?? please don't flame me for this...

[pattyT]

When I watched the news last night they had a story of a woman who was 9 months pregnant and having labor pains who swam (5 miles I think they said) to get help for her 5 year old son who was having an asthma attack...
she has a healthy baby now (fyi)

BUT this made me think -
I know I will get flamed for thinking this out loud -
but I keep coming back to this in my head...

IF SHE could get out... How come that apparently healthy man screaming at the tv reprter - obvioulsy not short of breath- couldn't?


Again I know - sitting in my covered house in the northeast I cannot even begin to comprehend it all - I mean understand that placement is different and there are some that gettingo ut would not be an option - I understand the frail and the old and the young... the more survival stories I am hearing the more I am thinkaing about that...
so don't bash me for that...
:confused3

[Lorix2]

Did she reunite with the 5 yr old son? Last I had heard of that story was that she could not locate him after going into labor.

[Mermaid02]

Just because someone looks healthy doesn't mean they are for starters. And who knows the circumstances? Maybe he couldn't swim. I couldn't swim that far.

[pattyT]

I know that -
but it has plagued me evertime I see the newscast and they are jumping up and down screaming!

Last I heard the son was with her sister.

[SplshMtn99]

I believe I heard on the news that a neighbor took in the 5yr old....someone saw the mom's story on TV.....and they are going to be re-united.

[daddydisneyworld]

I agree...people are so P-O'ed at the government...they ought to look in the mirror...WHY DIDN'T THEY HELP THEMSELVES!?!?! True, the local, state & federal government dropped the ball...BUT ONLY AFTER THESE PEOPLE KEPT THEMSELVES IN HARM' WAY!!!! Of course there were some who couldn't leave, but most could have used their own 2 feet as a last resort.

[Microcell]

I agree...people are so P-O'ed at the government...they ought to look in the mirror...WHY DIDN'T THEY HELP THEMSELVES!?!?! True, the local, state & federal government dropped the ball...BUT ONLY AFTER THESE PEOPLE KEPT THEMSELVES IN HARM' WAY!!!! Of course there were some who couldn't leave, but most could have used their own 2 feet as a last resort.


ITA, and am preparing to sit back and watch this one. Get your flame suit on!!

[floridaminnie]

I agree...people are so P-O'ed at the government...they ought to look in the mirror...WHY DIDN'T THEY HELP THEMSELVES!?!?! True, the local, state & federal government dropped the ball...BUT ONLY AFTER THESE PEOPLE KEPT THEMSELVES IN HARM' WAY!!!! Of course there were some who couldn't leave, but most could have used their own 2 feet as a last resort.

Because they have never had to help themselves before.

[shortbun]

ITA, and am preparing to sit back and watch this one. Get your flame suit on!!

Flames are the only thing the might light up a place this dark.

[va32h]

IF SHE could get out... How come that apparently healthy man screaming at the tv reprter - obvioulsy not short of breath- couldn't?

Mothers can summon extraordinary strength and determination when they need to protect their children?

Honestly, I don't know. Maybe they were in different locations, maybe the man was traveling with family that he couldn't leave behind and they were injured or disabled. It's hard to say what happened without knowing everyone's circumstances.

[momof2inPA]

They didn't leave because they couldn't afford to-- they don't have cars, they couldn't pay for gas or bus fare, the busses available were going to the superdome, they were sick or nine months pregnant with a child on a nebulizer and thought they would take their chances at home where they had access to an electrical outlet, rather than on a bus or in a sports complex. Then there's the other part of the story, where the Weather Channel and every news station tries to make each hurricane seem like the big one. After so many times crying wolf, people tend not to believe the warnings.

I can see many reasons that people didn't leave, but it's easy to second guess them while we sit in our nice, dry houses. And if people didn't leave for stupid or selfish reasons, we shouldn't let them die and rot to teach them a lesson.

[swilphil]

They didn't leave because they couldn't afford to-- they don't have cars, they couldn't pay for gas or bus fare, the busses available were going to the superdome, they were sick or nine months pregnant with a child on a nebulizer and thought they would take their chances at home where they had access to an electrical outlet, rather than on a bus or in a sports complex. Then there's the other part of the story, where the Weather Channel and every news station tries to make each hurricane seem like the big one. After so many times crying wolf, people tend not to believe the warnings.

I can see many reasons that people didn't leave, but it's easy to second guess them while we sit in our nice, dry houses. And if people didn't leave for stupid or selfish reasons, we shouldn't let them die and rot to teach them a lesson.

You are right on all counts. Beforehand, when the warnings were being given, the public was told that if they couldn't evacuate they could go to the Superdome. In hindsight, that was a mistake, but that's what the people were told.

[WDWBetsy]

I agree...people are so P-O'ed at the government...they ought to look in the mirror...WHY DIDN'T THEY HELP THEMSELVES!?!?! True, the local, state & federal government dropped the ball...BUT ONLY AFTER THESE PEOPLE KEPT THEMSELVES IN HARM' WAY!!!! Of course there were some who couldn't leave, but most could have used their own 2 feet as a last resort.

You are way out of touch. The majority of the people who live in New Orleans are below poverty level and no means to get out of town. That means no money, no vehicle. They were TOLD to evacuate to the Superdome if they couldn't leave, and officials thought they would be safe there.

Once they were there, they were told they would be evacuated. But it took (and is still taking) far too many days. And they're surrounded by filthy, unsanitary water with dead bodies, feces, chemicals, etc. Let's see - dive into the danger, or wait like you're told to and trust the officials to help. They waited like they were told to - and the help was too little and too late for many.

Yes, there were people who were fools - they could have left. But I think it's really heartless to think those without anything to begin with had money to leave. There are many who live in urban areas and who don't have cars.

Why is it that people blame the poor? I guess it's really easy to blame someone for "just not getting out" when you can go get in your SUV and charge gas all the way out of town to stay in a hotel or a relative's house.

This indifference for the well-being of others disgusts me.

[momof2inPA]

You are right on all counts. Beforehand, when the warnings were being given, the public was told that if they couldn't evacuate they could go to the Superdome. In hindsight, that was a mistake, but that's what the people were told.

I think going to the Superdome was better than staying at home, but they should have stocked it with food and water and be evacuating those people a lot quicker.

[peachgirl]

Flames are the only thing the might light up a place this dark.

::yes::

This particular point has been brought up over and over again and people who choose to believe that crap do so because they want to.

It's been explained why they stayed and they just don't care.They like to think these people are poor because they're lazy, they didn't help themselves because they wanted someone else to do it for them and every other ridiculous stereotype they can drudge up.

And now, are they mortified that a woman 9 mo pregnant had to swim through sewage to get help for her son who was having an asthma attack? Hell no...they think this is an example of the kind of actions these people should have to take!!

Amazing and it's pointless to try and change attitudes like that...

[pattyT]

Were they told to go wait at the civic center for help??
I am sorry - I honestly try not to watch to much news on tv -I am ignorant I will admit it -
I do think it is horid that she had to save herself and her son like that.
But why wasn't he trying to do anything -

[Mermaid02]

Were they told to go wait at the civic center for help??
I am sorry - I honestly try not to watch to much news on tv -I am ignorant I will admit it -
I do think it is horid that she had to save herself and her son like that.
But why wasn't he trying to do anything -

You don't know that man DIDN'T try to save himself or his family. Maybe he was screaming because he hadn't had any water and was disoriented.... maybe he was scared to death and had no idea WHAT to do. Why is that so hard to understand?

[pattyT]

Ya ya I know
again I am not there I can't criticize -
but I still crindge when I see that -
I wish I could could do something -
I an frustrated I quess...

[damo]

I was watching coverage of people at the convention centre and someone said that the residents of a nursing home had been evacuated to there and they were just all sitting there in their wheelchairs in the hot sun. So sad that even some nursing homes didn't evacuate their residents before the storm.