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September 05, 2005
People Still Trapped
There is so much to say about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Still, I thought I'd point out something. There are still people trapped, unrescued, dying. Yes the Superdome and the Convention center have been evacuated, so the most striking media images are gone, but there are who-knows-how-many people trapped in attics, upper floors and roofs.
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- Time is running out for thousands of people awaiting rescue six days after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, rescuers say.Officials say they do not have the manpower, the resources or enough time to save everyone.
"My guys are coming back and telling me, 'Sir, I went into a house, and there are three elderly people in their beds, and they're gasping, and they're dying,' " Coast Guard Capt. Bruce Jones said.
"And we got calls today, 'We need you ... to go to a place in St. Bernard Parish. It's a hospice, ... and there are 10 dead and there are 10 dying.' But those people were probably alive yesterday or the day before."
How can there still not be enough resources to airlift everyone out of there? It's been a whole week. Seven days.
Posted by zeynep at September 5, 2005 12:29 PM
Comments
even worse than that, it took a horrible event like this for people to recognize that human life - regardless of age, sex, class, race etc - is precious and deserves a healthy and quality standard for living.
I am sure we are all aware of Barbara Bush's comment, correct? What she said does have a kernel of truth in it, which she clearly did not mean or imply (but it is embedded there none the less). I am willing to bet that many are eating better and receiving more quality assistance than BEFORE the storm. Of course the shock and grief is all still very real but being in the D/FW areas I do know that things are temporarily getting better for them. Let's not kid ourselves about their poverty; which is the reason why they were the ones left behind.
That should be an indictment towards all of us. We not only left them there but it took such a storm to see that these people deserve better. Unfortunately, I think this will be short lived and we will slope back into apathetic tranquility.
:-(
Posted by: truth addict at September 10, 2005 01:25 AM