Katrina...reactions

I can't watch the news, I was born in Louisiana, and new Orleans held a special place in my heart for all my life.. Most of my family is safe, and still have homes, but one aunt was luckily away from Louisiana when the hurricane struck... She lives in Kenner, which is basically DT New Orleans, the area worst hit. She probably doesn't have a home to come back to- except to stay at my aunts house in Alexandria.

"There, but for the grace of God, go I."

I agree about the feeling of hopelessness. At times like this I wish there really were superheroes like those in comic books who could rush in and save everyone. But that is contrary to how real life operates. There will be disasters and no way to stop them. There will be loss of life and property. You just have to learn to live with it and do what you can. And most important, learn from mistakes.

Right now all I can do is simply pray for the survivors and rescuers and see what I can afford to donate.

My two cents: As many know I live in the Green Bay WI area. They have been interviewing many of the GB Packer players as many come from the south. Two of the players have been unable to contact family. But what really impressed me is Brett Farve. He is a homegrown Louisiane boy and his family has their home there. On Sunday or Monday he chartered a plane from Milwaukee filled with supplies and sent to down to Mississippi. Last night he said there are now 50 people living at his house up from 19 a couple of days ago. His wife Deanna who is recovering from breast cancer drove 3 hours to find food(she couldn't find any) He owns a restaurant in town and is asking for donations of work gloves/cleaning supplies/tarps and similar items and is chartering another plane on Sunday to send to Mississippi . They Packer organization is sending supplies to TN as that is where they play tonite. I think that is why this area loves him so and he is accepting donations to is foundation to help in cleanup.

But I feel as others do-I'd go today and help where ever is needed. But I'm donating $$ for now.

I am heartbroken and feel helpless, too. It seems to me to be just as tragic as the Tsunami victims but at least they had some warning. I do have a hard time with the people that were able to get out and chose not to. I have a cousin that chose to stay in Biloxi and not seek shelter upstate with her parents. I have no idea about either of them (her or her parents) because my family has been unable to reach them.

I am very much ashamed about the way some Americans are acting in New Orleans - shooting at buses, each other, looting, but not surprised

I've never been to the Gulf Coast, nor do I know anyone directly impacted by Katrina, but watching the news over the past coupled of days has become increasingly difficult. I feel so helpless seeing so much suffering and despair. I can't imagine what those poor people must be going through. I feel so strongly that I need to do something, but am not sure what. I'm definitely going to keep praying.

It is just horrible down here. I'm in Lafayette where several shelters have been set up and beginning yesterday we started enrolling children into our school systems. I can't afford to donate too much and I can not donate blood either. I have given $10 to the Red Cross - I know it's not much BUT it is $10 more than they had. Also, the Red Cross is able to buy items in BULK for cheaper rates than individuals can so it goes a little further.

The children will be in need of school uniforms & supplies. If any of you have any that your children have out grown and would like to send them I'll be more than happy to make sure they get to the schools or Red Cross here. Just PM me.

I have just read this from start to finish and I just typed out a really long reply but I don't know what to say or how to say it, except I am sorry

I shall be donating what I can to any relief funds and thinking of every living being stranded, stuck or those who have lost loved ones...

wasnt there someone who posts regulary and is from new orelans?

Originally Posted by fwan

wasnt there someone who posts regulary and is from new orelans?

Click to expand...

...last night I was wondering that.... ....
I hope that members would be OK....

From the sounds of it...the people are going to end up killing eachother...all the rage and Kaos....they stopped evacuation due to someone shooting at a resue military helicopter...thats just crazy. I saw a tourist on there crying saying they took her money....its just heartbreaking and i know its nuts down there...i dont think it'll ever be the same.

Saw an article on CNN to where gas is going to average about 3.50 a gallon for 4-6 months....but will reach the 4.00 mark. ugh

Originally Posted by yasmine

Has anyone heard about the Aquarium in New Orleans?

Click to expand...

Well, here's a link about dolphins from Mississippi! Hopefully the NO aquarium was able to save some animals, too.
http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=3792968

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. Six bottlenose dolphins have been moved from swimming pools at two Mississippi hotels.

They were evacuated there when Hurricane Katrina threatened a marine park. They've been moved to a similar facility in the Florida Panhandle.

The dolphins from Marine Life Park in Gulfport, Mississippi, were safely delivered last night to The Gulfarium in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, here for temporary housing.

Nine sea lions from the Mississippi park also initially were brought here, and then were sent to Sea World in Orlando.

Keepers say putting the dolphins in hotel pools is a routine procedure whenever hurricanes have threatened Marine Life Park.

When the threat passes they are returned, but this time the park was too severely damaged to take them back.

I'm depressed.

It's because of disasters like this that I volunteer. I think if you send in what money you can and still don't feel like you've done enough, I suggest helping out in your own community. Chances are there are people in your community who need help, whether or not a disaster has struck.

I have no connection to New Orleans, although I always thought I'd visit someday. I had a friend who went to Tulane, but she hated New Orleans. And for some reason I'm emotionally hardwired so that I will sob my heart out over one baby sloth dying on the Discovery channel, but never shed a tear over human tragedy.

But that doesn't mean that I think what happened there isn't so bad, or that they deserved it, or anything like that. I think it's terrible what is happening. And so much death is just appalling. All the looting, etc that happens just adds to the tragedy of it.

I'll keep helping in the ways I can, for both New Orleans and my own community, and try to take some solice in that.

I"m truly sickened by the whole thing. The loss of lives. The loss of animals. The loss of New Orleans and the history there. I can't even begin to tell anyone how it makes me feel but I"m just like WOW. Then I"m depressed too. This is affecting ALL of us and we see it in the gas prices. I'm wondering how to afford the gas to get where I HAVE to go and also feed my children and animals.

At this point I'm scared and very depressed.

Today my cell rang and it was my friend Brandy, who I'd been trying to reach since Monday. She lives about an hour north of the French Quarter.

I've been to Nawlins 4 times now... 3 times to see Brandy (and to be in her awesome wedding!) and the 4th time, just weeks ago, for a trade show with my co-workers. I have ta say Nawlins is one of the most awesome spots I've been to, the people are so dang nice, open, colorful, friendly. And well my bud lives down there.

Well Brandy said she and her hubby evacuated to Lafayette. Brandy was choking back tears talking about the upheaval of her life; her sister, who lives in Kenner with a few kids, hasn't been heard from. She said the cell towers are down, and when she called MY phone here in Cincinnati, she said, "I was basically just rolling down the list seeing WHO outside of LA I could get ahold of". So she got ME!

She said her job is gone; all the files, office, everything in downtown NO is just 'gone'. If she wants to make money she has to go to Shreveport to work for the lawfirm & continue her employment. The saddest part is, her hubs of 5 years, companion of 15 years, has to move to HOUSTON TX to continue HIS job and receive a paycheck.

Brandy said that their house is not in the flood zone; however they are not allowed back "for one month" and most likely trees are down, she might have busted windows, looters rummaging through her house (this part made her really mad... how people are stealing the craziest things... TV's, jewelry, etc.)... she's very worried and when she talked of her sister it was just a horrible feeling.

She says they're living in Lafayette with Joey's extended family... Brandy's mom still hasn't been heard from. It's so sad... she had to hang up with me to save her battery juice in the cell phone.

I know some people who'd never been to New Orleans, and the utter devestation and loss of the whole city and loss of all those wonderful lives... the friendly & sweet people... is just saddest thing I've witnessed in a long time. Nawlins itself was chock full of history, it was beautiful... what a place. I hope to God our country can pull together and help everyone out.

I'm just happy to have talked to my friend today... she's happy she's alive but she has a serious life change coming up. They said due to the job situation they will most likely be moving away from NOLA.

You know this is upsetting more than I thought it would. I feel so badly for the people there, and the conditions they are enduring. I've been worrried about the animals, as well. It does make a person feel completely helpless. Yes, I'm going to donate money, probably a small amount to the Red Cross and another small amount to an animal organization. It won't help those that have already died, but hopefully in a small way it will help those that are still alive.

Another thing that really saddens me, is that I have never been to New Orleans. I've always wanted to go there someday, and I guess what breaks my heart, is that even if they do rebuild, it is never going to be the SAME New Orleans. It also makes you really feel tiny in the power of nature. I mean when a major city like New Orleans can be rendered completely uninhabitable...Well, it's just heartbreaking, and it's scarey. Living in Los Angeles, where we could have a major Earthquake that could destroy the City, this just sort of brings it all home to me.

From the sound of it, this is going to hurt not only the US econony but it's going to cause problems all over the world.

Last night on NBC they did some coverage and all those people on the overpass really got to me, they just need water! And where are they going to the bathroom?
Then what was really shocking, was an older couple were waving to a national guard truck and they truck just passed right by! They came back but one wonders if they did
cause the news camera was there. It was creepy.

I am now hearing that Charity Hospital is in trouble... they are still trying to evacuate patients, but the ambulances that go out trying to do that, get shot at, from people in the streets... They are calling desperately wanting military or police escorts to be able to get the patients out of New Orleans... This is too heartbreaking to even think about at times. Everything has broken down, and the very government seems so stretched thin its falling on its face trying to fix this.

The mayor of San Antonio, Texas has opened the city to receive evacuees.

Darkeyedgirl - interesting points you bring up. Yes, the city is so colourful, full of life, full of spirit, so much history.

But it is that spark of life, spirit that the people have that will help them rebuild a city, so beautiful.

I know it will never be the same again. I will have to get Jake to email me the picture of the sunrise over New Orleans - it is my favourite and I took it from my hotel window. It is the NO I choose to remember. A beautiful place. A lot of spirit. A lot of life.