Katrina - things you don't want to think about!

[drgnfly30]

I was watching Anderson Cooper on CNN & he was following a story about a seal from the aquarium that had washed into a parking lot.. he kept showing footage of people throwing water on him to keep him alive & said he'd give an update later in the show... well I didn't think it would end well for him.... but at the end of his broadcast when Anderson said that a police officer had shot the seal twice in the head to put it out it's misery I just about lost it!! I'll be thinking about this for a long time... there are thousands of homeless but that poor seal just tore my heart out:( Now all I can think about is all the poor defenseless animals & wildlife...

[Lisa loves Pooh]

that is horrible. but nothing they could do I guess.

I wonder what happened to the dolphins myself.

[Luv2Roam]

I saw that too. But I guess a sick seal is the last thing they need to worry about. :guilty: :guilty: The other two must have dies on their own already.

[allie&mattsmom]

I know. I saw this too. I about lost it (so did my 8 y/o DS) when I saw the footage and then when I heard they had to shoot the seal twice in the head....well, I cried my eyes out. This whole Katrina devastation is absolutely heartbreaking.

[Danvers]

:guilty:

[Stacy's a freak]

As an animal lover, that's definitely a sad story. But we have to keep things in perspective. Several people wasting their energy to keep a seal going is crazy when that energy could be better used to help a person ... or a family ... or a town ... or ....

My heart goes out to everyone affected. :grouphug:

[goofygirl]

I saw that too. Sad.

There are many sad stories. I just can't wrap my mind around what has happened. Last night I went to bed thinking things were not that bad- boy how things change in 24hrs!

What shook me was the interview by a CNN reporter with a man who lost his wife and house, the reporter asked him where he was going, he said "I have nowhere to go." She asked for his wife's name, and her voice shook with tears as she talked to him.

[drgnfly30]

I know it was for the best... he had no chance of making it in these conditions but I just felt so bad for him!! When I saw the helicopter fly over the aquarium, it was total devastation :( I doubt anything made it...

[The Mystery Machine]

I saw that seal. How sad.

I just cannot believe what is too come.

[Luv2Roam]

Think of the volunteers and how they hav eto take extra precautions on theor safety and health. Think of the bacteria, etc.
It would be nice to see a bright light somehow. But there really is not a light at the end of the tunnel for them now.

[DebbieB]

I saw that too and was shocked. They could have just said the officer "put him out of his misery" or he was "euthenized". Did they have to say "shot him twice in the head"?

[va32h]

my heartbreaking moment was when some reporter interviewed a confused older man on the street.

She asked him where his wife was and he said "I can't find her body" - and the reporter was just startled, asked him what he meant. They were on the roof - he was holding her hand, but she said he couldn't hold on, and to take care of their children and grandchildren and then just let go!

That poor man just looked so lost and confused.

[Mandabella]

I wonder what happened to the dolphins myself.

I saw on the news that some of the dolphins were riding out the storm in hotel pools.

[Claudia1]

I aaw on an earlier report that the dolphins had been moved to a swimming pool farther inland. The water had been changed to salt water and they showed video of them swimming and playing.

I'm sure that saved their lives!

[Mandabella]

my heartbreaking moment was when some reporter interviewed a confused older man on the street.

She asked him where his wife was and he said "I can't find her body" - and the reporter was just startled, asked him what he meant. They were on the roof - he was holding her hand, but she said he couldn't hold on, and to take care of their children and grandchildren and then just let go!

That poor man just looked so lost and confused.

His name is Harvey Jackson.

Harvey Jackson, of Biloxi, Mississippi, told CNN affiliate WKRG-TV that he believed his wife was killed after she was ripped from his grasp when their home split in half.

"She told me, 'You can't hold me,' ... take care of the kids and the grandkids," he said, sobbing. (Watch video of the man describing the loss of his wife -- 1:07)
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/30/katrina.people/index.html

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Oh--I totally assumed the dolphins were in downtown NOLA.

[HayGan]

While that is sad, there are so many more things that are bothering me about what is going on on the Gulf Coast. For instance:

Those thousands of people stuck in the Superdome in the unbearable heat without lights,working toilets and adequate food. (There have already been suicides inside.)

I also feel for the people trapped in their homes who may die there because they couldn't or wouldn't leave.

I feel bad for the hundreds of thousands of people whose homes and livelihoods are likely under several feet of water for several weeks or even months. When they are allowed to go back there will likely be very little if nothing to return to.

I feel bad for the parents who don't know where the children are

I feel bad that people have to worry about walking what streets are available because the bad seeds are out carjacking and robbing people

I feel so bad that this is only the begining. Levies are continuing to fail. Homes that were spared damage from the hurricane are now dealing with water coming in from those failures. Bodies (of humans and animals) are floating and submerged all over the region. The stagnant water and deomposing bodies will cause a stench like nothing most of us have ever experienced before. People will starve and become dehydrated or contract diseases and die days and weeks from now.

I feel bad that many animals will also die of starvation.

I feel bad for the 1,500,000+ people whose lives will never be the same.:sad1:

[drgnfly30]

While that is sad, there are so many more things that are bothering me about what is going on on the Gulf Coast. For instance:

Those thousands of people stuck in the Superdome in the unbearable heat without lights,working toilets and adequate food. (There have already been suicides inside.)

I also feel for the people trapped in their homes who may die there because they couldn't or wouldn't leave.

I feel bad for the hundreds of thousands of people whose homes and livelihoods are likely under several feet of water for several weeks or even months. When they are allowed to go back there will likely be very little if nothing to return to.

I feel bad for the parents who don't know where the children are

I feel bad that people have to worry about walking what streets are available because the bad seeds are out carjacking and robbing people

I feel so bad that this is only the begining. Levies are continuing to fail. Homes that were spared damage from the hurricane are now dealing with water coming in from those failures. Bodies (of humans and animals) are floating and submerged all over the region. The stagnant water and deomposing bodies will cause a stench like nothing most of us have ever experienced before. People will starve and become dehydrated or contract diseases and die days and weeks from now.

I feel bad that many animals will also die of starvation.

I feel bad for the 1,500,000+ people whose lives will never be the same.:sad1:

Oh.. don't get me wrong... I'm right there with you! It was just so overwhelming - that hearing about the seal the bluntness in how they reported it, just snapped me into the reality of it all ... I haven't heard about any suicides though... where did you see that ?!? :earseek:

[Luv2Roam]

CNN reported that a man jumped from a higher level in the Dome. He seemed normal, playing with kids, and went to the ledge and jumped. :guilty:
No food, no water, over flowing tiolets, not enough medical personnel. and there has been guessinghow long the guards there can maintain control. ANd the Dome is being surrounded by water.
About as bleek as you can get

[HTH]

You know, with all of that going on...and given the circumstances...I would kill myself too. :(


I cannot even begin to imagine the things that these victims are feeling right now.

[eeyore kelly]

They are evacuating the superdome.

I feel bad for the seal too, but when you are dealing with the destruction all day, saying the seal was shot in the head doesn't compare to saying dead bodies are floating in NO

[EsmeraldaX]

Oh my god that is the most horrible thing I have read all night. That poor thing. I had to turn the coverage off earlier because I could not handle it anymore. It's just too horrible and this is just another awful event.

Prayers for everyone in the area. Stay safe. :grouphug:

[shelby_36]

You know though..they have been in that superdome..holds what 50,000 and there were 20,000 there for what 3 days so far? I find it hard to believe that those circumstances in America would drive a sane person to suicide. Also I don;t believe people will die of dehydration, starvation, and contamination...maybe illness if they drink bad water. The Red Cross and FEMA are already on the ground. As soon as they get all the idiots that refused to evacuate when they were told to..they can put energy into getting things back to a starting point. I;m not trying to underplay any of this... but we are in the US and not in malaysia. there are SOME bodies not 250,000 like in Indonsia. I think comparing this to the tsunami is media play and i don't think that is necessary. The people in that area have a huge rebuilding effort..but they can and will do it.

[mamalle]

is just so heartbreaking to watch the video and hear all the stories.The flooding is unbelievable.

I cant even imagine what they are feeling. I had to stay at the hospital for frances for 3 days and we lost our water and no a/c and I thought I would come unglued and we had a fraction of people in the ER.

btw- Fox just reported that the man's death was accidental- He was trying to jump between levels.. :confused3 not suicidal..

[va32h]

but we are in the US and not in malaysia. there are SOME bodies not 250,000 like in Indonsia.

True, but we are much closer to Louisiana and Mississippi than Indonesia...geographical distance can create emotional distance.

I felt terrible for those people in the Tsunami - but I've never been to any of those countries.

But I have been to New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Biloxi and Mobile. Every time we drive to WDW we go through some of those towns. Lots of other people here have probably been to those cities too. So it makes it feel like a larger tragedy, because it is a more personal one.

[shelby_36]

I think it is irresponsible and I think it is disrespectful to the people that did die and lived through the tsunami to say this is the same. its not the same. Those people had NO warning. They were living in SHACKS in undeveloped islands, many of them. they had to run through the streets with the water following them. here we ahd several days notice, good shelters, time to leave, time to protect some belongings, the lives that were lost , for the most part, were completely preventable. During the tsunami they were not at all preventable. It is no way comparable... other than they were both caused by nature.

[Florida_luvr924]

That is so sad. I was wondering what would happen to the animals in the zoos. I thought my question about those poor helpless animals was going to be answered last night when I was watching Larry King. Someone asked what happens to them how are the zoo staff trying to protect them, the person Larry aked didn't know. Well, I guess know I have my answer they are very vulnrebel to danger. Poor seal.

[va32h]

I think it is irresponsible and I think it is disrespectful to the people that did die and lived through the tsunami to say this is the same.

Is that what I said? Please quote me where I said that. I have re-read my post, and I am quite confident that I did not say that these tragedies were the same. I said that a local tragedy has a greater emotional impact than one that is far away.

How do you interpret that I said they were "the same"?

[shelby_36]

I didn't say YOU I said in the previous post you and I were talking about that a person on the news was comparing it to the tsnami. I apologize iff that wasn't clear.

[jgmklmhem]

I think it is irresponsible and I think it is disrespectful to the people that did die and lived through the tsunami to say this is the same. its not the same. Those people had NO warning. They were living in SHACKS in undeveloped islands, many of them. they had to run through the streets with the water following them. here we ahd several days notice, good shelters, time to leave, time to protect some belongings, the lives that were lost , for the most part, were completely preventable. During the tsunami they were not at all preventable. It is no way comparable... other than they were both caused by nature.

I don't get this my disaster is bigger than yours type mentality. Who the freak really cares?!? People died in both. I am sure some died because they were stupid in both. Others died because they couldn't get out of the way. Either way they are still dead and I am pretty sure they don't give a rats back side if comparisons are made. The world lost some really great people yesterday and today just as it did during the tsunami. Katrina just like the tsunami and 9/11 and the London bombings were and are all tragic. No need to place a scale on it.

[drgnfly30]

I think it is irresponsible and I think it is disrespectful to the people that did die and lived through the tsunami to say this is the same. its not the same. Those people had NO warning. They were living in SHACKS in undeveloped islands, many of them. they had to run through the streets with the water following them. here we ahd several days notice, good shelters, time to leave, time to protect some belongings, the lives that were lost , for the most part, were completely preventable. During the tsunami they were not at all preventable. It is no way comparable... other than they were both caused by nature.

Yes, we had warning but many many people did not have the resources to get out, many didn't have cars, or a place to go.. you can't get public transportation to evacuate you! and if they plan on evacuating the shelters... they can't be that safe!! Some were VERY disadvantaged already, if you don't have the $ you can't stock up on food & water ... & I don't think all the plywood or sandbags in the world would have protected their belongings... they are UNDER WATER! I think ALOT of what we are seeing was NOT completely preventable!

[SplshMtn99]

The poor seal. :guilty:

Last night, after watching a segment speaking with someone from www.noahswish.org I decided that any money I donate was going to them to help save any animals they can from this & other disasters.

Today, I just continued to grow angrier at anyone who stayed & did not evacuate their homes. Now, other people are in harm trying to save them. My own DH is on alert here in MA to possibly be heading there. (National Guard). Ironically, he was heading to New Orleans next week for a conference anyway -- but not now obviously.

I felt sorry for the animals that were abandoned - I understand some HAD to be, but it still hurts. There will be enough money from others to help all the people who evacuated & who didn't, but I want my money to go to those animals. Animals are a HUGE part in my life -- and I feel I owe this to them.

[shelby_36]

They couldn't walk to the shelters? The city bus couldn't take them to the shelters? The shelters aren't perfect but they protected them from the storm and they can rebuild. The ones that dies could have lived.

[SplshMtn99]

They couldn't walk to the shelters? The city bus couldn't take them to the shelters? The shelters aren't perfect but they protected them from the storm and they can rebuild. The ones that dies could have lived.

Absolutely, the city provided free transportation for HOURS to get them to shelters.

Some of those people are now quite able to get out & loot however. :rolleyes:

They were TOLD to evacuate. After that, they were on their own!!!

[drgnfly30]

They couldn't walk to the shelters? The city bus couldn't take them to the shelters? The shelters aren't perfect but they protected them from the storm and they can rebuild. The ones that dies could have lived.

Until I've walked in someone else shoes I'm not going to judge them... many may not have left for fear of the looting we are seeing now, shelters don't take animals & many (including myself) would have a really hard time leaving my animals to fend for themselves.... I'm not saying there aren't some people that died because of their own stupidity but I'd like to believe they are in the minority.. Any of these circumstances do not diminish the gravity of the tragedy in my opinion....

[shelby_36]

Well we agree there..I'm not going to judge them either... if they were stupid enough to stay than so be it. the only problem I have is that all of the resources they are using to get out the thousands of people that were told to leave and didn't are the reason they have been slow to get the levee fixed and the water out of new Orleans. the first thing they are going to do it get survivors. that job got a whole lot biger because of these people stupidity. thats when that community has the right to judge. maybe not me..but they do.

[drgnfly30]

Well we agree there..I'm not going to judge them either... if they were stupid enough to stay than so be it.

Hmmm... well maybe we can agree to disagree... last time I checked Miss Manners, calling someone stupid is a bit judgmental! :confused3

[jgmklmhem]

Well we agree there..I'm not going to judge them either... if they were stupid enough to stay than so be it. the only problem I have is that all of the resources they are using to get out the thousands of people that were told to leave and didn't are the reason they have been slow to get the levee fixed and the water out of new Orleans. the first thing they are going to do it get survivors. that job got a whole lot biger because of these people stupidity. thats when that community has the right to judge. maybe not me..but they do.

Gotta love a post that says you are not going to judge and then goes on to describe the people as stupid. I am not afraid to judge some of them were stupid. I can gurantee it. I am sure others are smart and have legitimate reasons for staying. Who knows.

[shelby_36]

I don't read Miss Manners, but anyway... Stupidty is what makes people stay in a dangerous situation when they are given the resources and the time to get out of that situation. THE PEOPLE who stayed that CHOSE to stay were stupid. I suppose that is Judging.. I think it is obvious fact.

now I'm sure there were some people with reasons to stay in New Orleans ..not sure what those reasons would be more important than saving your life but there may be reasons.

[EsmeraldaX]

Well we agree there..I'm not going to judge them either... if they were stupid enough to stay than so be it. the only problem I have is that all of the resources they are using to get out the thousands of people that were told to leave and didn't are the reason they have been slow to get the levee fixed and the water out of new Orleans. the first thing they are going to do it get survivors. that job got a whole lot biger because of these people stupidity. thats when that community has the right to judge. maybe not me..but they do.


Do you honestly think the same teams of people who are going on search and rescue missions are the same people, trained in the same fields, as the ones who are fixing the levee and pumping out the water?

Many of the search and rescue people are volunteers.

[EsmeraldaX]

I don't read Miss Manners, but anyway... Stupidty is what makes people stay in a dangerous situation when they are given the resources and the time to get out of that situation. THE PEOPLE who stayed that CHOSE to stay were stupid. I suppose that is Judging.. I think it is obvious fact.

now I'm sure there were some people with reasons to stay in New Orleans ..not sure what those reasons would be more important than saving your life but there may be reasons.


I'm sure the crippled and elderly and infirm and impoverished without any means of transport really wanted to die. :rolleyes:

[slo]

I was watching Anderson Cooper on CNN & he was following a story about a seal from the aquarium that had washed into a parking lot.. he kept showing footage of people throwing water on him to keep him alive & said he'd give an update later in the show... well I didn't think it would end well for him.... but at the end of his broadcast when Anderson said that a police officer had shot the seal twice in the head to put it out it's misery I just about lost it!! I'll be thinking about this for a long time... there are thousands of homeless but that poor seal just tore my heart out:( Now all I can think about is all the poor defenseless animals & wildlife...

This is a very sad story!!

Currently as I am watching the news my tears are being shed for all the children. You can see in their faces how scared they are. They have no idea what is going on and they are hungry, thirsty, wet, dirty, hot, confused, possibly w/o parents if something happened to their parents, and I could go on and on. Every time I see a childs face in this devostation I think about my sleeping children upstairs and how grateful I am that they don't have to encounter something like this in their life. I pray for these children and for their parents to have the strength to get their family through this.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Esmerelda--there has been sooo much footage today of very able bodied people in the city of New Orleans...some poor--some not soo poor. In either case--able bodied, with children...who ignored an order and have to be rescued.

They had bus stops throughout the cities to get them to the dome.

The superdome--to be clear--was not a "shelter" as that implies that they are being sheltered---it was a refuge of last resort. If you coudln't get out for whatever reason--you could go there. It was a place so that you would not die in the storm. It's purpose was to keep you alive until the storm was over.

It isn't judgemental to say that there was a large number of people who chose to not heed the warning.

When evacuations are ordered--it is abundantly clear.

The poverty card doesn't work. It has been played--and the mayor trumped it. He provided a way for all these people to be safe.


As far as the repairs--manpower is being used on the top priority of rescue. It detracts from recovery/cleanup.

[CrazedDisFan]

This is not directed at any one poster.

First of all, people were told to evacuate. Many didn't. There were outs, there were ways to leave, there were options.

Yet, there are also many mentally and physically handicapped persons without the ability to sometimes do what seems reasonable to an able bodied person. The harsh reality is many of those people are our country's abandoned. They survive by the grace of others and sometimes the grace of others isn't present when your own safety is on the line. :(

There also were MANY doctors, EMTS, nurses, firemen and police who were ordered to stay. They could not leave. Unfortunately some of their families stayed with them. :( Many did leave.

I am not making excuses for those who thought they could 'beat Mother Nature', but please remember their are cases where people couldn't leave. :(

Sorry if this sounds preachy and sorry if it offends or upsets anyone, but we must remember there are exceptions to every assumption.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And many of these people are being interviewed and agreeing they made a poor choice.

People in MS/AL who stayed in their homes that survived Camille. Some taken when there homes were....others who survived to watch their home get taken.

It CANNOT be denied that a hurricane is the best of predictable disasters b/c you have the opportunity to save your life before it gets there. It CANNOT be denied that had those who hadn't evacuated--the majority of the survivors would not have been in the predicament, had they not chosen to place themselves there. The majority of those who died...wouldn't have died--had they listened and gotten to a safer location.

Yes there are exceptions--but the exceptions are the minority. And the biggest exception being quoted is being "poor". And that isn't a good exception.

This is why---so often--each and every time--there is an evacuation...officials warn people...that the next time anyone sees them--it is when they will be placed in a body bag. It is morbid to say--but it is the sad truth and reality.

As humans--we don't like to be inconenienced. When you are told to leave your home--it is an incovenience. Some would rather not be inconvenienced.

[SueM in MN]

One thing I heard that was incredibly sad was that some hospitals were without any power. All hospitals in the US are required to have backup generators, but apparently many of those either became damaged or no longer work. The report I heard said that medical staff were bagging the patients who were on ventilators (which is basically forcing air into their lungs with a small hand pump). That is an incredibly tiring thing for the staff to do and I can't even imagine how scary it must be to the patients.

[TIGGER'SFRIEND]

As a nurse I was deeply saddened to hear of the problems occuring in the hospitals, so many helpless people in dire need, I pray for all the healthcare care workers to be able to do their best under such horrible conditions. :grouphug:

[reginaastralis]

I have to put in a bit of something here.

None of us can judge anyone who didn't choose to evacuate for whatever reason b/c we weren't there.

I remember reading an article where a man knew the only place he could go was to the Superdome. He turned the corner, saw the 2 mile line to get in, and turned back around. Sure, that might not have been the best decision on his part, but as he saw it ... it was hopeless.

A lot of the people in the Superdome were tourists. They had flown in, then the airports were closed. There were no rental cars. They had no choice but to stay in New Orleans and hope for the best. They did what the mayor told them to do, go to the Superdome.

A lot of people in New Orleans *and surronding areas* are pretty poor. One of the problems with the flooding in New Orleans is that the more improvished folks don't have the money to bury their kin properly. A lot of dead bodies are coming out from cyrpts through out the city. They knew this would happen before Katrina ever popped up.

Also, as a Florida resident, I can tell how shocking it was for this thing to grow into such a MASSIVE storm so quickly. It blew through the bottom of my state as a Cat 1 ... I went to bed hearing it would MAYBE be a Cat 2 when it hit up North. The next morning, with about 24 hours before impact, they were expecting a Cat 5. That's something you can't plan for. I remember reading another article where a man said they didn't board up, there wasn't time ... they knew they would be coming back to nothing, but at least they were coming back.

Anyways, I'm getting off my soapbox. I agree with the op that sure, I feel for EVERY being involved in this tragedy. I especially feel for the seal who had no choice, and that's the heart breaking point. I feel for the children, the poor, the handicapped, the tourist on vacation, the people scrimping for every penny. Believe me, I feel for them. I went through three hurricanes down here last year, and nothing was like this.

Amanda and Juliette

[Diva of Dragons]

O.K.....going back to the seal for a minute....Was there actually anything wrong with the seal??? Because they can survive perfectly well out of the water for a long time, as long as they eventually have access to food! They spend a lot of time out of the water anyway. So unless it was severely injured or something, the officer should have left it alone, IMO.

Lisa

[drgnfly30]

O.K.....going back to the seal for a minute....Was there actually anything wrong with the seal??? Because they can survive perfectly well out of the water for a long time, as long as they eventually have access to food! They spend a lot of time out of the water anyway. So unless it was severely injured or something, the officer should have left it alone, IMO.

Lisa

They didn't say but apparently it had been in the parking lot for hours before people started to try to aide him... he wasn't moving about...lying on his side, looking around so it was quite possible he had been indeed been injured...

[eeyore kelly]

I am not sure where the seal came from, all I can tell you is what was reported to me on the local news.

It was reported that the zoo and aquarium in NO was evacuated before the hurricane.

[goin2disneyagain]

O.K.....going back to the seal for a minute....Was there actually anything wrong with the seal??? Because they can survive perfectly well out of the water for a long time, as long as they eventually have access to food! They spend a lot of time out of the water anyway. So unless it was severely injured or something, the officer should have left it alone, IMO.

Lisa
I believe this poor seal was baking in the heat. So sad!!

[EsmeraldaX]

I believe this poor seal was baking in the heat. So sad!!

I also heard that it was too hot and clearly suffering in the baking heat. I think it was also starving. The poor thing. :(