PTSD, the * Administration & hurricanes. With Ike approaching

[texpatriot2004]

I keep having thoughts of Americans in the South after Katrina hit on their rooftops, and clinging to their rafters in their attics in 100+ degree heat and perishing waiting on help from the * Administration. Not to mention those abandoned in the city streets without drinking water or food or a way to a safe place with a warm bath and a hot bowl of soup.

Currently, Ike is headed toward my folks house and I wonder, "what if it were my parents hanging on for dear life in their attic or waiting to be rescued from their roof?" Hopefully that won't happen. Hopefully City and State government officials learned from Katrina even if the * Administration could care less about American citizens.

Nonetheless, there are always people who cannot afford to evacuate, or cannot easily evacuate and my thoughts go out to them right now with Ike headed toward them I pray that they will find sanctuary somewhere safe. May God be with everyone on the Gulf Coast, especially in Galveston and in Houston too.

I suppose that Ike could still shift and go somewhere else but my point is after witnessing Katrina (mind you, I was not a direct victim) the traumatic images of the aftermath of Katrina and the shock, the horror, and the anger I felt as I watched while the Federal government did NOTHING for "the least among us" in the crucial days after Katrina hit, these things have impacted me so deeply that after the experience of Katrina I don't think of Hurricanes the same way and I definitely don't trust this Administration to take care of American citizens. I will never forget the trauma and tragedy that was hurricane Katrina. May the souls lost there (somehow) rest in peace. May the survivors of Katrina who are still struggling to repair their broken lives find deep healing and rest after their turmoil.

My heart goes out to other family members right now who are not near their loved ones who could be effected by Ike and who can relate to my worries. May you be reassured, may your families be protected finding safe shelter from the storm and may you find some comfort in the next few days while you wait for the impact of Ike and the news afterward.

Peace be with you.

[nickyt]

1. tex, you have perfectly expressed how Katrina affected me (and many others

as well, no question). None of us could believe what we were seeing. I think a lot of us still can't "deal" with what happened. I sure as hell can't. It never should have happened, but there it was, day after day, right in front of our eyes.

...I feel that part of me was destroyed by that experience...I lived in New Orleans from '88 to '95, and it is the most special, unique city in our country and it was just abandoned and left to die. Beautiful, great old Charity Hospital - who can forget what those poor people there went through?????

It brought me to DU - I was going CRAZY, because no one I was around seemed to give a shit. Seriously. It was like, "whatever". And a friend said, hey, you need to check out this site called "DU" - they understand where you're at...so, I did, and I have been coming here 30 times a day for right at 3 years now.

Sorry to ramble - but thank you for this post, tex. I do think the evacuations are going more smoothly now, though there is much room for improvement at the shelters apparently...Boy, I used to love hurricanes, all my life! But not any more. My
head is bowed as I stand along side of you and pray for the safety of
Our People.

[texpatriot2004]

3. Thank you Nickyt for your thoughtful, touching response. I am

grateful for DU too. I found DU in 2004 and I have been here since then.

I never lived in New Orleans but I had visited before and my grandmother grew up there, her parents are buried there. It was (is) a wonderful city...very unique.

Anyway, glad you are here and thanks for understanding. It is good to know that others can relate to how I feel about this subject.

Take care.

[pokerfan]

2. I don't like Ike

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

4. A beautiful post!

I was changed forever by Katrina for all the reasons you mention.

I will always maintain that Bush should have been impeached promptly for the criminal negligence of FEMA and his own lack of understanding, concern and oversight in caring for American citizens in a time of natural disaster. Ships with aid and supplies waited offshore for the ORDER THAT NEVER CAME from our Commander-in-Chief.

[texpatriot2004]

6. It was criminal negligence. I remember that "order" that never

came as * never cared to issue it. And the infuriating fact that those who were willing and able and ready to help victims of Katrina were turned away because of *'s criminal negligence. Outrageous.

[babydollhead]

5. In our abusive relationship...

...the abusive relationship between this administration and we the people, started out like they all do,9/11 was a smack across the face, while we sit with our hand on our cheek thinking, "This is a one time slip" then Katrina and we sit there like Munch's, "The Scream" as we see the suffering and neglect to care for the people. In the aftermath of katrina, in my mind, the abuser leaned in, grabbed a handful of our hair and said, "One up or two down?" and we saw the callous evil and cold truth. Now they say no shelters, no mandatory evacuation...

[texpatriot2004]

9. I think your analogy of the abusive relationship is appropriate.

I have said before the * Administration is like the parents in a family addicted to crack cocaine who are cooking the stuff in the house while the children, that would be us, suffer the consequences of their horrible choices and actions.

Dysfunctional, irrational and abusive.

God's speed to those who are in Ike's path.

[frustrated_lefty]

7. tex...

Thank you for your post and sentiments. If there is ANY possible way, get your folks out. Hell, I'm in Philadelphia in a small apartment, but can put them on an air mattress if they need a place to go. That offer stands for any evacuees, up to 3 people. I know that's not much, but it's all the space I have. :(

Three years after Katrina, after 2 years of therapy and a steady dose of Lexapro and Seroquel, I still have violent nightmares. I've literally woken up after kicking a coffee table across the room, deeply bruised my arm hitting a wall in my sleep, fighting through the feeling of being trapped and helpless. My wife and I have separated. My significant other tells me I toss and talk in my sleep with desperation in my voice. I dunno. The single best thing I have ever done was getting my daughter and stepkids out of New Orleans nearly a week after Katrina hit. Very un-fun.

Bleh, I'm starting to babble. The point is, you do NOT want this kind of experience for your folks. Get them out, and do it now. Space is here if they need it. Not much, but there's a roof, a bed, and food.

[malaise]

8. I wish everyone all the best

:grouphug:

[misanthrope]

10. The government will spare nothing in the wake of this one...

...It is hitting one of the reddest states in the nation during the closing months of an election year. You bet your sweet bippy they'll step up on this one.