Official JSF Hurricane Katrina Support Thread (Was: "Everyone Ok?")

TheRyanator · Tue, August 30th, 2005, 10:10 AM

Just thinking of any of you who were in the track of Katrina. Is anyone from the areas that were hit?

Watching the news this morning I saw that alot of places have been hit very hard. I hope that you and all your families are safe. We will keep the cleanup and recovery process and the continued safety of everyone down there in our prayers and thoughts.

phillydude · Tue, August 30th, 2005, 10:25 AM

ditto on the concern... unfortunately, I'm sure internet service is fairly disrupted down there, since they barely have cell phones, or home phones, or electricity, or much of anything left.

TheRyanator · Tue, August 30th, 2005, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillydude

ditto on the concern... unfortunately, I'm sure internet service is fairly disrupted down there, since they barely have cell phones, or home phones, or electricity, or much of anything left.

Yeah, I figured most people would be unable to access any type of communication device, but figured I would throw the question out anyway in hopes that someone had access or had evacuated and were in a place they could respond. Unfortunately it does sound like it will be quite some time before they get things up and running again down there.

doordude42 · Tue, August 30th, 2005, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRyanator

Just thinking of any of you who were in the track of Katrina. Is anyone from the areas that were hit?

Watching the news this morning I saw that alot of places have been hit very hard. I hope that you and all your families are safe. We will keep the cleanup and recovery process and the continued safety of everyone down there in our prayers and thoughts.

That was very nice!
My best wishes and prayers also.

Trex_Lean_machine · Tue, August 30th, 2005, 03:02 PM

My best wishes to everyone too.

anyway, I was hit by hurricane incline bench press today !

1FastGTX · Tue, August 30th, 2005, 03:09 PM

Glad this thread was started, I just came to JSF to start one...

Looking for any and all reports from fellow JSFers on this horrible tragedy...

Watching the news today is quite depressing. I cannot believe how bad this is.

I wonder what some of us can do to help, besides going there and lending our hands? After the Tsunami there were tons of places to donate to; hopefully there will be similar available charities for this tragedy.

My prayers go out to all, and I hope that any and all of our JSF friends in the path of Katrina are doing as well as possible.

TheRyanator · Tue, August 30th, 2005, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trex_Lean_machine

My best wishes to everyone too.

anyway, I was hit by hurricane incline bench press today !

I hope it really ripped you to shreds!

Begin the rebuilding process immediately with lots of protein to increase strength for your future encounters with Hurrican IBP

Trex_Lean_machine · Tue, August 30th, 2005, 06:53 PM

I really hope no one else is seriously hurt over there, the news reports over here are saying it was really bad.

joecan · Wed, August 31st, 2005, 10:12 AM

This is the second hurricane to completely destroy a place I use to live. When Andrew made its way across Florida, it completely wiped out Homestead. I lived there for a little over a year while I was in the military. Now Biloxi, MS is wiped out. I lived there for almost 4 years. My heart goes out to the people there.

If you can, donate money to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc., to help these people.

TheRyanator · Wed, August 31st, 2005, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joecan

This is the second hurricane to completely destroy a place I use to live. When Andrew made its way across Florida, it completely wiped out Homestead. I lived there for a little over a year while I was in the military. Now Biloxi, MS is wiped out. I lived there for almost 4 years. My heart goes out to the people there.

If you can, donate money to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc., to help these people.

Wow, I have been to biloxi for vacation, but I cannot imagine living there and having roots there and then seeing the devastation. Do you still have any friends/family in those areas? Are they doing ok and if so what are their thoughts/needs at this time?

Also, Joe...I thought I remembered you had some health problems that started a while ago. Was that you? If not I am sorry, but I think it was and I have been keeping you in my prayers. Any updates on your situation?

eleven24 · Wed, August 31st, 2005, 10:54 AM

I just came here looking for a thread on it as well.

For whatever reason I cannot figure out why life goes on for everyone else. For example, I listen to sports talk daily here in the Philly area & there's barely a mention of New Orleans. Same goes for other channels on the dial. Perhaps it is because this was an act of God... of nature... but I think it should garner the same attention that the Sept 11th bombings did. This is indeed more catastrophic.

Personally, I have this pit in my stomach knowing that I'm sitting here perfectly fine and people are struggling against STILL rising floodwaters. The breaches in the levees cannot be plugged, and the lake is still spilling into the streets. During the storm, people were forced to the 2nd floor of their homes as the water rose... then into the attic. As the water continued to rise, people began busting through their attics to save their lives... Many of those who were successful in doing so are still sitting on their roofs waiting to be rescued.

20,000 people are still stranded in the damaged Superdome. There is no water, no electricity, and a scarce supply of food for these people. In fact, public officials are saying that an optimistic date that water & electricity will return is 4-6 weeks. A MONTH AND A HALF without electricity! Imagine not being able to go back to your home, if you still have a home, for 4-6 weeks!

This morning while driving into work I couldn't help but look at the houses in my neighborhood and imagine water so deep that it would be well above the 2nd floor. I couldn't imagine everything in my house being destroyed.

I've never been to New Orleans, but this has really hit me hard. The notion that an entire city being completely wiped out in 2 days is incomprehensible.

In the end, just like with 9/11, the people in the Gulf region will pick themselves up and put this behind them. The human spirit will prevail... but God, my heart goes out to them today, and for the days & weeks to come.

TheRyanator · Wed, August 31st, 2005, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eleven24

I just came here looking for a thread on it as well.

For whatever reason I cannot figure out why life goes on for everyone else. For example, I listen to sports talk daily here in the Philly area & there's barely a mention of New Orleans. Same goes for other channels on the dial. Perhaps it is because this was an act of God... of nature... but I think it should garner the same attention that the Sept 11th bombings did. This is indeed more catastrophic.

Personally, I have this pit in my stomach knowing that I'm sitting here perfectly fine and people are struggling against STILL rising floodwaters. The breaches in the levees cannot be plugged, and the lake is still spilling into the streets. During the storm, people were forced to the 2nd floor of their homes as the water rose... then into the attic. As the water continued to rise, people began busting through their attics to save their lives... Many of those who were successful in doing so are still sitting on their roofs waiting to be rescued.

20,000 people are still stranded in the damaged Superdome. There is no water, no electricity, and a scarce supply of food for these people. In fact, public officials are saying that an optimistic date that water & electricity will return is 4-6 weeks. A MONTH AND A HALF without electricity! Imagine not being able to go back to your home, if you still have a home, for 4-6 weeks!

This morning while driving into work I couldn't help but look at the houses in my neighborhood and imagine water so deep that it would be well above the 2nd floor. I couldn't imagine everything in my house being destroyed.

I've never been to New Orleans, but this has really hit me hard. The notion that an entire city being completely wiped out in 2 days is incomprehensible.

In the end, just like with 9/11, the people in the Gulf region will pick themselves up and put this behind them. The human spirit will prevail... but God, my heart goes out to them today, and for the days & weeks to come.

This is a thoughtful response. Does anyone know what the best way to help is for those of us at a distance? Perhaps reputable organizations to donate to or something along those lines. I was thinking that if there is no clean water, the cost of just purified water for people to drink is going to be astronomical.

Butterflyer · Wed, August 31st, 2005, 11:10 AM

I think the Red Cross will be needing blood donations along with money.

I've been watching all the coverage of the hurricane, and it's heartbreaking.
I really don't have the words...

1FastGTX · Wed, August 31st, 2005, 11:26 AM

I saw a horrible story on cnn.com this morning: http://www.cnn.com/video/player/play...sband.miss.cnn. Do NOT watch this if you get upset easily.

Story after story like this...

This is one of the most horrible tragedies I have ever seen in my entire life.

FOR THOSE OF US WISHING TO HELP:
Any thoughts on the best organization to donate money to? Of course the Red Cross comes to mind. But I assume there are others. I'll look around and if I find some helpful links I'll post them here. Even if it's $5 I think it's worth doing SOMETHING.

1FastGTX · Wed, August 31st, 2005, 11:40 AM

a search through JSF... (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/m....php?do=search)

FerretNose -- has anyone heard from her? She is in southern Mississippi.

jlforbess -- also in Mississippi.

Jenn -- New Orleans

Jaybird -- Alabama

eleven24 · Wed, August 31st, 2005, 12:00 PM

I saw another story where a man was standing with his two children. He said that during the storm he was holding his wife & two children, protecting them against the raging waters when she said to him "You can't hold us all. Take care of the children... I love you all...". She then let go & he hadn't seen her since.

Real heartbreaking stories, & I'm sure there are many like it.

phillydude · Wed, August 31st, 2005, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1FastGTX

a search through JSF... (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/m....php?do=search)

FerretNose -- has anyone heard from her? She is in southern Mississippi.

jlforbess -- also in Mississippi.

Jenn -- New Orleans

Jaybird -- Alabama

wow... Jenn and Ferretnose were both pretty active posters from what I recall... I hope they are OK and somewhere safe.

***John Stone*** · Wed, August 31st, 2005, 12:10 PM

Before I left for work this morning I was reading some news stories and looking at pictures of the aftermath. I've been through plenty of hurricanes: I've lost power for a few days, had a broken window or two, the occasional fence panel blow down... big deal. The hellish pain and suffering that so many people are enduring right now is hard to take in. It truly breaks my heart. I had to stop reading, I felt so powerless and sad.

Let's get a list of organizations that people can donate to going here. I'll point to this thread in tomorrow's Daily News Update. I know it's not much, but I feel like we should do whatever we can.

I'll start with a few:

https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp
http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/...ricane_katrina
https://volunteer.united-e-way.org/h...atrina/donate/
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/
http://www.secondharvest.org/default2.asp

Please give what you can.

eleven24 · Wed, August 31st, 2005, 12:30 PM

Ironically, I just received a bike-a-thon signup for the Red Cross. The event takes place on Sept 11th at the Jersey Shore. What a better way to raise money than riding my bike.

phillydude · Wed, August 31st, 2005, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eleven24

Ironically, I just received a bike-a-thon signup for the Red Cross. The event takes place on Sept 11th at the Jersey Shore. What a better way to raise money than riding my bike.

I just looked up that ride... not sure what's doing that day, but I might ride it with you... I'll check the schedule and let you know.