South Mississippi needs your help (Desperate Appeal from So. Ms. Sun Herald)

Sun Herald ^ | Wed, Aug. 31, 2005 | Sun Herald Editor

[Smogger]

The coastal communities of South Mississippi are desperately in need of an unprecedented relief effort. We understand that New Orleans also was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, but surely this nation has the resources to rescue both that metropolitan and ours.

Whatever plans that were in place to deal with such a natural disaster have proven inadequate. Perhaps destruction on this scale could not have been adequately prepared for.

But now that it has taken place, no effort should be spared to mitigate the hurricane's impact.

The essentials -- ice, gasoline, medicine -- simply are not getting here fast enough.

We are not calling on the nation and the state to make life more comfortable in South Mississippi, we are calling on the nation and the state to make life here possible.

We would bolster our argument with the number of Katrina casualties confirmed thus far, but if there is such a confirmed number, no one is releasing it to the public. This lack of faith in the publics' ability to handle the truth is not sparing anyone's feelings, it is instead fueling terrifying rumors.

While the flow of information is frustratingly difficult, our reporters have yet to find evidence of a coordinated approach to relieve pain and hunger or to secure property and maintain order.

People are hurting and people are being vandalized.

Yet where is the National Guard, why hasn't every able-bodied member of the armed forces in South Mississippi been pressed into service?

On Wednesday reporters listening to horrific stories of death and survival at the Biloxi Junior High School shelter looked north across Irish Hill Road and saw Air Force personnel playing basketball and performing calisthenics.

Playing basketball and performing calisthenics!

When asked why these young men were not being used to help in the recovery effort, our reporters were told that it would be pointless to send military personnel down to the beach to pick up debris.

Litter is the least of our problems. We need the president to back up his declaration of a disaster with a declaration of every man and woman under his command will do whatever is necessary to deal with that disaster.

We need the governor to provide whatever assistance is at his command.

We certainly need our own county and city officials to come together and identify the most pressing needs of their constituents and then allocate resources to meet those needs. We appreciate the stress that theses elected and appointed officials have been under since the weekend but they must do a better job restoring public confidence in their ability to meet this challenge.

This editorial represents the view of the Sun-Herald editorial board: President- Publisher Ricky R. Mathews, Vice President and Executive Editor Stan Tiner, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Flora S. Point, Opinion Page Editor Marie Harris, and Associate Editor Ed. Tony Biffle.

[Snoitan5]

Sorry, this is just the first relative place that I stopped. I just found this out about an hour ago.

As far as info about the R/C statement goes, it boils down to this--->

"Call an out of town contact to let them know you are safe."

"Ask them to spread the word to your family and friends."


They want the VICTEMS to try to contact the own families???
The most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of given the situation on the coast.

Just looking for any outlet for information or a place to sign up for infamily info. Kinda feel helpless.

The most redicilous thing I've ever heard of.

[Snoitan5]

Thank you.

[Spiff]

I don't think that people realize the sheer magnitude of the destruction left by this storm, nor the incredible loss of life and potential for even more loss of life. I am not impressed at all with the response to this by the cities involved, the states, or even the Federal Government. This catastrophy called for an unprecedented response, and we're really not seeing that.

[Smogger]

Here is the latest So. Mississippi City by City:

Town by town reports

Staff and news services


Overall: Highway 90 buried under inches - or feet - of sand . . . communications down, transportation systems demolished . . . medical services crippled. . . High-water marks set by Camille shattered.

Bay St. Louis: Bridge connection to Biloxi demolished.

Biloxi: Legacy Towers condos survive. . . Ryans, Red Lobster, Olive Garden washed away along U.S. 90. . . Lighthouse still standing. Biloxi-Ocean Springs Bridge gone. Bottom floor of the library and the home of Jefferson Davis home, Beauvoir destroyed. . . . Sharkshead Souvenir City gone. . . Edgewater Village strip shopping center gutted . . . Also gone: the steeple of historic Hansboro Presbyterian Church; Waters Edge II apartments; Diamondhead Yacht Club, the old neon McDonald's sign on Pass Road . . . Massive damage in east end of city. . . almost total devastation primarily south of the railroad tracks near Lee Street, Point Cadet and Casino Row. . . Beau Rivage still stands. . . Hard Rock Casino, scheduled to open in early September, suffered 50 percent damages. The signature guitar, said to be the world's largest, still stands. . . At least five casinos out of commission. . . St. Thomas the Apostlic Catholic Church, which sits on U.S. 90, is gone.

D'Iberville: New addition to Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church of D'Iberville destroyed; damage to sanctuary. . . Structural damage to D'Iberville High School.

Gulfport: Gulf Coast Medical Center lost power and evacuated patients to Alabama hospitals . . . Miss. State Port lost its lifting facilities and cranes. . . Historical Grass Lawn building destroyed. . . Fun Time USA left with only bumper boats, pool and go-cart track . . . Numerous businesses and homes on Pass Road damaged or destroyed. . . Dozens of homes missing on Beach Boulevard. . . Fire chief estimates 75 percent of buildings have major roof damage, "if they have a roof left at all" . . . the storm surge crossed the CSX railroad tracks. . . Heavy damage to Memorial Hospital . . . First floor of the Armed Forces Retirement Home flooded . . . 3 of 4 walls have collapsed at Harrison Central 9th Grade School in North Gulfport. . . At least three firehouses have taken significant damage . . .

Hancock County: Emergency Operations Center swamped . . . back of the county courthouse gave way . . .

Harrison County: Old courthouse building destroyed. Unconfirmed reports of up to 80 fatalities. . . Damage to virtually all shelters . . . Lyman Elementary lost two buildings. People were moved to another building on campus safely. . . Woolmarket Elementary lost its roof . . . West Wortham Elementary has signficant roof damage.

Hattiesburg: A number of businesses and homes damaged in the area. . . U.S. 49 and Highway 11 shut down. . . Wind speeds of 95 mph.

Jackson County: Open Springs Hospital remained open for emergency treatment . . . Roof peeling off Emergency Operations Center.

Long Beach: Most buildings within 200 yards of U.S. 90 disappeared . . . Stately homes and apartment complexes that lined the shore are gone . . . First Baptist Church is leveled.

Moss Point: Floodwater surrounded two hotels full of guests . . . Much of downtown destroyed . . . Twenty feet of water flooded most of the city.

Pascagoula: Six blocks of Market Street destroyed . . . The Jackson County Emergency Management Agency had to relocate to the courthouse after the roof came off their building downtown. . . The roof also came off the gym at St. Martin High School. . . Reports of flooding in the Chipley area.

Pass Christian: Bridge to Bay St. Louis destroyed, along with several other bridges . . . Harbor and beachfront community gone. . . In eastern part of city, water rose to more than 20 feet above ground level . . . Flooding on Beatline Road at the 90-degree turn. . . . House in the middle of the road on Second Street.

[Smogger]

This catastrophy called for an unprecedented response, and we're really not seeing that.

That's my take too. I would like to add that this Bush's response to this will be as much his legacy as 911, Iraq or anything else.

[rdb3]

I think that it has been a kneejerk reaction to the LA politicians seemingly blaming W when it is they that, if anyone, dropped the ball.

Yeah, don't get me started on that.

Also, the looting in NO that has gotten so much coverage has p*ssed off a lot of people, i.e., "I'm not giving money to benefit those animals"--even though the main of those suffering have lost all and are innocents....

These criminals should be executed on the spot where they are looting. I'd have no problem with that at all. But what we have here on our side is piss-poor lack of judgement, and the same emoting as opposed to thinking that we rightly criticize the Left for doing.

Hang the damned criminals. Don't sweep the actual innocents in with them.

[Snoitan5]

Thanks for the info.

[goodnesswins]

SEND money to the SALVATION ARMY.....they are the BEST at getting to these communities, fastest, cheapest, etc.

[Snoitan5]

They let you sign up on a missing families list as well.

[goodnesswins]

Prayers for your family, snoitan....

[Snoitan5]

Thank you.

[steveegg]

Just damn. Looks like we'll be rebuilding for a good long time. The "good" news, if there is any, is that cleaning up and rebuilding Mississippi can start a lot earlier than cleaning up/rebuilding New Orleans.

[chainsaw]

Has anyone heard of any other country offering to help the USA with the disaster???????? I have not.

[Nam Vet]

It's a different board now. /headshaking

Not a different board my friend, just the occasional room-temp I.Q. visitor.

Nam Vet

[eureka!]

My point exactly. Painting with too broad of a brush is oftenplace here in emotional times...

[tiki]

Most of the big name reporters were in NO and just the peons were in Mississipi. I agree that there is absolutely no need to keep any secrets the void will be filled with guessing. I don't know enough about getting to any of the places that are the worst off but I'm thinking that that could be part of the problem.

[Diddle E. Squat]

On Wednesday reporters listening to horrific stories of death and survival at the Biloxi Junior High School shelter looked north across Irish Hill Road and saw Air Force personnel playing basketball and performing calisthenics.

Playing basketball and performing calisthenics!

When asked why these young men were not being used to help in the recovery effort, our reporters were told that it would be pointless to send military personnel down to the beach to pick up debris.

[TXBubba]

It's a lot of poor

I disagree that it's a lot of poor any color suffering the most. This has been a great equalizer. So, you are actually saying that those that had nothing to begin with are suffering more than those that had something and who now have nothing? They are all suffering and their past economic condition isn't meaning much at the moment. Well, I take that back. Those that had nothing seem to be looting to get their "pay back" right now.

[BooBoo1000]

Hi Smogger, you are correct, if the people in Southern Mississippi were a bunch of Wet Backs, they would have a stream of Limo's on the way down to pick them up.

The People now in Mississippi are the poor ones, the rich ones have money to get out, and they have cars, and they are gone. They are somewhere sipping Mint Juleps, and watching the golf tournament.

The ones we have left are the ones that don't have any thing to do with.Why don't we have a MASH Mobile Hospital down there. Why don't we have a portable kitchen down there to fix so food these people. Haley Barber and Bush can talk all they want and off all of the prayers they want but an old German Lady told me one time" A demonstration of your faith is worth more than a definition.

[kittymyrib]

FEMA looks totally inept. The director should be fired for not having a plan ready, particularly since he bragged on TV on Sunday that they had a week-long conference on New Orleans last year. Like all bureaucrats, he confused having a conference with actually doing something.