OT: Hurricane Katrina

Andrew · 1st September 2005, 04:36 AM

I just finished an online conversation with an aquaintance who lived in New Orleans. Thankfully, he and his family are all safe, as they evacuated before the storm hit.

He and his brother are paramedics and, using their credentials, suceeded in gaining access to the city to assess the damage to their home and to retrieve some belongings. They had the wisdom to arm themselves.

He advises that the looting and crimes against people are being under-reported by the media. Armed mobs are roaming the few dry streets left in the city, and they personally witnessed multiple attacks, carjackings and shootings. They also saw bodies floating in the streets. They left without reaching their home.

Martial law has been declared in New Orleans. A mandatory evacuation has been ordered, and convoys of vehicles are transporting refugees to the Houston Astrodome several hundred miles away for shelter. It is estimated the entire city will be unihabitable for months. Current estimates place the number of deaths in the thousands.

I am overwhelmed. Godspeed to everyone touched by this tragedy.

1st September 2005, 04:36 AM	#1
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	I just finished an online conversation with an aquaintance who lived in New Orleans. Thankfully, he and his family are all safe, as they evacuated before the storm hit. He and his brother are paramedics and, using their credentials, suceeded in gaining access to the city to assess the damage to their home and to retrieve some belongings. They had the wisdom to arm themselves. He advises that the looting and crimes against people are being under-reported by the media. Armed mobs are roaming the few dry streets left in the city, and they personally witnessed multiple attacks, carjackings and shootings. They also saw bodies floating in the streets. They left without reaching their home. Martial law has been declared in New Orleans. A mandatory evacuation has been ordered, and convoys of vehicles are transporting refugees to the Houston Astrodome several hundred miles away for shelter. It is estimated the entire city will be unihabitable for months. Current estimates place the number of deaths in the thousands. I am overwhelmed. Godspeed to everyone touched by this tragedy.