I am still in Shock.

[Ripley]

We had minimal damage to our home (small tree downed, lots of debris in my yard - lightpole at the corner knocked down and neighbors tree across road) and one day with power outage. The transformers exploding were very surreal and the constant winds were awful to go through, but nothing like the coast.

But I look at the pics coming out of the area and cannot believe what I am seeing. 6 weeks ago I was in Ocean Springs (an Art town across the bridge that is now gone from Biloxi) - I haven't seen ANY pictures from that place and I know people who live there.

Casinos. These are freaking as big as Vegas, people! I threw a big party for my parents 50th anniversary at Beau Rivage a couple of years ago.

N.O. This is NOT AMERICA ANYMORE!!! How the hell can I look at these poor people's former homes and see them wading through toxic soup next to dead bodies for FUCKING DAYS ON END and not think those are pictures of Haiti or Sri Lanka????????????????

This is the most incompetent emergency reaction in the history of the USA and remember 9/11 changed everything!! Oh yeah?! Those fucking firemen were saving people as the buildings fell! Oh yeah?? Where is Homeland Security? Where is the fucking Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard? There is no reason hundreds, if not thousands of more people will die because a navy ship left it's port YESTERDAY and will arrive next Monday! Helicopters should should have been airlifting people out Monday or Tuesday at the latest!

This is late summer in the South - the heat and humidity kills people who are fed and hydrated - THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING EITHER and are injured, sick and living in a nightmare world of PTSS!!

It's about a 3 and 1/2 hour drive from my house to Biloxi. The death and despair and suffering and loss of EVERYTHING millions of people have lost in 3 states is too hard to believe - except I can feel the sadness in my body. I feel the bad vibes all around me. I'm still cleaning up the yard and helped my neighbor with his. We just feel like the end of the world happened just outside our peripheral vision.

This will cripple an already poverty ridden deep South - their economy will not come back for years. And yes, the rest of America is gonna feel it at the pump and the ripple effect is already in motion. While Fucktwit strummed his guitar with his freaking name written on it (just like his underwear I'm sure) - America bagan to collapse.

I am so sorry to the victims that there is no Leadership in America. Hang on people. :cry:

[atommom]

1. So am I, even though I'm far away from the devastation.

I don't recognise this country anymore. Hang in there, everybody... :grouphug:

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. Oh God Ripley...

Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you. I feel so awful.

Be strong. And be safe.
FSC

[DistressedAmerican]

3. Horrible Incompetence!

[demnan]

4. Yeah me too

What a horrible disaster to happen to an area with very few resources and a callous uncaring Federal government.

Glad you are safe and suffered relatively little hardship.

[Ripley]

7. I don't know how much more our National Psyche can take.

I fear the South will be hit by at least one more hurricane this summer. I think we are on the brink of economic collapse because the gas hike is not temporary.

God damn that Bush to Hell.

I want someone to save us, yet no one is there.

[livetohike]

5. A big hug Ripley

:hug: Postitive thoughts to you, your family and all victims of this horrible disaster. My prayers are with you all.

My neighbor's family lives in N. Gulfport - about 4 miles north of the I-10. She hasn't heard from them since very early on Monday morning. (We live in CA). She doesn't have any news about the neighborhood or anything :cry:.

[Ripley]

10. I heard terrible news out of Gulfport.

I am sorry for your neighbor. But miracles do happen in that people are often found alive in the most unlikely ways. I hope they show up okay.

[livetohike]

12. Thanks. I am trying to keep her positive

We will be going for our morning walk in a few minutes. Her parents didn't want to evacuate, because they made it through Camille....

[Ripley]

13. Tell her about the man in Biloxi...

He is a middle-aged black man who is diabetic. He is still alive after three days of no food and water, except potato chips. He had to push his way out of his apartment and "ride a wave" up to the second story where he survived while his neighbors died.

I saw someone passing out cell phones down there yesterday - maybe her family will get one and be in an area where the tower works and call her. Tell her to keep her phone with her.

[livetohike]

14. Thank you Ripley

I will tell her all of this :-).

[babylonsister]

6. Ripley, thank you for this post, nom, and thanks for

putting it in the proper perspective. There are trying times ahead for the folks that survive.

[Blue_Roses]

8. my heart goes out to you and all

those who have been affected ...there is NO excuse for the lack of incompetence in how this disaster is being handled. I agree, watching the people wade through those toxic waters looks like something from a 3rd world country. It's despicable!:mad: This is their country and they can't even depend on their government to help. It's so disheartening:cry:

[Birthmark]

9. Glad to hear that you had little damage.

The way this disaster has been mishandled beggars the imagination.

[Dhalgren]

11. They have already begun to demonize the survivors.

On NPR this morning there was a big report on the "violent, savage", criminals who are roaming around killing people and stealing guns. With all of the suffering, heartache, death and destruction why are the media beginning to focus on the "evil doers"? I think that it is to prepare the population for some serious military law and to make the rest of the country feel less supportive of the poor people who are still trapped in NO. I will probably get jumped on for saying this, but it is how it makes me feel...

[Helga Scow Stern]

24. NPR has been weirder than usual lately.

The propaganda machine is running its broadcasts.

[BamaGirl]

15. I hear you Ripley

I'm over in the panhandle and we were untouched by this one, but my concern is there are going to be how many displaced ppl across the South? Two million maybe? And when/where will the next hurricane strike? Our shelters are full here and with the gas shortage/price hike I don't know if I could even get out if necessary, much less these poor ppl who have already lost everything.

There was obviously a Guard screw-up, and I'm not sure where to place that blame. I can tell you though, that my husband was mobilized and in place before Dennis hit a couple of months ago. He wasn't called for this one until late Monday. And that was because apparently MS asked for units from Bama (we have MPs at home and some were already activated for the Mobile area). He's in Biloxi now.

This is all really awful. I stayed thru Andrew and Opal and Ivan and countless other storms. I have never seen anything that looks like this. My heart goes out to everyone, and the rest of the season stretching before us is just this side of terrifying.

[Ripley]

16. I hope your husband gets through it okay...

Violence is already erupting in NO. I know the military and rescue people are highly trained, but the stuff they have to see while there must give them delayed stress.

I'm glad yall were spared this time...our area is filled with refugees too. In fact the Mercedes Benz plant is even opening up their training center for refugees since the hotels have been full since Friday. I heard Birmingham ran out of gas in some places last night, but I haven't gone out into Tuscaloosa county yet to see here if it's up.

All I know is a lot of good old boys round here HATE that asshole they voted for now. I guess that's some good news, however a little late.

[BamaGirl]

28. Yeah, he don't seem to be real popular here right now either

For one because if he can't deal with a natural disaster, he sure as hell can't deal with terra. Even the local rednecks figured that one out. But, man, ppl are really pissed about the gas situation. The local managers are saying we'll be running out soon (like this before this weekend) and nothing is scheduled to come in. (I'm in Dothan btw.)

I'm hearing about shooting at the NG!? Wow, it's just getting worse. My husband is supposed to be staying in MS, and I haven't heard about any of them going to NO. He said they were told LA hadn't asked for any assistance from Bama. I guess they're getting units from TX. Anyway, apparently things are bad enough where he is, though I haven't heard about that kind of deterioration in MS.

[Dhalgren]

29. My son works at the Rec Center at the U of Alabama.

He told me that the Rec has been full of refugees since Sat. or Sun. They are trying to take care of them, but they were completely unprepared for the numbers, the duration, and the needs. He said that it is a bad situation that is not getting better. But at least these folks are safe and dry and have plenty of food and water.

[Ripley]

32. Yes, I was shocked I even heard local hotels won't kick out the

evacuees for the incoming football fans this weekend. I heard Florida is kicking them out. :wtf:

[xiamiam]

17. who is in charge here

I cant believe this crap....why are these people still sitting and waiting to be evacuated with no water and no food...WTF....HOW FRIGGIN INCOMPETENT CAN OUR GOVERNMENT BE...WHERE ARE THE BUSES..HOW HARD WOULD IT BE TO DROP FOOD AND WATER TO THESE PEOPLE...i am geting more furious by the moment...ridiculous...embarasing and humiliating that we are so incompetent...

[meganmonkey]

18. Even way up north in Michigan I could feel those vibes when the clouds

came up here the last couple of days. I knew the clouds, and the wind and the drizzle of rain we got, were the remnants of the storm, and I had the chills in a way I had never experienced. They were clouds of death and winds of destruction.

I can't imagine what you are going through down there, so much closer to this disaster.

But I feel the anger too, at the incompetence of this arrogant fucked-up administration, and a deeper sorrow than I have ever felt at what the people down there are dealing with right now.

I wish there was something I could say, or anyone could say, or do, that would make it better. I feel so helpless.

:cry:
:grouphug:

[Pacifist Patriot]

19. I'm so sorry Ripley.

Words fail me.

[understandinglife]

20. The fear mongers stole our Constitution and wrecked our infrastructure....

.... to enable the haves and the have mores to have even more.

It is time for the vast majority of the citizens of the United States of America to defend their Constitution and their Nation from the most sophisticated, ruthless threat it has ever encountered -- Bush and his neoconster band of corporatists and theocrats.

The leadership must come from each of us. Cindy Sheehan has shown, once again in the history of humanity, the power of a person of ethics and good will, being courageous and staying on message.


Peace.

[The Stranger]

21. Where is the fucking Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard?

IN IRAQ FIGHTING FOR PNAC IN A WAR BASED ON LIES

[onecent]

22. BRING OUR TROOPS HOME!

[Ripley]

23. It was a rhetorical question.

I wonder how many of them have family that died during Katrina because they were manning a checkpoint in Baghdad instead of rescuing American citizens in America? Maybe they'll desert.

[Alpharetta]

25. Army Corp of Engineers could have saved levee, built pontoon bridges

If they weren't spent in Iraq, Army Engineers could have kept the levee from collapsing.

Today they could be building pontoon bridges to the Superdome to bring in fresh troops to organize the situation and to evacuate the refugees.

[Ripley]

27. And the ACofE had their budget slashed since 2003 because of..

Iraqnam. All roads lead to the Dumbass Squatter.

[roguevalley]

26. if they don't get water today or tomorrow, they will die. I cannot

UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS SO HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GET?! WHERE ARE THE AIR DROPS!?

[myrna minx]

30. Bless you and your family and take care.

I can't even wrap my mind around this devastation, so I can't even imagine what it is like for those that went through this. :cry: :hug: We are here for you, friend.

[BurtWorm]

31. You said it so much more eloquently than I did just now.

I feel the same way, and I've never been to Biloxi or New Orleans.

[lucca]

33. Ripley,

I feel and share your pain and anger.
I am so sorry.

I agree with you:
"I want someone to save us, yet no one is there."

[mzmolly]

34. Ripley I am so sorry.

We tried to oust this incompetent murderous freak and failed. People continue to pay with their lives.

[Ripley]

35. How much Death and Destruction will it take to wake up the Sheep?

Will the repukes stand by their man with his delayed response to an American Emergency of Historic proportions?

Will the Dems become even more weak-kneed and refuse to point out the obvious - ACE budget slashed because of Iraq, slow relief efforts because of Iraq, militarization of relief effort as opposed to rescuing those in need, etc. ?

[Mnemosyne]

36. Hang on Ripley, we are here to

listen and share your frustration. :cry: :hug:

America feels like a powder keg, a pressure cooker or a boil festering in a horrible place. It is spreading. I'm afraid many really don't see how they will feel the ripple effect.

I hope things will go alright with you all down there. It is affecting you much faster. Stay safe.:grouphug:
Vicki


And don't forget the freakin cake.:grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke:
And add the day to that underwear!