...it's not dark yet, but it's gettin' there...
What is happening in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast is awful. i had no idea this storm's aftermath would be so severe. And it looks like only the beginning.
i watched Fox News this morning and Shepard Smith was saying that his crew was planning to leave. He thought that by staying, they would be taking resources away from the victims. i think that's a mistake.
This is one case where the media can do more good by covering the story as much as possible. Yah, i never thought i'd say that either. This disaster looks worse than anything i've ever imagined. It needs to be reported, so people can help with donations or in any way they can.
My suggestion to the media would be to spend money. Make the crews self sufficient and join in the relief effort. Fuck the rule against becoming part of the story, they never follow that rule anyway. They should bring bottled water. They should also continue to keep emergency workers informed about what they see or people who need rescuing.
Update: Journalist and Louisiana expat Ken Wheaton has much more.
Agreed, I have much family in the area and I'm VERY concerned. The more information we have, the better.
p.s. Thanks for the thing at MuNu.
Posted by: Stacy on Aug. 30, 2005as an ex-Louisiana native, (my sister lives two hours drive north of NO, and still does not have power.) I can tell you that in the aftermath of a big storm is a lot of clean up. The bad thing is all the dead animals. You go back to your home, and even if you escaped with little damage, you might find a rotting deer carcass in your yard or a couple of dogs, rats, snakes ect.
Posted by: Kyle on Aug. 30, 2005Annika,
Thanks for the link. And let me say this. The media--especially the local media--is ALWAYS helpful after a hurricane and even during it. They may do a disservice by scaring the hell out of people before smaller hurricanes, but they always get involved, trying to connect people, trying to help people, etc. Smith was probably right to leave as he didn't have supplies there with him and that truck is just going to be in the way.
By the way, if you want to see proof that journalists are human, too. Watch this clip. But I warn you, it might make you cry at work. Go here and click on the first video link in the story.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/30/katrina/index.html
Aaron Brown replayed some of the Jeanne Meserve reportage tonight. Both of them give me hope that yes, journalists can show a human side. Amazing stuff.
Posted by: annika on Aug. 30, 2005Can anyone give me a detailed update of how bad it is in New Orleans? I'm in Iraq and other than seeing the Superdome and the superficial stories in the Stars and Stripes, I haven't been able to find a lot of detailed information. Although I live in Montgomery, AL, when not deployed to the Middle East, I went to law school at Tulane and would be interested to know how my former home city fared.
If someone has specific details (i.e., garden district, CBD, warehouse district, French Quarter) I'd be grateful. Yes, I know the roof of the Superdome came off, but I am more concerned about the neighborhoods I used to know and love.
To anyone with information, please accept my thanks in advance for sharing it with someone out of the information loop.
Posted by: James on Aug. 30, 2005I took two classes during law school abroad thru Loyola U. at New Orleans. I went to the website seeking my former professors' e-mail addresses in vain. I hope they're alright.
Posted by: Mark on Aug. 31, 2005