Hurricane Katrina Devastates The Gulf Coast.

[TexasEagle]

The problem isn't "no one saw it coming" (which is bullshtein) it's that they had NO planning as a just in case. The problem is when the worst case scenario happened, everything broke down from the local government on up and everyone seems completely inept as it took 5 days to get aid into these areas. Roads might have been blocked, but it's like this country doesn't have a wealth of HUMVEEs that can roll over large trees - yes, they can do that - or helicopters to do repeated air drops. It's the fact that there seemed to be no urgency to getting aid to the entire gulf coast region (not just NO) or to New Orleans while people died in the streets or were left without help or direction because the folks in charge had no idea themselves what to do.

[Butchers Bill]

But there are predictions of this shtein all the time.  There are estiamtes that millions could die in a Southern Cali earthquake...where is the funding and training for that?  A tsunami could hit Seattle, Mt. St. Helens could blow again, any number of the Hawaiian volcanoes could go again, another quake could hit Alaska killing thousands.

The point is, its impossible to prepare for every scenario, and the people out there insinuating this could have been prevented are idiots.

[TexasEagle]

This is one fault of our government. It doesn't take millions of dollars and some massive bill to make a disaster plan. All you need is to determine some courses of action and assess what is and isn't possible given the resources that you have. The big issue is that it's becoming clear that even after 9/11 there's no contingency plans should some catastrophy happen in this country (or any other really). That's not acceptable. They don't need to train and practice for every conceivable disaster that may or may not happen, but apparently it's too much to ask that they have some sort of plan-of-action.

It shouldn't take 5 days to truck food to places. It just shouldn't, not for this country that can move a division (about 10,000-15,000 men plus support personnel) of troops around the globe in 2 days. There's no excusing that, and that's what's got people pissed off.

[Sgt PSN]

But there are predictions of this shtein all the time. There are estiamtes that millions could die in a Southern Cali earthquake...where is the funding and training for that? A tsunami could hit Seattle, Mt. St. Helens could blow again, any number of the Hawaiian volcanoes could go again, another quake could hit Alaska killing thousands.

The point is, its impossible to prepare for every scenario, and the people out there insinuating this could have been prevented are idiots.

Yep.  And you know that if the gov't started spending millions and millions of dollars on "natural distaster emergency kits" then the American people would throw a hissy fit because they're tax dollars shouldn't be used for something that "might" happen. 

Now I'm not disputing that this situation couldn't be handled better.  Of course it could.  But the bottom line is that when something like this happens, we are never going to be 100% prepared to deal with the outcome.  And yes, it sucks for the people stranded down there right now and I don't blame them at all for bitching about still being stuck down there.  To ask them to be a little more patient is, quite frankly, a tall order.  Of course, they don't have much of a choice either so it would be nice if they just sat quietly and waited it out but that's simply not realistic. 

However, I'm pretty farging sick of hearing about the rest of the country bitching about the rescue efforts taking place.  I'm sick of hearing people bitch about how poorly the situation is being handled.  If you're not part of the solution then you're only part of the problem.  So instead of bitching and complaining about the way the government is or isn't handling things then how about getting off your ass and go lend a farging hand. 

I heard it today in the grocery store.......2 (insanely large) women infront of me in the checkout line were takling about it and completely ripping the relief efforts.  Of course, they both had their carts over flowing with an abundance of food that's only going to make them bigger and they're just standing there ranting and raving.  "Oh, they should have been more prepared for this."  "Oh they should be moving faster." "There's people down there without any food or water, blah blah blah."  And after listening to this for about 5 minutes I interrupted them and asked them what they were doing to help.  Actually, I asked them if they were sending some of their food down there to feed the hungry people and they both looked at me like a I was moron.  I should have known better than to try and take a ho-ho out of their mouths.  Farging pigs. 

[/rant off]

[MURP]

so now bitching about people bitching is ok.....

just wanted to make sure I got it right.   

[Sgt PSN]

so now bitching about people bitching is ok.....

just wanted to make sure I got it right.

  Point taken.

It's just that I, myself, am not in a position to actually go volunteer with the relief effort.  700 Marines were sent down today to help out and it was strictly on a voluntary basis.  unfortunately for me, recruiting duty has me absolutely stuck where I'm at.  I know because I volunteered to go down there and was promptly (and understandably) denied.  So the next best thing I could do was make a cash donation to the Red Cross. 

But it just irritated the living hell out of me today to hear 2 people bitch and moan about everything going on and yet they aren't doing anything at all to help out.  I asked them if they'd done anything like make a donation or something and they both just said "Not yet."  Yeah, like they're going to.  I'm sure they were going to go right after they left the grocery store but then realized they had to get their ice cream home before it melted. 

[PhillyGirl]

I'd like to re-iterate now...that my mom rules. She wanted to do something about it and she is. Had her first training session with the Red Cross today. 

[TexasEagle]

But it just irritated the living hell out of me today to hear 2 people bitch and moan about everything going on and yet they aren't doing anything at all to help out.  I asked them if they'd done anything like make a donation or something and they both just said "Not yet."  Yeah, like they're going to.  I'm sure they were going to go right after they left the grocery store but then realized they had to get their ice cream home before it melted. 

Given that situation I can certainly understand your frustration in that situation. I've been calling the volunteer number here in San Antionio (since we're getting people) all day and can't even get through. I need to know where I need to go or who I need to talk to, to sign up and keep getting a busy signal. It's frustrating.

I will say, I'm tired of these 2 minute sound bites on TV where they ask people about what went wrong/ was the response enough but rather than having discussions about it they get these sound bites and move on. Every channel does that and it's infuriating. If they're going to bring these people on to talk about the stuff, let them talk. Meh...

[Sgt PSN]

I'd like to re-iterate now...that my mom rules. She wanted to do something about it and she is. Had her first training session with the Red Cross today.

I read that earlier today when I was at work but didn't get a chance to comment on it.  That's awesome. 

She is taller than you, right?  Because I'd hate for other rescue workers to mistake her for a lost kid and throw her in a helicopter and ship her off to Texas. 

[PhillyGirl]

We're the same height. 

[General_Failure]

Poor woman. Shipped to Texas when all she wanted to do was hang around in human waste.

[TexasEagle]

Whoa... we don't want her.

[PhillyGirl]

Whoa... we don't want her.

[TexasEagle]

If she does show up I'll buy her a breakfast taco.




Anyone know what a breakfast taco is?

[Sgt PSN]

Anyone know what a breakfast taco is?

For me, it's usually the leftovers from my 2am trip to taco bell the night before.