I'm in utter shock

[azsnowman]

My God......I've been watching MSNBC most of the afternoon and the UTTER TOTAL destruction of Gulfport Miss. and now the flooding New Orleans, as it's been said, I'm SICK to my stomach.

Dennis

[Brent]

It reminds me of the Tsunami... only this time it's happening within driving distance of here and it's in our country. Really hits close to home... and it's not even as bad as it's gonna get... there are a bunch of areas no one has reached yet.

[canegrl04]

This is America's tsunami .Total devastation. I'm afraid the death toll will surpass 1000 soon

[Stephanie]

I hear you brother! I just watched the video from the helicopter Skywatcher 3 as it toured the Mississippi coastline. It totally blows my mind.

Not only do these people have no homes, they have NO JOBS!!! The casinos (not the only business there) were almost all destroyed. Beau Rivage was still standing but had major damage. The ones on barges were up on I-90 and the Presidential Casino landed ON TOP OF the Holiday Inn! The marinas, restaurants, etc. ARE ALL GONE!!

[pojo]

Everyone currently stationed at Keesler AFB in Biloxi was on mandatory lockdown prior to the hurricane... From what I heard, portions of the base were leveled. We knew Katrina was bad, however, sadly, New Orleans has never had water breech the canals before.... 27-37 ft storm surge in Gulfport/Biloxi... she was definitely a monster unleashing her fury.

[Miss Mary]

I'm in utter shock too Dennis and have shed tears over it all. It's hard not to watch but then you want to hear about survivors, so you tune in again. The last time I watched, they had footage of looters, filling shopping carts to the brim in a Wal-Mart. Even looking right into the camera - such boldness....I can't understand that. Water, food, bare necessities, I can understand, but not ransacking a store of everything.

Mary

[petal*pusher]

The looters are bothering me too, Mary. Such a disgrace to our beautiful country that needs everyones SUPPORT.....not selfish, in-your-face,
you-can't-get-me blatant disrespect for those in need.....not to mention breaking the law.

I saw a clip that had several policemen standing in the middle of the street watching looters strip every store they could get into! Personally, I DO understand those in dire need that are taking small amounts of food and water.....but TV's, shoes, ect.....they have no shame.

A teller at the bank this afternoon said they had heard about looters starting to gather around a hospital that was being evacuated.....just waiting to get in as soon as they could. Sad, very sad.....p

[JQ Public]

Its amazing what happens when people get desperate. And this is just not a New Orleans thing. It can happen anywhere!

[therealashe]

What do the looters think they are going to do with these tvs etc? They can't very well take them on the buses as they leave NO. Their city is FLOODING. It is uninhabitable... I just don't understand.

FWIW, while taking food, water, diapers etc is still "looting". I'm not as bothered by it, due to the situation there. I just don't understand stealing guns, TVs, vcrs, jewelry, and tonight I read on NOLA, even CARS from used car lots.

[streetsoldier]

Even the NOLA Police have to commandeer private cars...their own vehicles are under water, and in one case they took their car from looters at a car dealership...after a gun battle with them!

They have NO radios, computers, etc...they are having to do what they can 'blind", w/o support for the time being.

[vbhoutex]

To top off the looting, now they are shooting at military helicopters at the Superdome, so they have shut down the evacuation there. A truck hauling hospital supplies was surrounded and not allowed to continue. We have stories in other threads in the recovery forum of LA people from S of NO that were spared so they headed into the city with their boat and supplies to help and were stopped, everything taken, so they turned around and went home. SAD, SAD, STATE OF AFFAIRS!!!

[azsnowman]

I have NEVER felt so GUILTY about anything in my life. Here I am, some 1000+ from the Gulf Coast, I've made a sizeable donation to the Red Cross and Salvation Army, both organizations helped ME during the Rodeo Chediski Fire over 3 years ago, what a WONDERFUL, LOVING, CARING group of people.

I've got a Search and Rescue Unit, fully trained, cadavor dogs, tracking trailing dogs READY to go at a MOMENTS notice, I've yet to receive a call out.......so, here I sit, all comfy, cozy in my house, sitting on the computer watching TOTAL devestation take place before my eyes, HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of people without ANYTHING and there's NOT a THING I can DO!!

Dennis

[GalvestonDuck]

I have NEVER felt so GUILTY about anything in my life. Here I am, some 1000+ from the Gulf Coast, I've made a sizeable donation to the Red Cross and Salvation Army, both organizations helped ME during the Rodeo Chediski Fire over 3 years ago, what a WONDERFUL, LOVING, CARING group of people.

I've got a Search and Rescue Unit, fully trained, cadavor dogs, tracking trailing dogs READY to go at a MOMENTS notice, I've yet to receive a call out.......so, here I sit, all comfy, cozy in my house, sitting on the computer watching TOTAL devestation take place before my eyes, HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of people without ANYTHING and there's NOT a THING I can DO!!
Dennis

By doing your job, you're helping.

Read me here - http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=73039

[azsnowman]

I would LOVE to donate blood, however, with the meds. I take, Lortab 10 mg., Flexeral (sp) and my bp meds. I can't.........I USED to donate EVERY chance I got, in fact, I gotta a pin......"2 GALLON CLUB!" Yes, I've donated over 2 gallons but that was 5 years ago.

Dennis

[GalvestonDuck]

You don't have to...just keep doing your job in your community.

[azsnowman]

You don't have to...just keep doing your job in your community.

Yeah but.......I've been SO richly BLESSED, I have EVERYTHING a man could possibly WANT, I want for "NOTHING, I mean NOTHING!" How many people can actually say THAT?!?! And yet, it's NOT enough, I "NEED" to help out physically, I NEED to be there with my dogs, I need to say a prayer with these folks face to face........

Dennis

[alicia-w]

Everyone currently stationed at Keesler AFB in Biloxi was on mandatory lockdown prior to the hurricane... From what I heard, portions of the base were leveled. We knew Katrina was bad, however, sadly, New Orleans has never had water breech the canals before.... 27-37 ft storm surge in Gulfport/Biloxi... she was definitely a monster unleashing her fury.

Our former group commander is there. He's now the Vice Wing Commander of the Training Wing. We heard about the lockdown too. They told everyone to put their mattresses against their windows and there were no deaths. The base is an absolute mess. But no deaths.

I'm very concerned that there wasnt a mandatory evacuation at the base there.

[deb_in_nc]

I can't believe I just heard this but a woman was on Fox News. She was telling about the man who raped and killed a 7 year old girl. She said 10 men jumped on him and beat him to death. Good for them.

Debbie

[Skywatch_NC]

5 hoodlum thugs were shot and killed yesterday by the Army Corp of Engineers...glad to hear they're starting to get the upper hand on peeps who are heck-bent on interfering with rescue/recovery, etc., etc!!

Eric

[chicagopizza]

You just wake up every day praying that it will be better soon for these people - not just the victims, but the rescuers, police and all their family and friends too.