New Orleans... very sad

[mudkow60]

I have never seen what I saw today. In New Orleans, thousands of folks trapped on the roofs of their houses. I have been a helo pilot for the Navy for 9 years, and was not ready to see what I saw today.

Just wanted to let everyone know that it is worse than what the news is showing. I felt helpless.. but our two helos combined saved 100 people today. In less than two hours.

Sorry to vent, but I have never seen a human tragedy before. Had to pass up folks on the roofs to rescue families as night was coming. Very sad...

 

[viper548]

Keep up the good work.

 

[VampyreGTX]

Keep up the good work. Seeing all the looting and the reports of shootings now and attacks on cops, it's great to hear stories about the great job you guys are doing. You definitely are hero's, especially to all the people that you have saved and will save.

 

[Dr Pokenhiemer]

I saw a bad one in India when I was in the Army. Typhoon killed about 20,000 people. Tomorrow I'm supposed to fly over New Orleans for FEMA. Never thought I'd see something like that here. Met an old couple on the plane tonight from New Orleans. They lost it all, but were happy to still have each other. My boss still hasn't from his sister, and lots of his other family members lost their homes. It's going to be a long road to recovery that will affect the entire country.

 

[Resume Writer]

Keep up the good work!


I have several clients in that area. I am worried about them. We also have people from this board that are in that area. One in particular is Daveman. Has anyone heard from him?

Kathy

 

[Flylo]

My hat is off to you and your courageous compatriots, mudkow.

Before this is over with, we're all going to be affected in one way or another but you guys are among the few that are actually laying their lives on the line and doing something about it.

I believe this is a case where all of us who aren't involved in the rescue effort should send whatever we can afford to the Red Cross and specify that it's for the Katrina clean-up. This time, the money is badly needed right here at home and if that mess isn't cleaned up as quickly as possible, people will begin dying of diseases we haven't seen for 150 years or that they don't even have names for yet.

Mudkow, you guys be as careful as you can out there and know that your efforts are sincerely appreciated and applauded from one side of this country to the other.

.

 

[Resume Writer]

One place I have heard that is matching donations is Lowe's Home Improvement. They will match donations, I believe made at their website, up to $1 million.


Just make sure that you give to a reputable organization. There will be all kinds of people out there trying to make money off the suffering of others.

Kathy

 

[UALHammer]

My area took a direct hit by both Frances and Jeanne in 2004. I thought living in a trailer next to my house for 6 months was bad. That was nothing compared to what is happening in LA, MS, and AL. Unless you have lived with nothing, you'll never know how much a few bags of ice, a case of water, and few MRE's can mean when the stores are closed for weeks on end.

The Red Cross was there for us, and they will be there for you if you need them. you can give at 1 (800) HELP NOW or www.redcross,org

Flylo is right...People are in need. You can help.

If you have ever received, please give.

Mudkow, thank you for your service.

UALHammer

I have never seen what I saw today. In New Orleans, thousands of folks trapped on the roofs of their houses. I have been a helo pilot for the Navy for 9 years, and was not ready to see what I saw today.

Just wanted to let everyone know that it is worse than what the news is showing. I felt helpless.. but our two helos combined saved 100 people today. In less than two hours.

Sorry to vent, but I have never seen a human tragedy before. Had to pass up folks on the roofs to rescue families as night was coming. Very sad...

 

[RunUp]

Hey mudkow60,

Thanks for the eyewitness report, and for your service to our country and to your fellow man. It's guys like you who make a difference.

Heard a commentator on the radio last night who said that the devastation was so widespread and so complete, he predicted that New Orleans would be the new Pompeii. What a tragedy.

 

[Yank McCobb]

Bless you and thank you for your contribution. Your efforts certainly do not go unrecognized or unappreciated. Those of us not there cannot even begin to imagine how difficult it must be, yet you power on. The mark of a true hero.

Thanks again.

 

[the_dimwit]

I'd like to echo the comments of the others here. As I watched the footage yesterday, I was humbled. The gentleman who was hacking into a rooftop to answer the call of a scared individual trapped within the house was awe-inspiring.

If you're ever in the DC area, I'd be honored to buy you a beer.

Thank you.

Don

 

[HoursHore]

I wonder if New Orleans might be a Dead City. Its going to be months before any one can move back. They basically have to rebuild the whole infrastructure, Water, electrics, Sewage. The place is a septic night mare.

Hopefully its like Chicago after the Fire. Rebuilt better than before.

 

[Phoenix45]

I'm sorry, but call me heartless if you must.

I have absolutely NO SYMPATHY for those who chose not to evacuate. Knowing that New Orleans is that close to the sea, and that it is below sea level with a Cat IV hurricane headed directly for it... You have to be a complete idiot to remain.

Now that being said, for those who did evacuate, or those who absolutely could not evacuate or attempted to I wish the best of luck.

 

[cfd130]

Maybe the oil companies can donate $ to the relief effort since they were alreay making record profits and the price of gas just went up 30 cents here today. Sorry to be bitter but no one should profit (OR LOOT-There should be a shoot to kill order for looters) from others misery and misfortune

 

[RunUp]

One of the tough questions will be, SHOULD it be rebuilt? How much sense does it make to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a below sea level city that could experience the same thing when the next hurricane blows through?

 

[VampyreGTX]

I'm sorry, but call me heartless if you must.

I have absolutely NO SYMPATHY for those who chose not to evacuate. Knowing that New Orleans is that close to the sea, and that it is below sea level with a Cat IV hurricane headed directly for it... You have to be a complete idiot to remain.

Now that being said, for those who did evacuate, or those who absolutely could not evacuate or attempted to I wish the best of luck.

To enlighten you a little, some people could NOT evacuate. They had no means to. 28% of the city is below the poverty level. The majority of those that remained behind had no transportation of their own or no financial means to secure a ride out. The night before, the storm was a weak cat 2 storm, one that the city was capable of handling. There was also a sense of complacency as all the other 'major' storms either veered away or weakened in the cooler coastal waters. The people that had means to get out and didn't, it's their own fault, but a good portion of those that remained had no choice of their own to do so.

Anyway, the city will be rebuilt. However, most of the flooded buildings will be uninhabitable due to mold and other contamination and will need to be rebuilt back from scratch.

 

[Superpilot92]

To enlighten you a little, some people could NOT evacuate. They had no means to. 28% of the city is below the poverty level. The majority of those that remained behind had no transportation of their own or no financial means to secure a ride out. The night before, the storm was a weak cat 2 storm, one that the city was capable of handling. There was also a sense of complacency as all the other 'major' storms either veered away or weakened in the cooler coastal waters. The people that had means to get out and didn't, it's their own fault, but a good portion of those that remained had no choice of their own to do so.

Anyway, the city will be rebuilt. However, most of the flooded buildings will be uninhabitable due to mold and other contamination and will need to be rebuilt back from scratch.

hence him stating

"Now that being said, for those who did evacuate, or those who absolutely could not evacuate or attempted to I wish the best of luck."

I believe that was the disclaimer.

 

[VampyreGTX]

hence him stating

"Now that being said, for those who did evacuate, or those who absolutely could not evacuate or attempted to I wish the best of luck."

I believe that was the disclaimer.

Doh... misread the second part of the statement. Guess I should get back to work now!

 

[mayday1]

One of the tough questions will be, SHOULD it be rebuilt? How much sense does it make to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a below sea level city that could experience the same thing when the next hurricane blows through?

yeah, that's been one of my questions as well..

 

[StaySeated]

Be safe on your next evac flight...any chance you can hang a couple grunts out of the doors with 60's or a SAW or maybe a 50 cal and do some strafing runs up and down the streets with the looters?