Rita Damage: What % in LA?

[LSU]

As opposed to damage in Texas and Mississippi.

Not just in Cameron Parish where the storm made landfall, no matter what the media is saying about Sabine Pass. There was and is a tremendous amount of damage throughout S Louisiana, all the way to the delta of the river where many levees broke again, including some that were fine after Katrina.

[skysummit]

and more are still breaking. My ex just called me and told me the police knocked on her door 20 minutes ago and told them they MUST leave. They are not expecting the levees to hold up through the night and are expecting 10 feet of water where they live. This is along the Intracoastal Waterway in Larose, La.

[HurryKane]

Perhaps now, LSU, you can understand what many coastal Mississippians feel. From the time Katrina was nearing the coast, most major media outlets (not the NHC) concentrated on New Orleans when talking about Katrina, and did so even more after the first week had passed since she hit.

But Pearlington and Waveland were wiped off the map; Bay St. Louis was nearly completely destroyed; half of Diamondhead was destroyed; and from Pass Christian to Ocean Springs to Pascagoula there was 90% to 100% destruction anywhere from 2 to 6 miles inland. But you don't hear about it that often, because we aren't big cities with the big problems of a goofy mayor and governor and charges of racism/classicism. We are the forgotten. And if the major media outlets have their way, so too will be much of smaller towns in SW LA in favor of tales of what didn't happen to Houston and Galveston.

Kudos here though to WDSU and other local NOLA stations who did concern themselves with Mississippi both before and after Katrina hit. They did a great job with it even though our own WLOX dropped the ball big time.

[LSU]

I didn't get to see or hear what the (inter)national media said for two weeks after the storm because of loss of power and a tremendous amount of work to do. I'm sorry little focus was given to MS devastation because devastation is devastation regardless of if it is in NOLA, MS, or Sudan.

[HurryKane]

devastation because devastation is devastation regardless of if it is in NOLA, MS, or Sudan.

I know...I'm not arguing with you, just trying to add to the discussion. I am not asking for people to feel sorry for Mississippians (and I'll add Louisiana residents in areas outside of New Orleans like Slidell, Plaquemine Parish, etc. who are also not mentioned much in the media) who were affected by Katrina. But I am wishing the media would shed more light on the plight of some who have lost everything and have no means of getting any of it back, so that people around the country realize just how incredibly devastating it was to MS and other parts of LA and how we need help, too. There are some MS communities that will only come back with a miracle or two; New Orleans has enough infrastructure intact that it will eventually be ok.

Help from outsiders has definitely come to us, but if people in other parts of the country aren't made aware of the devastation, it is my concern that that type of help could dry up.

[tornadochaser86]

most of it in lousiania in general because they were on the east side

[TSmith274]

devastation because devastation is devastation regardless of if it is in NOLA, MS, or Sudan.

I know...I'm not arguing with you, just trying to add to the discussion. I am not asking for people to feel sorry for Mississippians (and I'll add Louisiana residents in areas outside of New Orleans like Slidell, Plaquemine Parish, etc. who are also not mentioned much in the media) who were affected by Katrina. But I am wishing the media would shed more light on the plight of some who have lost everything and have no means of getting any of it back, so that people around the country realize just how incredibly devastating it was to MS and other parts of LA and how we need help, too. There are some MS communities that will only come back with a miracle or two; New Orleans has enough infrastructure intact that it will eventually be ok.

Help from outsiders has definitely come to us, but if people in other parts of the country aren't made aware of the devastation, it is my concern that that type of help could dry up.

No, people in Mississippi should get more coverage. Seriously, whole towns in Mississippi were wiped off the map. In N.O., we lost over 1,000 people... the number will not be known for a while. But, we can't forget our friends in Mississippi.

HurryCane... I apprieciate you bringing up Plaquemines Parish. I had a house down there. The people down there are great people. They'd give you the shirt off their back. It was a tight knit community that is pretty much gone now. Katrina wiped them out... Katrina's first landfall was in Plaquemines Parish... Buras, La. to be exact. Rita has since flooded the parish more than Katrina did. I, and everyone in Plaquemines Parish know what it feels like to be forgotten.

[CharleySurvivor]

I don't live near where you are and I have to say I'm surprised the media isn't showing more of what happened to the smaller towns surrounding NO and MS.

If they were to show more of those areas, people would see what 'total' destruction a hurricane can do, and perhaps make them realise what could happen to their community. Pictures speak thousand words IMO.

[LAwxrgal]

I don't live near where you are and I have to say I'm surprised the media isn't showing more of what happened to the smaller towns surrounding NO and MS.

If they were to show more of those areas, people would see what 'total' destruction a hurricane can do, and perhaps make them realise what could happen to their community. Pictures speak thousand words IMO.

I agree with this post. And they also need to blare and broadcast Katrina's death toll so that people who need to get out of the way of these monsters see what can (and possibly will) happen to them if they don't.

The local TV stations have been doing a pretty good job with coverage of the other areas, many of them worse off than NOLA. I agree that these areas need to be shown more on a national scale. But the national media is only concerned with the "big cities" so that they get bigger ratings and therefore more money.

Now that a new round of flooding has broken out in areas that were fine after Katrina (and who were far away from the landfall point of Rita), we need everyone to see this so that everyone who is threatened by a major hurricane gets out of harm's way.

[weunice]

I have thought recently that they should make an absolutely horrific video, like they used to for drivers ed classes, and show it to all people who live within 100 miles of the coast.

People would leave then.

I found an article a year ago about how, when a tsumani warning was issued in Hawaii, 400 surfers showed up for the action. Fortunately it ended up being only a few inches high. This prompted the homeland security folks in Hawaii to make a video about the dangers of a tsunami for distribution to the locals. Unfortunately, now, I think we all know how bad a tsunami can be. I am sure an updated video would be more effective with the horrors we saw from that. I doubt 400 people would show up now.

[storms in NC]

Perhaps now, LSU, you can understand what many coastal Mississippians feel. From the time Katrina was nearing the coast, most major media outlets (not the NHC) concentrated on New Orleans when talking about Katrina, and did so even more after the first week had passed since she hit.

But Pearlington and Waveland were wiped off the map; Bay St. Louis was nearly completely destroyed; half of Diamondhead was destroyed; and from Pass Christian to Ocean Springs to Pascagoula there was 90% to 100% destruction anywhere from 2 to 6 miles inland. But you don't hear about it that often, because we aren't big cities with the big problems of a goofy mayor and governor and charges of racism/classicism. We are the forgotten. And if the major media outlets have their way, so too will be much of smaller towns in SW LA in favor of tales of what didn't happen to Houston and Galveston.

Kudos here though to WDSU and other local NOLA stations who did concern themselves with Mississippi both before and after Katrina hit. They did a great job with it even though our own WLOX dropped the ball big time.

You are not forgotten here. The churches here in my small town will be leaving here Monday or tuesdy for this places. I was 15 miles east of Amite La for 3 weeks. Also a forgotten place. Bogalusa is tore up too I feel for the towns that have no coverages on them. It was just not NOLA that was damaged. I will be going back again when I can get the money up again. So please hang on help is still coming your way. My prayer are with you.

Oh let me tell you I am lady and will be 50 in Nov and I drove to La alone with my truck filled with supplys. And Chansaws gas ect.. If you need any thingg let me know. And I wll get it to you all.

Deb from NC

[vbhoutex]

As opposed to damage in Texas and Mississippi.

Not just in Cameron Parish where the storm made landfall, no matter what the media is saying about Sabine Pass. There was and is a tremendous amount of damage throughout S Louisiana, all the way to the delta of the river where many levees broke again, including some that were fine after Katrina.

Who cares? We all know there was tremendous damage in S. LA!!! NO ONE has denied that. There is also a lot of damage in SE TX contrary to your perceptions. THIS IS NOT A COMPETITION as to who had the worst damage. Get over your perceptions otherwise!!!!

[Lindaloo]

The MS Coast will be back regardless of what kind of media coverage we received or didn't receive. We do not need to depend on anyone nor do we need to get used to it either. I appreciate all the help we did get though.


Rock on Pascagoula and my neighbors in MS to my west.

[HurryKane]

The MS Coast will be back regardless of what kind of media coverage we received or didn't receive. We do not need to depend on anyone nor do we need to get used to it either. I appreciate all the help we did get though.


Rock on Pascagoula and my neighbors in MS to my west.

No, we don't need to come to depend on anyone, but there are some towns that will have to have some outside help. I am proud that MDOT got the highways and roads cleared in record time not just due to their own efforts but because of civilians jumping in to help. I am proud that we have a strong sense of git-er-done and are getting it done. But the fact is, people outside of Mississippi and rural SE Louisiana (talking Katrina here) who don't know how bad it got will eventually say we didn't deserve as much federal help as we got/are getting.

And for purely scientific and public service reasons, the ability of a hurricane to wreak total devastation isn't something that should be glossed over, no matter where it hits...if only to make people realize why they should evacuate when told to.

[Lindaloo]

Well said HurryKane.

[HurryKane]

Thanks