Laurel, Mississippi...still no FEMA...and won't be for a while.

[lateo]

I grew up in this sleepy little Mississippi town. It is about 1 hour north of the Gulf Coast town of Biloxi. Even with that distance Katrina was at CAT3 level when it came through and devastated the town.

http://www.torringtontelegram.com/main.php?story_id=3721&page=23

The youth pastor of Salem Heights Baptist Church in Laurel explained to them that FEMA, Red Cross and others have placed them on the low end of the priority scale because of the number of people in their community and the damage done.
Laurel is a farming community and is surrounded by tall trees, many of which now have fallen on the houses.
Salem Heights has no electricity, but maintained their natural gas service and has been trying to feed up to 1,800 people from the half of the church that is still standing.
Many residents stricken were elderly or retired, and many others did not have insurance to cover the damages incurred.
“These are the ones we will be focusing on,” Eakins said.
Wyrulec Co. volunteered to send employee Tom Mitchell on their behalf, as well as a generator and some electrical equipment, to assist in the effort.
Bailer center worker Darryl Johner has volunteered to help, and the city of Torrington agreed to let him go, while still paying his wages.

Granted right now FEMA has bigger fish to fry but this town got hit by a CAT3 hurricane, they need help. It has been said before but I will say it again...this disaster exposed the Bush administration in many ways.

It exposed their lack of empathy for lower income people, lack of concern for the safety of America, and their inability to lead in a time of crisis.

I posted a thread about the obscene levels of pork that helped create the DHS yesterday. All that money spent and what did it get us? Well, it got the taxpayers holding the bill and the well connected Bush friends even richer.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4769643&mesg_id=4769643

[havocmom]

1. How did that town vote in 04?

Seems to be an indicator of how fast help arrives.

[lateo]

2. I'm sure the voted for W.

That town is/was an oil town, and chock full of fundies.

[Silverhair]

5. Deep red part of a deep red state.

Contrary to the original posters claim, Laurel just didn't get hit that hard.

[HeeBGBz]

3. We're still looking for a friend in that town

An ex Miss Mississippi, gorgeous funny woman, I hope she's okay.

[Silverhair]

4. Bullshit ! It was barely a CAT 1 when it got to Laurel.

http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at200512.asp

All that happened in Laurel was a lot of down trees, electric lines down, (Now restored) and a few roofs off.

Compared to the Gulf, Laurel barely got hit.

[lateo]

7. Thats odd...

I read an article the other day that said it was CAT3 when it got to Laurel.

[Silverhair]

10. So the reporter got it wrong. Normal for MSM.

Hurricanes lose strength VERY rapidly once the eye gets over land.

Did you check the link?

[lateo]

11. I'm looking for it now.

[lateo]

9. I don't know where you got your info from but...

This article disagrees with you.

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050904/NEWS0110/509040378/1260

In Laurel, 60 to 65 percent of homes and businesses were destroyed by the storm and 12 deaths. Sounds like they got hit harder than you think.

[Silverhair]

12. Much of that damage is repairable.

My information comes from:

1. My daughter who went through Laurel on Thursday after the storm to find her mother in Sanford. After making sure that her mother was OK, she drove around in Hattiesburg to asses the damage and check on some friends.

2. Personal experience in MS, on the Gulf Coast, with hurricanes. I lived there for about 20 years.

A tree falling on a home does damage it quite a bit, but normally the damage can be fixed. Generally it doesn't turn a home into bulldozer bait. Mobile homes are a different story, of course.

3. The link I gave you.

[lateo]

14. Of course it is repairable...

But you said, in your original statement, that the only damage they had was a few downed trees and powerlines. The damage was MUCH greater than this and it resulted in 12 deaths.

I grew up in this town, spent most of my life living between Laurel and Hattiesburg...so I'm no stranger to hurricanes and their damage.

The link I posted in reply stated that 60-65% of homes and businesses were destroyed. That is a stark contrast to your original statement.

[Silverhair]

16. You have misquoted me.

I said: "a lot of down trees,.."

You quoted me as saying: "few downed trees..."

From experience with hurricanes, and it WAS a weak CAT 1, you did not get 60% of homes and business destroyed. A weak CAT 1 just won't do that. I have been through them, several times. I know what they will and won't do.

[whistle]

6. It seems like a nice well balanced community.....

...at least according to Melvin Mack, Mayor for the City of Laurel MS

http://www.laurelms.com/

[CottonBear]

8. What happened to the Amtrack station and the rail lines?

We take the Crescent to visit our family in Slidell, LA and Lacombe, LA.

Laurel is a lovely little town. I am so sorry for your town. I hope they can recover.

What is happening with the peace train to the DC protests? I'll have to check the Amtrack website to check on damage.

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. Recommended. I've cross-posted on your thread in this other thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4777505
Thread title: Herbert/NYT: "Sick and Abandoned" FEMA blocked emergency hospital

If FEMA would even put out lists of communities that civilian and foreign search/rescue/aid workers could focus on, this would help. But that is soooo not going to happen.

At what point does negligent homicide become MASS MURDER?

[Rowdyboy]

15. I grew up in Laurel too (left for college in in 1972 and for good in 1977)

Lived on south 14th Ave. I've heard they were hit pretty hard, though not devastation.

[lateo]

17. That was near Prentiss Elementary right?

And West Laurel Baptist Church?

[Rowdyboy]

18. I walked past West Laurel Baptist every day on my way to third and fourth

grade the two years I went to Prentiss (what a wonderful old building-it smelled like a school should, with beautiful shiny hardwood floors).
After fourth grade, we moved out to Calhoun community, but moved back to the neighborhood when I hit 8th grade. My mom also grew up on south 14th and still owned a house there when she died in 1999.

Went to West Laurel United Methodist (also across from Prentiss) and worked summers at Mac's Curb Store on 16th, and Sanderson farms. My first job (age 13) was delivering groceries by bicycle at Rudolph's Grocery on 13th.

Graduated from Watkins in 1972 (the year a real tornado his the high school over Christmas break).

You're talking about my original stomping grounds! I'll have a smile on my face for the rest of the day, just thinking about it.

[lateo]

19. I loved Prentiss.

I went there 1st through 4th. Your post is bringing back lots of memories. The Sandersons live in the house my father built on Wansley Road. We lived there for a while and then moved to North Laurel.

I can remember, when I was 15 trying to buy beer at Mac's, getting turned down, and then going to the Ice House to get it.

The Ice House had the coldest beer around.

They knocked down Prentiss a while back.