention we might have drowned along with the ones we were helping. In Louisiana we grow up with you do what you do and don't trust the politicians to do anything but steal you blind. And they certainly do thier part of that equation.
The point is: preparedness can only go so far. We lost New Orleans as it had been. The whole country lost, because we all saw just what a total cluster F%$# the entire Emergency managment system in this country is. And we continue to lose because instead of fixing the problems everybody wants to fix the blame. I have heard everything from the levves to the escape routes to Gods retribution on a sinful city blamed. Maybe it was none of the above maybe it was all of the above, what matters is how are we going to make it better. What are we going to do if Los Angeles does get hit with the big one? Or any of a whole lot of other things that may happen. We used to have a saying when it was time to get out and start filling sand bags to reinforce those same levves. If you are using a shovel correctly, you cant point your finger. We need a hell of a lot more shoveling......

Ride Free..........

[Red Rider]

It is clear LA or SF is gonna get hit with a major quake. Just like a hurricane in NO, it is only a matter of time.

So what will happen? The same kinda crap as NO - a ton of casualties and then more rescues, followed by the lawyers. Most of my relatives live in SF - ya think ANY of them have so much as an extra 5 gallons of water? Nope. Just stupid smiles and praise for their colorful and carefree attitude. I guess they'll count on those east of 'em to bail them out, or the government.

I always have to laugh when I hear Bush get blamed. Heck, I don't care what guy is President, recovery efforts led by the gov are always going to be flawed - unless the military runs 'em. And Bush couldn't let the military in until Blanco said so - that's the law. But agencies like FEMA are just more bureacracies, staffed by too many people that don't want to compete in the real world. When the feces hits the fan, you can count on the guys & gals in green...and few others.

So the best tip? Be ready to save yourself, so you can then save your family & friends. If not, no complaining allowed.

[GreyBear]

RR Totally correct as to the SF attitude, I went to college out there and then later worked there....reality never touches. Of course when you had a mayor like Fienstien, who was in charge at the time whatcha expect? I wonder is the no handguns ownership in SF ban still in effect? I have friends in DC that are the same way. Kid me about being a red neck cracker cause my attitude is a lot like that of Bocephus...."a Country biy can survive".
When I moved up here I was amazed at how few people even prepare for a few days of power outage from the ice storms...that come **** near EVERY year. with the ice it isn't something that might happen, or could happen, according to my wifes family the ice has taken the power out for at least 48 hrs most places in the area for 8 of the last 10 years. And people can't make it 48 hrs?
Last year, we were without electricity for 9 days. The remps were getting way up to about 27 in the day time. And we had a BLAST! we had lights, generator, coleman lanterns and candles, heat:Kerosun heater, A way to cook: Gas grille and coleman stove, Communication: Cell phone chargers that worked off the truck and a hand crank one for emergency, A battery tv and weather radio....and enough food in the pantry, along with water to do fine. We have a well as do most people, but we also have an old fashioned hand pump so if you lose power you ca have water. We cuddled (A big plus for Mrs Bear since she says I don't do enough of it...but when the weathers cold it ain't so bad, lol) we had board and card games to play. And we were the only folks on our road that didn't hightail it to a hotel miles from home. That isn't just sad it is ridiculous. Everything that kept us going is relatively inexpensive except the generator. And we don't have a big this is emrgency food stash. We have a pantry that we keep stocked and eat out of so it is rotated. Yes people laugh sometimes when we buy 10 cans of something thats on sale, but it gets eaten and we always have enough to run at least 90 days. Add that to what we have in the freezer, we can do pretty well, as long as you like venison and fish.
I don't consider myself a survivalist or anything like that. Just an old boy scout that still believes in being prepared. It is nice of course to have a surgical nurse for a spouse...sure better than having to sew yourself up.
As to blaming Bush: well like you said, FEMA is a beaurocracy. It's head isn't elected, it's appointed. Bush appointed the yo yo. And as Truman said: the buck stops here. You gonna be commander in chief make sure you pick the right people to actually Do the job. With Katrina the best response was from the Coast Guard, God bless 'em. Because they weren't hamstrung waiting on an indecisive FEMA. When the winds dropped enough to put choppers in the air...they were in the air doing what those guys do so well search and rescue. And there aws also the deal with Bush keeping people in Atlanta to make publicity pics while they were needed where the problem was. That was documented and is public record. The whole Atlanta "staging area" fiasco was deplorable. Was he the first to do something like that? Of course not and he won't be the last. Problem is the government needsto be run like what it is: A business. A CEO keeps things running well, keeps a healthy dividend for the stock holders (us!) or he is out on his butt. We need a Leader that realizes you can't LEAD from the rear, you gotta get out front and do what needs to be done. W hasn't done that, slick Willy hasn't done that Geo Sr, didn't do that....hell has anybody since Ike doen that? And maybe he didn't either I was just too young to realize it.
Ride Free.........

[hotroadking]

Well I don't see how you blame Bush in the middle of a second term for a 150 MPH hurricane and 60 years of corrupt local politicians.

LA and NO's damage is LA's fault and nobody elses. Typical how many blame and seek others for their own mistakes.

I'm not singling anyone on this board out but the masses that cry on the news in general

There were busses to be used, Blanco had to ask
There were military to help , Blanco had to ask
There was enough advance notice to evac and save everyone that wanted to go, but Blanco didn't ask.

And that's FEMA and Bush's fault how, Federal Laws prohibit these things, does anyone recall states rights? Blanco and Chocolate City Nagen are to blame, Nagen is an out and out idiot, how the heck he got re-elected is amazing and then again, not in a city rampant with problems like NO.

Don't get me wrong I dont' blame everyone in LA but generations of LA folk have set the tone for the way that state runs and unfortunately thats what can happen.

Buddy told me he works for a fortune 500 company, they wanted to sell an item or at least discuss this item with the county sherriff, when they called in they were told that they were not on the "list" of approved vendors.

That list is populated by companies that contribute funds to his political war chest as in LA you can lobby for money while you're still in office. Once they wrote a check the meeting was allowed.

[SPORSTERBOY]

My Sympathy For The Good Folks In N/o But Mother Nature Washed Out Alot Of Trash. That Hole Town Was Curopted With Crime And Drugs As The Hole State Has Some Backwards Backwood Politics. I Have My Reasons For My Disliking Of La. Really As Far As I'm Concernd The Hole State Can Wash Away. Untill It Happens I'll Continue My Route Around It To The East Coast. Even If They Got The Proper Help It Wouldent Have Done Any Good. Now It Just Gives Those 75% Of The Population There Thinking Someone Owes Them Something. Looking For More Than There Welfare And Food Stamps. Waiting For The Rebuild So They Can Make There Drug And Crime Income. Meanwhile Places Like Houston Has 2 Endure The No Mentality. Putting A Strain On Every Ones Tax Dollars To Help People Who Didn't Help Themselves Before The Disaster. Who Now Have A Excuse For A Hand Out. Sorry If My View Offends Any One. I Just Look At The Hole Picture.

[GreyBear]

Welcome back Sportster Boy. How was the cookout? Yeah a lot of folks that got taken out needed it, no denying that. I read somewhere that Houston was blaming it's crime now on the transplants from NO. I have no way of knowing, since I haven't been to Houston in a spell. But as I recall the namesake city of old Sam, wasn't exactly the safest place in the US before the big blow. I used to have a friend there that was a cop, John Bernstien, and he said between doing a shift in Houston and a shift in Saigon, where he was an MP, Saigon was a tad quieter. I don't think any large city is exempt from drugs, gangs and violence.

Yeah Louisiana has some serious bs in the politics department. Always has but where is it different? No place I know of. Seems that most of the people that get into being a politician are too lazy to work and too scared to steal...at least like an "honest" criminal/ They prefer the white collar, sneaky route. And the ones that do set out to do some good are like people in a war zone that try to stay neutral...they either get wiped out or join in.

Ride Free......

[scooter]

I can tell you for sure, and the crime reports will bear this out...that from September 2005 to January 2006, there was a rather unusual spike in aggravated assault, assault and battery, and homicide. The unusual part of the unusual spike, or rather, should I say the ironic part of it? A very large percentage of the homicides and assualts were committed against DP's(Displaced Persons) from NO....and were committed BY DP's from NO. Go figure.

That's my 2 cents....

scoot

[gator]

When you live in the swamp, (below sea level) what do you expect? N.O. should have never been built where it is.

The French Quarter didn't flood even after the levys let go Im told. That is the only area that should have be developed.

Its no suprise that the city was washed away, its been a time bomb every since the levys were constructed. Its always been a study area for major engineering schools nation wide and the federal government has always known it would be in trouble it it took a direct hit as would any other major city on the southern coast.

Its a know problem, with an unfixable problems when you get mother nature involved. Always will be that way.

Saving the city is a last resort, trying to educate people of the dangers seems to be another failing feat in N.O.

It will happen again, maybe not this year, but it will happen.

If the local and state government don't wake up,

They should be tied to the lowest sump pump for the city when the next storm approaches, after a while, if they make it, I guess things would change. Then again it is NO.