Concern for New Orleans, and fellow Buzzers

I actually agree with Word here.

Also, please keep in mind that the hotels are not just giving the rooms away for free. There were several reports online today about families who went to distant hotels, thinking their stay would only be for a few days; learning it could be weeks or months til they could return home, they vacated their $100 a night rooms and looked for cheaper accomodations, even camping at rest stops, in parking lots, etc.

Yeah, I'm sure the international aid is pouring in even as I type this. The Norwegian PM will be reminding the other countries to give based on their GDP. And France, Germany and Japan will fight over who will give the most, since the one who gives the most gets to dictate how it gets used.

Canada is sending rescue workers....

I flew just north of Baton Rouge today and heard a Southwest flight that was flying into the New Orleans airport. I hope they made it in all right. They said they were taking supplies and had extra fuel reserves to get out. I also talked to Keesler Air Force Base while we were flying by. (Keesler is in Biloxi, MS) Keesler is also open only to supply and medivac support aircraft. I don't know if Gulfport airport is open and being used or not.

Just thought I would let you guys know. Hopefully with at least Keesler open they can get some needed supplies in and some of the injured/houseless people out.

Working for the U.S. Gov't, I will tell you my agency has called on employees at every level to volunteer for duty in Katrina ravaged areas and I don't know one employee that didn't give serious thought about not volunteering, even after knowing the disaster that face them when they arrive. This is in addition to pressing other non-military Federal resources into active duty.

This is a very, very horrible event in America's history, it will not be forgotton, Those of you in the Gulf area are all in my prayers.

Guys, I feel bad, I really do. But the risk was there. If you live in a city 8 feet below sea level, you gotta think about the risk you are taking. It's like living in San Fancisco, you know the earthquake is coming, but when? Same thing with N.O., the water would come, but when was also the question. I see the death toll numbers, and it's shocking. I also couldn't imagine my house being destroyed like that either. Again, I'll pray for them, but this must have been the way the ancient city of Atlantis went. I wonder if the water will ever leave...

Don't get mad, I am a human, and I really feel sorrow for them.

I think that anybody with a conscious feels sorry for the people directly impacted by this horrible disaster. I sure know that I do. *** Edited 9/1/2005 1:40:21 AM UTC by Blink3020***

I visited the shelter at Louisiana State University Shreveport today. It's really sad to see everyone and know that most have nothing to go home to (and that wasn't even a drop in the bucket of the total number of people affected). It's also amazing to see the kids. I talked to one 11-year old from east New Orleans who told me about the pain he was feeling knowing his house was probably destroyed. I really admired that kid. He was the most mature 11-year old I have ever seen and seemed to handling this situation very well. I'm hoping to get back there very soon.

RatherGoodBear, I do realize that almost all of the money will be raised inside the United States, but I am possitive there will be international concern and donations made.

I would like to tell a small part of how people here in Northwest Arkansas are helping in relieving pressure on the communities that were affected by Katrina.

My mother is the manager of the fuel dept. at all Wal-Marts and Sam's Clubs nation wide. She has been working very hard to get as many gas stations back up on the Gulf Coast as possible. She has gas in Mississippi as far south as Hattiesburg, Alabama unsure, and Louisiana three locations are closed; the areas: Kenner and Metairie due to the flooding.

Story told to me Wednesday August 31, 2005.

The story I'm really interested in letting you all know happened in Slidell, LA. The eye passed directly over this city as most of you know and wiped out most of the town. My mother had sent people from Bentonville, AR to manually turn this station back on, but communication lines are down everywhere. People were constantly stopping and asking if gas was available, but Wal-mart gas stations need a special code to reboot manually, that changes constantly, and is only available at the home office at my mother's desk. Those sent were trying to communicate with cell phones, but cell towers were affected by the storm. A customer finally heard of the situation and aided by lending his satellite phone to call the home office and the station was up very quickly afterward. Although, the sheriff of the Parish that the city is in was nearby and found out and quickly commandeered the gas station for emergency use. This gas station would now be the nearest for emergency vehicles in New Orleans and Mississippi.

The story goes on from there with the sheriff getting on the phone and calling Wal-Mart HQ asking for my mother. He needed to know how much gas was in the tanks (regular 14,000gls and premium 7,000gls) and when he could expect more fuel. The next load wouldn't be until Friday because of the supplier's trailers being damaged in Mississippi, and with all the fuel needed something had to be done. The sheriff called the supplier's with the number my mother provided, after thanking her for the current status of the gas situation. In thirty minutes the supplier had contacted my mother and said, "The next load will be delievered at 2:00 a.m. Thursday."

I would like to thank the Sheriff of Sidell Parish and my Mother for working together to get gas to the heart of the most detructive parts of the Gulf, and may the three in New Orleans open when flood waters permit and those on the Mississippi Gulf coast open tomorrow to further aid those trying to leave and for emergency vehicles.

God Bless all those other people who may do such a little part in helping, and not knowing how important it may be to the effected parts of the Gulf.

I'm wondering if there have been any further updates from Peabody's fiance. the last thing I see here is immediately after katrina moved on and before the levees broke.

Peabody...I'm thinking of you!!

This whole matter is so utterly heartbreaking that it's very difficult not to feel incredible emotion while watching the news and video footage nightly. . .

I saw aerial footage of SFNO and Mega Zeph sticking its head out of the water last night and I thought to myself: "I'll bet I've rode that coaster for the last time."

I think that SFNO may be a thing of the past. I hope not, but I don't think it's looking good.

Barry J.

You know, I sit and think of Lady T's father/grandmother's family to myself what would I do if this had been my childhood home/neighborhood. I would think that I would want to go back once everything is cleaned up, but in the same breath, what would I go back for? All the landmarks you'd know (malls, playgrounds, etc) would be gone. When NO is rebuilt, it will be a completely different city. Many of the historic places are/will be destroyed. The city is going to lose at least some of its intrinsic charm.

I'm not certain that I wouldnt just try and find a job in Houston (or wherever they are) and just stay there.

There are now at least two concerts scheduled by television networks to help the relief agencies get donations. One on NBC, I believe, this Friday for an hour with artists with ties to the area and another on the MTV/VH1 networks on Sept 10th (I think). There is the beginning of the music concerts for relief as we saw with the tsunami.

I loathe the concept of celebrity "charity." In my opinion, it's totally bogus. While it's nice to have concerts, celebrity auctions, etc., to raise money for this or that charity, all of that money actually comes from regular people who make donations or pay for autographs or memorabilia from celebrities. None of it comes from the celebrities themselves, yet in the process they get tons of publicity.

Why don't they pony up and write a check themselves? Where's the New Orleans Saints? The lowest paid of them is still making hundreds of thousands a year. Not to mention management and owners. Their combined income probably exceeds that of everyone who was evacuated to the Superdome.

What about the Mannings and Brett Favre (although I understand several of his family members lost their own homes)? Isn't Britney Spears originally from LA? I'm sure there are dozens of people in the entertainment industry from the affected states. How about autographing a check?

Maybe I'm just a grouch, but I think these people could do more than walk out and sing a song from their next album (which by the way is on sale at...) or autograph a football in exchange for cash. And they can certainly do more than say "Hi, I'm a celebrity... send money."

I would not be surprised if a few of the artists from the area do pony up during the concert and sign a check over for relief agencys. What a better way to get more people to help then for say Tim McGraw to be standing there with a check for a nice tidy sum and hand it to the American Red Cross. With him and his wife from the area I bet they are doing something. They always seem to have that real person vibe to them even though they fell into a boat load of money.

Yes Brett Favre's mom's house was destroyed in the storm.

I prefer the NBC concert with people from the area over the MTV concert with everyone just showing up. The NBC Concert would seem more genuine in the artists support, meaning less of a hey I'm here so buy my album.

Who says celebrities don't contribute themselves? I mean, I'm famous, and I don't issue a press release every time I donate money. :) And I think that celebrities have an obligation to do events that help out charities. There's no denying that they draw people into the fold who might not otherwise donate.

Famous? Ha! ;)

Yeah, paging Peabody, how's the fiance? Concerned friends want to know. :)

Wow... all of this is really shocking.
Last December the Tsunami, and now this.
Both are remote from where I live, but shocking nevertheless.
How are they ever going to turn New Orleans back to dry land again?
Or will they give up the entire city?
What a catastrophe - I'm speechless.