Hell on Earth

[Amanduh 0]

I just have to get this off my chest. Houstonians are now starting to get a bit conscerned with the arrival of thousands of refugee's to our hometown. The majority of refugees being transported into our town should just be considered the "crime rate" of Lousiana. Houston already has enough of that to worry about. Those stuck in N.O. are more so the ones who could not afford to, didn't have the transportationg to, etc ...to get out when WARNED 2 days prior of what was heading their way. The lowest lying land in LA is NO, and also the cheapest to live. Not to mention they will now start transporting these refugees to Dallas as well as San Antonio. These are gang members, drug dealers, etc...I know this does not apply to ALL of the refugees, but after watching the news and just driving through Houston last night, you can see that the majority are up to no good. Even on the NorthWest side of town where I live, I saw a group at the mall right down the road. They were causing trouble with one of the cart shop workers! Then yelling "We are from New Orleans bitch!" Does this mean you can do whatever you want and get by with it!? My sister and her husband went to a game downtown last night and just riding the buses was the scariest thing they had been through. They are putting arm bands on the refugees and allowing them to come and go from the Astrodome as they please...so here they are wondering throughout Houston. I also heard that they are allowing them to commute on our buses for free since they do not have any money! What is next? I received an e-mail from a friend of mine whos husband is a police officer. Get this:

The news is just not doing justice to what's really going on here...i'm telling you these things because we need to watch out and be careful of our surroundings...carry mace, carry pepper spray, carry a gun (legally!)

These are a few things going on that I just found out
*first off.. all inmates were also evacuated into the superdome, but in the mix of everything blended in with the crowds, so they too got evacuated to the astrodome (HERE IN HOUSTON, WHERE WE LIVE!!!)
~There are two reports of rapings last night as well.
~2 girls got raped in the astrodome last night
~There are people fighting in there over the better cots and positions
~The people who did not make it into the astrodome are hanging around outside and last night some of the girls were prostituting and some guys were picking up the prostitutes only to rob them.
~The southwest side of houston is a bad area to be at right now...

The police in NO who are still looking for survivors in the debris are becoming sick so they are quitting now.

The chief of police (Houston) is now on alert, and is having all the police start working 12 hour shifts just to maintain the problem but is worried of the possibility of a riot.

I mean, what do these people have to lose? If they get arrested at least they will get 3 meals and a cot to sleep on.

So to all of you be very careful!

Now, with gas prices at an all time high, what do we do? Not to mention several places are now out of unleaded fuel not only in the Houston area, but I read in other posts, as far as North Carolina as well!

Just because NO was dealt a bad hand does NOT mean that other cities should suffer in this way (crime). We are trying to HELP. In my eyes...do what you got to. Those 10s of thousands still in LA..what more can we do!? I'm sorry to say this..but this is when survival of the fitest should come into play.

Welcome to hell on earth.

[masterrig 1]

...and what about some of the kind and caring folks in your hometown who are taking them into their own homes. Those folks don't know who they are taking in! All they are trying to do is be good to their fellow man/woman. I don't think that they were aware of what they might be getting into. I don't think, that any of the refugees going to private residences', had background checks! You folks, be careful! It's really sad. You just can't help everyone.


Chuck

[Ashtanga 0]

Ever heard the expression, "You ain't see nothing , yet?" This is just the beginning. Every major city in the south is going to have to go through this.

[base283 0]

I lived, worked, and jumped in New Orleans area for 12 years. My work for 8 years was on the Mississippi river, on what you would call tugboats, which were actually pushboats that pushed barges. One grain barge has a a 1400 ton capacity, 200 x 35ft surface area which if you gave each person one square yard of space that would equal to 777 people at 77 tons and there are at least 3000 barges in the area and easily 500 pushboats if half were taken out that would leave 150 (which is unlikely), if each boat took one barge of people that would be 116,666 people for the 12hr jaunt to Baton Rouge and stops in between where they could be off loaded.
Hmmm. Weird.
take care,
space

[masterrig 1]

Could work! I doubt, anyone would 'take' on the idea.


Chuck

[Amanduh 0]

The first thing I would like to see is a night time curfew set on everyone taking refuge in the AstroDome...BEFORE they are forced to put one on the entire city.

Tell them: Anyone who wants back in the doors must be in by 8:00pm; at that time, the doors will be locked. Then, don't let them back out until 7:00am or something like that. If they keep wondering our streets like they are, Houston will have no choice but to put a city wide night-time curfew into affect....THESE are the types of things I see in our new future.

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"You ain't see nothing , yet?"

That's what is worrying me.

[Ashtanga 0]

Can't wait to see the genius plan our government has in place to solve the problems created by the hurricane. This is going to be harder to reastablish than Iraq.

[billvon 3,058]

>Just because NO was dealt a bad hand does NOT mean that other
> cities should suffer in this way (crime).

OK. So what's the solution?

>Those 10s of thousands still in LA..what more can we do!?

Get them out before they die.

>I'm sorry to say this..but this is when survival of the fitest should
> come into play.

What does that mean, exactly?

The time to solve this problem was years ago, when the levees could have been reinforced to withstand a category-4 or 5 storm. As it was, they didn't even survive a category 3. But it's too late to complain about that. The question is - what do we do NOW? "Letting them all die" is not something that we, as a people, are capable of - or at least I sure hope we're not capable of it. There are children still in NOLA.

[mailin 0]

I can understand you have it hard there, but I think you need perspective:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/01/Katrina.superdome.ap/index.html

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After a day in line in the heat without water or food, dozens of people fell out. Medics poured water on them, fanned them, and tried to cool them down.

One woman, lying on a canvas cot, was in convulsions. Medics doused her with water and slapped her, trying to bring her around. A National Guardsman poured water on a baby he held while water was also poured on her mother.

Jen

Arianna Frances

[Amanduh 0]

I as well have a heart and know that it's not fair these people are going through this. But that's why there was a MANDATORY EVACUATION.

[wmw999 2,514]

Amanda, you're hearing about the worst. Kind of like watching propaganda movies.

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this is when survival of the fitest should come into play.

In the animal world that means the strongest and most ruthless animal is probably the one that ends up on top. Right now, those would be those hoodlums and criminals. I don't think that's what we want.

The best thing that folks in general can do to the devastated ones is help them to become invested in their communities, so that they think they have something to lose. Then they'll work not to lose it.

Take everything from someone, and there you have a desparate person.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Amanduh 0]

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OK. So what's the solution?

That's the thing that is SCARY. There is NO solution to this.

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Get them out before they die.

They had the chance to do that themselves when told to evacuate.

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What does that mean, exactly?

I really hate to say this, but they had a chance to get out. They are even firing at the choppers who are trying to help them. Yeah..smart move..try to shoot down the chopper..smart. What I'm saying, is that the US is trying to do what they can to get them out. They, in return, are over taking the streets. An article today that I read stated:

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Police Chief Eddie Compass said there was such a crush around a squad of 88 officers that they retreated when they went in to check out reports of assaults.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/weather/090205_APkatrina_mayormad.html

They are attacking the help. This is what brings me to my comment of survival of the fitest. We are trying to help, they are doing nothing but rebelling and fighting back. Let them stay if they would rather fire at the choppers or over run them when they try to land. Those that get out alive, get out.

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"Letting them all die" is not something that we, as a people, are capable of - or at least I sure hope we're not capable of it. There are children still in NOLA.

Agreed, and I understand it is not humanitarian. BUT, look over seas at the 3rd world contries that see this shit every single day. You do what you can, and the US is trying, but only SO MUCH can be done. The government is not some great magical act.

[wmw999 2,514]

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MANDATORY EVACUATION

If you don't have a car, how do you evacuate? You keep looking for someone, but, well, they're all full, or they already left. You don't know where you're stay when you get out of town, because motels expect to get paid, and all those towns aren't setting up disaster centers yet.

"Mandatory evacuation" didn't mean that the government made it easy, or even possible.

You have to decide really early if you want to reliably leave. If you're working at a subsistence level, that means that you are probably giving up your job, because it's not close enough for employers to let people off, so if you leave your boss tells you that you can't come back.

Don't think it can happen? I've known it to. In our case, the storm turned in the last 24 hours.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[jenfly00 0]

If I had opinions like this, people would not think very highly of me ...and they would be right.

Damn!

jen

-----------------------
"O brave new world that has such people in it".

[mailin 0]

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They are attacking the help.

Yes they are - because the help is leaving without them.

Spend some time on cnn.com today, reading the stories. Specifically you should listen to the mayors rant to the local radio station - it will open your eyes. I haven't cried this much in years. The majority of the people are scared, nothing more. What you describe is a very small majority of the people involved here. Can you imagine what your life would be like if you suddenly had nothing - no family, no house, no nothing? Then suddenly your bused off somewhere with people you don't know and you don't know what to expect. Reminds me of WW2 concentration camp refugees actually.

If I wasn't so far away I would be donating as much time as I can. Seeing as your in a city that is now trying to help why don't you do something to help?

I donated my pay check this week - it hardly seems like enough.


Jen

Arianna Frances

[tcnelson 1]

yeah, reality is a bitch huh...

"Don't talk to me like that assface...I don't work for you yet." - Fletch
NBFT, Deseoso Rodriguez RB#1329

[Amanduh 0]

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Specifically you should listen to the mayors rant to the local radio station - it will open your eyes.

I have. And yes, it is very saddening. I am not heartless. What is getting to me is that Houston is trying to help, and all it seems we are getting in return is trouble. I personally have already donated money, clothing, food, and blankets..not to mention a recent call to the Red Cross to volunteer my time if needed. I know they are upset and confused with everything being taken away, I could not imagine the feeling! BUT, if another town is going to take you in, feed you, clothe you, give you a place to stay..the LEAST you could do is be considerate and respectable. Instead of causing them nothing more but added crime.

Just try to see this: If you had these irate refugees coming into your town, you would be scared as well. The longer they are stuck in NO, the more upset they are becoming, and when they get here...do you think that is automatically going to go away? NO.

I just personally think that this is just the start of things to come, and that you will see a lot more violence erupt in Houston being broght by the anger felt by these people.

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

Couple things - there is always a "not in my back yard" attitude when something comes to your area to threaten the status quo.

Those left behind in NO were either 1) stupid 2) poor, broke, alone or old and unable to move or had no where to go 3) opportunists waiting for an emergency to happen. There is a combination of good people suffering and bad people adding to the misery. Mob action happens, and anarchy will set in since many feel there will be no consequences. There will be a unique form of predujice against any non-locals as well...however, some are not deserving of it. Negative news travels the fastest and good news just gets boring to tell at a time like this. Therefore you will only hear the bad.

BTW - this is a bad sign for our country. We saw this disater coming. The 'experts' have guessed this to happen for years. What will happen if the west coast gets hit with the big one or a tsunami? What happens if NYC or Miami gets hit with a Cat 5? What happens if a terrorist attack really happens?

_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[Amanduh 0]

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What will happen if the west coast gets hit with the big one or a tsunami? What happens if NYC or Miami gets hit with a Cat 5? What happens if a terrorist attack really happens?

Good points. I hope that the government actually puts forth some kind of effort to create a plan. This is unreal to see the US affected so bad by just one city getting flooded. (Ex: lack of gasoline starting to surface throughout the US) Not to mention, where would the US put all of the residents if this would have happened to NYC or another major city.

*Edited to add:

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There will be a unique form of predujice against any non-locals as well...however, some are not deserving of it.

Agreed. But you know how society is...*including myself - hello..I did make this post * If the majority are causing more harm than good, or even if 500 out of the 10s of thousands transported here are causing trouble, then the view on those non-locals will not be the best in time. This post was in more reference to those who did not get into the Astrodome now wondering our streets, breaking into cars, raping women, and all out just causing problems. I know there are those that are minding their own business trying to decide how to now start rebuilding their lives....and that's what Houston opened it's doors for. BUT, along with it comes the bad...and from what I'm seeing it is only going to get worse.

[billvon 3,058]

>That's the thing that is SCARY. There is NO solution to this.

I think that if we can invade a foreign country and help millions of people who (now) want to kill us, we can go into a city and help tens of thousands of our own people, even if they are looting. Surely we are willing to do that for our own citizens if we are willing to do it for foreigners.

>They had the chance to do that themselves when told to evacuate.

A lot of them didn't. You try leaving a city during a storm with no car, no money and three kids.

>I really hate to say this, but they had a chance to get out. They are
>even firing at the choppers who are trying to help them.

You are lumping the criminals in with everyone else. 80% of the people are just trying to survive.

>They are attacking the help. This is what brings me to my comment
> of survival of the fitest.

I don't think you want that. If you meet a gang of looters, and they have a knife, they just may kill you - and that's survival of the fittest. If we stopped caring for the people in NOLA, the elderly and the infants would die while the looters set themselves up with stolen food - again, survival of the fittest. I assume that is not what you want.

> Let them stay if they would rather fire at the choppers or over run
> them when they try to land. Those that get out alive, get out.

I believe the reason you're saying this is that you haven't thought it through. I think that if you were hovering over the Convention Center, and you saw a family of 6, you could not look at them and think "they had their chance, time for them to die." You'd want to help as much as all the people who _are_ helping.

> BUT, look over seas at the 3rd world contries that see this shit every
> single day.

I agree, but I cannot possibly agree that we are as helpless as a third world country. We are the richest most powerful nation on the planet. Time to start using some small percentage of that to help these people.

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

Again - the media in action. This is not just one city getting flooded. NOLA gets the attention because it makes good headlines and has better pictures to tug at the heart. Destructive winds lashed out over 125 miles from the heart of Katrina - and the path was over a total of three states. The amount of people that suffered from this storm range from SE Florida to Norther Miss and Georgia.

My friends family in central MS have informed us that their town took a beating and may never be the same again

While I am a critic of the slow prep and response of emergency relief - I have to admit that the size of this response hasn't been seen in this country in over 100 years. Not even Andrew did this much damage.

_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[lawrocket 3]

I heard an interesting perspective on this from a friend of mine yesterday. He's a fellow attorney I went to school with and was an ex hoodlum himself. I was telling him about how much it sucked that so many of those people couldn't leave.

He laughed, and after he commented that I was "still the whitest guy on the planet" (a running joke that my whole group of friends has) he said, "A lot of those guys could have left, but didn't. Once that City was being evacuated, they knew that it was open season for looting. It was all there waiting for them, and they just had to wait out the storm to get going with it. The bitch is that they had no idea that they would be fighting for survival."

He ended it with, "Anybody with an idea about life on the street saw this coming. Frankly, plenty of dudes have been waiting for this their whole lives."

It hit me like a ton of bricks, and some things made a whole lot more sense. As we spoke more he cautioned that there is no reason to believe that everybody, or even more than 10 or 15 percent of the adults thought that. But, it's a pretty large number.

Unfortunately, those with no choice are being presumed to be the bad ones, and that's just like society kicking while they're down.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[missg8tordivr 0]

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You do what you can, and the US is trying, but only SO MUCH can be done. The government is not some great magical act.

Here Here!!

There are a lot of people outside of that disaster area that are pulling together everything they can in order to help. The same thing should be happening in the midst of the disaster area....pull together, help each other, and work towards making it safe and possible for relief to arrive. But again, the same situation is happening....there is only so much that can be done.

***
F LORIDA!

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

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Once that City was being evacuated, they knew that it was open season for looting. It was all there waiting for them, and they just had to wait out the storm to get going with it. The bitch is that they had no idea that they would be fighting for survival." Anyone that has ever watched a bad B-grade disaster flick could have seen this coming. You didn't need to grow up on the street to realize there would be someone willing to exploit the negative to their advantage. I'm sure you are quite familiar with the ambulace chasers.

The sad part? Is that humanity at its worse can be summed up by a really bad Hollywood cliche.

_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

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[Amanduh 0]

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We are the richest most powerful nation on the planet.

You brought up some very good points. Yeah, we can invade other countries, and yes...we can assist to help them..but here on our homeland, in case of a disaster as this..are we really that great and powerful? What comes to my mind, is maybe they would be able to get these people out faster and more efficiently if half of our troops weren't over seas trying to create democracy. How can the US be expected to save everyone with the blink of an eye? It takes time..it takes men. Them hounding is not going to make this go any faster, and no..we will not be able to save them all. Thats a known fact. People are going to die. Children will die. Elderly will die. Women will die. We are human and should understand that. This is a huge disaster, and the US cannot be held accountable for every soul. "Survival of the fitest". You cannot rely on others to save you at all times. Those who get out alive will probably be the ones who are the healthiest. The sick will die before the US can get them all out, the young cannot go as long without certain necessities. Nothing else can be done though..at this time..it is the survival of the fittest. That's what I meant.