We are sending 300 Cdn. Red Cross volunteers & there were a few letters in the Toronto Star today saying we had to do more. Our prime minister will be talking to Bush today to firm up plans. Our forces are ready to go.

People are really pissed that Prime Minister Martin waited until Wednesday (!!!) to announce plans. In the nation's defence, this stupid man is known for taking his time to make a decision. Dumbass.

The Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), which was deployed in the Asian tsunami earlier this year, was put on a one-hour notice.

Canada offered to transport goods in and out of the devastated region using aircrafts and helicopters. We've also offered electrical generators and are ready to establish water purification centres in the region.

Canada offered small boats and diving teams to help recover bodies as well.

(most of this is from the Washington Post and the Globe and Mail)

God bless you, Steph. I kinda thought our friends from the north would be there. :thumb:

(((((((DB)))))))

Our banks are also taking donations. I still think we should be doing more but our citizens are putting the pressure on the gov't.

It's been really frustrating to see the news right in the midst of things and the help so slow to come in. You'd think with all the experience the Red Cross has they'd have better response time.

We have some families now in shelters here. The shelters and tent cities they are preparing to erect will need stuff to keep the kids busy. If you are connected to a school please consider a book/game drive. Even a simple deck of cards could make a difference to a family.

I trust the Red cross to take care of the emergency stuff so sending $$ to them is crucial but I feel like getting stuff ready for the long run is a good idea too.

I read an article today that talked about foreign aide... amazingly enough the offers are coming in, it just isn't very widely announced at this time. I didn't even give it a thought until I read the article, at the end of the day the government is concerned about who we align ourselves with and it appeared *my interpretation* that the US may be inclined to turn down some offers. I know it sounds absolutely absurd, but do we want the Russian military helping us protect our ground? That was the offer I saw referenced in particular.

Also, in defense of the Red Cross, they are very skilled and prepared but when you can't get into the city because of the flooding, it's hard to get the supplies to the people that need them. You can only have so many things flying in the sky in a small area at a time.

I was just told by a girlfriend that some rural counties in my state are seriously contemplating going to 3 day school weeks to conserve the gas we are slowly finding out has reached a critical shortage.

Amazing Lil... hopefully someone finds a way to restore power to the pipelines soon, so they can go back to pumping to the many locations that are now running dry.

Maddy you're right of course, I wasn't downing the Red Cross really, just expressing frustrations from seeing the reports on television. I do realise this is the largest endeavor of its kind ever and there are tons of obstacles yet to be discovered. It's just hard to watch and wait seeing the desperation on these people's faces. I'm such an old softy.

This is what I figure from "his" report to the nation last night...

*disclaimer* anyone who doesn't want to read my rant about G.W....get out now!

There's plenty of fuel in this nation...and because of the hurricane and the holiday weekend coming up, stations would'a raised the prices anyway (last ditch effort of the summer travels)...but they have us by the snuggies (and the short hairs) cause WHO THE FUCK WOULD COMPLAIN SO DAMN MUCH WHILE WE KNOW OTHER'S ARE SUFFERING SO MUCH MORE THAN US (in biblical terms...there but for the grace of God go I).

G.W. proclaimed last night that he'd personally assist in consultation with pertinent peeps as to "How to make oil into gasoline faster...for the entire nation...not just the flood victims"


Um.........um........oh fuckin UM! Anyone else see the holes in this statement besides me?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...I swear I'd smack him shitless if I saw him face to face on any given day!

Lixy OUT!!!!!!!!

I was told they are rationing gas to no more than $20 sales in the county south of me. Mr. Lil just came from the grocery store and said people are shopping like they are preparing for hell to freeze over. He said it is insane.

I finally started to understand the complexities today when I read an article that explained the gasoline is available but the electricity that runs the pipelines from the Gulf to various parts of the US is cut off. They are still focused on trying to evacuate and rescue and restore some sembelence of civility. Unfortunately from what I've been reading, it seems most government officials are damned for no matter what decision they make at this point. Unfortunately it seems they can't make everyone happy at the same time and as quick as people would like. I'm awestruck at the devesatation and thankful that I'm as far north as I am, though it won't take long for the impacts to be felt more strongly here as well. There are many areas on the lower East coast that are out of gas, and don't know when they will get more as they sit on these Gulf pipelines ... hopefully the rationing you are seeing Lil will help from full exhaustion of the supply.

I want to mention that tonight on the news they indicated a number of countries are now offering whatever assistance they can. That's wonderful. They didn't list the countries or I would be the first to tell them how much I appreciate their concern and offers to help. It makes me, at least, feel very grateful!

The story in New Orleans with the gangs of thugs threatening even those trying to help is so sad. I understand people stealing food or water ... but I'm afraid those stealing TVs, and other non-emergency things are demonstrating the worst in human behavior. As a matter of fact, it's stretching things to call it human behavior.

I sure hope the police and military can soon take control and bring these people to justice.

The ones that I've seen so far (among others I'm sure) are Russia and Venezuela (food and supplies), Britain and Switzerland. Thanks all of you. We appreciate it.

On the gas front, I gassed up today at BP. They were out of regular and mid-grade, but were selling premium at the price they had regular at (3.09). Personally, I appreciate that. But this is the first time I can remember stations actually being our for a while

That is neat. I remember places that do things that demonstrate customers are important to them ... and when it's over, they're the ones I go back to. You ought to share with the station's manager that you appreciate what they're doing and that others you know are equally impressed. :thumb: