The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Thanks for that good article, DK. While it was sad, it had a very happy ending. That little 6 yr. old boy should receive a medal!

So. let me get this straight. The parents put the kids on the helicopter so they could be taken to safety with the promise that help would return for them. Then the children were dumped off to fend for themsleves by their so called rescuers before they were found? Am I missing something other than the fact that by the grace of God these kids are okay? What a brave little man.

Shopper.. You go girl.. I came here to post same thing...

"My girl" Oprah is on the scene! I knew when this happen Oprah would do all she can to help with her angel network!

She is a true angel on earth..

I watch todays show and am watching the continuation tomorrow, I cried with the police chief, who lost one of his men to suicide,also of the BABIEs that were being raped in that superdomw, i cried with the Mayor when he spoke of the babies dying in that superdome from lack of nutrition..

. I cried with with the people who's lost so much.... ,Yea i cried almost the whole show,it was a heart wrenching hour and only gives me stronger drive to do what i can to help.

It is so sad this was allowed to happen in America... As New Orleans mayor says, if this had been Los Angeles, or chicago..etc. this would not have happened , these people wouldnt have had to wait for help so long and so many die....the issue on rather this was a race/poor society issue was brought up also. Was it because 40% were black and mostly poor , were they put on back burner?

I dont know, IMO.. it was such a vast area and states affected , so many to help.. where do you start may have been one of the major problems.. just such immense tragedies all on coast.

God be with and comfort the fmailies who've lost so much, and cradle the babies and children ,keep them safe and get them all through this. Amen.
One hand
Reaches out
And pulls a lost soul from harm
While a thousand more go unspoken for
They say what good have you done
By saving just this one
It's like whispering a prayer
In the fury of a storm.


And i hear them saying you'll never change things and no matter
What you do it's still the same thing
But it's not the world that i am changing i do this so this
World will know that it will not change me.



This heart
Still believes
The love and mercy still exist.
While all the hatred rage and so many say
That love is all but pointless in madness such as this
It's like trying to stop a fire
With the moisture from a kiss.


As long as one heart still holds on
Then hope is never really gone.


What i do is so
This world will know
That it will not change me

Sniffy38 said:

Thanks for that good article, DK. While it was sad, it had a very happy ending. That little 6 yr. old boy should receive a medal!

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Yes, the ending was very happy. But the events leading up to it were sad, I meant. But praise the Lord for the happy ending, for sure!!!!!

Whewwww..Ive cried more today than i have in months.

God bless that 6 year old little boy..I wish i could give him a hug.

Its scary and so sad to see America face a situation, that sadly, third world countries live with EVERYDAY.

Anniegirl said:

Shopper.. You go girl.. I came here to post same thing...

"My girl" Oprah is on the scene! I knew when this happen Oprah would do all she can to help with her angel network!

She is a true angel on earth..

I watch todays show and am watching the continuation tomorrow, I cried with the police chief, who lost one of his men to suicide,also of the BABIEs that were being raped in that superdomw, i cried with the Mayor when he spoke of the babies dying in that superdome from lack of nutrition..

. I cried with with the people who's lost so much.... ,Yea i cried almost the whole show,it was a heart wrenching hour and only gives me stronger drive to do what i can to help.

It is so sad this was allowed to happen in America... As New Orleans mayor says, if this had been Los Angeles, or chicago..etc. this would not have happened , these people wouldnt have had to wait for help so long and so many die....the issue on rather this was a race/poor society issue was brought up also. Was it because 40% were black and mostly poor , were they put on back burner?

I dont know, IMO.. it was such a vast area and states affected , so many to help.. where do you start may have been one of the major problems.. just such immense tragedies all on coast.

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I LOVE Oprah! I know a lot of people don't but I don't understand why. She does so much good.

I just can't wrap my mind around this being a race thing, I mean, that some people wouldn't do anything/everything to help those in need, no matter what race they are. But I have to wonder too if this had been some swanky or majority white area if response time had been quicker. Glad to see Oprah shedding some light on that!

Sobbing about the young man who was going to have to leave his dog behind (I won't reveal the rest, don't want to spoil it for people who will watch it later.) Honestly, I've kept my head buried in the sand about hearing about the animals left behind. I don't want to hear any of that. My mom was wandering aloud about the horses that pull the carriages that are usually around Jxn Square. I told her, unless they got them out in time...

I was glad to see Nate doing some reporting, he is so compassionate and unfortunately has first hand knowledge about how these disasters are, so I enjoyed his perspective.

shopper said:

I LOVE Oprah! I know a lot of people don't but I don't understand why. She does so much good.

I just can't wrap my mind around this being a race thing, I mean, that some people wouldn't do anything/everything to help those in need, no matter what race they are. But I have to wonder too if this had been some swanky or majority white area if response time had been quicker. Glad to see Oprah shedding some light on that!

Sobbing about the young man who was going to have to leave his dog behind (I won't reveal the rest, don't want to spoil it for people who will watch it later.) Honestly, I've kept my head buried in the sand about hearing about the animals left behind. I don't want to hear any of that. My mom was wandering aloud about the horses that pull the carriages that are usually around Jxn Square. I told her, unless they got them out in time...

I was glad to see Nate doing some reporting, he is so compassionate and unfortunately has first hand knowledge about how these disasters are, so I enjoyed his perspective.

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The dog story made me cry too, my dog is like my child to me, so i cried tears of sadness then happiness with that one too hon.

Oprah' receiving "lifetime achievement" award a few years ago ( only then still in her 40's ,was so deserving) she has help sooo many... back in mid 1980's when she came on, i didnt realize my problems and well, "just being 'nuts' stemed from my childhood, and if not for Oprah and a guest/author by the name of John Bradshaw- i really dont know if i'd still be around- i was that down and livign a life i wasnt proud of----
Oprah reminded us "therapy" is a good thing, and many , including myself got help.... Shes saved so many people, and continues to do so.

Anniegirl said:

The dog story made me cry too, my dog is like my child to me, so i cried tears of sadness then happiness with that one too hon.

Oprah' receiving "lifetime achievement" award a few years ago ( only then still in her 40's ,was so deserving) she has help sooo many... back in mid 1980's when she came on, i didnt realize my problems and well, "just being 'nuts' stemed from my childhood, and if not for Oprah and a guest/author by the name of John Bradshaw- i really dont know if i'd still be around- i was that down and livign a life i wasnt proud of----
Oprah reminded us "therapy" is a good thing, and many , including myself got help.... Shes saved so many people, and continues to do so.

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You are a dear, and an extra one at that, one of my "babies" (cat) is named Annie and she and her sister Misty are my heart. So you're good people in my book!!

You know, I can't imagine leaving them and I think that may be why some people refused to leave, they didn't want to abandon their pets. To a lot of people their pets are their kids (as in my and dh's case) and they/we would no more leave them than someone with a child (human, lol) would leave theirs.

I can't wait for the new season of Oprah to start, I have a feeling it will be her best yet!

Dr. Louis Cataldie is speaking on CNN. He is one of my most favorite human beings on earth.He is saying that every effort will be made to return the dead to their families. We will not stand for anymore tragedy than has occurred.He is a man who endured the serial killers in Baton Rouge and ultimately was displaced for his opinions. He always spoke the truth even when it did not favor him. A man of profession, a man of heartfelt human response, a man with the courage to go forward. We need so many like him. Bless you, Louis.

Shadow205 said:

I was thinking about bodies of those who were killed during Katrina. Some people might have thought that would be a good time to get rid of someone and they were probably right.

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You hit that nail right on the head. I am wondering also if some, and I use that word some, are refusing to come out because of outstanding warrants, drug addiction and other things they would like to avoid facing with authorities.

TexMex said:

They are also going to find bodies from cemetaries


Bet ole Scott Peterson wishes a hurricane, earthquake would have hit Modesto.

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Please don't desecrate this thread with Scott Peterson.Way too much has been said and overdone and others are hurting and he is just one minimal criminal who is on his way to death row.I love Laci and Conner but ignore the beast when we go forward.

I watched and recorded Oprah today. She'll be in MS tomorrow I believe. I cried throughout the show. IMO, Oprah respects where she came from (poor) and I believe that's the only discrimination going on in this. Oprah and friends did an excellent, excellent job today....even better than I expected of her. :blowkiss:

bakerprune64 said:

So. let me get this straight. The parents put the kids on the helicopter so they could be taken to safety with the promise that help would return for them. Then the children were dumped off to fend for themsleves by their so called rescuers before they were found? Am I missing something other than the fact that by the grace of God these kids are okay? What a brave little man.

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I saw the mom this morning on T.V. with her kids and it was so wonderful. She said when the chopers arrivied overhead she thought they were taking up families, but were told only the kids, so naturally who wouldn't let their kids get to safety.

Yesterday a reporter was talking to Deamonte (the 6 year old) with his band of siblings in tow before being reunited with his mom and he said the most grown up thing. He said "this is life", then the reporter asked him what he meant. he said "people die"..........just got to me!

Tom'sGirl said:

I saw the mom this morning on T.V. with her kids and it was so wonderful. She said when the chopers arrivied overhead she thought they were taking up families, but were told only the kids, so naturally who wouldn't let their kids get to safety.

Yesterday a reporter was talking to Deamonte (the 6 year old) with his band of siblings in tow before being reunited with his mom and he said the most grown up thing. He said "this is life", then the reporter asked him what he meant. he said "people die"..........just got to me!

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That little child is going to be somebody very important one day, I bet. What presence of mind, strength of character and bravery for one so young!

editing to add: you know what? He is somebody very important already! But you know what I mean!

Tom'sGirl said:

I saw the mom this morning on T.V. with her kids and it was so wonderful. She said when the chopers arrivied overhead she thought they were taking up families, but were told only the kids, so naturally who wouldn't let their kids get to safety.

Yesterday a reporter was talking to Deamonte (the 6 year old) with his band of siblings in tow before being reunited with his mom and he said the most grown up thing. He said "this is life", then the reporter asked him what he meant. he said "people die"..........just got to me!

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That is to many kids growing up before there time.

My fiance and I just finished watching this. After both bawling our eyes out, and this is the first time I've ever seen him cry, we both got online and donated more money. Not much, but we'll skip our date night this week. People need it more than we need to see a movie.

Thank you Oprah for showing us the good and the bad, but mostly for showing us just a fewhappy endings and giving us something to hope for.

I watched Oprah too, and bawled and cheered long the the rest of you.

Oprah going into the Superdome really didn't show he magnitude because the lights were off, but I did sense the angst (not really the right word) when she came in with her mask and said even with it on she wanted to vomit and was standing in blood, urine, putrid water and feces; and the stench of death. The armed national guardsmen escorting her in after she had to state on camera that no one but her was liable if she were to become ill or injured hit it a little more home too. She was escorted in because there were ravenous dogs still in the building and maybe other people.

She did show some of the dead on the street (a sugeon friend of hers was walking around to see if he could provide medical assistance and was showing the bodies and describing the death process). He also toured the airport medical station. He was most appalled that there was so much disregard for life (especially the elderly) and was using whatever he could find to cover the dead. I did find it heartwrenching that those that came to the airport for medical treatment and were too bad off to make it until the next flight out, were directly placed into the makeshift morgue so they could just die in peace and quiet.

I am just not convinced that this man-made disaster, after the natural disater was racially motivated. I am honestly starting to believe that is was an extremely lack of planning combined with indifference to our nation's elderly and poor. I am liking the slogan I have been hearing - most recently on Oprah. I think it is "This is America and these are Americans." I am starting to cringe at the reference of these Americans as refugees. They belong to us.

God Bless them and give them the strength to continue to be survivors.

When I picked my son up today (5th grade) he told me they are going to have a new classmate....a child from New Orleans. He said she was suppose to start today, but didn't show up. She will probably be there tomorrow. He was so cute because he was telling me that he is going to be real nice to her (boy/girl thing ya know) because she lost her home. He gets it!!!!!!

Our school is collecting monies for the other families whose children are to start this week as well. They need school supplies, clothes, etc. I explained to my children they don't even have backpacks, folders....nothing. They are willing to share whatever they have....so sweet and made me feel like we've done something right in raising them

My nephew was evacuated immediately by bus up to Jackson,Ms. (Tulane knew what to do LOL) Smart people there.

He had to go back to Hawaii to school until he can go back to Tulane. 6 months? year? who knows.

Our friends who own a Bed & Breakfast on Napolean Ave. left and found that those homes are pretty salvageable. It's getting back services that's the problem (city) Waiting to move back.. The Garden District is better off than other areas.

The zoo animals made it - they're my friends.

When it gets so bad that experienced police officers are quitting in the middle of a crisis and committing suicide in the middle of a crisis- then you know it is almost unendurable. Experienced officers are usually the type that goes through the crisis, then falls apart afterward.
Many of those officers were not rookies, who had never been tried. They were experienced officers- with a history with those depts., who had been hardened by training and experience.