Mr. President

[ajurcat]

dont give up, im right there with ya

Same here AFM, you have been a VITAL source of FACT-BASED information.

And Derek, you are certainly one of the most level-headed and informative people I've seen here in my very limited stay... I think AFM's head just hurts from banging it against the proverbial wall.

That's exactly the problem...I'm frustrated. It's what I do for a living. It's like I'm Tom Brady and people want to know why I ran a screen play instead of going for the deep pass.

AFM
Thank you for all you have and will continue to do, whether informing us on this board or serving to protect all of us. I have learned more in the past few days from reading your posts.
Annette

[chrisnnavarre]

Note the DATE 9/28/04... almost a year ago the failure was being discussed in the New Orleans Press....

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatc ... story.html


Now it will cost us BILLIONS and BILLIONS and BILLIONS.

[inotherwords]

AirForceMet, I am certain to be flamed for this, but it must be asked.

If this is your job, then what are you doing sitting here bickering on a discussion board?

With all due respect. I have definitely enjoyed your posts and I have agreed with much that you say, but if this was my job I'd be doing something a little more germane to the issue, I'd think, at this point.

OK, pound away.

[Air Force Met]

This disaster was not made in a day or in a year or even 10 years. This has been a disaster brought about by denial, greed and the politics of race and class. There is enough blame to go around, at the municipal level, at the state level and at the federal level, for Democrats and Republicans, in office and long gone from office. What kind of building codes are those in Biloxi that allow for so much beach front wood construction (God only knows what crappy building codes they used) in the area of the US most prone to a catastrophic storm surge? If New Orleans is so flood prone, why do so many single family houses are allowed to be constructed in the deepest part of that bowl? Why is anything built in that part of town? Has that lake ever been dredged to increase its water retention capacity? What has been the wetland conservation policy for Southern LA in the last 20 years? Who allowed oil refineries to be built at the beach in the middle of the hurricane superhighway? Where was the FEMA plan to handle a disaster of this magnitude, as certain in its coming as the Big One in Los Angeles is? (I don't see a plan. I see a reaction to events.) And, did anybody think that giving an evacuation order that merely meant, get in your car if you have one and leave, was going to resolve the problem for the elderly, the invalid, and the poor? If you want people to leave, you need to give them the means to do so and a place to go, otherwise the weakest will be left behind to die. Dennis was a Cat. 4 over Cuba. It ransaked the country from left to right. Only 11 people died? Why? Because the Cubans deal with hurricane preparedness with the same dedication the Japanese deal with earthquake preparedness. I really hope this horrible experience will bring about long lasting policy changes.

Great points. This place has been a time bomb...it's just that the time was unknown until Monday. The real blame goes back many many years through many many administrations (at all levels). Great points about Cuba and Japan...BTW. They take is VERY seriously over there (esp. in Japan) with yearly drills done by all the community. Maybe we arrogant americans can learn some things....like maybe building a city below sea-level is not such a great idea and if you do...you gotta expect stuff like this to happen.

BTW...I hope they rebuild. NOLA is a great city. Great food. Great Music. I don't drink and I don't party...but I love it because of the cooking and jazz/blues. It's where our first child was conceived. It has a very special place in our heart.

[Derek Ortt]

I just learned something today about how things work and can admit that I was somewhat wrong

[Air Force Met]

AirForceMet, I am certain to be flamed for this, but it must be asked.

If this is your job, then what are you doing sitting here bickering on a discussion board?

With all due respect. I have definitely enjoyed your posts and I have agreed with much that you say, but if this was my job I'd be doing something a little more germane to the issue, I'd think, at this point.

OK, pound away.

No problem...easy to answer (and I've answered it before...but it is probably buried somewhere).

As I have said...I am the chief of weather ops for 5th Army. 1st Army has taken the lead on this even though NOLA falls in our juristiction. Why? Because of the damage in MS and AL and the geographical area is much larger than the affected area of SELA. If this was just NOLA...5th Army would be in charge and you can guarantee I would not be here...but as anyone who has been in the military knows...you don't need 2 3-star generals trying to figure out which one of them is in charge. That's REALLY a recipe for disaster.

So...in short...I work for 5th Army. We cover all states west of the MS river...including LA...but 1st Army is running the show and their weather guys are with them now. 5th Army is backing them up...and we are breifing them daily...but that is it. The rest of us are just waiting on orders. I am currently sitting on a 2 hour recall (must be at work...ready...at 2 hours notice) and we are being told a full mobilization of the entire base tomorrow. But we are awaiting instructions.

So...that's why I am still here.

[Dean4Storms]

It amazes me how people think the Federal Gov't can just snap its fingers and everything happens instantaneously. It takes time to react to a disaster of this proportion. I've heard questions like why wasn't all the troops, supplies, e.t.c... staged and ready to go the first day after the storm? These kinds of questions come from those who generally sit back and do nothing themselves in the actual preparations to handle a crisis of this magnitude, in essence reporters. It takes alot of planning and time to bring these assets into place. You can't have these troops and supplies sitting out on some highway waiting for the storm to pass, they would likely be in the way of those trying to evacuate and also possibly become in danger themselves if the storm moved unexpectantly or lingered longer.

The Gov't is doing all that humanly can be expected. You can't just send in troops not knowing the scope of the situation. We were hearing just on Wed. that the flooding was likely to engulf all of New Orleans. Had we sent in Guard troops or even active military troops and the City was entirely flooded we would have also been having to rescue US troops.


Hindsight is always 20/20 and those that use it to criticize others trying to rescue and help those in need are nothing more than contributors to the despair!

[inotherwords]

OK! Apologies and thanks for the civil answer. Like I said, I've very much enjoyed your posts. I don't share your views on the president (intentionally with a lower case p), but that's probably the only thing we've disagreed on all week.

Good luck once you get the "go" to work and please let us know how you are doing in the field.

[Air Force Met]

I just learned something today about how things work and can admit that I was somewhat wrong

Thanks Derek...and sorry I blasted you.

Y'all also have to understand I am READY to go. I am awaiting orders from the CAT (Crisis Action Team) to go to a pretty bleak place...to probably see things I have not seen even during war (it's a little easier to see your enemy in pieces than a 3 year old)....so I am on edge...but still ready to go. There are a lot of aircraft that need good weather guys to help them fly.

[inotherwords]

It amazes me how people think the Federal Gov't can just snap its fingers and everything happens instantaneously. It takes time to react to a disaster of this proportion. I've heard questions like why wasn't all the troops, supplies, e.t.c... staged and ready to go the first day after the storm? These kinds of questions come from those who generally sit back and do nothing themselves in the actual preparations to handle a crisis of this magnitude, in essence reporters. It takes alot of planning and time to bring these assets into place. You can't have these troops and supplies sitting out on some highway waiting for the storm to pass, they would likely be in the way of those trying to evacuate and also possibly become in danger themselves if the storm moved unexpectantly or lingered longer.

The Gov't is doing all that humanly can be expected. You can't just send in troops not knowing the scope of the situation. We were hearing just on Wed. that the flooding was likely to engulf all of New Orleans. Had we sent in Guard troops or even active military troops and the City was entirely flooded we would have also been having to rescue US troops.


Hindsight is always 20/20 and those that use it to criticize others trying to rescue and help those in need are nothing more than contributors to the despair!

I was very impressed how fast things seemed to work once General Honore got there. According to the mayor, the general landed, started yelling and cussing, and stuff started getting done.

I'm sure there was a good reason why he couldn't have been there from the start, but it was good to see some strong leadership and some productive action.

[Air Force Met]

I was very impressed how fast things seemed to work once General Honore got there. According to the mayor, the general landed, started yelling and cussing, and stuff started getting done.

When an Army 3 Star shows up (and I am Air Force)...and starts yelling...even civilians snap to. They can sure put the fear of God in you.

[inotherwords]

I was very impressed how fast things seemed to work once General Honore got there. According to the mayor, the general landed, started yelling and cussing, and stuff started getting done.

When an Army 3 Star shows up (and I am Air Force)...and starts yelling...even civilians snap to. They can sure put the fear of God in you.

I would love to know his views on what had been done up to the point he got there. I know we'll never know, but it would be interesting.

The Mayor called him a "real John Wayne type." He's from the area, too. I have a feeling he'll end up one of the heroes of this thing.

By the way...do you still have the Mosquito Festival in Angleton?

[ncbird]

When an Army 3 Star shows up (and I am Air Force)...and starts yelling...even civilians snap to. They can sure put the fear of God in you.

Read this and couldn't help but think about my father-in-law and chuckle.. it doesn't even take an Army 3 Star... my farther-in-law is a retired Army 1SG(First Sergeant) and all he has to do is speak in that certain tone and you want to snap to attention, salute, and shout SIR YES SIR

[MSRobi911]

AirForce Met

I haven't been on the board but from reading some of the posts I want to tell you thank you!!

Ya'll wouldn't believe the outpouring of kindness and support that we are getting in Jackson County. Yes, its tough, we are still pretty much wiped out but the National Guard is here, Florida State Troopers, Florida Police Departments from all over are here. Just last night as I was sitting at the Sheriffs Office 5 ambulances with full crews rolled up from Kissemee, Ocala and other surronding areas. Our ambulances went under water and we have no drivers or EMT's to man the ones they have. The emergency response for anywhere down here is bad. But it is NOT from the lack of trying. My husband worked 72 hours straight trying to get people in here and get them doing the things they needed them to do. Now he is just working 18 hour days.....I don't have anything left but its just as well cause he couldn't be helping to take care of it. Believe me, people are here, they are doing the best they can, it just takes time and all we got is time......... I know NO is bad, we have had radio with our local WLOX station simulcasting with local radio stations so we hear the news. I pray for those people.

Ya'll just don't critize the government ... they are working .... it just takes time.

To tell you something else my nephew who just started TBS for Marines was given orders yesterday to go home and take care of his family and the area. He said there were 4 other guys in school with him that were sent back home to MS to help. So even the Marines are trying to help.

Mary