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Thai Response To Tragedy Vs. Us Response


Galong

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In watching CNN and FOX, I'm stunned by how disorganized the hurricane clean-up is going, how under-manned/womanned the government is, and at the sheer heartlessness of looters.

Even with a few days of notice (something that Thailand didn't have the luxury of), I'm shocked by the following:

1. Hundreds of people died (faulty evacuation plan? Irresponsible citizens?)

2. They are still looking for more dead

3. The evacuation plan seemed flawed from before the hurricane hit

4. The levee in New Orleans broke - the fact that they built a city with the majority of the city below sea level - and this from the country that put a man on the moon!

5. There is talk of disease issues for some time to come. Thailand got very bad press from so-called experts like the CDC and WHO stating that the worst was yet to come. That diseases will likely kill more people than those who died in the water. On the contrary, within hours, Thai villages had mountains of water and food. I know, I delivered a lot too.

6. Rescue workers are leaving dead and decomposing bodies safely removed from the debris. They had plenty of time to get enough rescue workers down there!

7. Some looters are now armed and have shot a cop in the head in New Orleans

8. All of the looters shown on FOX news are non-white (I'm sure they can find some white people to video tape too)

9. People who want to get out now can't get gas because the electricity is out at the gas stations. Hello, generators, hello.

I was amazed by how well organized the Thai government was immediately after our disaster.

Yes, there are plenty of examples of things that didn't go well and that still might not be settled even now, but the response time, the amount of rescue workers, military, medical personnel and folks from all walks of life (both Thai and foreign) was heartlifting.

In my eyes, Thailand is 1st World on responding to disasters and the US could use a swift kick in their 3rd World quality back side. :o

I'm an American expat, by the way.

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Hind sight is always 20-20. I could comment on all 9 of your topics but I'll just pick on one. Fox news probably could have gone around and tried to show a politically correct report showing looters of all colors but instead they decided to show the reality of the situation.....how dare those news people show us reality!!!

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You completely ignore the fact this was a Hurricane not as Tsunami and thus the destruction to infrastructure extends hundreds of miles inland.  Very, very different situation.

So, you think that the pathetic response that the US government is giving is somehow acceptable?

If I'm misunderstanding you... sorry. But it seems that a storm surge is a storm surge. It's merely a matter of degree.

OK, just looking at New Orleans then... this was the city that the news media and the weather agencies said would get hit and they did. I'm not talking about all the damage that went down inland. Look at how mismanaged the rescue process is going in this one city - I'm appauled.

If we didn't have our military fighting for oil, we'd have a few more hands to help. :o

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How quick you are to critisize. In an environmental disaster like this, it is almost impossible to control people. As for rescue services, they simply can't be at everyones beg and call. Generators? Do you realise what sort of power we're talking here???

You have seen the videos on CNN. No government can prepare for this kind of catastrophe.

And for LOS being so efficient during the tsunami, i think you would have a different idea if you heard some of the horror stories from that disaster...

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You completely ignore the fact this was a Hurricane not as Tsunami and thus the destruction to infrastructure extends hundreds of miles inland.  Very, very different situation.

So, you think that the pathetic response that the US government is giving is somehow acceptable?

If I'm misunderstanding you... sorry. But it seems that a storm surge is a storm surge. It's merely a matter of degree.

OK, just looking at New Orleans then... this was the city that the news media and the weather agencies said would get hit and they did. I'm not talking about all the damage that went down inland. Look at how mismanaged the rescue process is going in this one city - I'm appauled.

If we didn't have our military fighting for oil, we'd have a few more hands to help. :o

I was pointing out a fact you seem not to grasp - storm surge is one thing but a hurricane does not need that to cause total destruction so inland for hundreds of miles you have a wasteland at present - to be this quick on the trigger is not helping anyone (but if FOX is your news of choice can almost understand). FYI: my home was in Homestead when Andrew hit so I do have some first hand experience in FEMA conditions.

As for building a city below sea level have you checked Bangkok lately? I really think it would be better to keep our cool for awhile and when/if it comes time to lay the blame do so. But right now believe you are being very unfair to people working their ... off.

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Galong,

People in N.O. hear that the hurricane is coming just about every year. Many have stories about evacuating to another state, only to have the hurricane change directions and follow them. It’s a crapshoot.

One big difference in the recovery effort in N.O. and in Phuket is that the water in N.O. won’t go anywhere anytime soon. This was not two or three big waves that went back out to sea leaving everything dry for the clean-up.

Maybe you know something I don’t, but I would think it’s probably none too easy to operate generators under 6--20 feet of water.

Yes, not a good place to build a city, but that criticism has been common knowledge since the French chose the spot in the 1600’s.

Why no army or national guard on the scene? If you’d read the papers in the last couple years you’d know it’s no secret that critics have been warning that with all the troops presently in Iraq, we’d be facing disaster, should they suddenly be needed at home.

Why are the looters on T.V. black? N.O.’s population is 70% black, -duh! The mayor is black, the chief of police is black, city council etc,. A BLACK MAJORITY CITY. (If you’re from the states you should know the basics).

It’s also one of the poorest, most crime-ridden and least educated cities in the U.S.. The people with the money to get out did evacuate. But who would help the poor? Nobody of any color. Tourism is about the only thing going, industry wise. At one time it was famous for slave trading and the cotton markets. There’s hardly any infrastructure in N.O. during the best of times. New Orleans be poor folks.

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The OP completely ignores the looting and murders that took place in Thailand in the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami.

The first boat to leave Phi Phi was not carrying injured people but looters escaping with their booty.

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See raw video footage of the complete devastation of the Mississippi Gulf Coast:

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/category.asp?C=7855&nav=1L7t

Personally, I think any criticism is unfounded and completely uncalled for. Everyone is doing the best they can under extremely difficult circumstances.

Never, in world history, has there been a momument raised to honor a Critic. If one is truely concerned about assistance to those so situated by Hurricane Katrina, then help them. Criticism is not helpful to any of the victims.

Edited by Mr. Farang
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The OP completely ignores the looting and murders that took place in Thailand in the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami.

And some quarters of the Thai media tried to blame this on gangs of Burmese workers. A senior police officer inteviewed by the BBC in Phuket said that nearly all the looters they arrested were Thai.

Edited by Tarragona
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See this report from Tulane University in New Orleans:

http://www.tulane.edu/

Tulane University

Current Status

August 31, 6 p.m.

Things continue to be unstable in New Orleans, although there is hope that we have experienced the worst. We continue to put the safety of students and employees first. We are working around the clock to bring continuity to the university and to re-establish our presence, however much of this is dependant on the city of New Orleans and Mother Nature. One of our greatest frustrations is our inability to communicate with our larger community due to the failure of all utilities, including e-mail and cell phones. Over the next few days we will have a better handle on the timeline for our recovery. In the meantime, nearly all of our students have been relocated to their home communities or other safe locations under our supervision. All of our residence halls are secure and the contents appear intact. I know all of our students are anxious about our re-opening date; again, in the next few days we will be able to speak more confidently about a start date for the fall semester.

The faculty, staff and students of Tulane University, especially in our medical and public health schools, have proven to be an extraordinary group who have not only conducted themselves with patience and decorum but have reached out to others in acts of exemplary valor in situations small and large.

Tulane University is a great institution with loyal students, faculty, staff and alumni. We will recover from this event and be stronger because of it. I will be in touch as we know more and the situation develops.

Scott Cowen

August 30, 7:30 p.m.

Dear Friends of Tulane:

I know you are all concerned about conditions in New Orleans and at Tulane University, and have many questions about what is going to happen in the next few days, weeks and months.

Our first priority during this time is the safety of our faculty, staff and students. Thankfully, everyone associated with the university is safe, including those of us who remain at Tulane.

Our second priority is to secure our facilities. As expected, our facilities have been damaged; however, based on our preliminary assessments, the majority of the damage can be remediated in a reasonable period of time. The uptown campus is covered with debris from fallen trees and shrubs, making it almost impossible to drive or even walk on campus. We have no power in any of the buildings other than a few where we control the power source.

Our third priority is to develop a recovery plan. This task is impaired right now by the devastation of the city and its infrastructure, and deteriorating further due to the flooding we are now facing. In addition, we don’t know when our employees will be able to return to the city, much less to the university. Therefore, until conditions stabilize, it is impossible to do any longer term recovery planning. However, part of the responsibility of the senior leadership team in Jackson, MS is to begin the planning and they have done so.

As I suspect you all know, there is no contingency plan that could ever be developed to respond to what the area and the university are experiencing. However, all of us at the university are totally committed to doing whatever it takes to get the university operational as soon as possible. I hope you will be patient and understanding of our situation as we work our way through the complexities.

It is difficult to describe what this situation feels like for those involved. It is surreal and unfathomable; yet, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Our focus is on the light and not the darkness.

Scott Cowen

August 30, 6:15 p.m.

Special Information for Students Evacuated to Jackson and Their Parents:

The approximately 400 students that Tulane University evacuated to Jackson State University are safe and secure after the remnants of Hurricane Katrina struck the city of Jackson.

Jackson State has committed to sheltering and feeding all of the evacuated Tulane students for as long as necessary. The students are in very safe quarters and are accompanied by senior officers of the university.

The situation in the city of Jackson is that there is a power outage and Internet service is erratic. The airport is closed but is expected to reopen within 24-48 hours and other modes of transportation will also resume in that timeframe. Once those services are operational we are recommending that all Tulane students at Jackson State make plans to return home until the university can resume normal operations.

Tulane has arranged bus service to Dallas and Atlanta so that students can make travel arrangements from other cities if they choose. The buses will depart Jackson, MS at 8 p.m. CST tonight. Students sent to Atlanta will be hosted by Georgia Tech; students sent to Dallas will be hosted by Southern Methodist University.

August 30, 11:45 a.m.

Dear Tulane Faculty, Staff, Students and Friends:

As you all know by now, New Orleans and the surrounding parishes were severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The physical damage to the area, including Tulane’s campuses, was extensive.

Unfortunately, conditions in the city continue to deteriorate, making it virtually impossible to begin recovery efforts. On a very positive note, in Tulane’s case, we are very thankful that all of our people are safe, including all the students and staff who evacuated to Jackson, Mississippi.

We have started the process of assessing the condition of our campus facilities and determining how long it will take us to reopen. This assessment process will take days because many of the answers will be determined by how quickly the city and its services become operational. The situation is further complicated by the fact that there is no power in the city, water levels continue to rise, all city roads are blocked, and the vast majority of our workforce had to leave the parish as part of the mandatory evacuation order. It is unclear at this time when people will be allowed to return to the city.

Given the uncertainties, we cannot determine at this time when employees and students should return to campus. We will do the best we can to keep you appraised of our situation and progress.

Also, I want to remind you that the university’s main website is not operating at this time and we do not know when we will be able to bring it back on-line. Due to this, the Tulane email system is not functioning. However, this website (emergency.tulane.edu) will continue to have the most up-to-date information about university operations and the Tulane Alert Line at 1-877-862-8080 and 1-504-862-8080 will also have the most current information available. These communication vehicles are the best source of information about Tulane since phone and cell service are unreliable.

I realize that you have many more questions than we have answers at this time. However, I’m sure you understand the complexity and difficulty of the situation we face. Nonetheless, we are determined to move forward as quickly as possible and make Tulane University an even stronger and healthier institution. We have been in New Orleans for 171 years and we look forward to another century in this great city.

Scott S. Cowen

August 29, 1 p.m.

The worst of Hurricane Katrina has now passed through New Orleans and we will shortly begin the process of assessing the condition of our campuses.

The emergency team located on the uptown campus has been in frequent contact with the university's team at Jackson State University. The approximately 400 students who are located there and are accompanied by university officials, are doing well and are safe. Anyone seeking information about these students may call (601) 979-1964.

In the next 24 hours we expect to finalize our plans regarding the resumption of university operations.

As previously announced, classes will begin no earlier than Wednesday, Sept. 7.

Employees, students and parents should continue to regularly monitor this website and the Alert Line— 1-877-862-8080 or 1-504-862-8080.

As of this date the university's main website and the university's email system are not in operation and are not expected to be functional for another 24-48 hours.

August 28, 3 p.m.

Employees

The date for university employees to report to work will be determined after the storm passes.

Classes

In light of the projected severity of Hurricane Katrina, we have decided classes at Tulane University will not resume until Wednesday, September 7.

Residence halls

The date and time for the reopening of the residence halls will be determined after an initial assessment of university facilities after the storm. That information will be posted on this site - emergency.tulane.edu - as soon as possible.

Please continue to monitor the Alert Line at 1-877-862-8080 and 1-504-862-8080 or visit emergency.tulane.edu for updated info. This is the only TU website that will work for the next few days.

August 28, 2005 - 11:30 a.m.

To the University Community:

Tulane continues to prepare for Hurricane Katrina.  One step in the process is that we will shut down our email system as of noon today. This will protect the equipment and allow restoration as early as possible.

At this time we do not know when the system will be back in operation.  As soon as the email system is back in service, it will be noted on Tulane's emergency website which is housed off-campus and which will remain in continuous operation.  The emergency site is:  http://emergency.tulane.edu .  Please continue to monitor the emergency website for the most up-to-date information.

Another source of information is the Tulane Alert Line, which can be reached at 1-877-862-8080 and 1-504-862-8080.

At this time there is only a handful of people left on campus and we will make every effort to keep in communication with you.  So please be patient if you don't hear regular updates.

Stay safe.

Scott

August 27, 2005 - 6 p.m.

The university is now closed due to the approach of Hurricane Katrina. University operations are expected to resume on Wednesday, August 31 and faculty and staff will return to work on that date. Students please note that classes will resume on Thursday, September 1.

Essential employees should remain in contact with their supervisors for their work schedules.

The university initiated its residential student evacuation plan this afternoon and is transporting those students remaining on campus to Jackson State University. There will be a final opportunity for students to be transported to Jackson State tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. Buses will leave from the Reily Center.

For the most up-to-date Tulane information, please continue to call the Alert Line at 1-877-862-8080 or 1-504-862-8080 and to monitor this website.

Our next update will be at 11 a.m. on Sunday, August 28.

August 27, 2005 - noon

Residence Halls

Residence Halls are tentatively scheduled to reopen at noon on Wednesday, August 31.

Reily Center

The Reily Recreation Center will be closed at 5 p.m. until further notice.

The next update will be posted at 6 p.m. on August 27.

August 27, 2005 - 10 a.m.

Message regarding university closure

In response to Hurricane Katrina's shift to the west, Tulane University will close as of 5 p.m. today, August 27. Classes will resume on Thursday, September 1. Tulane employees should report to work on Wednesday, August 31. Essential employees should contact their supervisors immediately regarding their work schedule.

New students arriving on campus for Orientation today should refer to this website for special instructions.

Everyone should begin implementing their personal hurricane plan now.

For the most up-to-date information, please continue to monitor the Alert Line 504.862-8080 or, toll-free, 1.877.862.8080 or this website.

Message regarding move-in and orientation

In the last 12 hours Hurricane Katrina has made a dramatic shift to the west with landfall likely in southeast Louisiana Monday afternoon or evening. Based on this information, the university has decided on the following:

1. There will be a special Town Hall meeting at 1 p.m. today at McAlister Auditorium for parents and students who are on campus. President Cowen will discuss the university’s preparation for Hurricane Katrina.

2. At 5 p.m. today classes will be cancelled until Thursday, Sept. 1.

3. All orientation activities after the Town Hall meeting at 1 p.m. are cancelled.

4. New first-year students who are arriving on campus today should make plans to leave campus as soon as possible.

• If you can leave with your parents today, do so.

• If you have friends or relatives with whom you can seek shelter, do so now.

• Students who are unable to leave New Orleans should contact their Resident Assistant immediately for university assistance.

5. No students will be allowed to occupy residence halls after 6 p.m. today.

6. For the most up-to-date information on university operations, students and parents are urged to regularly monitor this website or the Tulane Alert Line at

1-877-862-8080 or 1-504-862-8080.

TODAY ONLY, INFORMATION ABOUT MOVE-IN AND ORIENTATION IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICE AT:

1-504-865-5180.

August 26, 2005 - 3:30 p.m.

We are currently monitoring Hurricane Katrina. At this time Tulane University is operating under normal conditions. Please continue to check this website and the Tulane Alert Line 504-862-8080 or, toll-free, 1-877-862-8080 for continued updates. The next update will be posted at 10 a.m. on August 27.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Circumstances permitting, the university will communicate with faculty, staff and students via email. Messages will be sent to official Tulane University email addresses.

Parents who are interested in receiving periodic updates about the university should sign up for the Parents Listserv.

Return to the Tulane University home page.

Links and other information found on the normal emergency website are available here.

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Report from the University of New Orleans.

Dear UNO Community:

As you know, New Orleans and the surrounding parishes have been severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Conditions in the city of New Orleans continue to worsen which makes it impossible to begin recovery efforts. We sincerely hope that you and your family are in a safe location.

We cannot determine at this time when employees and students can return to campus. An emergency version of the University's main website is now operating at this time.

This web location http://www.uno.edu is the official website for the University of New Orleans. Information will be added to this site every few hours as it becomes available.

more news as it becomes available...

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The first boat to leave Phi Phi was not carrying injured people but looters escaping with their booty.

Plenty of Looters with Guns in New Orleans. Same when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin about 30 years ago. Looters seem to follow all carnage.

I wonder if the place is going to be ready for Mardi Gras, I ws pleased to see one of the Bead-Makers interviewed on CNN was OK. I wanted to see how many beads my wife could collect. :o

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4. The levee in New Orleans broke - the fact that they built a city with the majority of the city below sea level - and this from the country that put a man on the moon!

Maybe because the city was founded 287 years ago...? By the French...? 'nuff said.

And the US did nothing for 286 years........'nuff said !

Why don't you get another witty punch in?

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4. The levee in New Orleans broke - the fact that they built a city with the majority of the city below sea level - and this from the country that put a man on the moon!

Maybe because the city was founded 287 years ago...? By the French...? 'nuff said.

And the US did nothing for 286 years........'nuff said !

Why don't you get another witty punch in?

What for ?

I just replied to a moronic post.

And yes, I do feel sorry for the loss of lives and for the people that lost all.

just my 2 satang

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Commentator on the 6 o'clock news, everytown, USA:

Today the mayor of New Orleans addressed the nation and specifically the ex residents of New Orleans....if you are wondering why I use the term ex residents then just listen:Hello, this is the mayor of New Orleans, I was reading on ThaiVisa today and discovered that New Orleans is built in a really stupid place because it is too low and if another hurricane came it could cause problems soooooo we are condemning the entire city. All businesses and residences will be demolished along with all gov't building, churches, and miscellaneous structures. A big fence will be built around the site and no one will be allowed in....we are going to plant rice. Have a nice day.

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Yeah it really is difficult to compare the two disasters. A whole world size city is under water, not just the shoreline. The mayor is saying the entire population needs to be evacuated and people will not be able to return for months. While Thailand was soaked the water really only reached a very small area in comparison.

Another poster also made the point that the devastation is across hundreds of square miles and not just along a limited shoreline like in the Thai disaster. I think everyone in the states was shocked at just how much devastation reached such a large area.

Regarding policing the looters, it's hard to deploy police when the cars are underwater!!!

And yes they could have done so many things better but they have mobilized more than thirty thousand troops. I think once the relief effort gears up folks will be surprised how much can and will get done. It is far too early to start blaming people.

The devastation is just unheard of in the states. it's easily the worst natural disaster to strike the USA.

I hope folks will be a little more compassionate before they start beating the drum of blame and defeat.

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Looters - unless its food, clothing or medicine - shoot them dead - worse parasites in the world - we dont need those sort.

Levies- hindsight is 20/20 - we never think it will happen to us mentality - news reported that levies were constructed to last in no more than a class 3 hurricane, improvements would be too costly. (cheaper now than what the costs are going to be)

Flooding is what is hampering rescue efforts. Mind you lil hard to understand why someone stays when they are told to leave - goes again to mentality that we will be alright.

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Don't forget the difference in News Culture either.

The US reporters will look for and report problems.

Thai reporters will not report on issues that show Thailand in a bad light, and when they do, they risk being fired.

I believe too that there was a news blackout imposed by the Thai government on any such 'bad light news' right after the Tsunami - It was obvious from huge inconcistencies in the reporting within Thailand and from the international press that someone was fixing the Thai news.

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In watching CNN and FOX, I'm stunned by how disorganized the hurricane clean-up is going, how under-manned/womanned the government is, and at the sheer heartlessness of looters.

Even with a few days of notice (something that Thailand didn't have the luxury of), I'm shocked by the following:

1. Hundreds of people died (faulty evacuation plan?  Irresponsible citizens?)

2. They are still looking for more dead

3. The evacuation plan seemed flawed from before the hurricane hit

4. The levee in New Orleans broke - the fact that they built a city with the majority of the city below sea level - and this from the country that put a man on the moon!

5. There is talk of disease issues for some time to come.  Thailand got very bad press from so-called experts like the CDC and WHO stating that the worst was yet to come.  That diseases will likely kill more people than those who died in the water.  On the contrary, within hours, Thai villages had mountains of water and food.  I know, I delivered a lot too.

6. Rescue workers are leaving dead and decomposing bodies safely removed from the debris.  They had plenty of time to get enough rescue workers down there!

7. Some looters are now armed and have shot a cop in the head in New Orleans

8. All of the looters shown on FOX news are non-white (I'm sure they can find some white people to video tape too)

9. People who want to get out now can't get gas because the electricity is out at the gas stations.  Hello, generators, hello.

I was amazed by how well organized the Thai government was immediately after our disaster. 

Yes, there are plenty of examples of things that didn't go well and that still might not be settled even now, but the response time, the amount of rescue workers, military, medical personnel and folks from all walks of life (both Thai and foreign) was heartlifting. 

In my eyes, Thailand is 1st World on responding to disasters and the US could use a swift kick in their 3rd World quality back side.  :o

I'm an American expat, by the way.

Where do you think all the money for thailand and the people who helped out came from ignorant TRoll . you know we are better off here without people like you . You actually made me sick. Focker

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8. All of the looters shown on FOX news are non-white (I'm sure they can find some white people to video tape too)

No they weren't, but I did notice that most of the security guards stopping them were black too.

Why even bring this up?

cv

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