Dear David, The devastation left in Katrina's wake stretches over 90,000 square miles (144,834 square kilometers)
United Kingdom: 93,788 square miles (242,910 square kilometers) England: 50,356 square miles (130,423 square kilometers) New Orleans has a land area of 197 square miles. How big is Darwin? And did they have to contend with up to 25 feet of water all over everything? Did some of those in need of rescue shoot at their rescuers? Did they shoot at the helicopters? Did the bus drivers driving buses into Darwin to rescue people get hijacked and the busses stolen from them? That's what happened in New Orleans. Not to say that you all didn't do a marvelous job dealing with that disaster, but just how closely does it really compare to Katrina? Many people keep referring to New Orleans as if it was the only place devastated - do you realize that New Orleans is .2% - that is point two percent - of the total area of devastation? That leaves 89,803 square miles that had people and businesses family farms and everything else that New Orleans had. And no reports of any one shooting at rescuers or hijacking the buses that came to rescue them in Biloxi, Mississippi. Or any where else. What was in the minds of those people I don't know, and neither did Governor Blanco when she bemoaned their behavior at a news conference - that CNN played once as far as I saw. No repeating of that news clip over and over. The police refused to go out and try to rescue any more people - they were holed up trying to defend their stations. Those officers that lived through the hurricane anyway. You said - Yes that's right. But here in Australia you will find that it's the ordinary people who are on hand who time and time again seem to display an inordinate sense of morality, duty and care. They simply do not wait for the official folk but get stuck in immediately and get things moving in the right direction. Well, David, just who do you think was first on the scenes helping before the National Guards got there and are still there. Doctors, nurses, firemen, police officers, and people who just had muscle to use, willing to do anything, and yes the hams too, from all over the country went there. Do you really think elsewhere, besides New Orleans where you were liable to get shot for helping, - that no one was doing anything? The volunteers were spread out over the rest of the area which was as I said before, 89,803 Square Miles. Those that could went there. Those that couldn't, have helped in other ways - from donating goods, money, taking people into their homes, you name it has been done. Too bad the news media doesn't cover that aspect a little more fully. Best Regards, Carol Melton, Litchfield Park, AZ - USA To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
