Evacuations hampered by gunshots and fires- Page 2

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 11:57am

I'm not trying to get into a huge argument with you about this, robbiej, honestly. This isn't me starting a fight; this is just a genuine question. Do you really think that the surivival of the fittest thing is the best way to go? I realize I'm not in this situation and couldn't possibly try to comprehend what it's like down there. However, I don't believe that I could be one of those people with the guns, hindering any sort of help that comes, whether the help is enough or not.

[robbiej]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 12:33pm

Best way to go? I can't say. But it's probably the only way to go at this point. If there is no law...and let's face it...there really isn't...the government has broken down at this point and failed these people on all levels...then all that's left is taking care of yourself and your family. I hate guns. HATE them. But if I'm ever faced with a situation such as this, I'd grab one and protect myself and my family as best as possible.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 12:38pm

And I'd be the one begging you to use the gun on me. I wouldn't have the strength to fight through something as horrific as what those people are going through.

[robbiej]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 12:43pm

I submit that none of us (thankfully) know really what our reaction would be. It gets primal and things we never think we can handle we find a way.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 12:44pm

It has crossed my mind that if I could swim/walk/paddle blocks or even miles to find a gun shop/appliance store to loot that I could probably also find my way to dry land and potential safety.

Posted: 9/1/05 at 1:46pm

I tend to agree with you, SOMMS, on an individual level. But as I watch these people carrying diapers and such, I have to wonder who or how many they might be responsible for - and I can't even fathom that kind of responsibility or terror.

And i have to say, staunch pacifist that I am, in these conditions I would have no problem defending those who might need my protection. and that goes up to and includes blasting anyone away who I thought was a threat.

Papa would be so proud of me.

[Greg-4now]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 2:11pm

The sad part is that there was a warning to evacuate. They were told to leave; the problem was that there were too many people that had no where to go. I have two friends from NEw Orleans and one from Gulfport, MS - they didn't need the warning, they got out 2 days before the storm. My buddy from Guldport said his entire complex is gone...nothing left. My friend and her husband don't know the fate of their home yet but think its gone too; they are staying with family in VA. But they claim that some of the locals were being somewhat jovial about the pending storm and that they were "stocking up" to ride it out. Very sad.

Posted: 9/1/05 at 2:27pm

they were being jovial? You mean like the president who was golfing while Katrina loomed?

[robbiej]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 2:47pm

I was speaking with a friend from the Gulf Coast of Texas. I kept saying, 'How could people just stay?' He said after your told many times that a big one was coming and to evacuate and then a tepid little storm shows up, people just feel they can ride it out.

[Greg-4now]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 2:47pm

Chita, I am not going down that road with you (or anyone else, for that matter).

What I was told was that some of the people that were staying behind were being light -hearted about staying behind, stocking up, boarding up the windows to ride the storm out. These people had no where else to go. I am willing to bet that these people were terrified having to stay behind, but certainly were going to attempt to make the most of it.

[Greg-4now]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 2:51pm

Robbie...you're so right. That happened in the 1940's on Long Beach Island in NJ. They were told to get off the Island; and had two other evacuations that season but decided to stay. More than half the Island was completely destroyed by the storm surge...many people died. Most homes ended up in the Bay.

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 2:51pm

Swinging back to the class system discussion, there was an op ed in the Times this morning about this very subject.
Watching the coverage last night and reading about this, I really don't know what to say. I cannot begin to imagine what these people must be feeling.
After the Storm

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 2:53pm

More breaking news just reported that a hospital had to halt evacuations because a sniper is firing at them.

[justme2]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 4:17pm

But let's not stop these snipers them fron "venting their frustration", right Namo?

Posted: 9/1/05 at 4:30pm

Where, exactly, has Namo argued that they should just be allowed to do what they want? I've seen some fairly lengthy posts wherin he talks about the reactions that people are having to the situation, and what it says about them and society as a whole, but I don't recall reading or being given the impression that he thinks it should just be allowed to happen - especially at the expense of life-saving efforts. On the contrary, I've sensed he is tremendously disturbed by the whole situation, as are most of us.

[RobbO]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 4:41pm

this is perhaps one of the saddest passages i read in an AP article:

"Many people had dogs and they cannot take them on the bus. A police officer took one from a little boy, who cried until he vomited. "Snowball, snowball," he cried. The policeman told a reporter he didn't know what would happen to the dog."

[justme2]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 4:42pm

Go back and read through two threads of discussions last night (our shifting take on looting... and this one)about the looting where we were talking last night about having to stop the "opportunist" looters and dealing with Namo telling us that people crack, we were wrong, and this is what happens and so on.

There's no direct quote. And you know why you don't see anything about Namo's comments around life saving efforts being hampered? Because he disappeared when we started posting about the life saving efforts having to be abandoned because of the looting.
And then showed up in this thread talking about how "some people on this board are concerned about Plasma Tv's being stolen....".

This, AFTER we had explained to him last night the position on the looters. Again and again.