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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNo Food, No FEMA: Hurricane Michael's Survivors Are Furious
PANAMA CITY, FloridaHurricane Michaels sudden transformation into a storm that is unprecedented for the Florida Panhandle haunts everyone who lived through it. It was raw power, says Panama City resident Walter McAlster, you felt you were in it, not outside and didnt know if you would live through it. You knew that everything was going to change the landscape forever.
And it did, in the span of three hours.
The destruction is everywhere, at every corner for as far as the eye can see. Mexico Beach, where the hurricanes eyewall slammed into Florida with 140 mph winds, is flattened. Panama City, gem of the Emerald Coast, looks like a bomb had been dropped on it. Is now a desolate landscape of countless toppled power poles, transformers, electical lines, severed trees, and metal roofings, twisted and tangled into a sea of debris covering every road. Nearly all homes, businesses, stores, banks, schools are severely damaged or destroyed, skeletal remains with blown out windows or crushed facades. To residents, it is unrecognizable.
There is so much rubble that the official death toll of 14 is expected to rise as search-and-rescue teams inspect thousands of buildings, looking for the the missing. A team from the Miami Fire Department found a body in a Mexico Beach home on Friday. About 1,700 workers have checked 27,000 homes, Gov. Rick Scott said after meeting withe emergency responders on Saturday evening.
The flood of debris has rendered most roads and streets virtually impassible for evacuees and first responders. Electric poles bent at 90 degrees and power lines strewn like spaghetti cover most lanes. Nearly all transformers were destroyed. Vehicles dodge trees that look like they were split like toothpicks or pulled up from the ground as if by giants.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/no-food-no-fema-hurricane-michaels-survivors-are-furious
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,719 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,382 posts)I was going to say that maybe 45 could fly over on his way to Mar-a-lago and drop some paper towels.
riversedge
(70,239 posts)TheBlackAdder
(28,205 posts)brush
(53,784 posts)Besides, he's got to cover up the Saudis' murder of a journalist working for the Washington Post.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)And sometimes those consequences jeopardize your livelihood and even your life.
I heard this morning the death toll was 16 and rising.
TheBlackAdder
(28,205 posts)Zorro
(15,740 posts)They're running out of cigarettes, too -- and there's a lot of guns in that area of Florida.
I know that of which I speak -- Panama City is my hometown.
malaise
(269,025 posts)said Cat4.
Mariana
(14,857 posts)any storm can intensify rapidly the way Michael did.
malaise
(269,025 posts)165mph Cat 5 in 48 hours before destroying Dominica. It then destroyed several island in the Leewards and Puerto Rico
Little Star
(17,055 posts)they really need to start voting in their own best interest. Never has ANYONE ever said that the republican party is a humane and caring party when it might cost them a dollar in donations from billionaires.
All I can think of is people drowning and refusing to reach for a life preserver. They just keep voting against their own best interest and wonder why things keep getting worse for them. Puzzling.
stopbush
(24,396 posts)as does the longing after victimhood and the conviction that you are privy to some truth that is witheld from nonbelivers. Easy to depend on magical thinking when thats your foundation.
Croney
(4,661 posts)violetpastille
(1,483 posts)What kind of country are we? What is the point of having a government at all if we can't aid our own citizens after emergency?
Right now people are angry and hungry and dirty. In a couple of days..
I don't give a fuck about personalities and what Melania said about what Melania wore. I just want our country back. A functioning government.
This is heartbreaking.
I don't live in the path of a hurricane. But I do live in an earthquake subduction zone on top of a leaking nuclear reactor in a blg blue state.
I'll be fucked if those plates shift, and my correct voting record won't save me.
We're all in this together.
bitterross
(4,066 posts)The Cult of 45 has made this abundantly clear. They voted for him overwhelmingly. They get what they deserve.
CrispyQ
(36,470 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,817 posts)DesertRat
(27,995 posts)Who is giving out these marks?
bdamomma
(63,868 posts)marks??? didn't he have a rally after all that destruction?? and having Kanye in the Oval office, this guy doesn't give a shit, as long he is making money and screwing us all.
demgrrrll
(3,590 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,002 posts)catbyte
(34,393 posts)Of course, AP apologized for the "error." Yeah, right.
[IMG][/IMG]
LiberalBrooke
(527 posts)Same thing, just different verbiage depending on the color of your skin.
BigmanPigman
(51,608 posts)and load them with food, water, cleaning supplies, health care stuff, gasoline, etc and drive the boat right to the beach, unload it and go get more. Have a couple dozen people do this in an ongoing basis until everyone has their lives back in order.
trueblue2007
(17,223 posts)Since the storm, theres been no electricity and no water in Panama City. Emergency disaster relief was yet to be seen in strength as of Saturday morning. Residents are growing more frustrated and desperate by the day. Barbara Sanders stood outside her daughters unit where she had come to stay during the hurricane.
Were not getting any help, she said. We need food. Its just crazy.
Sanders said not a single relief agency had come by to check on them. Only the police had come and it was to tell everyone to leave. They told us theres nothing they can do and its gonna take a long time to rebuild, Sanders said.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,492 posts)night time temperatures are dropping down into the 60s and they're needing warm shelter now. These folks are already exhausted and probably not properly fed and clothed, so we may see a lot of them getting sick.
Let's hope the Red Cross and others get in there damn fast.
getagrip_already
(14,759 posts)under oligarch leadership. It is only on autopilot, more interested in fund raising than relief.
Everything they concentrate on is profit center, especially blood donations. Relief efforts are cost operations; they don't like to spend more than they make. It upsets them. And by them, I mean leadership, not volunteers or people on the ground.
Coventina
(27,121 posts)After the debacle of Katrina, they will never see another cent from me.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,492 posts)Didn't know it had gotten that bad and certainly will do research before sending any more contributions, as they've been sending a lot of requests this year.
That's very bad news for America but a sign of our "capitalism and profits first" mindset among many leaders and citizens. That's why they want to privatize our schools and de-fund Planned Parenthood.
Everything must be monetized and for-profit in Repug world......
ancianita
(36,060 posts)nolabear
(41,984 posts)Those people arent going to be voting any time soon.
Demonaut
(8,918 posts)KY_EnviroGuy
(14,492 posts)that we could have designed severe emergency provision facilities to be air dropped into these zones, and that includes remote US territories such as Puerto Rico. Skids of basics could be dropped along with security and emergency medical personnel just to stabilize the emergency and prevent further deaths.
I realize this potential exists and may well be there on paper, but it sure as hell is not being executed rapidly enough. Perhaps this is the proper job for the National Guard which has facilities all over the Country, in coordination with some of our big military bases.
I'm thinking climate change-related events in the future will completely overwhelm state capabilities...... .....
Electrical and communications repairs crews from all over will be there and in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia for months, so best of luck if we have any early winter storms......
malaise
(269,025 posts)I heard the there was massive destruction.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,492 posts)Appears to be a lot of very costly damage there, but thank goodness all the personnel are OK:
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/10/11/tyndall-air-force-base-suffers-severe-damage-hurricane-remains-closed.html
and..
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/10/11/tyndall-sustains-direct-hit-extensive-damage-from-hurricane/
Good assembly of tidbits here:
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/24178/tyndall-air-force-base-in-ruins-after-michael-fighters-seen-inside-roofless-hangars
(snip)
This Twitter page of US-DoD has lots of links showing what the military is doing to help:
https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense
So much info, so little time. This area will be totally changed for decades.
Good Sunday to ya, Mal.....
malaise
(269,025 posts)Thanks for those links.
This is a major catastrophe - I've been looking at videos and you are correct - several areas will need decades to recover
https://m.
torius
(1,652 posts)It will just keep happening, more and worse. And the government has learned it can get away with not rescuing people. A rescue operation requires a functioning government, and the Trump cult is opposed to a functioning government.
Thekaspervote
(32,771 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)These events will become more frequent, more violent and closer together. We will have a South Carolina being hit with high winds and rain from a new storm two weeks after being pounded by a storm.
lindysalsagal
(20,692 posts)I believe we should not allow development of the coasts: Return them to a natural state and make them parks.
Many of the Michael victims had just re-built from the last hurricane. WTF???
Stuart G
(38,428 posts)These people need the help of the federal government...and now..bring in the army..whoever we need to help these people..What the hell is going on? NO FOOD??? We got plenty of food in this country..
Fuck...Help these people out....Mr. Trump, and help them NOW.
SergeStorms
(19,201 posts)by their bootstraps and not look for government handouts. Isn't that the Republican way? That's what they said when Sandy destroyed the coastline of New Jersey and New York. There were 67 Republicans in the House who voted no on aid for hurricane Sandy victims. 67 pieces of shit who don't deserve the air they breathe.
Yeah, these Gulf Coast Republicans are a self-sufficient lot and don't need handouts from the government. That's what they would have told you two weeks ago. I wonder if they're talking out of the other side of their mouths right now?
To be clear, I'm for government assistance for everyone effected by hurricane Michael. I'm not a cruel son-of-a-bitch who would withhold life saving aid from anyone, Republicans included. That's what separates us from them I guess.
getagrip_already
(14,759 posts)Tens of thousands of people are displaced. Infrastructure is shredded. Many gov workers are just as impacted as everyone else.
And that won't change much by election day.
Given the republicans run most of the state gov't, it wouldn't be hard to ratf$%^ minority communities. They wouldn't do that, would they? (sarcasm alert).
DFW
(54,399 posts)People who were left to rot obviously are not going to vote Republican, so the Republicans will not look to facilitate their right to vote anywhere in the disaster area.
SergeStorms
(19,201 posts)Republican. These are Trump's people. What do you want to bet they'll extend voting for a week or more for anyone who lived in the storm's path? They certainly wouldn't do it for a large urban area, but they'll bend over backward to make sure none of their voters are disenfranchised.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)I survived a few hurricanes in my time in the Keys. I couldnt care less what political party my neighbors belonged to; we helped each other.
Those making these awful comments - may you never know such disaster. And please, get a grip on your conscience.
violetpastille
(1,483 posts)1. I live in a red district in a blue state. No earthquake relief for me I guess. I deserve what's coming to me. Who among us lives safe from all ecological disasters?
2. Even if you hate everyone who lives in an area that voted R, think of the babies. The pets. Think of the fact that it's a mess that needs to be cleaned up. We can't have people living without a bucket to shit in. That is horrific.
3. I have no idea how Puerto Rico would have voted, if they had been permitted to vote. Ask first, donate later? Fuck no.
4. We ARE all in this together. I can't hurt you without hurting myself. It's not just a question of empathy. We are neighbors.
femmedem
(8,203 posts)I live in blue Connecticut and my senators and governor believe in climate change--but that doesn't make me any more deserving of aid and compassion. Anything saying otherwise is not only ugly, but can be used to paint us as only caring about ourselves.
MichMan
(11,932 posts)Here is a post advocating that red states be denied any FEMA disaster relief at all
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11278304
druidity33
(6,446 posts)Could you point to a post upthread? Maybe i'm not getting it. Mostly I see the "don't rebuild" and "don't vote for Republicans" remarks, which are standard. I've lived through hurricanes and been through a tornado scare. Of course we all want the survivors and disaffected to have all the help they need. Is it a timing issue? Too soon? It's not wrong to say "Don't vote for people who don't help you in an emergency!"
onethatcares
(16,169 posts)and put up tent cities along with medical wings, mess halls, and engineers.
Treat it like we were invading Iraq or Afghanistan and we'd have it up and running in 5 days.
flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)And it'll be resolved this afternoon
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)as he farts around spouting lies.
Hey, you lazyass republican bigmouth: Do your job.
malaise
(269,025 posts)And these are the Con's people.
Meanwhile Gillum continues to postpone campaigning while he helps his people in Tallahassee.
The contrast could not be starker.
duforsure
(11,885 posts)The difference is like night and day. Lets hope they get woke up and vote them out this time after seeing what they're really like.
malaise
(269,025 posts)That cannot be true
2naSalit
(86,643 posts)onethatcares
(16,169 posts)peanut butter and mayonaise on onion rolls with some Fanta Orange soda.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,492 posts)on how to pull big numbers out of his ass.
Really big numbers, only the very best numbers......
JCMach1
(27,559 posts)Politically if it doesn't get on track in the next 72hr
dembotoz
(16,806 posts)flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)Are in other countries. And some, I'm sure, are good people. But you know, America first baby!
getagrip_already
(14,759 posts)All he had to hear was mexico and panama and he found a shiny toy to play with.
uponit7771
(90,346 posts)NOTHING AT ALL.
When has he ever shown empathy, NOT.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Yeah, it would be a chance to show an example.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)The GOP are sending thoughts and prayers to you all!
DesertRat
(27,995 posts)Seriously, WTF? Did she lose her home in Hurricane Michael?
Link to tweet
getagrip_already
(14,759 posts)His staff sends out these tweets. They try to make him look sane. You can spot the ones he sends himself. This isn't one of them.
DesertRat
(27,995 posts)getagrip_already
(14,759 posts)He didn't misspell any words, and he used complete sentences. Plus his capitalization is normal.
He doesn't tweet like that. Also, it was posted at 10:02 AM. Not a typical time for him to tweet. His tweets typically come in the evening, and sometimes, if he is deranged, in the very early am.
But 10 am is staff time.
keithbvadu2
(36,817 posts)BREAKING NEWS: Trump to travel to Florida to view Hurricane Michael damage at Mar-a-Lago
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211271994
(tis possible this may be a wee bit tongue-in-cheek)
"It hasn't been easy," he noted. "For anyone. But especially for me. Of all the people out there, I have to say I've probably suffered the most because of this storm."
spanone
(135,843 posts)instead he's playing golf in VA.
GoCubsGo
(32,085 posts)He and Melanoma only visited Lynne Haven. Then they did a helicopter fly-over, where I'm sure the only time he looked out the window was when the cameras were on him.
lindysalsagal
(20,692 posts)Jesus wanted you to suffer. Or else, why would he have sent a hurricane?
ck4829
(35,077 posts)DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)I laugh when the panhandle, who has been the slamdunk whenever the state turns red, complains. I got news for you, the Trumps do not see you as any better than the brown people you hate!
Alea
(706 posts)Smacks of "Hopefully trump will fuck this up so we can use it against him politically". Which translates to "Hopefully the citizens in the disaster area get fucked so we can use this against trump politically", and that's a damn shame.
The facts spelled out in the article don't even jive with the headline in the article or the OP. 2 or 3 people in the article are complaining and "all the survivors are furious"? My aunt lives in PC and she's not furious. I haven't seen anything on the news about the disaster response going badly. FEMA was in Mexico Beach Thursday, the day after the storm, and I imagine they were in other hard hit areas too.
You can't just shit peoples lives back together after a disaster like this. Anyone that stayed should have had at least a weeks (or more) worth of water and food put away, like my aunt did. Don't say they didn't have time to do that.
Time will tell if the State and Fed response was inadequate but there is no way we are there yet. Some of you are actually hoping this goes badly for political reasons and shame on you for that.
BTW, one of my brothers is one of those 17,000 utility workers down there getting power back on, and another brother is manning a huge Army water truck getting water to people in need. They both say it's a mess and there's no quick fix for any of this, but the response is massive, despite what some people may complain about.