what on earth is wrong with people?

[isabeau]

i just watched a clip on cnn of the days right after the hurricane in the convention center. mutilated bodies lying right and left?? what happeened? and why was this allowed? what on earth is wrong with people? i understand there is to be an investigation but how could something like this happen? the convention was supposed to be a place of refuge and safety. i hope this is the right place for this thread.

isabeau

 

[unit5610]

Things (including cities) and situations just gradually build up and evolve with time over years, decades and in some cases centuries. Natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes happen in mere minutes or hours and can undo the years of "progress" when the worst case scenario hasn't been planned for. Very often, hazard management does not follow along with the progression of events in adequate fashion and I think that was the case here.
As it happens (it was in the news tonight), FEMA or somebody modeled a “virtual” hurricane last year, called it Hurricane Pam, and slammed it into a computer simulation of New Orleans and determined at that time that the levee system would fail in a major hurricane. I don’t think much if any improvement to the system was done with these results, or if there would have been time.
As for the horrible failure of the so-called "shelters", I can't explain that one.
The long and short of it is, it’s human nature to not prepare for the absolute worst until after it happens and everyone is shocked into action, and that’s what we’re seeing now.
Just my opinion…excellent though provoking question.
I’ll get off of my soapbox now…

 

[sole seeker]

Science channel had a little bit to say about this tonight. One of the persons interviewed (I didn't catch the lady's name or title) said that about thirty years ago a plan was proposed for bolstering up the city of New Orleans against this contingency. The projected cost was in the billions, and the time-frame for the project was 20 years. At that time no one was willing to put that much money into a project that was going to take that long. Bad call, huh!

In the end, FEMA will get a serious ass chewing over this and undoubtedly heads will roll. I don't know all the specific logistics of this event, but I can tell you from an emergency services point-of-view that you can't have your emergency response stuff standing by in the same area that's about to undergo the attack/disaster. If you do you just lose all your equipment, supplies and personnel when the event happens. You have to keep those resources safe and move them into the area afterward. That's really tough to do when the area's infrastructure has been destroyed.

 

[kyle]

Why did those horrible things happen in the convention center in new orleans?

Well, i'd say that at least 80% of those people were living under the poverty level already. A general assumption can be made that these people aren't the most civilized to begin with. Throw in the chaotic and lawless atmosphere, not to mention being without basic necessities for days, and you get what happend. It shouldn't be too big of a surprise.

And i just thought of this.. The whole situation reminds me of that book "Lord of the Flies".

 

[isabeau]

i agree with you cabanaboy. and also some of the most polite people live below the proverty level. that statement made absolutely no sense. what i need to know however is the key word in my thread mutilation??? someone cut these people up. why is what i want to know?

isabeau

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

Thread Mutilation?

Sounds like a job for Kobb! 😛

In seriousness, tho: New Orleans was plagued by a series of brutal serial-killings about this time last year. I dunno if they ever caught the bastard. Maybe the butcher wound-up there at the Convention Center. Would've been like a kid in a candy shop...

 

[isabeau]

Sounds like a job for Kobb! 😛

In seriousness, tho: New Orleans was plagued by a series of brutal serial-killings about this time last year. I dunno if they ever caught the bastard. Maybe the butcher wound-up there at the Convention Center. Would've been like a kid in a candy shop...

omg for real? now thats an idea. wouldnt that be the strangest thing to have a brutal serial killer loose in the convention center. thanks for responding to my thread Dr. Bill that makes sense. maybe you should contact the local authorities i heard they are starting an investigation

isabeau

 

[steph]

Hi Sweetpea~I'm always amazed how tragedies like this bring out the best in some folks and the worst in others... 😕
XOXO

 

[kyle]

Excuse me Cabanaboy but I was directly responding to this quote in the first post of the thread.

"i just watched a clip on cnn of the days right after the hurricane in the convention center. mutilated bodies lying right and left?? "

My post was simply a response to the lawless nature of the people at the convention center. I agree with you that our government failed on all levels. As a Louisiana resident I am completely ashamed of my state government.

Another thing Cabanaboy, don't come at me with your high and mighty bullshit unless you can comprehend what you're reading. If you want some life experiences why don't you come on down to louisiana for a while.

POVERTY LEVEL!!! Poverty level has nothing whatsoever with the inability to provide water in an emergency situation. You sound like Barbara Bush and the idiotic comments she recently said.

I worked fire rescue for 13 years responding to emergency situations including Huriccane Andrew in S. Florida. I've personally seen the death and destruction and know first hand how federal response units normally respond. They were there during Andrew but nowhere to be seen for days and days at that convention center. FEMA and the federal gov't showed COMPLETE INCOMPETENTCY in this non-response! We can't even call it a bad response because it was a non-response.

The news crews were there DAYS before any water arrived.

Poverty my ass . . . . and UNCIVILIZED! An uppity attitude like yours is what caused people like the spoon-fed Bush family to sit back with apathy while these people were dying . . .. who is showing their true colors and looking like the uncivilized bunch now.

Your comments show that you need some life experience son, you really do and I hope you get some.

 

[isabeau]

since starting this thread i have heard different news. my husband told me that cnn interviewed the policeman in charge say it wasnt true. it didnt happen. those pictures were fake. hmmm now what? he said there might have been a few isolated incidents of rape but he said the policeman were doing their jobs, and sleeping with one eye open. any opinions on this?

isabeau

 

[Knox The Hatter]

Now, here's something...

What if people from Palm Beach were put in a situation like this? I'm wondering if, given their station in life, as people who are used to getting anything they want, in virtually no time at all, they would behave differently.

My hypothesis is that they wouldn't. After five days of being captive in sweltering heat without clean water, or food, or medicine, or toilet facilities, I think they'd be ready to riot, too.

As for the violence: many people don't know, but New Orleans has a very violent history. The events played out at the Convention Center aren't too far removed from the context of that history.

It's all very sad.

 

[steph]

Also, as a huge tourist trap, the crime rate is obscenely high year round...
XOXO

As for the violence: many people don't know, but New Orleans has a very violent history

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

It's true.

While most major cities saw a decrease in violent crimes in the last coupla years, The Big Easy saw a nice little jump.

I'm still kinda bummed that Mardi Gras will probably be cancelled there this year, for all practical purposes. Guess I'll go to Mobile in `06.

 

[kyle]

Cabanaboy,

Maybe you're confused here. I said 80% of those people were under the poverty level. I was referring to 80% of the people in the convention center. Now, New Orleans has a sad crime problem (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8999837/), with their murder rate 10 times the national average. Now i can guarantee that a good portion of these at the convention center lived lives below society's standard of "civilized". Living below the poverty level does not make you uncivilized, but it doesn't help.
And cabanaboy, you might want to check the definition of that word if there's any confusion for you. It's really simple sociology.

Also, I think it's entertaining that you get so worked up over my post that you already know so much about me to suggest i need some "life experiences". You call me a redneck based on the fact that I'm from Louisiana, then you insult Louisiana by vowing to never go after vigorously defending residents of the same state. You're being a complete hypocrite.

It didn't seem like anyone else had any problems with my post so check yourself.

I refuse to allow you to put a spin on your comments. Your comment was CLEAR so don't try that Bush-administration-type of spin on me, I'm too mature for that. It works on uneducated, brain-washable people but not individual thinkers like myself.

You respond aggressively to my commenting on your apathetic response to these innocent victims because you exposed your true self . . . . like our man Bush has been and continues to expose his true self. Apathetic and non-caring. It is your right to make comments as you did but DO NOT TRY TO SPIN IT because it is CLEAR what you were saying. You stated these people were "uncivilized to begin with" etc. Insensitive to the max! And just a mindless comment you may hear from some drunk redneck in a barstool somewhere at 11AM some morning.

And like I said, son, you need a few life experiences. I have learned a lot from my experiences and maybe over the years you will also learn to stop offering excuses and take accountability for your actions and comments and become a caring person like many of the rest of us. And I prefer to get my life experiences in other places than LA after hearing your insensitive remarks.

Peace.

 

[isabeau]

now you two please dont call each other names. i started this thread to get peoples thoughts on what the hell went wrong in that convention center. not for us to tear each other to pieces. i still have no idea how this happened. how were murders and the like possible in a place where everyone was supposed to be seeking refuge, possibly refuge from death only to find it there??

isabeau

 

[Red Jester]

New Orleans had one of the highest crime rates of all the cities in the US. And, as its been stated in this thread, was no stranger to brutal muders and rape before the Hurricane hit. Franky, I'd be surprised if it wasn't like that down there now. Considering the refugee's were the poorest part of the society and the fact that, due to government incompetence, they've been denied basic things like water and food, such violent actions were inevitable.

 

[Dussicar]

The thing that boggles my mind, is how all of this is going to get sorted out after.

After the destruction, the lack of aid, the violence post disaster. How in god's name can this city(from which I've heard was not exactly doing well to begin with) rebuild it's self???

And, of course, it would have to happen during the time of the U.S.A.'s most incompetent rulership in American history!

I can't even stand the thought of all those people whose lives are destroyed by human nature, let alone the humungous damage caused by the hurricane.

 

[kyle]

Cabanaboy,

You're not addressing my post. You keep saying i'm putting "spin" on things and have the same mentallity as the feds. Please read my last post and go from there. You're not making sense.

 

[Dussicar]

Cabanaboy,

You're not addressing my post. You keep saying i'm putting "spin" on things and have the same mentallity as the feds. Please read my last post and go from there. You're not making sense.

I think it's because he put you on his ignore list....WOW! I didn't actually think people really used those things on forums!!!

PS: To RED JESTER: I love your sig. It made me laugh my ass off.

 

[stdave]

I think in a situtation as this it tends to bring out the best and worst in people.

 

[isabeau]

all i can say is i've sure learned alot about new orleans i didnt know before. i knew they had a high crime rate, but in times like this, one would think that even thugs have better natures. i guess i'm wrong. since i tend to try to believe the best in people, this came as quite a shock to think that during a time when loss of life and homes should have been foremost in peoples minds, some took advantage of this situation for more of their perverted sick ways. and kyle, cabanaboy did not call you a redneck.

isabeau