Aid Collections For New Orleans and Rest Of Southeastern USA

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara


Why wait? The Feds have their thumbs up their asses. People are dying.


They did not evacuate anybody!!!!! They simply told people to get out. Cuba never has anything like this happen, cuz they order everyone out and then set up the transportation to make it happen. And people get out of harm's way. I'm not saying people should be ordered out, but the least they could have done is set up busses, trucks, trains, and planes to get people out from low ground.

The plan was the ultimate expression of conservatism, everyone for themselves, get yourself out.

I agree that they should have tried to get people out so that no one whould be left in the City. But FEMA was getting ready even before the Hurricane made land fall to start giving aid. In this case I FEMA has been fast to react to this strom. The millitary is geting to sence to rescue people traped in their homes.

[chequita guevara]

I don't know how I feel about FEMA right now. My gut tells me that FEMA should have been able to get food, water, security and toilets to the Superdome within one day. Maybe I'm wrong.

Right now I see a lot of politicans flailing around trying to cover their collective asses.

I am really pissed about this. We are the richest friggan country in the world. This should not be happening.

[Richelieu]

The convention center seems to be another critical area, probably worse even than the Superdome right now.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Yeah, that looks like it's a day or two away from a full scale riot...assuming people are still alive at that point...

[chequita guevara]

In a few a few more days, there won't be any need to rescue people. They'll all be dying of thirst.

[Richelieu]

Why don't they send boats? The convention center is right by the Mississippi. In this day and age there has to be a way to navigate that river even under these circumstances.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Pekka
But in most cases, we shell the money into dark operations. No one checks anything. And people take word of other people. SO.. It's far more constructive to give that money now to New Orleans than into dark operations. Which does harm, not good.

Dark ops? You mean like Haliburton contracts in Iraq? Or all those other juicy defense contracts.

Corruption occurs in many places.

[Kontiki]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050831.waid0831/BNStory/Front

Aid organizations across the United States and in Canada are already receiving donations from people who want to help those devastated by this week's hurricane in the southern United States.

"We want to reassure the president and the people of the United States that we are their best friends and their neighbour, and we will be there to help them in a situation that truly is without parallel in our country or theirs," Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan said Wednesday.

"Yesterday, the Department of Human Health Services in the U.S. contacted our public health agency and asked for an inventory of emergency supplies that, if they need them, we could send at a moment's notice."

That inventory was completed Wednesday.

American officials are still assessing their needs, but in coming days Canada will be prepared to send everything from water purification systems to the Canadian military's Disaster Assistance Response Team.

Asked by reporters about the effect of Katrina on the Canadian economy — higher oil prices expected as a result of supply disruptions — Ms. McLellan acknowledged there could be an impact but stressed she wants to focus on the human tragedy of the disaster at this moment.

Prime Minister Paul Martin was set to speak by phone Thursday with U.S. President George W. Bush about what Canada can do to help the reconstruction effort.

Elsewhere in Canada, Ontario is looking into whether its medical and hydro workers can help, and Premier Dalton McGuinty spoke to the U.S. ambassador to Canada asking what the province can do.

"We stand at the ready to assist," said Mr. McGuinty, who added Ontario could help with its Emergency Medical Assistance Team.

Relief efforts by Canadians in disaster zones are largely organized in Ottawa, but Mr. McGuinty said he wants to know from Ambassador David Wilkins what specifically Ontario can do.

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer said officials with Manitoba Hydro have also offered to send staff to the affected areas to help restore power.

The effort is the American Red Cross's "largest-ever mobilization of resources for a single disaster," it said.

Hurricane Katrina came ashore Monday between New Orleans and Biloxi, Miss., inundating large areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. As of Wednesday, at least 110 people were confirmed dead, and thousands of others were stranded in emergency shelters.

As of Wednesday, the American Red Cross had raised $21-million (U.S.), which is comparable to the response for last year's victims of the Asian tsunami.

"The outpouring of support has been amazing," said Kara Bunte, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross, which has set up hundreds of shelters for hurricane victims.

The American Red Cross said nearly $15-million had come from their website. The organization has set up a phone line to accept donations, along with Web contributions. However, on Wednesday it had been inundated with users and was difficult to access.

The number of Hurricane Katrina victims in Red Cross shelters is up to 45,000 and growing, the rescue organization reported Wednesday.

Some 250 shelters were open in the storm damaged area and the Red Cross had set up 15 emergency kitchens capable of feeding 350,000 people, another spokeswoman, Deborah Daley said.

The Canadian Red Cross is also accepting donations for hurricane relief. "[The organization] has received hundreds of call from Canadians wanting to help the people impacted by this disaster and will accept funds designated for Hurricane Katrina," said Don Shropshire, the national director for disaster services at the Canadian Red Cross.

Highly trained Canadian disaster response volunteers are currently being readied to be sent to the devastated areas, the Red Cross said.

However, the Canadian Red Cross warned people not to send donations of food or clothing for victims of Katrina, saying the cost of shipping such items to the devastated areas is prohibitive.

On its website, the U.S. Salvation Army was asking for a $100 donation, saying that will help to feed a family of four for two days, along with providing drinking water and a household cleaning kit. It was also asking for volunteers, donations of equipment and for people to pray for victims of the storm.

Jim Ferguson, territorial emergency disasters services director for the Canadian Salvation Army, told globeandmail.com that he is waiting for the call for trained officers to be sent down to the southern United States to help out.

However, Mr. Ferguson noted that the reconstruction effort will take months or even years, so he expects that Canadian Salvation Army workers won't be called in until U.S. workers need to be relieved.

"Due to the enormity and length of time [for recovery efforts] they'll need replacements," he said. Canada has 4-5,000 trained officers who could be sent, he said.

Although the Canadian Salvation Army has received calls about donations, it is not actively seeking funds, Mr. Ferguson said, because it does not have a fund earmarked for hurricane victims. However, it is still accepting donations.

As well, he said, there may be more than enough donations pouring in from American donors.

"Money tends not to be a problem for our organization [regarding] disaster relief. People are very generous."

Like the Red Cross, the Salvation Army is asking people not to donate gifts-in-kind because there are no warehouses available for storage in the devastated areas.

Other groups in the United States with phone lines set up for those wanting to help included Catholic Charities USA and the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

In Crawford, Tex., White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters that the U.S. administration has been putting together an aid package to help people deal with the aftermath of Katrina.

"I know that there is discussion that is ongoing on that," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters. "And, certainly, I would expect a supplemental is something that is going to be needed in a situation like this."

Mr. McClellan said it was likely that the cost would be so high it would require a supplemental budget request.

As well, the U. S. administration said it is still working out a dollar figure on the disaster and thus won't be able to begin doling out aid on a relief fund until then.

In Canada, Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan said Ottawa has contacted U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and advised him that Ottawa stands ready to provide assistance if needed. She scheduled a news conference for Wednesday. That could mean sending emergency medical supplies and equipment to hospitals in the midst of the disaster.

Later in the day, Prime Minister Paul Martin offered Canada's condolences and said he had put Ms. McLellan in charge of Canada's disaster assistance response.

" I know that she and a number of her Cabinet colleagues have been in touch with their American counterparts and have begun to determine what assistance Canada can offer. We have made it clear that we are prepared to offer any and all possible assistance, and we will continue to work closely with our neighbours as they deal with this terrible event."

[Kontiki]

edit: double-post

[Az]

I am going by quotes of government officals , like the mayor, on the news. All though it is all guess, but most people who wanted out got out, the ones left did not want to leave or like I said could not get out of the city because of health problems or they too poor, ect

Good job showing how the government evacuated everyone.


You know, I watched the news, today, and I thought to myself: goddamn, aren't the americans better then this? This looks worse than Haiti or Thailand during the tsunami

[Pekka]

I was watching the news and it seems very devastating blow.. just everything gone. I know it's unhuman but I'd like to know what kind of economical figures we are talking about, how much this is worth in terms of money?

Of course we can never measure the loss of human lives, but I'm talking about material losses? Also, how much would this whole cake cost, thinking that there needs to be all kinds of aid stuff and services now?

[Ben Kenobi]

Good to see our Canuck government doing something.

If the yanks need a hand, we'll give them whatever they ask for.

As for Chavez, yeah, like eye surgery is the most important thing needed.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Az
You know, I watched the news, today, and I thought to myself: goddamn, aren't the americans better then this? This looks worse than Haiti or Thailand during the tsunami

We are very stingy when it comes to our own people. There are a whole lot of issues dealing with race and class and the idea that those who are in trouble are there through their own fault. It is really unbelievable how badly this has been botched.

I can only begin to imagin how the trapped must feel. I only had to put up with the loss of power and food for a short time, and that little bit made me get frustrated and upset sometimes. Most people became extremely friendly and social and helpful. A handful of people reverted to the worst behavior, but we looked out for each other.

It's not getting reported here on Poly, but I've read just some increadible stories of people reaching out to help each other. Gun toting thugs is more sensational to read about, but there's also some tremendous acts of kindness going on that should make us proud to be human.

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara


We are very stingy when it comes to our own people. There are a whole lot of issues dealing with race and class and the idea that those who are in trouble are there through their own fault. It is really unbelievable how badly this has been botched.

I can only begin to imagin how the trapped must feel. I only had to put up with the loss of power and food for a short time, and that little bit made me get frustrated and upset sometimes. Most people became extremely friendly and social and helpful. A handful of people reverted to the worst behavior, but we looked out for each other.

It's not getting reported here on Poly, but I've read just some increadible stories of people reaching out to help each other. Gun toting thugs is more sensational to read about, but there's also some tremendous acts of kindness going on that should make us proud to be human.

I am glad that is happening. When I turn on the news, they all want to focus in on the thugs with guns. But that is the nature of the news, they always trying to scare people and focus in on the bad.

[chequita guevara]

I read a story about one guy, during the storm, went and rescued his neighbors with his boat. He couldn't move it under it's own power, and had to pull it through the water, tossing the anchor ahead of him to keep from being pushed away.