If major loss of life occurs in New Orleans, the MEDIA will be to blame.

[KyndCulture]

I'm a native coastal Floridian and I've been sitting here watching that henious monster in the gulf and thinking. CNN, Fux, The Weather Channel all of the drama queen media have desensitized people so much over hurricanes and weather. Every time a storm comes it's doom and gloom and they paint the picture of the worst one that every happened.... so much so that when the REAL WORST ONE THAT EVER HAPPENED comes along, people are so desensitized they aren't heeding the REAL clear and present danger warnings to get the fuck OUT of New Orleans.

This coupled with the number of LA and MS National Guard Troops currently deployed is just terrifying me that we are about to see loss of life equal or surpassing Sept 11.

I've seen probably 100 hurricanes develop in my life and growing up on the beach in FL we paid attention to them, I've ridden 4 storms out and my parents lived through both Camille and Dora. I've never seen anything like this storm, she is a brutal beast.

I sure hope I'm wrong about the MSM crying wolf theory but I'm reading the way people are reacting and hearing interviews and that's exactly what I am hearing from people down there. They've been completely desensitized.

[thinkingwoman]

1. You make a great point

I think you're right.

[Vogon_Glory]

2. Commuter Rail, Natural Disasters, and Banana Republicans

The older I get, the more appalled I am that many coastal metro areas like New Orleans don't have commuter rail systems. I believe that commuter rail would allow more people to evacuate faster from natural menaces like hurricanes than our "every man for himself" highway culture.

Too bad for the hapless citizens of New Orleans and other coastal cities that guys like George W. Bush, Grover Norquist, Tom De Lay, and other Banana Republicans are ideologically opposed to such systems.

[Boomer]

3. There's plent of blame to share

After all, the NO mayor is STILL trying to decide on Sunday morning whether or not to mandate an evacuation.

At some point people have to take responsibility for their own decisions. Weather data -- wind speed, barometric pressure, size -- is readily available on TV and the internet. You can cut throught the hype and see the danger.

Unfortunately, there is an expectation that one has to be 100% certain of danger before evacuating. But that's like refusing to buy a fire insurance policy unless you're 100% certain your house will be consumed by fire. Chances are, my house will never be destroyed by fire, but I still have an insurance policy. I accept that I will pay premiums and may never (god willing) get a payoff.

So leaving town is like paying an insurance policy. It sucks, you probably didn't have to do it, but you can't really afford NOT to do it.

[JackDragna]

4. Believe me, it won't be the media's fault.

People in New Orleans keep a close eye on these storms whenever they come about. The city and state have also done very little to adequately prepare Louisiana's largest city. The fault for what's about to happen lies, unfortunately, with the residents.

[RandiFan1290]

5. CNN had someone from

N.O. emergency management and he said that a direct hit could cause 40,000 casualties! They also mentioned that parts of the city would be under 12-15 ft of water for at least 6 months. The pumps would be underwater too so they would have to build new ones.

That is horrible! I am praying for that city and everyone there. I love New Orleans. That city vibrates with culture and history. I would hate to lose such a beautiful place. :cry:

[SlowDownFast]

7. The Weather Channel submitted

that if a Cat 4 or 5 hits direct, 40 to 60 thousand lives could be lost.

They are whoring the hurricane as much as they can for ratings.

[thinkingwoman]

29. uh, no, not in this case

I slam on the media as much as the next guy/girl, but in this case they are actually doing their job.

This isn't whoring. This is what coverage SHOULD be for a storm which could indeed bring that kind of death toll.

[KyndCulture]

6. Last time we evacuated in Florida it took almost 2 full days

to clear the coastal areas, and that's not nearly as many people as we're talking about here. It's TOO LATE to get the people out of New Orleans.

They do share that blame and evac order should have come yesterday noon.

[Skink]

8. Without a National Guard will the tide finally turn...

who will be there to help?

[castiron]

10. Great point : Republicans, pick-ups and sand bags

only go so far. The Bush admin wants us all to rely on the kindness of Christian strangers, but how many of those people will show up in a crunch? They sure sent A LOT of money to NYC for Sept. 11.

[Cobalt Violet]

9. Maybe some blame. Not all of it.

Why is there no plan to get the people out of harms way who can't afford to get out? It's no secret that a hurricane to New Orleans would cause major problems yet thousands have no way out.

[HamdenRice]

11. Why is this one worse?

I haven't been following the story. Is it that much bigger or stronger than recent hurricanes?

[Skink]

12. This is the big one and New Orleans is actually below sea level.

[KyndCulture]

16. YES, she is a cat 5 storm stronger than Camille.

Some models show her coming ashore at 205mph winds or greater and a 20 foot storm surge... given that NO is -6 feet below sea level and the levees are 10-15 feet, the entire city could be submurged in a matter of an hour.

[MidnightWind]

21. She's also got one of the lowest barometric pressures ever recorded

which means she's still intensifying. This could be worse than Camille, plus the area has been so developed since then and millions more now live in the area. This could be a catastrophe the likes of which we have never seen in our lifetimes.

[HamdenRice]

27. This can't be true because the media isn't reporting this?

And we know for a fact the MSM always has its reporting priorities right. JUdging from CNN, this storm can't be more important than the missing white girl in Aruba, can it????








sacrcasm off.

[KyndCulture]

30. Just saw a report from the Navy weather service saying this too

The lowest barometric pressure ever recorded in a gulf storm.

[castiron]

32. holy shit

[sam sarrha]

13. Sirens should be blaring..every living being should leave or will drown

the storm surge is 20 feet, the Levies are 17 feet..

this is a deliberate plan to create a Biblical DISASTER.

this will be one of the worlds worst needless loss of life..

are they letting this happen to Bury Iraq in the news, and bankrupt the nation..??

[sam sarrha]

14. Storm surge 20', the levies 17'. city is 6' below sea level. 26' of water

the means if you cant get into as sturdy...8 or 9 story building you drown

[wake.up.america]

18. Are you saying federal officials.... what are you saying?....

[sam sarrha]

25. do the math.. why are there still people there with no attempt to inform

them i just saw a news report that mentioned the discrepancy and it was so matter of fact ho hum that it sounded like it didn't matter.

who wrote that script

[wake.up.america]

28. Ok, but I hope the government has not gotten that low.That is evil!!!

[merbex]

15. If you look at the live loop of Katrina - her outer bands are

already hitting LA

Get out now people

FEMA officials are looking sick on tv -VERY WORRIED

If you have room in your vehicle consider taking someone who has no transportation

[Boomer]

26. FEMA doing end around the NOLA mayor

The mayor appears to be paralyzed with indecision. Sunday morning and he still hasn't ordered a mandatory evacuation. Not sure what he's waiting for, but he's waited too long.

[merbex]

31. I just watched the weather channel- even the "on site" meteorologists

are leaving the coast and telling people to get out

They won't be broadcasting from the coast to get a live shot

The mayor has endangered thousands of lives

Indecision and fear can paralyze people

There doesn't seem to be any coordination between the state and city

At least from where I'm sitting safe in New England

[Halliburton]

17. don't worry

I'm sure they'll send Anderson Cooper or someone to the brunt of the hurricane to talk about how awesome this hurricane is.

[KyndCulture]

19. If they DON'T send in the big guns, that should make people

scared SHITLESS...

[YellerdawgFlorida]

20. He is a bit of a storm freak

isn't he? I went through Frances and Jeanne, and due to lack of power, didn't get to his his "reporting" as it happened. Saw the tapes later and wondered what this guy's problem is?

[rodeodance]

22. there is a lot of talk related to the "science' of the storm. Too much

in my opinion. I would like to know what exactly is going on behind the scenes--the infrastructure that might or might be in place--things like that.

[rodeodance]

23. Fox just reported that some pastor is on TV during prayers.

[castiron]

24. Then Katrincheck out this amazingly alarmist Weather Channel blog entry:

" ... Then Katrina became a hurricane and sliced across South Florida. Now it is a major hurricane, and we hope that it's not, but fear it is, The Vortex Bent on Destruction."

The capitals are theirs. The Vortex Bent on Destruction!
LIE!!! They are PRAYING is becomes a hellish one.