[Rhodes22-list] Thena and Ben

Fri Sep 2 10:09:33 EDT 2005

Thank you guys so much.  The heartfelt inquiries I've had from friends, clients,
and acquaintances around the country has been unbelievable.

The red cross needs donations.  The shelters here need clothes and supplies for
evacuees.  If you want to clean out old things in your closets, I will take the
stuff to the Baton Rouge shelters, even though I may have to bicycle there!  You
can send stuff to me at this address:

3925 Claycut Rd.
Baton Rouge, LA  70806

Mail service hasn't been interrupted here at all.

Companies here are also taking a surprising (to me) moral position.  We have been
offered paid leave to go volunteer with recovery efforts.  Wal Mart has assured
their law firm (and presumably other vendors) from New Orleans that they will not
be abandoned, and they have taken the additional steps of helping find and rent
office space so that the attoneys could continue to work for them.  As much as I
hate it, I might hold my nose and actually shop there now.

One more note.  I posted this comment to a stranger's web log entry in response
to the observation that "New Orleans" was being referred to in the past tense.

*****************

    Rediculous! It will take time, but New Orleans will be back, and it will be
the unique and carefree city that it always was. It will take a ton of work, but
despite what you see on national media Louisiana is not afraid of hard work.

    You see, we're talking about more than a spot on a map. It's an attidute. A
distinct culture. A vocabulary all its own. No storm can was those things away.

    I predict that you will see a handful of dedicated leader emerge and
orchestrate an amazing comeback. And I'm not talking about the senator or
governor who keep appearing on TV. We don't know the names of these people yet,
but we will. Soon.

    I just posted a few stories
(http://theskinnyonbenny.com/blog/archives/00000137.php) of light hearted things
that have happened over the last few days. I would like to hear other stories
that have amused people in Louisiana this week. (Believe me, it's okay to laugh
when funny things happen, even if your state is dealing with a disaster.) 

On Fri, 02 Sep 2005 11:33 , P&M Beals <beals at rci.rutgers.edu> sent:

>>From NJ We are also eager to help individuals, families in need
>in any specific ways Thena and Ben, so I echo Ed's sentiments to let us know
>if there are ways we can help individuals or members of your church.
>
>Our elementary school will resume next week, and the first thing we are
>undertaking is a penny/coin drive for this disaster.  Usually we work
>through Rotary International to help get contributions to people and
>communities in need. Maybe the funds will go through Red Cross...we will
>see.
>
>But again, let us know if we can help personally.
>
>Phyllis Beals
>
>> From: "ed kroposki" ekroposki at charter.net>
>> Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2005 07:59:05 -0400
>> To: "'The Rhodes 22 mail list'" rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Thena and Ben
>> 
>> 
>> Do not be hesitant, reticent or slow in posting any needs which this
>> list may be able to assist.  At the very least we can communicate needs to
>> appropriate agencies or groups.
>> Momentarily, two big problems are communications on the ground in
>> your area and gas.  Both these issues are being addressed nationally.  The
>> military is bringing in battlefield communications with them as they arrive.
>> Satellite phones are being sent in by the Satellite phone company based in
>> Arizona.  They are particularly supplying regular cell phone companies with
>> satellite phones so that they can get cell tower back in operation.
>> Colonial Pipeline Company, the major carrier of gas and diesel is
>> operating about 1/3 capacity due to lack of electric for their pumps.
>> Portable generators are being located and placed to provide the pipeline
>> with power to get fuel going at more normal capacity.
>> Relief agencies and organizations are gathering supplies and sending
>> them toward the needed areas.  Distribution will get better as access is
>> obtained.
>> The scope of the problem is huge.  Over 50 miles of Mississippi
>> coastline was destroyed, according to reports.  However, it is about 200
>> miles from Mobile to Baton Rouge.  And that is just horizontal or
>> longitudinal measurement.  The Storm surge pushed water more than half a
>> mile inland from any coastline.  Wind damage goes in how many miles?
>> Again, keep us informed.  Keep your chin up and God bless.
>> 
>> Ed K
>> Greenville, SC, USA
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
>>
[rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org','','','')">rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]
On Behalf Of
>> thenacarville at bellsouth.net
>> Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 12:21 AM
>> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] New Orleans Flood control funding
>> 
>> Saroj,
>> It is late and I am incredibly tired....I can't tell you how it makes me
>> feel to have someone use this situation in the way you have just
>> done....just for the record, there are many complex issues involved and you
>> obviously don't understand them....PLEASE don't use the suffering and loss
>> down here and tie it in with your personal agenda....it is inappropriate at
>> this time. 
>> Thena
>>> 
>>> From: "Saroj Gilbert" saroj at pathfind.net>
>>> Date: 2005/09/01 Thu AM 06:55:20 CDT
>>> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] New Orleans Flood control funding
>>> 
>>> Interesting piece tying in the impact of the Iraq war with the current
>>> disaster in New Orleans:
>>> =======================
>>> 
>>> "No One Can Say they Didn't See it Coming"
>>> 
>>> By Sidney Blumenthal
>>> 
>>> In 2001, FEMA warned that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the
>>> three most likely disasters in the U.S. But the Bush administration cut
>> New 
>>> Orleans flood control funding by 44 percent to pay for the Iraq war.
>>> http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,372455,00.html
>>> 
>>> ========================
>>> 
>>> This is sickening... I just can't figure out why the streets (or should I
>>> say  "streams") of New Orleans and other gulf coastal areas are not
>> swamped 
>>> (sorry) with U.S. Military handing out food, water, diapers, and other
>>> essentials... oh... they're all in Iraq... well I guess the Navy got soft
>>> and decided to deploy a ship out of Norfolk yesterday.... hmmm... should
>>> arrive in a week?  The way the government has responded to this disaster
>> so 
>>> far is shameful.  We treat citizens in other countries better than we
>> treat 
>>> our own.
>>> 
>>> Saroj 
>>> 
>>> __________________________________________________
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>>> 
>> 
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