...Agreed, Snoop. The necessary help is there, and thank goodness things are going relatively smoothly. It appears there are excellent efforts by LOCAL groups to get things back to some semblance of normality. Electricity has been restored to some small areas, and cleanup is already starting for some.
The outlying states are doing a fantastic job providing shelter for evacuees! Most notably Texas and Arizona!
I really hope Falcon's home didn't suffer much damage.
Obviously I'm in the same dilemna as many Americans during this crisis. I'm bound to remain where I am and lend my support in the form of donation(s) only, so if my previous rant has offended anyone, or anyone has felt I was trying to round up sympathy for me or support against my government please understand that was not my intention.
There is a very large amount of helplessness felt here, and I've already forced the missus to listen to my rant, so I guess I just need to vent.
Even if one doesn't agree with me, thanks for listening anyway.
But a bad situation keeps bringing out the worst in some people...
According to the Louisiana State police, someone systematically looted every Gun Store and Pawn Shop in the New Orleans area of all weapons as soon as it was safe to venture outside. (Remember this was done within a 72-hour period!) Currently, a group of snipers that have been killed were found using some of those missing weapons. You do the math.
In a MAGNANIMOUS gesture of good will, Fidel Castro offered help in the form of 1000 (count 'em. 1000!) doctors from Cuba!!! With his understanding of American Law, Fidel conscientiously specified that these doctors would be of invaluable
assistance to the 40 (count'em, 40!) local Medical Examiners (Coroners) who are expected to ID the over 10,000+ corpses expected. Amazing!!! What an incredible offer from an "enemy"!!!
Equally amazing is Bush refusing even to accept Fidel's phone call!
But it seems that every time things are starting to look better, something rears its ugly head. In this case, FEMA.
It has been reported today on most of the networks that the reason for the serious lack of communication among the State and Local Authorities was because the lines for the Emergency Channels were cut, put out of commission. At first it was believed that Drug Lords or Gangs were responsible.
Investigation by the Louisiana State Police discovered that FEMA, without permission or consultation with the appropriate authorities cut ALL Emergency Communications and spliced their own equipment into the system, preventing all State and Local Emergency Services from communicating with each other when the need was paramount.
They did WHAT?????????
This activity is illegal in
any case. Much less so given the circumstances. The Governor and State Police are really pissed off, want to press criminal charges, and have asked FEMA to give up the person responsible.
So far, FEMA has not commented.