nfb: What the hell? Are people this idiotic?

[Steel2686]

I have a question for the engineer folks. How are they gonna stop that water from coming out the levy?

If you mean the damaged areas, Dateline NBC last night stated the Gov't is working on getting 3,000 pound sandbags dropped in the five areas that were damaged.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

There's a BIG difference between stealing television sets and stealing food. They can't use the TVs, so what's the point?

"Hey man check out my new 60" flat screen LCD TV."

"Cool man what cha watchin."

"Nothing now. We have no power to turn it on. No local TV channels because they have no power and their antenna is laying on the ground. No cable because the dishes were taken out at the broadcasting station."

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

I think I just heard one of the most disgusting and horrible things yet.

On the radio right now, they just talked about how apparently a guy shot (don't know if she died) his sister over a bag of ice.

How???? Why???? No unity whatsoever. How could you bring yourself to shooting a family member?!?!

I'm disgusted......

While disgusting... you have no idea the desperation down there right now.

To me, this is 100% more understandable than looting for TVs and electronics... acceptable? No, obviously not... but a bag of ice could be used as a tool for survival.

[95TransAm]

While disgusting... you have no idea the desperation down there right now.

To me, this is 100% more understandable than looting for TVs and electronics... acceptable? No, obviously not... but a bag of ice could be used as a tool for survival.

I would rather die than kill a family member.

[2Fbodcru]

Our government can only do so much without taxing its citizens to death. There are a lot of unanswered questions to this too, so don't go blaming anyone in particular. Isn't it possible that this proposal was made to previous administrations too? Why couldn't the state of Louisiana have improved the levees themselves? New Orleans is a huge tourist town - couldn't the tourism have helped pay for the improvements?

Just a little food for thought.

Yeah, like I was saying "The bottom line is, that the “Powers that Be”, have had since the 1700‘s, when the work on the levees first began, to make them stronger. Everyone knew that this was going to happen eventually, but it was allowed to happen anyway."
Bush is sitting in the catbird's seat right now, and I am afraid that he is going to get the brunt of the blame, because ultimately, it is the responsibility of whoever is boss at the time, to prevent things like this, which was preventable, from happening. Now we have probably thousands of people dead, and an enormous expense financially, and in human terms as well. Its too late now, there is no going back. It makes me wonder what else is coming in the future that can be avoided.

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

I would rather die than kill a family member.

Easy for you to say from behind your electronically powered computer screen.

This is proof of how terrible human nature is in the face of a crisis.

[TraceZ]

The insurance company can't stop them from building there. They can refuse to insure them again if they do. They can raise the rates for flood insurance for them. They have done that for people in Florida. Then the people in Florida complain about their rates being so high.

The people and businesses in Fl. are typically rich. Especially in the coast. They can afford higher insurance and they can afford to rebuild a house after it gets destroyed.

The people that just got hit by Katrina are mostly poor. They dont have the money to rebuild. They cannot afford insurance. Should the government step in and build brand new neighborhoods for those in poverty?

Try getting a mortgage or a construction loan without insurance. It'd be incredibly expensive if it is even offered.

It is the poverty along with the inability to secure financing due to lack of insurance that will end up killing most of the areas hit by Katrina.

There is nothing left. Almost everything will need to be ripped out and replaced. Roads, water mains, sewers, electrical lines, power stations, all communication lines & equipment,.... it is just to much to recover from. Once a building sits underwater for weeks or months even the foundation is destroyed. I bet it would be easier to just build a new city in an empty field.

I predict that some places will be rebuilt (where there is money) and other places will not. The majority of the population will move to other cities.
It will take months before they even have power, water and sewer and then they have to start rebuilding the structures! How long can a polulation survive without those things before they just say screw it and move to a city that already has it all?

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

I agree... I think there will be mass migration from New Orleans to other cities. Populations will probably boom in Houston, Birmingham, and Atlanta.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

The people and businesses in Fl. are typically rich. Especially in the coast. They can afford higher insurance and they can afford to rebuild a house after it gets destroyed.

I say let supply and demand work. I don't think the people around Homestead were that rich. Those debris piles didn't look that large.

The people that just got hit by Katrina are mostly poor. They dont have the money to rebuild. They cannot afford insurance. Should the government step in and build brand new neighborhoods for those in poverty?

Like I said before, the money the government has comes from the people. Why should I have to pay for someone else's poor decision to live in a flood plane. My answer is no.

Try getting a mortgage or a construction loan without insurance. It'd be incredibly expensive if it is even offered.

It is the poverty along with the inability to secure financing due to lack of insurance that will end up killing most of the areas hit by Katrina.

There is nothing left. Almost everything will need to be ripped out and replaced. Roads, water mains, sewers, electrical lines, power stations, all communication lines & equipment,.... it is just to much to recover from. Once a building sits underwater for weeks or months even the foundation is destroyed. I bet it would be easier to just build a new city in an empty field.

I predict that some places will be rebuilt (where there is money) and other places will not. The majority of the population will move to other cities.
It will take months before they even have power, water and sewer and then they have to start rebuilding the structures! How long can a polulation survive without those things before they just say screw it and move to a city that already has it all?

If they choose to rebuild there it is their own fault if it happens again. They should consider themselves warned. Well they were warned when Camille hit but I guess that was so long ago it was forgotten.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

I agree... I think there will be mass migration from New Orleans to other cities. Populations will probably boom in Houston, Birmingham, and Atlanta.

Oh please don't say Atlanta. Our roads are overcrowded as is.

[95TransAm]

Easy for you to say from behind your electronically powered computer screen

Some things don't have justification...even if it means saving your hide. When it comes time for me to be judged at the gates of heaven, how do I explain killing a family member to save myself. Not an enemy, not even a stranger, but a family member. It's actually quite easy to state...I have morals. I also believe in God. I'd rather die now than die later and spend my whole eternity in hell.

Also, before I would kill my family member, I think I would take some advice I learned in kindergarted and share.

I'm sorry, but there is no way I can even understand or justify that...no matter the situation.

Just my opinion.

[95TransAm]

This is proof of how terrible human nature is in the face of a crisis.

Sadly this statement is too true.

[wolfdogs]

its ........gonna get worse......

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

Some things don't have justification...even if it means saving your hide. When it comes time for me to be judged at the gates of heaven, how do I explain killing a family member to save myself. Not an enemy, not even a stranger, but a family member. It's actually quite easy to state...I have morals. I also believe in God. I'd rather die now than die later and spend my whole eternity in hell.

Also, before I would kill my family member, I think I would take some advice I learned in kindergarted and share.

I'm sorry, but there is no way I can even understand or justify that...no matter the situation.

Just my opinion.

My point is not to say that you don't have morals, that you don't believe in God, or to suggest that you might entertain the thought of killing a family member if it meant your survival...

My point is YOU DO NOT KNOW. Please don't sit back in the comfort of your home or office and insult the people of New Orleans by trying to pretend you have a single shred of understanding for what they are faced with.

All that any of us can do is pray that we are NEVER faced with that situation... I'd much rather do that than lie to myself by saying that I know I wouldn't act like that in time of dire need.

The reason why the looting of electronics bothers me more is because those people cannot justify that based on their survival. They aren't trying to save their lives... they're just being "opportunistic" scumbags, preying on people's misfortunaes from a terrible natural disaster. I hope they all get Malaria.

[Steel2686]

I'll stand behind my original statement. IF New Orleans is rebuilt, it will be decades before it becomes what it used to be... and that is only if no more hurricanes threaten during that time span. I'm pretty sure there will be areas rebuilt, however, I just don't ever see it being the booming metropolis it once was... especially for businesses that lost it all.

Insurance will ultimately make the decisions for many to leave that much easier.