Hurricane Disaster

[charrbq]

Unless you've been lost in space or locked in a closet, you're aware of the hurricane destruction in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Even though they have tried, the news media has not been able to relay the actual loss in the area.
We were fortunate in that we only lost electricity for a few hours and some trees that were rendered havoc on. All of our friends and family in the Baton Rouge area were similarly fortunate. However, many in the New Orleans, north shore, and Gulf Coast regions are missing. We haven't been able to reach them by phone or message. Hopefully, they made it out okay, but I'm certain that some didn't.
The rescue effort is enormous! The pictures of the volunteers and first responders who are risking their lives and equipment continuously brings tears to your eyes. As with most large cities, the criminal element shows up in the media. Please don't judge us by them.
At times like these we should put aside our frustration with rules, suspect competitors, and the aggravation that goes with the joy of racing. The loss of a racing effort to the ravages of a disaster such as this is sad, but minute compared to loss of jobs, homes, and families. These are our friends and families in the racing community whether they be competitors, crew, workers, or stewards.
The best way to help is through donations to the Red Cross and United Way. They are our best hope.
I'm not sure whether this message is a plea for help or a cry of desperation. What is certain is that this is a terrible loss.

[lateapex911]

Chris, my heart goes out to the residents of the entire region.

The situation is staggering. The immediate mess is unbelievable, but I am worried about all the ramifications down the road.

It is very obvious that this is the single largest, most far reaching disaster the US has seen in the last 100 years.

Listening to comments and pleas form the residents, it is obvious that even they have no idea of the enormity, and the impossibility of the situation.

[emwavey]

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family/friends.

Thanks so much for posting and relaying what you see. As much as I try to ignore the media "hype", it's almost unavoidable. You have probably given us more actual news in your post then I've seen in the last week. Thank you!

It's also great that you pointed out how best to help.

[charrbq]

As time goes by, we're are starting to hear from our friends. Most are okay, but displaced from North Carolina to Texas. We've become the temporary home for three homless friends and a Pug. They've pretty traumitized.
Thanks for the concern.

[Despr8dave]

Chris, Please keep us up to date with what ever info you receive. We sat through 4 hurricanes last year here in Central Florida. It was tough, but my home was spared with only roof damage and my place of employment was left intact. Nothing compared with what has happened with this one. I am in the RV industry and I can tell you FEMA is doing everything they can. A friend of mine just called and his company sold them 300!! camping trailors, they are looking for 20,000. We are getting alot of calls from people who are wanting to go to the damaged area to help. We are preparing three coaches for our local police department to stay in while they are there.( Winter Garden police dept. ) Not trying to blow any horns, just wanting others to know that people care and are doing things to help, where we can. God bless you folks and we'll keep trying to help.

[ddewhurst]

***FEMA is doing everything they can.***

I hate to attact you in a time of need for many people. If OUR federal goverment/fema & all the others within the bureaucracy are doing ALL THEY CAN why in the hell didn't they use hilocopters with cargo nets to deliver water & food to those within the dome (& other places) on Tuesday ?

Please answer that question.

[Despr8dave]

Originally posted by ddewhurst@Sep 2 2005, 08:14 PM
***FEMA is doing everything they can.***

I hate to attact you in a time of need for many people. If OUR federal goverment/fema & all the others within the bureaucracy are doing ALL THEY CAN why in the hell didn't they use hilocopters with cargo nets to deliver water & food to those within the dome (& other places) on Tuesday ?

Please answer that question.

59578

I guess they can't just snap their fingers and make it happen. Why wasn't the Louisiana state government better prepared? they were warned. Why aren't the people who started the fires boiling water??? are they watching the TV's they stole???.....we can arm chair quarterback all we want, we are not there. I don't take the "attack" as on "me" anyway. Be thankful you live in a "free" country. It is a very sad thing that has happened. People are stepping up to the plate and helping, late or not. How do you prepare for such devistation? Maybe you are right, FEMA may not be doing everything they can, but where the hell would these poor people be without them or any hope of help at all?

[67ITB]

Originally posted by ddewhurst@Sep 2 2005, 04:14 PM
***FEMA is doing everything they can.***

I hate to attact you in a time of need for many people. If OUR federal goverment/fema & all the others within the bureaucracy are doing ALL THEY CAN why in the hell didn't they use hilocopters with cargo nets to deliver water & food to those within the dome (& other places) on Tuesday ?

Please answer that question.

59578

Hello David,
I feel I must reply to your comment but please don’t take this the wrong way as I intend it to be an informative response.
While I am not at the Superdome, I have friends that are working the rescue mission and I can tell you that there was an attempt to bring in rescue helicopters (UH-60 Blackhawks) with supplies but they were shot at, yes shot at by thugs (terrorists?) in our own country.

This is the kind of treatment that Soldiers expect and plan for daily in Iraq, but not here in the United States. Military units were forced to back up (notice I don’t say retreat) and re-group after that happened. (If you notice now many soldiers are wearing Bullet Proof Vests)
Unfortunately it is like everywhere else, that a few bad apples can spoil it for everyone.
This is not the time to point fingers but to do all that we as individuals can do. Maybe a donation to the Red Cross, or drop off some supplies at a local Armory (is Waukesha local to you?)
I hope this helped shed some light on the situation

Matt Bal

[charrbq]

What my friends are telling me is what I already knew. Sadly, there is an underlying element in New Orleans that is of the lowest caliber. That is why you have to be careful where you are at any time other than Mardis Gras.
I'm not being racist, just accurate. Many of the poor white and black and others who couldn't evacuate are being forced to stay in flooded areas and hide from the armed, black gangs. They are the ones who are stealing, killing, robbing, and raping. Percentage-wise, they are small, but they have many guns.

As stated, if this was Iraq or such, when they shot at us, we'd shoot back. But inspite of the criminal element, these are us. Emotions run wild, and everyone involved in politics seems to be running for re-election. Second guessing politics isn't the goal here.

Anytime you watch the TV, listen to the radio, donate to the wonderful people who are helping out, or watch the efforts of so many heroes, you can't help but get misty. And then you hear of the crime, the deaths, the viscious outcries, or watch the fools shoot at those heroes, you get furious.

Such is the nature of disaster and human form.

I possibly shouldn't have started a thread like this one on this site, but I know of many of our racing friends that have lost everything, and some I haven't heard from as yet. We are a racing community, and it's times like this that we should be aware of one another's tragedy.

I get angry at politics, but it's people here. We'll handle the politicians later.

[pgipson]

Theer are lots of places to debate who should have done what when. Let's focus here on helping friends and family. I reached my brother in Mobile (my family has been on the Gulf for 12 generations -- I am the only desert rat) and he and his family are safe with only minimal damage. But there are many others we still don't know about yet, including my Mother in an advanced care facility for Alzheimers patients. As Chris said, what the relief agencies need now is the support of all Americans. We have donated to the Red Cross. The other organization that is most effective in delivering aid in these situations (in my experience) is the Salvation Army.

[charrbq]

That's true, the Salvation Army is a great source of comfort and assistance. They are an amazing bunch. The criticism of the delays and inconvenience is warranted. But no matter how late or how insufficient in the eyes of those concerned, it's come and still coming. When terrorists struck, the nation sprung to immediate response just as they did when Pearl Harbor was bombed. That's the nature of our being. This hits us differently. It seems as though when we see things like this happen, we settle back and watch it happen on TV, shake our heads, and say, "My, my, my, what a shame. They need to do something to get those people out of there." Then we change the station to Oprah or CSI and get another beer. I'm just as bad.

[jc836]

Our small community will support the effort to restore the Gulf coast. Personally, I am not directly affected. I do have friends and family in Alabama that were either evacuated or spared the storm.

I have said this to others-if the President could sign an advance Disaster Declaration then he should have also had the Governors order the National Guard (all branches) on to standby status. This would have put the resources in place and ready to move that day. Why was Congress not called back on Monday? We have no real answers to these things and may never get one other than it is "hindsight". This is utter nonsense-I have lived thru several hurricanes that came up the Chesapeake Bay and we were moved out beforehand. This was a long time ago but the precedent is established.

As to the situation in New Orleans-that can be debated elsewhere. I feel for ALL who have lost whatever they had. No one in this country should have to starve to death because they were unable to escape the horror of the flooding. Why did planners allow hospitals to be built in an area where the potential for a disaster exists? Then they even allowed emergency/contingency systems to be placed at or below the highest point that water could rise to? Good questions that need answers. So many other things to think about. Again we can deal with them AFTER the people of the region are given a chance to recover.

Pet peeve--Why is it that we can spend $80 BILLION in Iraq and can only come up with $10.5 BILLION for an event that will cost well over $100 Billion in the end? We all know that the insurance industry is going to be unable to fully cover the claims and for that matter there are those with NOTHING and NO insurance.

I wish all those in our community and all others that live in the region a speedy recovery from the ravages of Katrina. May you be restored to a whole life and sense of well being.

[ITANorm]

Folks - IMHO, this forum is not for poitical discussions. There are literally hundreds of forums out there whose sole intent is to bash the "other side".

I moderate on another automotive forum, and am well aware that everyone in the world has a "better idea" on everything the government does. Let's not devolve into that type of hyperbole and finger-pointing. We should have more class than that.

What am I doing about it? I have donated to responsible charities - more generously than many, less than some. And I have let it be known that if anyone needs a place to crash, I have some room. I suggest you do the same, instead of complaining.

That said . . . my heart goes out to those affected; and my thoughts and prayers are for them and those who are actively working in the rescue / relief efforts.

[Despr8dave]

Big "Ditto" for what Norm said. Thank you Norm, a class act.

[charrbq]

We just took in two more people that made it out. They tell horror stories of looting and crime, but they also tell us stories of the kindness and generousity of people from everywhere. They say that they are amazed at the good that's going on and the care from all of you. Thanks guys. Regardless of politics, pride and prejudice, the state, the nation, the world is coming through. It's just now that the impact is hitting me. Never doubt that there are wonderful people out there that truly give a @#$%^& about all of us. From the most horrible of things come the most wonderful acts of kindness. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

[gsbaker]

More good news.

We finally contacted a customer from Lafayette, LA. He had ordered an Isaac system for delivery the day after Katrina struck. We called him the morning the hurricane made landfall hoping to catch him before he lost phone service, to see if he wanted us to hold delivery. Too late. His phone lines have been out ever since.

FedEx calls today to inform us that they cannot get to that area and are returning his shipment. We try the phones one more time and they are still out.

Finally he responds to an e-mail from a family member's home. Does he still want his Isaac? He says, paraphrasing, "Sure. We'll get the tree off the house this weekend so I can get the car out of the garage in time for the race."

What a relief. I thought we'd lost him.

:happy204:

[Despr8dave]

Another "true" racer at heart!........maybe send a chainsaw with the Isaac's...
D

[ITANorm]

Originally posted by charrbq@Sep 2 2005, 01:33 PM
As time goes by, we're are starting to hear from our friends. Most are okay . . ..


Since Baton Rouge seems to have been missed by the worst of it, is it safe to assume that you and Gareth made it through OK?? Hope to see you at Memphis!

[charrbq]

He lost electricity for several days and couldn't work on his car, but that won't make any difference come the ARRC. I only lost power for a few hours. Worst part is the beer got warm at Gary's house.
I won't make anymore races this year until the 6 hour enduro before Thanksgiving in Texas. But next year should hold many surprises for my car. I may actually develop horsepower for a change! :D

[Tristan Smith]

Originally posted by emwavey@Sep 2 2005, 03:28 PM
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family/friends.

Thanks so much for posting and relaying what you see. As much as I try to ignore the media "hype", it's almost unavoidable. You have probably given us more actual news in your post then I've seen in the last week. Thank you!

It's also great that you pointed out how best to help.

59564


Which "media hype" would that be? As one of those media folks who rode out and reported live in Gulfport MS. on what Hurricane Katrina (as well as Dennis, Emily and just yesterday Rita in Galveston) was doing, and whose vehicle was struck by an 8 by 12 foot section of security fence caught up in 140 mph winds which destroyed the SUV my repoter and camera man were in, I take offense. MOST of the folks in the media go to extremes to try to be fair and accurate (FOX News excluded). You are probably one of those whiners who yells at the TV whenever you see something on it that you may disagree with, but that makes it no less the truth. Let me just say that we have a difficult job at times (you try doing your job while people are shooting at you. I have done it more than once) but the professionalism of the people who do it couldn't be duplicated by you on your best day. Now go crawl under your rock again and pretend that your belief systems are the only viewpoints out there.

[charrbq]

I'm going to make a stretch and attempt to apologize for the way someone else phrased their comment. "Media Hype" is probably a poorly chosen combination of words that's all too commonly used in communication. When I watch you guys on the tube out there reporting on all the crap that's going on, when all the rest of us are either hauling ass to get out of there or sitting at home watching the whole thing unfold before us, I honestly get choked up. Sure, it's your job. Most of us do things that others don't understand why, when it's only a pay check. But I'm always impressed by those that go in when everyone else says "get out."
Police, firemen, first responders all get the commendation they deserve, but without you guys, the rest of us wouldn't know about it. Whether it's in the eye of a hurricane or in a convoy in Iraq or middle of a forest fire or whatever, the media sends men and women into the middle of it to let the rest of us know just what's going on as it happens. That's why it's call NEWS.
That said, sadly, you guys take the hit for the term "Media Hype". Reality, it's the ratings driven by our own thirst for excitement that give us what we all too often see. It's not you guys, but the editors, the advertisers, or any number of people in another area of the media that determines what we see and know as truth.
What we see as media hype is when the news shows us the tragedy of New Orleans, but misses the horror of those on the north shore. We see the casinos on the beach of Biloxi washed ashore, but fail to give much notice to the smaller towns that are absolutely no longer there...along with many of the people that once lived there.
Rita ripped the hell out of southwest Louisiana and the southeast portion of Texas. But how much more coverage would it have gotten had it hit the Houston area, or had Katrina not just slapped the crap out of the other end of Louisiana and Mississippi only a month before? That's not your fault or even the guys who make the decisions off what segment of film we see, but ours.
There has been virtually no coverage of the flooding in south Lousiana as a result of Rita. Again, that's not your fault, but the devastation is greater than that of Katrina.
I'm sorry you took offense to another writer's comments. I assume he meant no harm. As I'd said before, I probably shouldn't have used this forum to discuss a tragedy such as this, but that's done now.
We often forget that these things don't just do damage to anonymous people, but to people we know and care about that are a part of our sport. Shamefully, we forget that some of us have to go in and do their job and risk their lives just to keep us abreast of the horrors that transpire.
I'm sorry you were offended. I hope you and your crew weren't hurt in the storm. We need guys like you to let us know what's going on, 'cause Lord only knows, we won't do it.

[Tristan Smith]

Thanks, I appreciate the sincere words. Just tired of the media bashing. Everyone is part of the problem: audiences, editors, advertisers, and even sometimes the journalists. But unfortunatly ratings drive the way news works these days and that is the folks out there on the otherside of the screen. The reason you see so much coverage of Michael Jackson or the Holloway girl is because you the viewers demand it. It's all an ugly cycle, so we should all probably go get a great classic novel to read and ignore it all, ha. Sorry for my pantie wadding.

[Eagle7]

Originally posted by Tristan Smith@Sep 26 2005, 07:42 AM
Thanks, I appreciate the sincere words. Just tired of the media bashing.
61181

Seems like you did a little media bashing of your own - "MOST of the folks in the media go to extremes to try to be fair and accurate (FOX News excluded).";
People are turning off the major network news in droves because they don't perceive it to be "fair and accurate".

[gsbaker]

With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight from last year's three hurricanes that came through here I feel qualified to note that in such events everyone does something wrong, everyone suffers some sort of loss, everyone is frustrated about something and everyone is angry at someone. :bash_1_: