Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Emergency Radio Network Needs A Backup The only working AM radio station in New Orleans has now gone out. This is not good for the people seemingly 'left behind' with no information available. Living in Pensacola I can share some of what they are going through. Katrina pretty much missed us compared to the rest of the gulf coast going west. We all remember what Ivan did to our area, but for what it is like to go through isolation caused by no transportation, no electric, no water, and in their case no nothing, having a way to get information is just as important as getting water and ice. With nothing but a portable radio to get news from, the local AM radio stations were necessary for a lot of reasons beyond, where do we go for MRE's and ice, to where the help is and will be coming from. The whole town only had the battery-operated radio as a means to help us through the storm and recovery afterwards. The 24hr continuous live talk and information was a godsend. Now the people in NO don't have any radio station to listen to. I can't imagine the added pain to their situation by not knowing ANYTHING about what to do or what is coming or where to go. It's frightening. I think the DHS needs to have an AM station on a truck if necessary to broadcast all the local EOC (Emergency Operations Center) briefings and recovery information. Aside from the obvious need for such an option for disasters like this, it goes a long way to help maintain your sanity and sense of calm or sense of normalcy in the community with chaos all around, when you can listen to people you know keeping you informed of what is going on out there. It really played an important part in our living through those tough times. There's got to be a way to set this up, the people need to know that something is going on out there that will help them, and what they can do to help themselves. 4:25:09 PM    comment [] trackback []

A Win Win For The Port Of Pensacola Well this certainly has the potential to fix two problems at once. The port's insolvency and helping our country in one fell swoop. But are Pensacolians ready for this kind of progress? Is building a commercial operation on the waterfront a better investment than the Port of Pensacola? Port of Pensacola could be alternative for storm-closed ports. Ports in Mobile, Gulfport and New Orleans are closed and cargo ships and cruise ships are looking for a temporary home in Pensacola. [PensacolaNewsJournal.com - Local News] 3:56:46 PM    comment [] trackback []

Can Cruise Ship Industry Help With Evacutaions? Somebody who counts ought to suggest that the cruise lines that normally do business in New Orleans return to pick up evacuees. Presuming of course that the Mississippi river is still navagable. 10:20:38 AM    comment [] trackback []

A Total Effort In New Orleans On the day after, they were using helicopters, military vehicles, and boats, emergency services were asking for volunteers who had a boat and could help rescue people. It was a total effort, and will continue to be. People on Canal St. use a boat to get to higher grounds as water began to fill the streets in New Orleans, Louisiana. Fresh floods, fires and looting rode in the destructive wake of Hurricane Katrina, deepening a humanitarian crisis that left hundreds feared dead and sections of New Orleans submerged to the rooftops.The(AFP/Getty Images/Mark Wilson) 2:06:03 AM    comment [] trackback []

How We Can Help Our Own Hurricane Victims Speaking from Coronado CA today, President Bush commented on the hurricane victims all along the gulf coast. This morning, our hearts and prayers are with our fellow citizens along the Gulf Coast," Bush told Navy sailors and World War II veterans, the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier at his back. "We know that many are anxious to return to their homes. It's not possible at this moment." The federal, state and local governments are working together side-by-side to help people get back on their feet. The president asked individual Americans to get involved with the relief effort, suggesting anyone who wishes to help could call 1-800-HELPNOW, log on to the Red Cross Web site at http://www.redcross.org or get in touch with the Salvation Army. 1:12:15 AM    comment [] trackback []

© Copyright 2005 Ross Calloway. Last update: 11/27/2005; 8:17:17 PM.