Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations LA/MS situation

Forum members: tonight, I've been watching various news coverages of the devastation in New Orleans and parts of Mississippi, and felt that I needed to make a comment here.

To those of you who live in or near this devastation, or who have friends or relatives there, our hearts go out to you. I see that traffic is down on the forum, and I'm sure this terrible situation is the cause.

It seems that I should say more, but perhaps this is sufficient to make my point.

Agreed. My heart aches for each and every victim. It makes me realize that all the little endeavors in my life, like ponds and such, really are insignificant compared to peoples lives, homes and livelihood. I wish all of you affected my most sincere sympathy and prayers.

Bruce

Dave,

I think all Pond Boss members share your words. I see that Dudley and Ewest have posted since the storm hit so I'm glad to see they are ok. There are others that we still are looking to hear from. My thoughts and prayers go out to all.

Russ

Does anyone know Flatlander? He's in Maine now but he has talked about his parents place back in Mississippi. I hope everything is ok.

Dave and all,

I really do not know what words to say other than to let them all know our hopes and prayers are out there for them.

I have been working to help a man out with his pond that lives NE of New Orleans. I no longer hear from him. I hope the fears of the worst have not come true for him and his family. We were experimenting on his pond to try to make a productive family pond. I hope all is well and to someday work with him again.

You have all stated it perfect and my thoughts are with all that have lost in this tragedy.

Great post!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Refugees from NOLA have traveled as far as Dallas to find motel rooms.

I talked to my Mississippi friend who lost everything. As I look around my house, everything is a hard concept for me to really comprehend. He told me that, as far as the eye can see, there are only concrete slabs in his area. No houses and no trees. He found that his flood insurance is really through FEMA and they won't be doing anything for a couple of months. Their immediate goal is to erect a tent city. He is going to take his family to Beaumont, Texas where he has relatives. The children will enroll in school there. He is a Programmer for a Defense Company so figures he will keep his job. Most likely they will delay the project and maybe move it and relocate him. Others aren't so lucky. A story on this mornings Yahoo Finance reports that entire communities have no jobs.

BTW, my brother is a "Storm Boss" with an insurance adjusting company. He is currently working in South Florida. He says it will be about a month before they can really get rolling on the outskirts of this storm. To do their job, they must have gasoline, power and water, food availability, internet connectivity, and a place to stay. In other words, there must be some sort of viable infrastructure which doesn't currently exist. Remember, they can't do the flood damage. That takes FEMA. On Hurricane Andrew, he was gone to Florida for 8 months and all of his crew worked 14 hour days for the entire time. This one should keep him working for a couple of years away from home.

He also said that every scam artist in the country is on their way to the storm area. It always happens. Right now, bogus telephone boiler rooms, both in the US and abroad, are being set up to solicit money. Be very careful. Donate to the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other known charities. Donate blood. The parasites will also be milking the tragedy.

We also haven't seen the other coming problem. Pestilence will follow.

Dave

Give to the Red Cross or other well known charity of your choice. That's what you can do! I did and I will do so again in the near future. I'm sure there will be a Bishop's Appeal at church and I won't be as skeptical this time. (I've always said this is the only time we hear from the Bishop when he wants money). But darnit those people are hurting and I want to help!

"Pestilence"

Not even considering the damage to lives and properties that has already occurred, that word listed above, and the grave fact that it will most likely happen, is very, very, dark.

And to think that this will happen in the USA is almost incomprehensible.

I've just gotten off the phone with my brother, the Insurance Adjuster boss. He tells me that my friend got bad information regarding a flood insurance claim. The Insurance company has to administer the claim for FEMA.

I've also talked to my Miss. friend this morning. No gasoline or diesel is available between the coast and Columbus. If any of you guys live North, or better, Northeast of Columbus Miss. and know the gasoline/diesel situation, let me know and I'll relay it to him. He has to be out of the motel tomorrow. cell 817 832-4724

A positive note. The motel he is in has disaster rates. Nice rooms for $200 per week. No gouging. Also, he was able to go to the salvation Army to get a change of clothes for his 6 children. On another positive note, they found and rescued Fats Domino.

To all PB family :

We as Americans are a strong and caring people.
I have no doubt that with time and the prayers and help of people and friends like you Miss. and N.O. will recover. I think that all of the PBers in central Miss. are ok they just don't have power yet. Most of Miss. south of I-20 does not have power (750 thousand people}. I am concerned about deaner in Wiggins. He is 35 miles north of Gulfport which is 95 % destroyed. While he would not have storm surge (wave) damage the winds and downed trees and blocked roads with no power and no gas, water or food could be serious. Keep him in mind.

This is the third serious hurricane for me (I have expirenced the effects of many others)and as I view them with thought I will point out one difference. It is not the strength or location of the storm or even that the populations are larger. In the previous storms over 30 years in short order with help we could get up and running. It would take years to completely recover but within 2 weeks or so basics were in place. But little national effect. But if you will notice in the storms in Florida last year and in this one a very serious problem exists with the ability to get gas. Without it no trucks can bring help, no heavy equipment can run, no generators at hospitals or emergency services can run , water systems lose power and no water is available ,people are stranded. Most of the US refining is in Tex. La. , Miss and Ala. with some exceptions. For example 80% of Atlanta's gas comes from the all american pipeline from LA. which also supplies the east coast. It is running at 15% of capicity. Ga. has very little gas. There has not been a refinery built in the US in 25 years because of envior. madness. As a result not only can we not get gas to save lives , you outside this area see huge price increases and lack of sources as we are shut down. It has the potential to grind the US economy to a halt. So if you want to do something ,give as CB1 says and pray for all in need , but realize that the actions of the envior. wackos have consequences and we are all paying a high price. From ACOE pond permits to no refineries or gas to telling you what to do with your land --this madness must stop. ewest

ewest, I'm so glad that you are well and like everyone else, my prayers are with everyone that has been hurt.

I'm sure the lessons to be learned will go far beyond the reconstruction efforts. The other thing that has to be on everyone's mind is that this area might easily get hit again this season.

Ewest, you're always good with words, very well said. I really struggle with the madness of it all, it's sickening to see the lowest levels of mankind.

On a brighter side, the Red Cross dropoff points in Dallas have some relief underway. Yesterday, 4 of the major radio stations collected donations, cars were backed up 1-2 miles, most dropping off supplies, while writing a check as the same time. It's tough to see our neighbors like this, our prayers are with all those in need or missing loved ones.

Norm and Eastland and others :

Thanks for your thoughts and concern. I agree that much will be learned from this situation over time. But one thing is certain --the inherent goodness and compassion of the people of this country along with their indomitable spirit not only to survive but to prosper is clearly evident and shall prevail. In the short time sense this storm most of the roads in the state are open and relief is pouring in. Mark my words -- in 2 months the Miss. coast with your help will be stable with water, food, shelter power and transporation. No whining or complaining from the victims just determination to prevail against all odds. Many have died, many more than have been reported. It will take years to completely recover but we as Americans are full of hope for tomorrow and are builders and survivors. ewest

I did a lot of thinking about this while cutting hay.

There has been talk (Speaker of the House, for example) of NOT rebuildng New Orleans because it doesn't make sense.

Does it make economic sense? Heck, probably not. There's land above sea level fairly close that would be cheaper and easier to relocate everyone to than to drain, reclaim, sanitize, and rebuild New Orleans in it's original location. We need a major port at the mouth of the continent's greatest river, but those facilities could also be rebuilt better, cheaper, in a new location.

BUT...this is a great American city we're talking about (please note that I have never been to New Orleans, don't plan to ever go, and don't even like cities. The only thing I like about N'awlins I know first and second hand from cookbooks.). The HUMAN, the AMERICAN thing to do is rebuild right in the same damn place, but better.

Build triply redundant levees like the Dutch do in their polders. Build 'em to withstand a Cat 5 hurricane, not "maybe" a Cat 3 like the old levee ('cause sure enough, that Cat 5 will come along sooner or later). Raze and rebuild neighborhoods in place. Salvage and save the best of the history. Will it cost a shipload of money? Hell yes. But we spend money every day on "jobs programs" that don't get us anything - spend this money to rebuild an American city better than ever.

Dig down deep in human sites all over the world and what do you find? Repeated layers of destruction and rebuilding on the same site (what are there, 9 layers at Von Schlieman's Troy?). We're Americans, We're Human Beings - we didn't claw our way to the top of the heap on this planet to be defeated by some wind and water!

Down off the soapbox ... I'm feeling much better now.

My heart breaks watching the TV coverage. It is unbelievable that it took 4 days to get water and food to the affected areas...in the richest nation on the planet. We need a leader like Rudy Guillani was in New York after 9/11

I have given cash to the redcross and I hope all PB members will do so. I don't need that new rod etc. when so many people are suffering. Call 1-800-HELPNOW

Frank

ewest,

Bingo on the gas situation. It's making things triple hard to organize and rescue people. When the police can't move their cars because of high water or lack of gasoline, things are bound to be difficult. The wackos won't be satisfied until we burn cow dung for fuel and eat tree bark for food. Enough already.

Theo, I do a lot of thinking on the seat of my tractor too! New Orleans was built on a flood plain only a few feet above sea level. This flood plain rose upward from the sea bed. It is a result of millennia of sediment from the annual Mississippi river floods. The annual floods were stopped 75 years ago. Naturally, the soil compacts and subsides. I'm not certain it's possible to haul in enough soil to build up the low areas in the city. I'm not sure it's possible to build the levees solid enough to withstand a category 5 hurricane. I think N.O. will be rebuilt, but the map will be changed forever. There are many neighborhoods flooded beyond any hope of recovery. The only solution is to bull doze, and replace these neighborhoods with fields and parks.

It is hard to put in to words what has happened to the poor folks of this storm. We started putting people up in our Bed and Breakfast since Sunday. Most have no homes at all. Our friends have brought clothes, food and any thing they can to try and make life a little better. It is very hard to hold back tears as you talk to them and try and be positive about what kind of life they can go back to. I have sent some to my cabin and still am not sure how to comfort and provide any kind of life for people who are not asking for anything. It is just a small part my family can do, for just a fraction of people. I cooked breakfast for 27 people and watch the news and see people who just want some water and dry clothes. We pray this gets better than worst.
Bob

bmccreight

Tell me how I can help. A donation to red cross seems like I am donating to a black hole. Would a cash donation to you make a difference in helping people?

Maybe PB guys can help.

I sent you email

Frank

Dear Frank, thank you for your reply. I am not looking for help, we are fine and just doing a very small part in this bigger than life problem. I can ask my wife if any of the kids might need something, but I am really just so beside my self in this problem and I watch the news and think that most of the people are not bad, just do not know what to do. I think we can all pray that God will take care of the good folks and srike those that are making a mess of things.

I am thankful you are helping. Please give me your mailing address so I can send you a check to help you help those in need. I don't have any refugees here in Ga but you do. You can surely use $ to help.

Dear Frank, hang in there you may get some. I think this will get bigger than most think. We have had a great year with real esate and I personaly had someone do something for me in sending me and my daughter to a father- daughter camp in the northwest, that changed me and her life. I think this was a small way of paying it forward. Our B&B is always slow this time of year, so it is a good fit.
BM