Concern for New Orleans, and fellow Buzzers

I haven't really gotten a chance to post in this thread. Better late than never.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people in New Orleans. This has been a crazy Hurricane season thus far. I hope things start to slow down.

Even though I feel for the people down in Louisiana and will continue to pray for them, I am also interested in the state of SFNO. I'm interested to see what the storm did to the park (I've seen what it did to the city).

Once again, those who endured the storm are in my prayers. It's unreal what Mother Nature can do.

Frankly, I think it's a bit silly to sit on the internet and be all, "The people affected are in my thoughts," because I'd be surprised if there was anyone that didn't feel the same way.

Some asked what condition SFNO was in and I saw it on the news, so I shared that. I'm not running around crying because the coasters might be damaged. I'm upset because homes and livelihoods are destroyed. I'm irritated because reporters and news crews occupied hotel rooms that could've been used to shelter local residents. I don't give a lick about SFNO.

This is so sad
im praying for everyone
especially my family in alabama, louisiana, and mississippi!

its sad to say
wow it just came on CBS 2
yea New Orleans is tottaly gone!
is so sad!

They just showed a bone chilling animation on CNN. Currently 2 levees broke and other are failing. If they cannot fix the levees they predict the city will fill until the water is at lake level., which will inundate the entire city except for a portion of the French quarter and other small areas with natural defense. They estimates thousands of people are stuck on roofs and some even worse in attics. If they can’t plug the breaks in the levees, I fear the worst for these people . They can’t get power on with water in the city, and they can’t get the pumps to work without power, a horrible catch 22.

Now they are talking about the flood waters being turned this “gumbo soup”, from chemical facilities, gasoline, dead animals, bacteria, mosquito infestations and dead bodies from graveyards. There is even speculation that in areas with high concentration of flammables it will catch on fire (ala the Cuyahoga river).

All of this an New Orleans wasn’t even a city that suffered a direct hit. :( They showed an apartment building in Biloxi which was totally destroyed away and at least 30 people died. Biloxi itself looks like it’s totally been erased. The small towns that were directly in the path are decimated. After all is said in done, I would not be surprised if thousands are dead.

I have never seen such a level of destruction. One reporter who was wittiness to the Tsunami stated the level of destruction was as much if not more to that event, and it was more widespread I know it’s impossible to compare tragedies, but does anyone else feel the same feeling in their gut as what happened during 9/11?

The only positive I see from this is I hope people take Hurricanes more seriously in the future. In some of the cities directly in the path of the storm thousands of people stayed. If only everyone would evacuate many more lives would not be lost.

For those praying for my brother-in-law, thank you. He finally called this morning and he is safe. The military medical facility where he works is apparently the only one in Gulfport/Biloxi that's still standing, so he's busy. He said they've been taking amphibious vehicles out into the city to find survivors and bodies.

Their house about 20 miles from the coast is fine apart from losing some shingles. Quite a few military people are staying at the house because their own houses were destroyed. But they have a generator so that's good.

Den, I am glad your brother-in-law has reported in. He and so many others remain in my prayers.

I wanted to say something about those who have questioned about Six Flags in all of this. I don't see anything wrong with it when the question is posted here. I work with someone whose parents live in New Orleans. They are safe, but they have no idea what is up with their house. Obviously, that is our top concern at the office but we try to make him laugh from time to time to take his mind off of things. With that said, I see no harm in someone coming to a coaster message board and asking what is going on with a park in the area.

In times like these, it isn't good to only think of the worse. Sometimes you have to step back and think of other things.

- Jeff

Seeing the footage of people being lifted from roofs only makes me wonder why these people didn't get out in the first place - even to a local shelter.

Think of the additional burden of rescue crews having to scour the landscape and cherry pick these people.

If everybody would just do as requested, most folks would have bailed and those without the means would all be located at shelters making the rescue much more effecient.

Little things like that bug me sometimes.

---

Lord Gonchar said:
Seeing the footage of people being lifted from roofs only makes me wonder why these people didn't get out in the first place - even to a local shelter.

Think of the additional burden of rescue crews having to scour the landscape and cherry pick these people.

If everybody would just do as requested, most folks would have bailed and those without the means would all be located at shelters making the rescue much more effecient.

Little things like that bug me sometimes.

---

I beleive that some of that has to do with the low poverty level in the areas. Maybe these people didn't have a car. Maybe they only had around $10 in their name and couldn't afford gas, or for some other reason couldn't get out. Maybe they beleived that it wasn't going to be that bad, and they would be able to ride the storm until it was over. Just listening to some residents talking before Katrina hit, it seemed as if it was a latter.

In either case, I just get choked up when I see the devastation on TV. I pray that the remaining levee's hold, and spare New Orlenas anymore flooding.

Just curious, have they decided how they are going to get the people of the Superdome out?

I'll tell you why I'm personally concerned about the state of SFNO. I dont know the geography of Nawlins that well, but I *do* know that Lady T's aunt's/uncle's house is close to SFNO. Therefore, the condition of SFNO is indicative of the condition of their neighborhood. And seeing as though this is the one part of the family that no one else in the family seems to be able to get a hold of, that condition is very important to us.

As for not leaving, I've yet to understand why people dont do it, but my guess is that most dont feel that they have anywhere to go. Think about it, if your whole family lives in one little area, who are you going to stay with? People stayed in Nawlins, like they stayed in Florida and Texas before. I cant really say *what* inspires them to stay, but it should no longer be unexpected.
lata, jeremy

Video of Six Flags New Orleans under water.

Go to http://www.2theadvocate.com/

At the right side of the page towards the bottom is a list of videos. Click on the "East New Orleans flyover"

Its just amazing and awful at the same time. I could not imagine losing EVERYTHING all at once. Not just material possesions or homes or cars, but jobs! How many small businesses are going to be able to reopen after this disaster? Sure the bigger businesses are taking a hit, many of them could probably recover and have some sort of redundancy with multiple locations. But seriously, what do you do?

As for the people who didn't evacuate the area I wonder if they even thought this this was going to be as serious as it turned out. When the hurricane passed through and there was some flooding on Monday I wasn't surprised to hear that. However, it's now Wednesday and we are still hearing that the waters are rising. I feel awful for those who have nowhere to go as they watch helplessly everything they've worked for disappear.

~Rob Willi *** Edited 8/31/2005 3:37:10 PM UTC by HeyIsntThatRob?***

From watching this video, flooding is pretty heavy but buildings (and rides) appear intact and standing. Regardless, the season for the park is definitely over since the city's been evacuated for what looks like at least a month.

Incidentally, it appears that Superdome evacuees are being bused to Houston into the Astrodome. *** Edited 8/31/2005 3:37:56 PM UTC by Fierce Pancake***

Hopefully some will use this put their worries aside, or at least somewhat aside, for a day...

FREE ADMISSION FOR KATRINA EVACUEES September 3 - September 5
Six Flags AstroWorld and Six Flags SplashTown invite families displaced by Hurricane Katrina to enjoy the parks free of charge this Saturday, Sunday and Labor Day Monday (September 3-5, 2005). Residents of Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama can present a valid state issued ID at the Six Flags AstroWorld and Six Flags SplashTown front gates to receive free admission for up to four people per ID. For more information call 713-799-1234.

Six Flags AstroWorld is located on Loop 610 South across from Reliant Park.

Saturday, September 3 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 4 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Monday, September 5 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Six Flags SplashTown is located at 21300 IH 45 North at the Louetta exit in Spring.

Saturday, September 3 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 4 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Monday, September 5 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. *** Edited 8/31/2005 5:06:53 PM UTC by Xander***

That is an awesome thing for the parks to do. Help the people maybe have a few hours where they can escape the worries of the real world. Maybe they should add food and drink by showing a valid ID Also. *** Edited 8/31/2005 5:11:05 PM UTC by dragonoffrost***

Bad joke, but at least it's not a park with a Hurricane Harbor. I just wonder if people are going to go all PC again, and there'll be more name changing on rides.

^Agreed with the food and water thing. I am surprised other parks haven't offered as well. I know a lot of people fled to Florida, Georgia, NC, etc....

I think it's a nice gesture. Like you said, at least it could possibly take away some of the stress, at least for the kids.

-Tina

When Six Flags made that offer, I dont believe they expected 25,000 refugees to be shipped from the Superdome to the adjacent Astrodome. That's way more bodies than the park can entertain within a very short walking distance of the property.

All the more reason to open the park to the refugees. I know I'd go insane sitting inside a domed stadium for more than a couple of hours. How long can one do stuff that doesn't remind them of the ordeal they are going through? These poor people now need diversion from the horrors they have lived and a day at a park/ball game etc may just be the thing to help.

So who else has the nerve to mention SFNO or amusement parks during this catastrophe:

"White House spokesman Scott McClellan quoted Bush as saying, "It's devastating, it's got to be doubly devastating on the ground." Among other things, the president saw an amusement park with the tops of wrecked rides protruding over bridges covered by water" -- from http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050831/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_katrina_10

*** Edited 8/31/2005 7:16:29 PM UTC by ltlbat***

---

Chernabog said:

I'm irritated because reporters and news crews occupied hotel rooms that could've been used to shelter local residents.

---

Usually, I'd agree with you about the media being in the way and such, but I think this is much different. Sure they might be staying in a hotel that a person who's house was destroyed could be using, but at the same time they are informing the world of this horrible event. I personally am hoping that there will be tsunami type donations given to the red cross from all over the world, and I think the media is going to help raise that money. *** Edited 8/31/2005 8:09:44 PM UTC by Word***