Hurricane Katrina: GM steps up to the plate with aid... again.

Automakers Granting Relief from Hurricane Katrina

Automakers are forgiving payments, donating cash, and giving away vehicles in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which struck Louisiana and Mississippi on Monday morning as a Category Four storm with winds peaking at 140 mph. The Detroit News reports that GM will give $400,000 to the American Red Cross as well as 25 vehicles; Ford is allowing those who live in disaster areas to defer two vehicle payments and will match employee donations to the American Red Cross; and Nissan, which operates an assembly plant in mid-Mississippi, will donated 30-day leases for 50 Titan trucks to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Nissan's plant had closed prior to the landfall of the hurricane and has not yet reopened. Estimates for damages from the storm are ranging from $9 billion to $26 billion, with untold loss of life in the New Orleans metro area and coastal Mississippi.


GM gives $400,000 + 25 vehicles.

Ford will match it's employee donations and defer 2 months of payments for residents.

Nissan giving "one month leases on 50 Titans".

So, again, GM looks to help out the most by far.

Ford could be substantial depending on how much their employees donate.

Nissan is at least in the game, though the total value of 50 1-month leases on a Titan is around $15,000 at most.

Where is Honda? Where is Toyota? Where is Kia? ..... Where is DCX?!?

Toyota will ultimately give something much smaller but make themselves out to be heroes through their advertising. The public of course will swallow it hook line and sinker.

Detroit News reports that GM will also defer payments for 3 months... also says GM will donate "at least" $500,000... don't know if that includes the 25 trucks, or if it's just a higher cash figure than what Car Connection is reporting.

http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0508/30/01-297876.htm

As a side note, Chris 96 WS6, started a donation drive over on his new board, www.ls1lt1.com .

He set a goal of $500 for the site as a group. He started things off with a very generous $100 donation.

He has listed a few links to places where donations can help the disaster victims.

Here is a link if you are interested:

http://www.ls1lt1.com/forum/showthread.php?p=11767#post11767

Its good to hear that all of these automakers are stepping up and doing what they can to help the victims of such a horrific disaster. We can only hope that a speedy cleanup will be underway and that these people can hopefully get settled back into their lives. I work for a vitamin company and they have already put up a sizeable amount of cash as well as donations of vitamins and organic foods.

It's good to see GM stepping up to the plate.
Personally I'm trying to organize something here at my work to get some moeny and I'll personally drive down I-10 and hand over supplies, food and pay for hotels if I can raise enough.

For crying out loud, aren't Titans BUILT in MI? Wow...30 day leases? Nissan...way to help out your home state there...

GM's in red ink and they can give $$...Toyota has so much in profit they can't see straight. But wait, because Toyota employs so many Americans, they're an American car and the same as buying a GM car. To hell with GM :mad:

For crying out loud, aren't Titans BUILT in MI? Wow...30 day leases? Nissan...way to help out your home state there...

GM's in red ink and they can give $$...Toyota has so much in profit they can't see straight. But wait, because Toyota employs so many Americans, they're an American car and the same as buying a GM car. To hell with GM :mad:
:thumb: :bow: :usa:

Toyota will ultimately give something much smaller but make themselves out to be heroes through their advertising. The public of course will swallow it hook line and sinker.
:bow: :irk:

For crying out loud, aren't Titans BUILT in MI? Wow...30 day leases? Nissan...way to help out your home state there...

GM's in red ink and they can give $$...Toyota has so much in profit they can't see straight. But wait, because Toyota employs so many Americans, they're an American car and the same as buying a GM car. To hell with GM :mad:

While I admit that would probably be my knee-jerk reaction, this has only happened within what, the past couple of days? If Toyota doesn't step up by this weekend and do something, then I'd say it's fair to throw up the "WTFs". My guess is, they will donate something for PR's sake but it won't be as substantial as what GM and Ford end up doing....and import lovers won't care. :rolleyes:

General Motors, GM Foundation & GMAC to Help Hurricane Victims in Southern U.S.

Vehicles, Cash and Matching Funds to American Red Cross


DETROIT – General Motors today announced that the GM Foundation and GMAC will make a combined immediate cash donation of $400,000 to the American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund in support of relief work in parts of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The GM Foundation has pledged up to an additional $250,000 in matching funds for contributions made to the Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund by GM and GMAC employees through the company’s Global Aid Disaster Relief website (www.gmability.com).

In addition to financial support, the GM family will provide additional relief support and aid to storm victims:

GM is making available more than 25 cars and trucks for use by the American Red Cross in relief efforts throughout the affected areas. These vehicles, along with three Hummer H2s donated to the Red Cross last year and the 10 other vehicles already in use following last month’s strike of Hurricane Dennis in Pensacola, are offered to the Red Cross for use in transporting volunteers, food, water and medical supplies.
OnStar has opened up its full range of services for its customers based in or traveling in Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. All OnStar customers in these states are getting immediate assistance with routing requests, hotel reservations, weather updates, gas station directions, contacting relatives and emergency communication with public safety providers.
The GM facility in Shreveport, Louisiana, is working with the local American Red Cross chapter to collect needed supplies of bedding for the many evacuees entering the area and expected to remain for an extended period of time.
GMAC will work closely with all its impacted customers in auto finance, insurance and mortgage units. Customers are urged to contact customer service or their branch offices where they will be assisted on a case-by-case basis.
Reports of fatalities, injuries and property destruction continue to mount following the storm that struck yesterday and earlier last week.

“It may be days or weeks before the full extent of the destruction from Hurricane Katrina is known, but in the meantime, GM, the GM Foundation and GMAC will act now to help the American Red Cross bring relief to the victims of this devastating storm,” said Rod Gillum, GM Vice President Corporate Responsibility and Diversity, and Chairman of the GM Foundation. “We invite GM and GMAC employees everywhere to continue their proven tradition of supporting disaster relief efforts by contributing online to the Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund.”

The GM Foundation was established in 1976 to support the philanthropic interests and business priorities of General Motors Corporation. In 2004, worldwide contributions by GM and the GM Foundation totaled $68 million.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 321,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company’s history. GM’s global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

I hate Toyota
I hate Honda
I hate Hyndaui or however you spell it.
I hate Lexus
I hate Scion

Regardless of hurricane donations, I just felt the need to get that out there.

Isn't it about damned time ALL the OIL companies donate some of their RECORD 30% INCREASE in PROFITS to something like this?!?

I mean, damn...if I gotta' bend over for these theives, then at least give it to people who need help..... /rant on hold.....

Isn't it about damned time ALL the OIL companies donate some of their RECORD 30% INCREASE in PROFITS to something like this?!?

I mean, damn...if I gotta' bend over for these theives, then at least give it to people who need help..... /rant on hold.....


A very... very... VERY... VERY good point.

Isn't it about damned time ALL the OIL companies donate some of their RECORD 30% INCREASE in PROFITS to something like this?!?

I mean, damn...if I gotta' bend over for these theives, then at least give it to people who need help..... /rant on hold.....

:metal:

A very... very... VERY... VERY good point.
It sure is! :bow:

Isn't it about damned time ALL the OIL companies donate some of their RECORD 30% INCREASE in PROFITS to something like this?!?

I mean, damn...if I gotta' bend over for these theives, then at least give it to people who need help..... /rant on hold.....

It is like hearing an angel sing. :bow:
BTW lowest gas in Louisville, KY $2.95/gal :mad:

Regular gas in Michigan is over $3.00. I heard it is as high as $3.67

rant back on/

BTW, where the hell is Hollywierd and the Musicians?

Where is Bill Gates?

Where's the rest of Corporate America? WalMart?

I ain't even gonna' hold a single breath on any foreign country REALLY helping....

/rant put back on hold....

I ain't even gonna' hold a single breath on any foreign country REALLY helping....

/rant put back on hold....

I doubt we'll see a penny from any other country.... though they always have their hand out for us to help them... and then complain that we are still evil. :think: :no: :(

Come on Doug,

Hollywood and the musicians help out international causes, not ones at home.

Foreign countries helping? Puh-lease. Maybe Africa will repay billions that we have given it over the years. Forget giving us money, just pay your debts, deadbeats. Worldwide effort to help tsunami victims? Uh, little help here?

Presidental press conference using my imagination:"In light of the lack of aid sent to us in our time of need, we as AMERICANS have decided to take care of ourselves. In the future, please don't even consider us an option for help of any kind. Thank you for helping us make our decision."

Disjointed rant ending......now.

I'm an insurance adjuster. I figure the phone is going to ring any day now, telling me to get down south and start working.

One problem I see with the part of the country that got hit, is that a lot of the residents are not very well off financially. I wonder how many have homeowners insurance and even if they do, are the policies large enough to pay for a completely new house to be built?

I suspect that there will be a lot of insurance policies owned by the mortgage company and not by the homeowner. I also suspect that many of the policies will nowhere near pay for a new structure to be built. I think in the long run, if my speculations are correct, the housing situation is going to be ugly and I don't know what the solution will be.

Actually Walmart is a major contributor to the releif efforts right now and I also heard that Japan is going to lend a hand however much possible...

Actually Walmart is a major contributor to the releif efforts right now and I also heard that Japan is going to lend a hand however much possible...
When I was at work yesterday, it was announced that WalMart has given $1,000,000 in aid. I know they are doing more, but I do not remeber off the top of my head.

Couldn't agree more!^^^^^^^^^ :thumb:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-08-31-katrina-world_x.htm

The Internet-edition Vienna daily Der Standard had recorded 820 postings commenting on a front-page story on the hurricane. In one of the postings, signature "Emerald" asked where money could be donated to the victims, but the question sparked a debate about whether a rich country like the United States needed such aid.

:mad: as a side note to the rest of the planet...NOT EVERYONE IN AMERICA IS RICH!!!

the town i live in is on the lower side of middle class. it's where i grew up. it's what i know. in my eyes, i can't always see how america is a such a "rich" country when i see people being thrown out of their homes because our town needs the money from selling the land more than the people need there homes they can just barely afford. and these same people that are just scraping by are still tyring to organize collections to help the hurricane victims. the only thing america is rich in is the compasion of it's citizens to help one and other in times of need like this.

whats forgotten is that GM kicked in big time after 9-11 and theyre coming thru again.


funny how toyota and other foreign carmakers got a pass for giving next to nothing or at least not until public pressure was put on them.



but people dont give a **** and keep buying their cars. :mad:

The Dow Chemical Company gave $1,000,000 to the Red Cross, and will match up to $1,000,000 in employee donations, and is donating another $1,000,000 in building materials and technology. :thumb: Talk about stepping up to the plate!

Dan

When I was at work yesterday, it was announced that WalMart has given $1,000,000 in aid. I know they are doing more, but I do not remeber off the top of my head.

We have had people at the Home Office working 24 x 7 shifts for disaster relief, and logistics planning. You haven't seen/heard of what I am sure Wal-Mart will do for the victims of this tradgedy. :bow: :bow: :bow:

Isn't it about damned time ALL the OIL companies donate some of their RECORD 30% INCREASE in PROFITS to something like this?!?

I mean, damn...if I gotta' bend over for these theives, then at least give it to people who need help..... /rant on hold.....

Would you consider running for president?
I'd vote for you 7,985,423 times on that quote alone. :bow:

As for Toyota, Honda, and helping out...
All you import drivers just keep reminding yourself about how much value you got with that import purchase, and how money spent into offshore-based companies "doesn't affect our domestic economy"... :rolleyes:

Go on... take the money and run.... whoo-whoo-whoo
Go on... take the money and run.... whoo-whoo-whoo

Doug, you forget...our beloved president profits personally from oil prices increasing. How much oil stock does the Bush clan own? Conflict of interest? You bet your a** it is. How much has oil gone up since he came into office? How much has he done to curb it?

I'll stop right there, seeing as how it seems more people on this board like Bush versus hating his guts...don't guess which camp I'm in. And before people come to his defense and yell at me about China driving up prices, yadda yadda, yadda, don't forget...while this is a free market economy, there is a virtual oligopoly on oil in this country. That is illegal. There are things we could do about it. We do nothing.

Proud,
Doug can be Pres, you be VP, I'll be the Attorney General. We'll get this crap straightened out...

Would you consider running for president?
I'd vote for you 7,985,423 times on that quote alone. :bow:

As for Toyota, Honda, and helping out...
All you import drivers just keep reminding yourself about how much value you got with that import purchase, and how money spent into offshore-based companies "doesn't affect our domestic economy"... :rolleyes:

Go on... take the money and run.... whoo-whoo-whoo
Go on... take the money and run.... whoo-whoo-whoo


Some may see my comments as "inappropriate"......

But........THANK YOU PROUD PONY ...and many more of you....for pointing something out here.........

The Wall Street Journal wrote an entire article that explained how GM's move right after 9/11 helped to save the economy from completely tanking. It wasn't only GM ....but GM did play a big part in it. I'm proud my company continually comes to the aid of those most in need.


Mr. Harden for President!

Well, this piece of news isn't exactly going to make you guys love Toyota any more than you already do ;) ...

But Toyota in Australia is having trouble convincing the Australian Revenue Office how it is making so little profit given the volume of sales it generates. More to the point, Toyota is justifying to the ARO that it is buying parts from its parent company in Japan for more money than the other local companies (Holden, Ford, etc..) are sourcing parts from its local suppliers. :eek:

Well given that Holden are continually making $300M AUD a profit each year and Toyota Australia have reported a profit (for the first time in many years) of $76M AUD... it kind of makes you wonder, dunnit? :confused:

GE is donating $1,000,000 and medical equipment to the Red Cross.

GM said 400$ from GM, and atleast 200,000 from both GMAC and GM Foundation,

and it will match employee donations as well as the 25 vehicles...

so i think we are looking at around 800,000-1,000,000 from the General...

Well, this piece of news isn't exactly going to make you guys love Toyota any more than you already do ;) ...

But Toyota in Australia is having trouble convincing the Australian Revenue Office how it is making so little profit given the volume of sales it generates. More to the point, Toyota is justifying to the ARO that it is buying parts from its parent company in Japan for more money than the other local companies (Holden, Ford, etc..) are sourcing parts from its local suppliers. :eek:

Well given that Holden are continually making $300M AUD a profit each year and Toyota Australia have reported a profit (for the first time in many years) of $76M AUD... it kind of makes you wonder, dunnit? :confused:

and isnt Holden one of Australias bigger market share holders?

Sorry for the Hi-jacking...

our beloved president profits personally from oil prices increasing.

Got proof? :think:

Update


DETROIT – General Motors today announced that the GM Foundation and GMAC have made a combined immediate cash donation of $400,000 to the American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund in support of relief work in parts of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The GM Foundation has pledged up to an additional $250,000 in matching funds for contributions made to the Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund by GM and GMAC employees through the company’s Global Aid Disaster Relief website (www.gmability.com).

In addition to financial support, the GM family will provide additional relief support and aid to storm victims:

GM is making available more than 150 vehicles -- including HUMMERS, full-size SUVs, trucks and vans -- for use by the American Red Cross in relief efforts throughout the affected areas. These vehicles, along with three HUMMER H2s donated to the Red Cross last year and the 10 other vehicles already in use following last month’s strike of Hurricane Dennis in Pensacola, are offered to the Red Cross for use in transporting volunteers, food, water and medical supplies.
The GM Foundation has allocated $50,000 of its immediate cash donation to the Red Cross chapter in Shreveport, Louisiana, to assist in their efforts to provide shelter to evacuees from surrounding areas.
GM’s production facility in Shreveport, working with the local Red Cross chapter, is collecting urgently needed bedding for the many evacuees entering the area. To date, 1000 cots, 1000 air mattresses, 500 pillows, and 500 blankets have been collected for distribution to local Red Cross shelters.
GMAC will work closely on a case-by-case basis with all its impacted customers in auto finance, insurance and mortgage units. Customers should contact customer service: GMAC Insurance: Personal Lines (Vehicle Insurance) 800-468-3466 MIC (GM Protection Plan) 800-631-5590; GMAC Mortgage 800-766-4622; GMAC Auto Financing 800-200-4622) or their branch offices where possible.
OnStar has opened up its full range of services for its customers based in or traveling in Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky . All OnStar customers in these states are getting immediate assistance with routing requests, hotel reservations, gas station directions, contacting relatives and emergency communication with public safety providers.
“The GM family shares in the nation’s grief as reports of fatalities, injuries and property destruction continue to mount in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. GM, the GM Foundation and GMAC are working closely with the American Red Cross to help bring relief to the victims of this devastating storm,” said Rod Gillum, GM Vice President Corporate Responsibility and Diversity, and Chairman of the GM Foundation. “In light of this national emergency, we encourage GM and GMAC employees everywhere to continue their proven tradition of supporting disaster relief efforts by contributing online to the Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund.”

The GM Foundation was established in 1976 to support the philanthropic interests and business priorities of General Motors Corporation. In 2004, worldwide contributions by GM and the GM Foundation totaled $68 million.

Update :metal: :bow:

GM's contributions, IMO are nothing short of amazing, considering their current financial situation! :alert: And yeah, I agree.......Harden for prez! :p

TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- ..."$2 million of the $3 million directed to the American Red Cross waspledged by Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan, California-based Toyota Motor Sales USA and Toyota Financial Services; New York-based Toyota Motor North America; and Kentucky-based Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America"

"Texas-based Friedkin Companies, the owner of Gulf States Toyota, a
privately owned Toyota distributorship, contributed another $2 million to
establish the Friedkin Disaster Relief Fund. This fund will aid Toyota and
dealership employees and their families in the Gulf Sates region with both
immediate and long-term needs resulting from Hurricane Katrina."

"Toyota Financial Services and Lexus Financial Services will assist finance and lease customers affected by Hurricane Katrina by offering a 90-day extension on payments, suspending credit bureau reporting on accounts impacted by the storm and temporarily suspending collection efforts on these accounts. Customers wishing to request assistance or discuss their accounts should call 1-800-874-8822.
Similarly, Lexus Pursuits Visa(R) Card customers will also receive an
extension on payments and may call 1-866-877-4966 to seek a credit line
increase or further assistance.
To stimulate further giving, employee contributions to the American Red
Cross will be fully matched by Toyota Motor Sales USA, Toyota Financial
Services, Toyota Motor North America, Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America and Toyota Technical Center. Additionally, employee contributions to the Salvation Army will be fully matched by Toyota Technical Center, while
employee contributions to the Friedkin Disaster Relief Fund will be fully
matched by Toyota Motor Sales and Toyota Financial Services."


http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-01-2005/0004098478&EDATE=

Good for Toyota! Nice to see a foreign company with plenty of Americans working for them stepping up and donating. They are good at both giving aid AND selling cars...unlike GM. ;)

-B

TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- ..."$2 million of the $3 million directed to the American Red Cross waspledged by Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan, California-based Toyota Motor Sales USA and Toyota Financial Services; New York-based Toyota Motor North America; and Kentucky-based Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America"

"Texas-based Friedkin Companies, the owner of Gulf States Toyota, a
privately owned Toyota distributorship, contributed another $2 million to
establish the Friedkin Disaster Relief Fund. This fund will aid Toyota and
dealership employees and their families in the Gulf Sates region with both
immediate and long-term needs resulting from Hurricane Katrina."

"Toyota Financial Services and Lexus Financial Services will assist finance and lease customers affected by Hurricane Katrina by offering a 90-day extension on payments, suspending credit bureau reporting on accounts impacted by the storm and temporarily suspending collection efforts on these accounts. Customers wishing to request assistance or discuss their accounts should call 1-800-874-8822.
Similarly, Lexus Pursuits Visa(R) Card customers will also receive an
extension on payments and may call 1-866-877-4966 to seek a credit line
increase or further assistance.
To stimulate further giving, employee contributions to the American Red
Cross will be fully matched by Toyota Motor Sales USA, Toyota Financial
Services, Toyota Motor North America, Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America and Toyota Technical Center. Additionally, employee contributions to the Salvation Army will be fully matched by Toyota Technical Center, while
employee contributions to the Friedkin Disaster Relief Fund will be fully
matched by Toyota Motor Sales and Toyota Financial Services."


http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-01-2005/0004098478&EDATE=

Good for Toyota! Nice to see a foreign company with plenty of Americans working for them stepping up and donating. They are good at both giving aid AND selling cars...unlike GM. ;)

-B

Good... they should step up like so many others already have.

and isnt Holden one of Australias bigger market share holders?

Sorry for the Hi-jacking...

Holden hold 16% market share, Ford have 13%... Toyota have 21%

My point is that the Asian car makers shift their profits overseas. There is no way Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai ... can be considered to be 'local' in the same way as GM, Ford and, yes, DC irrespective of the notion that they have plants in America, Australia, Canada...

first off, i'm just glad to see that alot of people are pitching in. i don't care as much who does but more that they are doing it(thank gawd GM stepped up on this one like they did with 9/11)...


...and secondly:
Doug Harden for Pres!!!!!
ProudPony for vice pres!!!!
JasonE for attorney general!!!
and...Red Planet for head of the transportation department :D !!!

:usa:

Did anyone catch Diane Sawyer's interview with Bush this morning on Good Morning America?
She asked him why couldn't the oil companies just take a very minimum profit during this time of national crisis to ease the burden. He deflected the question and said that the oil companies will be making donations to the Gulf Coast area.

But my thought goes like this: Didn't Bush personally ask the CEOs of the Big 3 automakers to give great deals to consumers right after 9/11 in order to keep America going?
If this is true, then why is he NOT asking the oil companies to forego some of their profit for a little while to help keep America rolling?

And now we're hearing about shortages around the country. I swear the oil companies have no soul. They'd rather see the economy fail rather than giving up some profit. :mad:

...and secondly:
Doug Harden for Pres!!!!!
ProudPony for vice pres!!!!
JasonE for attorney general!!!
and...Red Planet for head of the transportation department :D !!!

:usa:


well...........damn........looks like we gotta get busy with some special cars for the the Prez. and his 'cabinet'........and now that you mention it ...for the constituency as well....................

Did anyone catch Diane Sawyer's interview with Bush this morning on Good Morning America?
She asked him why couldn't the oil companies just take a very minimum profit during this time of national crisis to ease the burden. He deflected the question and said that the oil companies will be making donations to the Gulf Coast area.

But my thought goes like this: Didn't Bush personally ask the CEOs of the Big 3 automakers to give great deals to consumers right after 9/11 in order to keep America going?
If this is true, then why is he NOT asking the oil companies to forego some of their profit for a little while to help keep America rolling?

And now we're hearing about shortages around the country. I swear the oil companies have no soul. They'd rather see the economy fail rather than giving up some profit. :mad:


well.......I see your point......but keep in mind that the oil companies have taken, I think we'll find.....a huge hit in terms of infrastructure ...both in the gulf and on the coast and inland in LA/AL/MS.

well...........damn........looks like we gotta get busy with some special cars for the the Prez. and his 'cabinet'........and now that you mention it ...for the constituency as well....................

Now you're talking! :eek: :bow: :cool:

Boy, what I could do in just one week............

Now you're talking! :eek: :bow: :cool:

Boy, what I could do in just one week............
Didn't Howard Dean drum up much of his support, through the internet! :)

Got proof? :think:

Well, put it this way. The Bush family was/is rich because of Texas oil. They still own stock in oil companies, and I believe they may even own remnants of some Texas oil fields that are still in use today (cannot confirm that at the moment, admittedly).

One of my new personal rules is not to spark political debates on this forum, but as for what I said...that's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Besides, under his watch, our energy costs have gone through the roof, and I have seen ZERO policy to try and curb such issues. His release of the oil reserves today is not going to do anything...by the time that oil makes its way to refineries and is shipped out as gas, the pipelines in the gulf will likely be running again. Meanwhile, home heating prices skyrocket and at the pump we all suffer. As I'm sure you see in MI, governments nationwide spend millions in assisting the poor with heating bills. Imagine the tax $$ saved if there was just a tad of regulation in the oil markets ;)

Stepping off the soapbox now...

well.......I see your point......but keep in mind that the oil companies have taken, I think we'll find.....a huge hit in terms of infrastructure ...both in the gulf and on the coast and inland in LA/AL/MS.
Don't think they will get any slack whatsoever, based on that fact! We have a natural desire, to hate the rich in this country. And blame them for all our woes, wether deserved or not. IMO, this is a huge part, of what drives much of the hatred for a certain individual, as well as the oil companies. I think you know who I mean. I don't want to throw any, fuel on the fire! ;) I hear chevron kicked in $5 mil., however I still remember "Crusher Camaro". I know they have lost some production capacity, due to Katrina! I seen on the news, one of their things ( I can't remember what the heck they call it; oil drilling platform, whatever) was blown aground out there. And I know it can't possibly help the price at the pump, regardless ppl will be calling for their heads. Some places, are seriously gouging ppl, but I'm not sure that it goes further than the greedy station owners.

The Home Depot has also dontated money to the disaster fund so far...

$1,000,000 as of right now, plus matching employee contributions, and are talking about giving more according to the news release they had posted on the bulletin board...

well.......I see your point......but keep in mind that the oil companies have taken, I think we'll find.....a huge hit in terms of infrastructure ...both in the gulf and on the coast and inland in LA/AL/MS.

Indeed. My company's refinery is underwater. My company is also giving 3 million dollars to the Katrina victims (more than any single company I've heard of so far). They are giving all their employees in the affected areas $5,000 and up to $10,000 in interest free loans. Some people say oil companies have no soul, it's just not true.

Indeed. My company's refinery is underwater. My company is also giving 3 million dollars to the Katrina victims (more than any single company I've heard of so far). They are giving all their employees in the affected areas $5,000 and up to $10,000 in interest free loans. Some people say oil companies have no soul, it's just not true.

its called avoiding a recession, its a good idea... but like I posted here Toyota agreed to Donate 5 Million

Got proof? :think:
Do a search for "Arbusto Oil Company" or "Arbusto Energy", and get ready to read.
I've helped you alittle to get you started...
Arbusto Energy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbusto_Energy)
"Arbusto Energy (Arbusto Oil) was a petroleum and energy corporation formed in Midland, Texas, in 1977, by George W. Bush. The name Arbusto is Spanish for "shrub," a synonym for "bush".

Investors in the company included Dorothy Bush, Lewis Lehrman, William Henry Draper III, Bill Gammell, and James R. Bath. At the time that Bath made an investment of $50,000 he was representing Salem bin Laden's interests in Texas. When Salem bin Laden died in 1988, his interest in Arbusto (along with other bin Laden Group assets) passed to Khalid bin Mahfouz."

Yes, that would be the same Bin Laden that fathered Usama.

Do a little searching and reading on your own.
If that doesn't quell your appetite, start another thread, and I'll be more than happy to confirm your worst thoughts and fears for you.
FWIW, Cheney is NO BETTER, and in fact may be the worse of the two because he is still getting quiet payments from Halliburton for the $4.6-billion "uncontested" contracts handed to them by the Us military.

The fox is guarding the henhouse right now - and I don't care WHO you voted for.

first off, i'm just glad to see that alot of people are pitching in. i don't care as much who does but more that they are doing it(thank gawd GM stepped up on this one like they did with 9/11)...


...and secondly:
Doug Harden for Pres!!!!!
ProudPony for vice pres!!!!
JasonE for attorney general!!!
and...Red Planet for head of the transportation department :D !!!

:usa:

:D You guys are nuts!!!
And I love you for it too! :thumb:

Know what, not only would I quit my job and do it, but I would have a HUGE time of cleaning the sh1+ out of Washington too! I'm talking Patton and MacAuthor types of @ss-whoopins and butt-chewins.

I just flew dead-nuts over D.C. coming home from Buffalo again this aftenoon, and I was thinking while looking down at the monuments and Capitol Hill, "man would I love to just drop in on those guys and give them a good what-for right now..."

IMO, the government dropped the ball on this Katrina thing... badly. When a federal agency directs people to seek shelter in the Superdome, then does not prioritize getting supplies to these 70,000+ people in a concentrated location - it's just WRONG. :no: The only thing I think they did right was declaring the area a disaster zone before the storm hit so they could begin mobilizing FEMA... and that help has proven to be merginal thusfar.

I digress.
Besides, if I were elected into office, somebody would have a hit on me within a week because they would know REAL FAST that I can not be bought out, and things were going to get rough for the big boys. ;)

Anybody else think they actually OPPOSE common sense in DC?

All levels of govenment too. From local NO, to state of LA, to the Feds.

A quick peek at Exxon Mobil's financials show they are on pace to earn $1b/day. That's not a misprint. $1 billion USD per day -- profit -- not revenue. It makes me ill.

I ain't even gonna' hold a single breath on any foreign country REALLY helping....


You're right about other foreign nations but Canada is putting in a ****load of help for a country who has a population the size of 2 new york cities.

You people act like its wrong of the Bush family to make a living on oil.

Gee, lets just hang everyone sucessful in their field....

First Bill Gates, then Bush family...hmmm to bad Dave Thomas has already passed away, we cant chop him down for being a good businessman....

Now you're talking! :eek: :bow: :cool:

Boy, what I could do in just one week............

Refrence the 'got drunk and ran for president skit on SNL a few years ago'

Secret Service agent "No you did some great things while in office. Remember your 'give us your guns or we will blow your freakin' heads off', how about your 'give us your drugs or we will blow your freakin' heads off'", or when you marched into the UN and said "I am taking Cuba, ANYBODY got a problem with that?!!! " No sir you have been a great president now how about a bottle of Gin for breakfast?" :bow:

You people act like its wrong of the Bush family to make a living on oil.

Please define for me what you deem to be "making a living"?!?! :eek:
Somehow, I don't think they are "barely making it" the way millions of other hard working people out here are, especially the ones with dirt under their fingernails. :no:

So why is it that the automakers (who are losing money) are able to cough up millions to aid in this disaster, yet the oil companies (who are pulling in Billions a day) are still gouging away at us? In times like this, would it REALLY be unacceptable for them to actually give a little back to society?

Yet you defend them. :rolleyes:

Do me a favor, don't try the pitiful defense of categorization to justify the rediculous fleecing the oil companies are putting on the American people. I have no problem with Bill Gates (he earned his money, and he is VERY philanthropic), nor do I have an issue with the deceased Dave Thomas. I have no problem with anyone being successful. I DO have a problem with people who take advantage of their might and economic clout through the use of government and then inflict their foul intents upon the people en-masse - especially when those people are trying to pull out of a huge national disaster... BIG difference.

wow......quite a few opinions in this thread!

I'm no expert on any of this.....and I'm quite sure I don't know enough about it to throw accusations around.

I DO have a question for the Mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of Louisiana however......and again, it's not an accusation.....just some questions:

>We have known for a long time that New Orleans lies below sea level. What plans were made for the day that the unthinkable would occur?

>In watching the various networks, I've seen a lot of municipal busses and school busses under water. My question is: If we knew that there was a hurricane coming.....and we know that a large percentage of New Orleans is poor and has no transportation.....why weren't the busses used to move people before the hurricane struck.......

........now......I'm gonna repeat this: I'm not making accusations......I'm just asking questions.

What I am bothered by is that the City and State are suddenly wanting to blame everything on the federal government.

One last observation: I hope some lessons are learned here...and REMEMBERED....because I'm sure this isn't the last tragedy to happen to our country.

One last question: How many of you believe that some of these areas should not be rebuilt?

(my concern is that there are a lot of small towns and parishes that no longer exist......I mean, they're simply GONE......are we, as a people, better off relocating complete towns rather than rebuilding only to have the same thing happen all over again?)

>We have known for a long time that New Orleans lies below sea level. What plans were made for the day that the unthinkable would occur?


You would think, that they would have made some plans after the tsunami hit. In the following days the media was heavily reporting "what if this happened to us."

I agree, those are the real questions! I believe there were something like 500 busses! The city & local gov't ppl got out fine. Only a couple regular ppl had enough insight to "steal" busses, and pick ppl up, and head out of there! Just imagine how many ppl could have been evacuated, and saved from :death: had the local officials used these busses, to get the ppl without the means to leave on their own! But since ppl are already primed by the media, that Bush is to blame for all their woes, they draw the line right to the whitehouse! :tired: The locals don't do **it, so the prez will take the hit! They were running out of material, so they had to find something. The Bush family should have made their $$$ on illegal activity, then the public would love them! ;) As far as rebuilding........IMHO it would be a foolish waste of $$$, and would only set the ppl up for the same thing to happen again! :alert:

there was a big stink about being hit by a catagory 4 hurricane durring 2002... they knew the city would be in the same shape it is now... but nothing was done... it was a political thing but never fixed anything...

We have known for a long time that New Orleans lies below sea level. What plans were made for the day that the unthinkable would occur


It was a failure on the local, state and federal level.. Everyone is to blame here. 40 years ago congress passed legislation to make New Orleans safe for sometng lek this. FOr 40 years in every presidency since, nobody put up the monies to fund levies for a cat 5.

It was a failure on the local, state and federal level.. Everyone is to blame here.

That says it all.

IMO, every truck should have gone in loaded with water and food, and it should have turned around and left full of evacuees. Every chopper that was buzzing around taking pictures should have landed and loaded with evacuees before departing the area.

The first equipment on-site should have been Cat D9 dozers with 12' blades, and drove straight down the roads pushing everything to the side. Trucks and APVs loaded with supplies and LEAs should have been 200yds behind the dozers.

The feds should have had truckloads of water, food, and supplies staged and ready in Texas, Georgia, and Arkansas by Sunday night (the night before it hit). This is an operation too large to expect the City of New Orleans or even the state of Louisiana to accomplish - this was on the Federal level. We all watched the storm cross Florida, and we had days to prepare - and we were told it was going to strengthen to a category 4 or 5 to boot.

As stated by Red above, why didn't the local govt get more involved in PREVENTION? Bussing the people to the Superdome was a lame attempt at housing a city the size of New Orleans, especially given their mean income levels in the inner-city. Why didn't the entire mass transit system carry them all north 100 miles to shopping malls, convention centers, National Guard barracks, closed military bases, etc? Busses should have been running nonstop, making multiple trips per day for 3 days prior to the storm.

I could go on - I'm sure we all could do the Monday-morning quarterbacking at this point, but the thing that is most obvious is that all the governments involved missed the boat on this one - BADLY. Even Monday night after the storm hit, the big 3 news agencies were all saying that there was some flooding, but things didn't appear to be as bad as predicted... how wrong they were. All entities were sitting idly by, watching, instead of being prepared and proactive.

Lastly, I am with Red (again) regarding the rebuild. If they want to rebuild that area, do it without the benefit of governmental support, and do not allow insurance to be levied against any property at or below sea level. Basically, it would be "build at your own risk". You see, one thing we have not yet even begun to consider is how the cost of reparation and relocation of this city is going to impact every one of us... from our insurance premiums (that WILL go up due to the massive outlay of cash they will endure from this), to our health care costs, all the way down to the local impact of absorbing the evacuees into our communities.
(Just this morning, they announced that our local schools in Greensboro, Raleigh, Durham, and Charlotte NC will be absorbing about 1500 students from the gulf area as they are housed and enrolled. Our state mandates that any student displaced by natural disaster can not be denied access to public schools, regardless of their residence/school district. So if the kids get here and enroll, they WILL go to school. Since about 15% of our students
are already in trailers waiting for school expansions, this will be tough - but we MUST make it happen. We owe it to these kids, IMO.)

Bottom line - nobody prepared, we were reactive instead of proactive, the losses are unimagineable, and we (the rest of the nation) have not yet even begun to realize the true impact of what has happened, both economically and in humanitarian terms. :(

It was a failure on the local, state and federal level.. Everyone is to blame here. 40 years ago congress passed legislation to make New Orleans safe for sometng lek this. FOr 40 years in every presidency since, nobody put up the monies to fund levies for a cat 5.
True, but I have heard, that there were three times when politicians tried to get the levees beefed up, but were heavily criticized by the NY Times. Apparently they felt it would hurt the environment? :confused: :rolleyes: Anyone else ever heard about this? The other thing, that I was thinking is, all the kids being put into surrounding schools. I hope first they make sure that, all these kids are free of disease, so they don't spread anything to the others kids in the schools. After them being in that area so long, there is bound to some ill children! Obviously, its the right thing to do! I just hope they get a clear bill of health first.

I think they did a good job. Any previous Hurricane the most people ever evacuated was 60% of New Orleans. They evacuated 80% of the population for this hurricane and did it without hardley ANY WARNING. You have to remember this hurricane wasn't way out in the atlantic targeting Myrtle Beach and everybody saw it coming. This hurricane was to hit Florida and most people did not predict it would go into the gulf and become a Cat 5.

They evacuated 80% of the city in basically two days. I think that is an incredible response by state/local.

Let's remember New Orleans would have been fine had the levee not broke. I see Red's statements and I agree - they should actually move New Orleans back on "land" not some death trap of a spot that the French didn't even want....

Now that the disasters are over people are going to point fingers at EVERYBODY. But you have to consider N.O. was/is one of the most poorest populations with murder rates 8 times higher then the national average. What is happening now should not be a suprise to anybody.

Jesse Jackson needs to crawl back in his hole too. They were interviewing a black lady who was forced to evacuate her home and she said that she didn't need to and this was like the "slave" days (fitting isn't it...).

Anyhow, the senator told her that they evacuated everybody in that community regardless of age/race/gender/breast size or whatever. She then had the audacity to say; well that may be true but I'm "African American." Please - seriously, they will never be "equal" until they realize they are an AMERICAN - NOT an "African American." The racial overtones and mudslinging is sickening. Hell, if that's the way their going to treat the people that saved their lifes, just should have let them take on Katrina by themselves... [/rant]

While blame should be absorbed everywhere............ pointing fingers at this point is nothing but counterproductive. There will be plenty of time in the months and years to come, to figure out how we could have done things better. The reality of the matter is that most planning is based on experience. The US has NEVER had an experience like this (9/11 doesn't count as it was a very concentrated event). We have to remember the scope of the destroyed area. Even though most attention has been focused on NO, the gulf cities were completely destroyed. Not damaged........... but destroyed. The serious destruction from this hurricane covers an amount of space equal to the entire country of Great Britain. The entire infrastructure of the affected area was completely destroyed. There was absolutally no communications.

I have been reading forums all over the place, and have read alot of what "actually" happened as far as preparedness. This comes from military people who are actually involved, and those who actually came from the cities.

Days before the hurricane hit, the US Govt was preparing. They were preparing navel vessels (which takes a great deal of time to prepare), and moving resources to areas around the region. When the storm intensified significantly, they had to move their resources back, further out of the area. Relief does no good if it is all destroyed by the storm. In the meantime, the Governor of LA ordered a voluntary evacuation. A day later, as the storm got worse, Pres Bush begged her to change it to a mandatory evacuation (you have to remember that he cannot do anything himself, as the cities and states are those with the responsibility............ there are many laws on this). She finally changed it to a mandatory evacuation, but did not send in transport for the poor, or those unable to leave on their own. She also did not force people to leave (very dumb, but people in that region feel they have toughed it out before and been fine........... so they will be fine now). She evacuated people to facilities that had next to no resources (where were all of the supplies waiting in the dome and convention center?). She also ordered up a very small amount of National Guard troops. The Feds asked if she wanted to ask for their help (how it has to work............ she has to request it). She requested money only, and a very small amount at that (the Feds approved 100X what she asked for).

When the storm passed, Coast Guard troops were moving into position to help, when the levies broke. They had to pull back until the extent of the damage was known. The Governor of LA finally asked for Federal assistance, which started to arrive in force, appx 24 hours later.

The problems of NO have been know since the city was built. The city was originally built on high ground (the parts that did not flood). As the city has gotten bigger, it has branched out into the lowlands. Due to the levy system, the city is sinking due to the lack of replenishing of silt in the lowlands (from flooding........... which is a naturally occuring event in that city). The barriers to the ocean............. the swamps, have also been shrinking dramatically due to the lack of silt replenishing (it all goes out into the Gulf). Eventually, if things kept going the way they were, NO would be right on the Gulf.

Fixing the problem is a double edged sword. Stronger levies, and the silt problem, and degradation of the coastline will continue to get worse. There is no happy medium between the environmentalists and those who advocate fixing the levies (bringing them up to a stronger standard).

Thus, it is everybodies fault.................. going back about 100 years. LA's environmental record has always been about the worst in the states.

As for the gas/oil thing. The problem we have is not the lack of oil............... there is plenty. The problem we have is a lack of new refineries. We have no capacity left in the refineries we have, and no new ones have been built since the 60's (many have actually been closed down due to the cost to upgrade them to new environmental laws). This lack of refineries is not due to a lack of desire on the part of the oil companies.............. it is strictly due to environmentalists, and environmental laws. Requests for building permits have, in some cases, been out there for a decade or more. Excess capacity is a good thing, as it allows the entire system to run more efficiently. Regular maintenance can get done better, because there is no pressure to have the refinery back online immediately.

Thus, we are our own worst enemy. We want cheap fuel, but we don't want to allow new refineries to be built, and we don't want new drilling to happen. Until that happens, we will always be vulnerable to situations like this.

Off my soapbox.

Make your own conclusions to what I have posted. I just laid down alot of what happened, but I will not outright accuse anyone of anything. Like I said, there will be plenty of time in the future to figure out what we could have done better. You know............ after all of the accusations, lawsuits, and political posturing. :rolleyes:

Good Post

You know............ after all of the accusations, lawsuits, and political posturing. :rolleyes:

ESPECIALLY the last 2 parts. :rolleyes:


and they WILL come.

Yes, that was a very good post! :bow:

I understand that alot of the negativity is coming from anger, anguish, and compassion. I have plenty of that myself. However, one good thing that my husband taught me, is to not come to conclusions before I know what actually happened (or to not judge people based on first impressions).

In my looking around, I have also found alot of stuff that I found hilarious (in a very sad way). There are conspiracy theorists that say Pres Bush created the hurricane to raise the price of oil/fuel to allow himself, and his rich friends to get richer. There are those who blame Pres Bush for the hurricane, because he did not sign the Kyoto treaty. Frankly, I'm impressed. For a man so maligned, he has had to deal with more during his Presidency than any president since WWII (both 9/11 and now this).

He is a better man than me. If both of these things had happened to me, and I would have had to deal with both up close............ I don't think I would be able to function. I'm not saying that he is a great President, just that he has had to deal with alot. With all that on his plate, there is no time for BJ's in the Whitehouse. ;)

Dang sweety, your on a roll today, eh! ;) :bow:

Thank you................... thank you.................... (taking my bow. LOL)

I guess I have read so much over the last week or so, that I am just tiring of the "party line."

BTW, if anyone knows a hurricane victim who can get to AZ, I have offered up my spare bedroom for FREE housing for up to 2 survivors. I will be willing to drive anywhere in AZ to pick them up. I have registered on 2 sites for this also. We don't have money, but we do have a little spare space. :)

It was a failure on the local, state and federal level...

Local and State, I agree completly. The Feds less so. As has been stated on this board previously, and told to us in ALL the disaster trainging for events like this: Federal support will be 72-96 hours out.

Here's a very interesting read for you all...

From the Associated Press (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050907/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/katrina_disaster_response;_ylt=AkxwURI1G2cY1lW3DwK sklYDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl)

"The top U.S. disaster official waited hours after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast before he proposed to his boss sending at least 1,000 Homeland Security workers into the region to support rescuers, internal documents show."

"Brown's memo told employees that among their duties, they would be expected to "convey a positive image of disaster operations to government officials, community organizations and the general public.""

"Brown also urged local fire and rescue departments outside Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi not to send trucks or emergency workers into disaster areas without an explicit request for help from state or local governments."

"Meanwhile, the airline industry said the government's request for help evacuating storm victims didn't come until late Thursday afternoon."

Some interesting things are coming to light now.
Certainly, there were faults at the State and Local levels too - no doubt, but the Senators and Congressmen are on this pretty hard now, and some of the Federal shortcomings are already showing up in paper trails.

I don't care to point fingers. There is no single person to shoulder the lack of response IMO. But if I were in any position to provide relief or disaster management, I would have erred on the side of "over-reacting" instead of "waiting to see". I guess I am just that way.

The thing that bothers me the most in the article above is that FEMA wants 48 hours of TRAINING for their staff prior to deployment?!?! :rolleyes: WTF!!!
Why do we send people to Maryland, Florida, and Georgia for training AFTER the disaster?
So what exactly do these people do when the sun is shining and there is no pending holocaust taking place... watch Oprah and play cards? :confused:

This is bad... :no:
Makes me feel REAL good about our disaster preparedness programs that were such big topics after 9/11.

Another thought just hit me...

GM and Ford both responded with money, vehicles, and supplies even faster than our own government did asking for troops, National Guardsmen, and assistance from the airline/chopper/transportation industry.

That's BAD. :(

Yes, but the State has to ASK for that help. Bush two days before the hurricane hit was begging the Governer (I think - whomever the chick is) to ask for help (the way it has to go - it has to be asked for by the state - it's law). Anyhow, she finally asked for it, but wasn't even planning on it. Also, she only requested a seemingly small amount of money and the feds approved her for 100x that.

I'm not gonna say some people should or shouldn't have moved faster. It was a natural disaster period. Something of this scope has not hit the US in a LONG time. There's only so much you can do so fast. Just because this is the USA does not mean we can wave our finger and tell that Cat 5 hurricane to go away. I think we're doing the best job with the experience and resources that we currently have.

Yes, but the State has to ASK for that help. Bush two days before the hurricane hit was begging the Governer (I think - whomever the chick is) to ask for help (the way it has to go - it has to be asked for by the state - it's law). Anyhow, she finally asked for it, but wasn't even planning on it. Also, she only requested a seemingly small amount of money and the feds approved her for 100x that.

In cotradiction to your claim above that Bush was begging the local leaders to be proactive...

The NBC Nightly News tonight showed Senator Trent Lott asking the president PERSONALLY to intervene and get 2000 trailers to the N.O. area as soon as possible. They were asked for last Thursday by the Governor, and when Bush went back for his second trip this weekend, there were still no trailers. After Trent Lott asked for personal intervention in front of TV cameras, 200 units majically showed-up today. Yup... 200.

They go on to show over 12,000 trailers stored in a big lot in Georgia - none of them even close to being moved anywhere.

Sorry, but I don't buy the "Bush is faultness" philosophy.
And the recent comments from his mother and wife do nothing to help my opinion of them either.
He's not the only one to carry blame, but he is certainly not 100% clean either. :no:

Government broke down on all levels during this disaster. It started first with inept leadership from Nagin, then even more inept leadership from blanco and then when all that crap got to the federal level it was mired in beaucracy.

The mayor could've used all available public transport to get everyone out but he didnt. Blanco could've ordered the National Gaurd in to escort a coordinated city evacuation but she didnt. They could've also sent in many state owned vehicles to help move people but they didnt.

FEMA acted to late requesting aid and only had minimal support there on the staging zones for after the storm. Also flooding by a breach in the levee system kinda caught everyone off because it basically happened after the expected time they thought it would breach. Considering NO was dry after the hurricane, I think they started diverting aide to other areas and then when the levee broke after they thought it would've held, they rushed into NO already behind the ball.

Due to all the resources being poured into NO they took away resources from the other devastated areas outside NO such as Slidell,Chalmette, and etc. Also national attention was diverted from Mobile, Gulfport, and etc. Places IMHO that got it MUCH WORSE than NO. At least New Orleans is still standing....

Beaucracy on all levels caused a major failure in help being delivered immediately and efficiently. A clear plan was not drawn up for such a worst case sceanario and now the pains of such poor planning is evident. The situation here in Louisiana was due to a massive break down in the chain of command starting on the local level and then on up. As for Mississippi, and Alabama, help didnt get there soon enough afterwards because everyone was distracted by the people looting, killing, and raping in NO.

Cliff Notes:

Mayor Ray Nagin is not an efficient leader who failed to draw up and plan ahead for such a problem.

Cathleen Babineaux Blanco is also an inefficient leader who failed to draw up a plan for such a probelm and implement it with a plan with NO and the surrounding coastal area of Southern LA

Federal Government failed to intervene when it should've and is reaping massive amounts of flak because of it.