A rant from tornado-stricken Arkansas

[AbbyR]

I live near and work in the little town of Dumas, Ark., which was hit a week ago with E3 and E1 tornadoes. About 80 percent of the business district was destroyed and at least 40 homes. We have three people in the hospital in critical condition. What I want to know is where is OUR declaration as a federal disaster area? There are 9,000 FEMA trailers about three hours from here. Why aren't they on the way to house some of our many currently homeless? Where is the president, who has already declared disaster areas in other states who were hit after Arkansas? Where is our Senator Pryor? Rep. Mike Ross has been here, offering help and working for us. Sen. Blanche Lincoln has a representative on site and she has kept up with us. Could it be, perhaps, that we have a governor, senators and a representative who are Democrats.

We were lucky - we did not lose our school (only six classrooms) and so far, no one has died. But that does not make Dumas any less of a disaster.

Not a day goes by that I don't despise Bush even more, and this time he has, literally, hit me where I live. I'm tired of politics. This is a great little town of about 5,300 residents and it has been forgotten by the feds. If I sound furious, it's only because I am.

[Bobbieo]

1. I am sorry for the loss in your community and understand your anger.

The world is in one helluva mess and global warming is making everything so much worse. Hope you get help soon!!

[AbbyR]

15. Thanks - Dumas will come back

but the whole process is very frustrating. I can almost understand Bush, but Pryor is supposed to belong to us.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. AbbyR, your rant is the first I've heard of tornadoes in Arkansas...

That in itself is good reason for you to send it to the news stations and papers which have ignored Dumas. I'd suggest sending it to Dumbyass; but I'm afraid it would be pointless. Keith Olberman, maybe?

I'm so sorry that this disaster struck so close to home for you. I hope things are soon made right, and that those who were injured can soon be released from the hospital.

[AbbyR]

16. Good idea. I'll do it on Monday on a faster computer (nft)

[pitohui]

3. yep

before katrina, i was also in a forgotten disaster -- hell, it wasn't just forgotten, *co out and out refused to make a federal declaration of disaster

if a single town is destroyed and he thinks he can get away with it, he don't care, he won't do diddly

enterprise was too big, w. the high school being destroyed, and the young boy saving the girl by running between her and the building beam, and the sheer number of kids killed...so it got play in the news

but if he can ignore you and cheat you, oh yeah

ask people in wisconsin about their tornadoes and their FEMA help...not

i've heard of multiple tornado events that have been refused federal aid by *co despite request from the state governors in question, i need to collect them all in one place sometime, but it started in early 2003 when *co at first claimed that FEMA was bankrupt! (anyone remember that? we were not even into july 2003 of hurricane season and * was whining that FEMA was going broke and had to husband its money)

[snowbear]

4. I'm glad you're ok Abby!

And you're right that the Bush administration is trying to gain political points for both themselves as well any Republican politician living within a 3,000 mile radius of the areas hit.

I hope your community gets the assistance it deserves and SOON!

[roguevalley]

5. I would scream too, honey. I feel so much for you and this area.

Don't count on bush to do more than pretend to care. Kick your officials in the ass. Hugs to all of you.

[merh]

6. I can relate.

I'm a Katrina survivor and I know all to well what it is like to be forgotten by our government and overlooked by our fellow citizens.

Enterprise Alabama gets the spotlight, but as my rightie sister-in-law that likes * said this evening, it will be 18 months before they see anything.

If you get the chance, read this post. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=329838&mesg_id=329975

I am not just tired of politics, I am disgusted by it.

I will keep you and the people of your town are in my prayers.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[TahitiNut]

7. Democrat Mile Beebe vs. Republican Bob Riley ... ('nuf said)

EVERYTHING is partisan with Junior and his handlers. Everything.

[Shoelace]

8. Senator Pryor's contact page - contact him please - help these folks out!!!

I just sent him an email and I'm in Oregon. It's our country by God and we all better get used to contacting these creeps because this is just the beginning. Here's the contact site for his office:

http://www.senate.gov/~pryor/contact/


Get Proactive - SCREAM AND HOLLER, RANT AND RAVE UNTIL THEY HEAR US ALL!



:wtf: :spank: :grr:


ITMT, you have our prayers and condolences for such a devastating loss on a scale unfathomable by most of us here.

[Garbo 2004]

9. The governor has asked Bush for fed assistance so it's not like the state hasn't asked.

(Remember when the RW noise machine tried to claim the LA governor hadn't asked for Fed assistance for Katrina?)

http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=e723e534-6c4e-4d40-a3c1-7cb82df3b3b5&rss=315
http://www.pbcommercial.com/articles/2007/03/01/news/news3.txt

What excuse do/will the Feds have for not yet responding? Not enough media attention to make it worth their while for a PR op? Bush sure didn't waste any time to declare disaster for Alabama: http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema

I recall seeing the media coverage on Dumas (before the media moved on to the latest in celebrity sagas) and the damage was literally devastating for such a small town.

[RB TexLa]

10. Don't worry, you'll get help from America well before Louisiana ever does

Actually if you never get help it will still be before Louisiana does.

We just already know what to expect of America. Nothing.

[AbbyR]

19. A Katrina note

As small as Dumas is (about 5,300), we had a shelter set up here and well over 100 Katrina survivors were housed here, fed here, and their children went to school here. What was done and has been done in Louisiana is disgraceful. This is a little town that cares - just wish Bush would care about us - and I'm wondering where Bill and Hillary are, too.

[BushOut06]

11. Because Bush is too busy mugging for cameras in Alabama and New Orleans

n/t

[AbbyR]

18. We really don't care if he shows up -

We would just like him to decide that we are a disaster area, too, and get FEMA on the ball.

[file83]

12. But when it comes time to pay Federal Taxes, the Fed's will show up if you don't pay!!

When you need them, they aren't there. When they want your money, they'll show up at your door step with backup.

Funny how that works, eh?

[Oeditpus Rex]

13. My folks were from Warren

and I once got my hair cut in Star City.

I love that beautiful area, and I share your anger.

:hi:

[rainbow4321]

14. It's all about photo op for chimp

Back when chimp was running for prez the first time, a tornado hit downtown Fort Worth and surrounding areas...normally when a natural disaster hits and so much damage is done a state's gov tours the area. Not chimp, he was too busy travelling the US campaigning.
Instead then Lt Gov Perry showed up to look around and be filmed. A reporter asked him when chimp would be arriving, Perry smirked at the cameras and said "You'll have to ask HIS office".
Then a week later or so a Catholic Church official died in NYC (forget his name)..all the high profile political officeholders were to attend, lots of publicity/cameras/national media.
Chimp takes time out to go to the funeral in NYC. He never did come back to Texas to view the tornado destruction or visit with the victims/families. Guess he figured Texas voters as a given for Nov 2000 and there was no need for him to take time out to head back here...and local news cameras/coverage were not worth the time.

[dkofos]

17. Has *ush ever been to Arkanas??

I mean, the Clintons were from Arkanas.