Hurricane Katrina

[exlurker]

Originally posted by RACooper
. . . I'd be interested in learning exactly what effect the images and reporting is having internationally... given that I have seen the foreign reporters pull less punches, and not really hold back from showing graphic images.

I wonder the same thing. Today's (Friday) Times national edition has a color picture of a body floating near an overpass in New Orleans. The picture is on the front page. I noticed that the photo credit said "AFP/Getty Images." Is "AFP" the abbreviation for Agence France-Presse? If it is, is this one of the images that will be widely seen in, say, Europe -- and around the world, for that matter?

ETA: Also, early Friday evening, on the O'Reilly Factor on Fox (!) both O'Reilly and an on-the-scene reporter in New Orleans were criticizing the federal (and state and local) efforts -- basically as being woefully disorganized and far too late. Wow. This isn't exactly "liberal media" being critical.

[ISUKappa]

Originally posted by exlurker
I wonder the same thing. Today's (Friday) Times national edition has a color picture of a body floating near an overpass in New Orleans. The picture is on the front page. I noticed that the photo credit said "AFP/Getty Images." Is "AFP" the abbreviation for Agence France-Presse? If it is, is this one of the images that will be widely seen in, say, Europe -- and around the world, for that matter?

According to this article, Agence France-Presse and Getty Images entered into a partnership in 2003. So I'm guessing yes, those photos will be seen around the world. And any media that subscribes to AP services will have those photos taken by the AP as well. I'm sure the American newspapers will censor the photos they use somewhat moreso than foreign papers will--seems to go that way, anyway. Foreign press seems to be a bit more open to graphic images than most American press.

[squirrely girl]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
The smallest victims...children

http://www.cnn.com/video/player/play...ll.victims.cnn

ehhhhhhhh... but some even smaller victims... animals.

the humane society of the united states (www.hsus.org) has got some really good info about what to do in an emergency with your pets. everybody with pets (no matter where you live -because disasters happen everywhere) should read these suggestions and be prepared.

- marissa

[ZTABullwinkle]

My mom forwarded this to me. Just FYI for everyone. This is why you haven't seen any Red Cross volunteers in New Orleans...

The following message is from Joseph Becker, Senior Vice President, Preparedness and Response:



Continuous television coverage of the desperate situation inside the city of New Orleans is prompting the media and others to ask why the Red Cross is not present. Please use the following information to respond. Additional Q&A will be posted to CrossNet shortly.



Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?

· Access to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

· The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.

· The Red Cross has been meeting the needs of thousands of New Orleans residents in some 90 shelters throughout the state of Louisiana and elsewhere since before landfall. All told, the Red Cross is today operating 149 shelters for almost 93,000 residents.

· The Red Cross shares the nation’s anguish over the worsening situation inside the city. We will continue to work under the direction of the military, state and local authorities and to focus all our efforts on our lifesaving mission of feeding and sheltering.

· The Red Cross does not conduct search and rescue operations. We are an organization of civilian volunteers and cannot get relief aid into any location until the local authorities say it is safe and provide us with security and access.

· The original plan was to evacuate all the residents of New Orleans to safe places outside the city. With the hurricane bearing down, the city government decided to open a shelter of last resort in the Superdome downtown. We applaud this decision and believe it saved a significant number of lives.

· As the remaining people are evacuated from New Orleans, the most appropriate role for the Red Cross is to provide a safe place for people to stay and to see that their emergency needs are met. We are fully staffed and equipped to handle these individuals once they are evacuated.

This doesn't mean HOWEVER that the Red Cross is doing nothing....They are in other regions affected by the storm, and have helped with the victims in New Orleans with bags of necessary supplies....

[Lindz928]

Thanks for posting that information!

[PM_Mama00]

I'm watching the concert right now. Mike Myers was paired up with Kanye West.

Obviously Mr. West wasn't following the teleprompter because all he did was go on and on about how they have to rescue the blacks and poor and how they are talking about blacks "looting" and whites "finding".

That's not the bad part. Mike Myers went to do his spiel and you could kinda tell he was thinking something, then it was Kanye's turn again and all you heard him say was "President Bush does not care about blacks" and you see Mike Myers turn to him looking like he was about to say something.... and then they cut right away to Chris Tucker.

He kind of made me sick. Yes the poor and the blacks need to get out... but EVERYONE needs to be rescued. EVERYONE needs food and water and clothes and a shower and all of life's necessities. WHY turn this into a "blacks and poor are the ones who need the help"? EVERYONE does.

I'm sorry.

ETA: Here's the link to the video clip. Kanye most certainly looks like an ass.

http://media.putfile.com/Kanye79

[AlphaSigOU]

My girlfriend is currently down in Houston at the Astrodome; she works for FEMA and is taking care of arrangements for the displaced there.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

My sister's best friend's cousin is a Tulane student. Her family hasn't heard from her since before the hurricane. Does anyone have any suggestions regarding how to locate her? I really am afraid for her. We all are. Please keep Amanda in your prayers as well as all the people still suffering. Thank you.

[RACooper]

Originally posted by ISUKappa
According to this article, Agence France-Presse and Getty Images entered into a partnership in 2003. So I'm guessing yes, those photos will be seen around the world. And any media that subscribes to AP services will have those photos taken by the AP as well. I'm sure the American newspapers will censor the photos they use somewhat moreso than foreign papers will--seems to go that way, anyway. Foreign press seems to be a bit more open to graphic images than most American press.

No kidding... for example the photo/image of the body in wheelchair made pretty big coverage on BBC and CBC - nevermind the images of bodies in the canals or the images of police shooting at looters...

[Kevlar281]

Houston Update: We are opening up the George R. Brown Convention Center; it is adjacent to Minute Maid Park and the Toyota Center.

/positive side note: Were housing a Tulane student for the semester and from the looks of things he will be pledging.

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974


ETA: My company is sponsoring employees to travel down to NOLA/Miss to assist with helping those affected. I'm not sure if this is affiliated with the American Red Cross or if this will strickly by a Cox thing, but nevertheless I am going.

Would you do us the honor of keeping a blog or a journal that can be posted somewhere later? We'd ideally like a daily post/update in itns own thread, but we'll take whatever we can from your journey. You will have to be our GC eyes and ears in the devistation zone.

Please promise us that you'll find a way to update us.

[mmcat]

sounds like we might catch some refugees out here in el paso. the question remains -- why did it take so long?

[PM_Mama00]

Just heard on CNN that 3 Carnival Cruise Ships have opened up as temporary living quarters for refugees.

DAYUM. Some of these people are going to be living in luxury.... and I can't say that they don't deserve it because after this they definitely do.

ETA: I'm curious. How are all these fires starting? Is it from the heat?

[RACooper]

Hurah!!

It looks like the US State Department finally authorized Canadian aid last night (guess it'd be embarrassing if another country got people there first) - so as we speak Air Canada is flying down supplies (water and medicine) and the Canadian Red Cross, and ferrying people to points in the US (and Canada if authorized by the State Department - PEI and the Maritime provinces have offer to shelter 100000+ people) free of charge - also 3 Canadian Naval Ships and a Canadian Coast Guard ship are will be making full steam for the Gulf from Halifax to aid in rescue and relief operations along the coast with divers, engineers, medical personnell, and SARs; they just need to finish stocking up with material and equipment authorized by the US State Department (they are scheduled to leave port Tuesday morning, and should be in the Gulf by Thursday night at the latest).

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
ETA: I'm curious. How are all these fires starting? Is it from the heat?

Either one of two ways... ruptured gas mains, sparked by a downed power line or arson.