katrina

i wasn't going to comment, to the degree i'm about to, on the tragedy of katrina. however, as i'm watching the news, i just heard president bush state, "i'm statisfied with the response. i'm not satisfied with the result." didn't i hear, earlier today, that he was not satisfied with the response time? Bush faults recovery efforts as 'not enough' (cnn.com) and isn't the result dependent on the response? i am sick thinking about the response time. fema took their sweet time getting down there. president bush went there for the first time today...4 days later. actors and media thought it was important to visit the devastation before our president?!? The big disconnect on New Orleans (cnn.com)

i couldn't agree more with the following quote: "If we can't respond faster than this to an event we saw coming across the Gulf for days, then why do we think we're prepared to respond to a nuclear or biological attack?" asked former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Republican.

i can't imagine the amount of psychological impact this is going to have on thousands and thousands of children. unable to return to their homes, their schools, and so many losing loved ones. sometimes, right in front of them. i also can't help but think of those people that have been trapped in their homes and attics in the unbearable heat. no food or water. helpless. hoping someone will find them before they die.

i was reading jason and erica's blog earlier today and it got me thinking about why people didn't leave. they were told that this was potentially the most dangerous hurricane they had ever seen. they were told there was going to be extensive damage and no one was safe. still, some stayed. the more i thought about it, the more i wondered. would i leave? or would i stay? i can't answer that for sure. it also made me think. those in war stricken countries are given the same odds, if not worse. they know the extreme danger of staying in their homes with fighting going on around them at all times. why do they stay? the lucky ones can flee. that is something we know, and are thankful for, in our family. some are too poor, some too old, some too sick, and, yes, some think they will survive anything. some do.

there are so many people that were unable to to leave the gulf coast before devastation broke out. so many in mississippi didn't have enough warning. the storm turned so suddenly that there was no way out. those in new orleans thought they had missed another deadly storm. tuesday, all hell broke loose. 100 year old levees broke. there was nothing they could do, but wait.

i am so sick thinking about the people that take advantage of these horrible situations. there are those that run scams to get peoples' money and private information. some, turn to stealing. looting stores that perhaps they themselves once worked at to support their families. some, try to harm those that are there to help those in dire need by shooting at them. (to this, i have to ask, where is the national guard?) however, there are so many trying to help in anyway they can. there are so many ways to help. we can donate clothing, food, water, blood, money, time. anything, and everything, helps. please join me in supporting these people and letting them know this country cares for them as though they were part our own family. some of them are.
american red cross
united way
salvation army