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Post by carolyn on Aug 31, 2005 8:25:25 GMT -5
Just wanted to reach out to all affected by the hurricane this week. What a tragedy- I just can't imagine such devastation. My family and I pray for the victims each night.
Carolyn
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Post by Jackie on Aug 31, 2005 8:35:18 GMT -5
yes...same here...does anyone have a head count on our friends here who are from the area?.....has anyone heard from them?
Jackie
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Post by Jessie on Aug 31, 2005 13:27:51 GMT -5
I just cannot believe the devastation in that area, it is unreal.
Watching the news last night I just don't "get" the looters mentality. What's up with that? Is it just pure desperation that people do this when there is some sort of tragedy going on? I don't get it when people do things like that. Very sad.
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Post by momofrussell on Aug 31, 2005 13:41:41 GMT -5
My husband and I were shaking our heads when they showed people walking away with new boxes of shoes.. Nike.. Addidas... As far as being desperate for food and water and looting for that... I'd be right there with them so I don't have a problem with vital necessities.. but the other stuff is uncalled for! Reminds me of the riots back when I lived in SO CAL a.
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Post by dannysmom on Aug 31, 2005 14:21:09 GMT -5
I was watching tv this morning and one of many statistics that I heard was alarming. They said 80% of New Orleans is underwater (to some degree, may not be completely submerged). Can you believe that? My heart goes out to everyone affected. Even if your home is spared...your workplace may not be (and vice versa).
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Post by updowns on Aug 31, 2005 17:17:33 GMT -5
I have been watching it on the news over here and I can't believe the devastation. My thoughts and prayers are with all affected.
Stella
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Post by willsdad on Aug 31, 2005 18:25:46 GMT -5
I have heard from Clint. He is hosting some of his family from the New Orleans area at his home in Shreveport so he is pretty busy with that. Shreveport is in Northwest LA, so no direct storm damage. Hopefully he can post soon to let everyone know how he is doing. Our prayers indeed go out to the victims of this great tragedy. I would encourage everyone to donate if at all possible to aid the victims. There are groups around the country gearing up to bring supplies to LA, MS, and AL. The devastation of the Gulf coast is astounding, and the need is great. Whatever you can contribute I'm sure will be greatly appreciated.
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Post by laurasnowbird on Aug 31, 2005 22:03:08 GMT -5
This whole situation is a tragedy the likes of which I pray I never see again in my lifetime.
I have a little different perspective on the looting, and although I am not defending the actions of the looters, neither do I condemn them. For starters, I don't think it is my place to judge them.
Most of New Orleans evacuated when the order for mandatory evacuation went out. Some of the people who stayed behind did so by choice, but the majority of those left behind had NO choice. No money, no transportation, and/or no place to go. Many, many of those people had families, many had small children. Most of them, from what I have seen were poor families. I cannot personally imagine the terror I would have felt had I been in the path of that storm and been unable to provide a safe place for my family. The city moved the darn dolphins, for heavens sake, but many people were left to fend for themselves!
It has been difficult to learn the extent of the damage for those of us who live OUTSIDE the area, but can you imagine how it must be for those who are still there? This is their third day, without clean drinking water, toilets, food, a place to sleep, etc. etc. etc. They have no televisions or internet from which to gain information! It must feel to them like they have been abandoned. The news shows people on rooftops waving flags, but in many cases the helicopters they are waving to are the helicopters of the media outlets. I know that we are all desperate to know what is goign on there, but it seems insane that we are wasting resources on ANYTHING other than saving lives. I know it seems to make little or no sense to us that people would be taking TV's, but these people have quite literally lost EVERYTHING, and maybe they are thinking they can sell it and make some money to feed their families. I mean, really, who knows what the heck they are thinking? I suspect many are just acting, without really thinking about what they are doing.
I know, stealing is stealing, and we see them as taking things they don't NEED, but at this point, I can't find it in myself to judge their actions. I think these people need our compassion and our prayers and any time or money we can donate to the effort to bring them relief. Heaven help them all.
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Post by momofrussell on Aug 31, 2005 22:31:07 GMT -5
I have been crying today watching the news. And, on the other sites we go to, we STILL have one family unaccounted for.. so keep praying everyone!!!! ;( It is just breaking our hearts!!! I agree Laura... there is no way to know what survival techniques kick in when something so devistating happens to you.... not a rite of passage I want to ever experience. But you have to agree that a whole shopping cart of new shoes is a bit over the top! LOL... I get a wierd feeling seeing all the looting. I lived in So Cal when the Riots happened it what, 93/94. IT was SOOO surreal to be a part of it. We had curfues. I lived just south of Los Angeles and still in an area part of some of the rioting... we lived in a really nice neighborhood but when you walk to the city streets, all heck was breaking loose. I worked 30 minutes away and had to be home by 5pm and would leave work early because we had to be in our houses by 5pm or so. The liquor store we frequented almost everyday, my mom and I, we knew the owners really well, they came in and beat the lady up and broke their windows. I was so devistated!!! I know this hurricane is not about me.. but the rioting is bringing back some really surreal memories for me personally.. it's very trippy to watch it when you have lived it before. I just pray for Tamala, our family on the net still unaccounted for.. please pray for her and all the others still needing to get in contact with loved ones. And all of those without.... So so sad.... A.
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Post by Jenn on Aug 31, 2005 23:14:11 GMT -5
It is very sad.....I am in Shreveport....I have been crying nonstop...It is traumatizing.... We're getting close to 1000 new students in our district because of the evacuees....The Hirsch Coliseum, LSUS P.E. Building, and Another Gym has been set up as shelters....I have been coordinating donations today....We will be taking toys, clothes, diapers, & formula tommorrow for the kids. I will also, scope the shelters out for special needs children. I have made room for one family. I just can't get over all of this. A good portion of the people we have talked to don't plan on leaving Shreveport. Their things are gone....their houses are gone...and their jobs... American Red Cross and the Salvation Army need cash donations. They are running out of room for "things", but need money for food, water, medicine, and shelter. Anything you can do to help would be appreciated. Thanks! Be thankful for your lives and family.....and hug them an extra time tonight. Jenn
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Post by Tammy on Aug 31, 2005 23:37:44 GMT -5
My heart goes out to any and everyone who has been affected by this disaster. We too have been watching footage over here and shaking our heads in disbelief. After the Tsunami disaster being so close to home earlier this year, I really hoped I would never see anything like that again... but sadly Mother Nature has given us her worst yet again. Hugs and Hope to all. Tammy and Family.
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Post by Jackie on Sept 1, 2005 7:42:37 GMT -5
My older daughter Marnie in DC worked for a few years in the Disaster section of the National Hdqtrs of the American Red Cross.....
She says...the BEST way to help is with CASH donations....the money is needed...and used well.
It is possible that in local situations with refugees that pleas will go out for clothing ...etc....but most relief orgs prefer cash donations so they can meet specific needs. If everyone who could would send even just a few dollars it would make a huge difference.
I know our food bank here is doing food and water collections and will send trucks to the area so that might be a way many can help.
Jackie
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Post by ALLISA on Sept 1, 2005 7:53:28 GMT -5
It is horrible what has happened....I just wtched it all today and I can't believe the images. I can't imagine what it must be like in the Superdome....before the storm hit and I heard they were opening it as a shelter....I thought that would be the LAST place I'd want to be.....all crammed in.....tiny seats.....can you imagine how quickly frustrations will rise in there ? And now to hear that one of the "big items" looted has been ALL the guns......very scary to think how a frutrationg situation can turn ugly and deadly. I hope that people will rise together to bring out the best in each other....not the worst
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Post by Jessie on Sept 1, 2005 8:01:54 GMT -5
Yes, I agree with you Laura that we have no idea what we would do in that exact situation . . . but some was a little over the top. Unfortunately, the media chose to show those particular clips before anything else. The people that were doing that were probably a very small percentage of all of the people that are affected by this. I didn't see any news clips last night of people looting, so either it has calmed down some or the media is now focusing on what really matters.
I just can't wrap my brain around what these people are going to do now. I mean they are HOMELESS for God's sake! They have NOTHING to go back to.
I'm calling in my donation today . . . wish it could be more than what it's going to be, but something is better than nothing.
Jessie
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Post by momofrussell on Sept 1, 2005 8:47:11 GMT -5
Jenn... if you need items above and beyond tomorrow.. let me know.. I know some moms who were wondering if they could send items somewhere. And yes... money is ALWAYS the best.. but in some cases items are needed! Jenn.. YOU ROCK... ALSO... if ANYONE is looking for a loved one or friend... I have two databases.... one is www.gulfcoastnews.com and the other is through the weather channel. www.weather.com. Gulf Coast News is the local news that set up a database.. you can search and/or Add someoone you are trying to find. The Weather channel's site is set up like a message board for each city instead. You can go to the city where your loved one lives and read the posts to see if anyone else has posted or you can post up also!!!! A.
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