Hurricane Katrina

[M636C]

Now, I'm watching from a distance here, and I have a bias based on my own experience, but I understand that the US Navy had a large Amphibious ship, an LHA or LHD off shore from shortly after Katrina passed over New Orleans, but that it only docked a week or more after the storm. These ships have a large hospital capability, and their own power and water generation capability, and a large enclosed hangar area that could have provided similar shelter facilities to the convention centre BUT WITH POWER AND WATER. Certainly with a senior Coast Guard officer now in charge, knowledge of these features should not be a problem.

I learnt about these USN ships while preparing specifications for new ships of this type (but smaller) for the Royal Australian Navy. Our own more basic existing Amphibious ships "Kanimbla" and "Manoora" have been so busy acting as command ships in the Persian Gulf or assisting after the Indonesian Tsunami that RAN senior officers are concerned that they have never tested their Amphibious Warfare capability.

These post disaster features are now considered a vital part of these ships, and it seems unfortunate that the civilian FEMA executives did not make more use of these ships earlier.

M636C

[morseman]

three Canadian ships and a Canadian coast guard cutter
have buffeted the hurricane off North Carolina and are
to arrive either in New Orleans or Biloxi tonight
(they may be there already) one thousand uniformed
soldiers on board. The U.S. ambassador in Canada
has been praising the assistance of Canadian and Mexico"s
assistance.

[Anonymous]

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Train lined up to help food bank send aid south

In Katrina's Wake
Special section has stories about how Mainers are helping victims of Hurrican Katrina.

AUBURN — Two railroad cars loaded with 200,000 pounds of food, water and supplies will pull out from a warehouse Monday, destined for the Gulf Coast to help hurricane victims. Charles "Budd" Large, executive director of the Good Shepherd Food Bank, said a three-day campaign for bottled-water donations last week at the Maine Mall netted enough bottled water to fill six tractor-trailers.

The problem was finding a way to get the water from the food bank's warehouse in Auburn to those in need nearly 1,500 miles away.

But Large got a call from Bob Drake at Safe Handling, a chemical manufacturing and distribution company. Drake wanted to know whether there was some way his company could help with relief from Hurricane Katrina.

"You don't happen to have six tractor-trailers sitting around, do you?" asked Large. "He said 'No, but let me make a call.' "

Drake contacted the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad, which has a spur from its line that leads directly into Safe Handling's warehouse. Together, they worked out a plan to deliver the load by rail.

"I never even considered rails," said Large. "But it's perfect for moving this quantity, this quickly."

The cars will leave Auburn and head to Quebec, then connect with the Canadian National rail system and go to Montreal. They will then go to Chicago and on to Mississippi or Louisiana, whichever is more accessible.

The rail companies will haul the goods at no cost.

"We're proud to help with a good cause like this," said Ed Foley, vice president of sales and marketing for the St. Lawrence and Atlantic.

Besides the bottled water, Good Shepherd will send thousands of pounds of packaged snack foods and cleaning supplies, all priority items.

Once the cars reach their destination, they will be met by trucks from America's Second Harvest, the national food relief organization, and distributed.

The trip will take eight or nine days. Large said that's great, given the urgency.


From the Portland Herald

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Junctionfan

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

Andrew, it is unlikely that any foreign troops, even our friendly neighbors to the north, will ever be allowed to set foot in this country in uniform. Not even if it is simply a humanitarian mission. American law, and the American people would not allow it.

Perhaps the best way Canadians can get involved may be with the Red Cross. They put out a call for 40,000 new volunteers. The Red Cross being an international organization, would be a more likely route for foreign nationals to get involved in the relief effort here in the US.

On a related note, if other NATO members really wanted to help, they could send troops to Iraq to releive US Guard members. I suspect that our friends aren't that interested in helping.

What the heck would have happened if the Soviet Union did invade the U.S? Surely if a battlefield was to be established on U.S soil and the U.S needed help, NATO would have been authorized to send allied reinforcements.

I shudder to think.

Actually there was a movie made from a book about such a scenario, I can't remember the name. At least for the time being we are beyond being invaded by an army. Remember, we still have enough nukes to destroy any country crazy enough to try a land invasion. Terrorists are the bigger problem because it's harder to see them coming.

This is a dufficult situation for the country that usually helps the rest of the world, to be in need of help. The news reports are starting to sound as if the worst is over from the humanitarian angle, and people are getting settled for longer term. Many won't return to New Orleans, and will start over in other states.

General Honore is one organized dude. Imagine if he was called in on day 2. With him and Admiral Allen the mess may get cleaned up a lot sooner than anyone could imagine.

LC, I had heard about the Mexican army, but wasn't aware that their offer had been accepted. I expect that they will be thanked and sent home ASAP.

[Junctionfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

Andrew, it is unlikely that any foreign troops, even our friendly neighbors to the north, will ever be allowed to set foot in this country in uniform. Not even if it is simply a humanitarian mission. American law, and the American people would not allow it.

Perhaps the best way Canadians can get involved may be with the Red Cross. They put out a call for 40,000 new volunteers. The Red Cross being an international organization, would be a more likely route for foreign nationals to get involved in the relief effort here in the US.

On a related note, if other NATO members really wanted to help, they could send troops to Iraq to releive US Guard members. I suspect that our friends aren't that interested in helping.

What the heck would have happened if the Soviet Union did invade the U.S? Surely if a battlefield was to be established on U.S soil and the U.S needed help, NATO would have been authorized to send allied reinforcements.

Isn't there any kind of a NATO agreement in the NATO Charter for something like that?

[Anonymous]

STRASBURG RAILROAD CHARITY DAY: "On October 2nd, the Strasburg Rail road will be operating trains to generate money for the relief effort in the wake of hurricane Katrina. ALL revenue generated on that day in ticket , gift shop, photo studio, and restaurant sales will be donated to the Red Cross. We are doing this for one reason - it is the right thing to do. Please come to Strasburg on October 2nd and spend freely, every penny will go to this good cause. www.strasburgrailroad.com

[Anonymous]

NORFOLK SOUTHERN OPERATING FEMA TRAINS Norfolk Southern is currently operating emergency unit trains for FEMA. The first symbolled as 056 operated from Columbus, GA to Elkhart, IN for loading. The train consisted entirely of 65 empty implement flatcars. Additional empty DODX and TTX implement flatcars have been shipped to Elkhart, IN for loading via regularly scheduled trains. Each implement flatcar is then loaded with two 35-foot travel trailers. The loaded cars are then moved as unit train 041 from Elkhart, IN to Selma, AL via Cincinnati, OH. (Conrail Technical Society E-mail Update - posted 9/11)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

Andrew, it is unlikely that any foreign troops, even our friendly neighbors to the north, will ever be allowed to set foot in this country in uniform. Not even if it is simply a humanitarian mission. American law, and the American people would not allow it.

Perhaps the best way Canadians can get involved may be with the Red Cross. They put out a call for 40,000 new volunteers. The Red Cross being an international organization, would be a more likely route for foreign nationals to get involved in the relief effort here in the US.

On a related note, if other NATO members really wanted to help, they could send troops to Iraq to releive US Guard members. I suspect that our friends aren't that interested in helping.

The Mexican Army is already in Texas and Louisiana, BB. However, no foreign troops will be permitted anything beyond a humanitarian mission.

LC

[Big_Boy_4005]

Andrew, it is unlikely that any foreign troops, even our friendly neighbors to the north, will ever be allowed to set foot in this country in uniform. Not even if it is simply a humanitarian mission. American law, and the American people would not allow it.

Perhaps the best way Canadians can get involved may be with the Red Cross. They put out a call for 40,000 new volunteers. The Red Cross being an international organization, would be a more likely route for foreign nationals to get involved in the relief effort here in the US.

On a related note, if other NATO members really wanted to help, they could send troops to Iraq to releive US Guard members. I suspect that our friends aren't that interested in helping.

[Junctionfan]

You might need some of your Canadian cousins to help out in that and until more National Guard and armed forces are recruited, might have to turn the enforcement part from U.S to NATO; just have the NATO forces briefed on U.S legal procedures.

[Anonymous]

National Guard Stretched too Thin

Associated Press | September 10, 2005
WASHINGTON - The National Guard is stretched so thin by simultaneous
assignments in Iraq and the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast that leaders
in statehouses and Congress say it is time to reconsider how the
force is used.

Republicans and Democrats alike worry about the service's ability to
balance its federal and state missions of fighting wars and
responding to domestic crises.

"We need to look at what is going to be the long-term future of our
Guard when states need to rely on these soldiers for emergencies and
the nation continues to rely on them for overseas deployment," said
Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, a Democrat.

About 41,000 Guard members are scattered across Alabama, Mississippi
and Louisiana, along with 17,000 active-duty troops. About 30,000
Guard members are serving in Iraq, with smaller numbers in
Afghanistan, Kosovo and elsewhere overseas.

Since the storm devastated the deep South, Republicans and Democrats
have praised the Guard for what may be the most massive U.S. military
response to a domestic natural disaster.

But lawmakers also have questioned whether poor coordination between
the federal government and the states - and the overseas deployments
- kept the Guard from getting where it was needed quickly after the
hurricane.

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Senate Armed Services
Committee, intends to review the Guard's hurricane relief performance
this fall.

The head of the National Guard Bureau said Friday the assignment of
thousands of Guard troops from Mississippi and Louisiana to Iraq
delayed those states' initial hurricane response by about a day.

"Had that brigade been at home and not in Iraq, their expertise and
capabilities could have been brought to bear," said Lt. Gen. Steven
Blum, the bureau's chief.

However, Blum said that overall, the Iraq assignment is not limiting
the military's ability to continue the rescue and recovery
operations.

The Pentagon has said the response was swift and another 319,000 Army
National Guard and Air National Guard personnel are available if
needed.

Nevertheless, lawmakers worry about the short-term impact of the dual
duty on the Guard's manpower and equipment availability and the
long-term effect on recruitment and retention.

"All those things are going to become much bigger issues that we're
going to have to address," said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, a
Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Another committee member, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., called Hurricane
Katrina a wake-up call that will force Congress to re-evaluate "how
do you maintain overseas deployment of significant numbers and still
maintain a Guard force in the United States capable of responding to
disasters?"

Some lawmakers say the responsibilities placed on the Guard now
buttress their long-standing argument that the United States must
permanently increase active-duty forces. But those lawmakers also
acknowledge that's a tall order at a time of lagging recruitment.

"We're overextended worldwide," said Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa. "We have
too small an Army for the job that we're doing, yet we can't increase
the size of the Army because it's volunteer and we can't enlist
anybody."

The federal government has not always brought the Guard under its
control for overseas military missions, choosing in many cases to
leave the units in states to assist governors during civil
disturbances and natural disasters.

But in recent years, the Pentagon has viewed the part-time citizen
soldiers as a component of overall military operations and regularly
sent Guard forces abroad, often for extended tours.

Governors and members of Congress have frequently questioned whether
long active-duty tours harm recruitment, retention and soldiers'
families.

Calling on the Guard for hurricane relief for an undetermined amount
of time has intensified those concerns.

"Iraq and Afghanistan alone have been stressful," said Sen. John
Cornyn, R-Texas. "This doesn't make it any easier. And it probably
makes it harder."

Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican, said the hurricane clearly
adds strain. However, he said: "The level of catastrophe is so
enormous it would tax us regardless" of whether or not the Guard was
serving overseas.

President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld contend the
military can handle the war and hurricane relief. But some lawmakers
aren't convinced.

"It's pretty clear we have enough Guard people in the United States,
but are they capable of handling our oversees commitments as well? We
need to figure out how that impacts our ability in Iraq," said Sen.
John McCain, R-Ariz.

[eolafan]

If anybody saw the NBC Dateline special on the NO situation last night I personally thought it was a really good and well balanced look at the situation. What I had thought all along was proved right...the NO city, LA state and US federal officials had previously funded a study on what would happen under the exact set of circumstances that NO experienced last week. The resulting report predicted exactly the results NO experienced but NOBODY LISTENED TO THEIR OWN BLEEPING REPORT! Just goes to show, we as a human race can be REALLY STUPID AND IGNORANT SOME TIMES.

[Big_Boy_4005]

LC, thanks for posting all of these railroad updates. They have been very interesting reading. Sorry for wandering off into all the other aspects of the hurricane damage, but this is a BIG story.

Andrew, I'm not sure Brown is going to be totally gone, but he certainly has been removed from the control of this disaster. He is "damaged goods". This is definately going to call into question the future of political appointments for such important positions, and perhaps whether FEMA should fall under the control of Homeland Security.

[Anonymous]

Amtrak gives route update

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Amtrak is working to restore passenger rail service in Louisiana and Mississippi that was suspended due to extensive damage to rail lines and facilities caused by Hurricane Katrina.

"Rail lines and facilities are pretty badly beaten up, but the freights and Amtrak are working hard to restore service," said Amtrak President and CEO David Gunn. "We are doing a damage assessment of our facilities, and we'll start repairs very soon. We want to resume our operations as quickly as feasible in New Orleans and other communities in Louisiana and Mississippi Amtrak serves."

The latest update is as follows:

n The City of New Orleans (Trains 58 and 59): Normally providing daily service between New Orleans and Chicago, this train currently operates between Jackson and Chicago. Starting with the southbound departure on

Monday and the northbound departure on Tuesday, the train's southern terminus will be extended to Hammond, La.

n The Crescent (Trains 19 and 20): Normally operating daily service between New Orleans and New York, this train presently operates between Atlanta and New York. Starting with the southbound departure on Monday and the northbound departure on Wednesday, the train's southern terminus will be extended to Meridian.

n The Sunset Limited (Trains 1 and 2): Usually serving passengers between Los Angeles and Orlando, Fla., through New Orleans on a three-day-per-week schedule, the Sunset Limited now operates between Los Angeles and San Antonio. There are no plans presently to extend the train's eastern terminus or to initiate service east of New Orleans.

The freight railroads that own the rail lines over which these three Amtrak trains operate are working to repair miles of damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. Amtrak employees are working to restore operations at the Amtrak station in New Orleans. However, no date is yet known for the reopening of passenger rail service in New Orleans.

Amtrak is offering full refunds and waiving all penalties for passengers who had made reservations traveling to or from New Orleans or other areas served by the affected trains.

From the Meridian, MS Star

[Anonymous]

Here is a great blog from a group of people that have stayed in NO from the get-go.
Not train related, I know- but the thread IS about Katrina.
Interesting to note that the info on this blog is firsthand experience and not media-spun.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/

[Anonymous]

...Saw some pictures of one of the newer serious leaks there in the big dig a month or so ago and have been wondering how in the world do they get that repaired and stopped....The water is always above it at that point and sounds serious and leaks generally just get worse.....

Well believe it or not some of the leaks were anticipated and some how the contractors are required to pay for the cost of fixing. So far with one exception the leaks have been small and easily repaired. The big issue for me about the "Big Dig" was the lack of a rail connection between North and South Station which could have been included in this project for a mere $200,000,000.00. And, of course auto traffic has increased to meet the additional capacity so traffic jams are still with us. Must be one of Murphy's laws.

As for the $15,000,000.00 tunnel under Hingham oh yes the NIBYS won big time but we all lost a little.

I am glad to here that the rails are making progress toward New Orleans. I think this time around the railroads will play a big roll in the rebuilding. But I have not seen much in the news about it lately.

Also, I agree we do not hear much about foreign aid. I did read that 200 tankers from Europe are headed to the east coast with gasoline. Now we need 200 tankers loaded with heating oil.

Don from Boston

[morseman]

I have seen very little coverage on the American TV channels up here
about all the aid from foreign countries in the gulf area or on the way
to the disaster. I sarcastically mentioned a while back about
always a lack of assistance from Mexico to any American disaster.
I am glad to see Mexico responding by sending their troops north.
I believe it's a small contingent but at this point every little bit helps.

Are there any webcam sites on the internet where I could see
railroad sites in the stricken areas?

[Junctionfan]

I guess Bush has or in the process of firing Mike Brown of FEMA and appointed a vice admiral to the FEMA relief effort. I imagine the vice admiral is taking care of the business until Bush can find someone more compatent to replace Brown.

[Anonymous]

Norfolk Southern Service Alert

Hurricane Katrina Update #4

September 8, 2005

Norfolk Southern continues to make rapid progress toward restoration of
service into the New Orleans area with most of our effort currently
focused on repair to the Lake Pontchartrain Bridge and our lines south
of the bridge into New Orleans. Several areas of track south of Lake
Pontchartrain still remain under water.

An embargo of traffic to and from points south of Hattiesburg,
Mississippi, remains in effect. Depending on progress in removal of
flood water in the area, we anticipate having restoration of some
interchange traffic to connecting carriers through New Orleans in a few
days.

In the meantime, we continue the cooperative effort with other carriers
to re-route traffic normally handled over New Orleans to points west
via alternate gateways. Customers seeking information on active
shipments should contact the Customers Service Operations Center at
[phone].

For questions regarding local service in the affected area, please
contact our Central Yard Operations Center at [phone].

------------------
Norfolk Southern Corporation
www.nscorp.com

[Anonymous]

KCSR lays out plans for recovering from Hurricane Katrina

Restoring the railroad
Railroads are vital to the American economy, especially in times of disaster. For this reason, Kansas City Southern Railway employees and contractors have worked diligently to restore rail service to the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. By the close of last week, KCSR's lines had been cleared of trees and debris to the point where the track meets water in New Orleans, Louisiana and to the Port of Gulfport, Mississippi.

KCS senior vice president international engineering Jerry Heavin, who was on the scene last week, said, "From a structural standpoint, the track has held up very well, considering the conditions. The primary problems were downed trees and power lines, some minor slides and washouts."

Over the weekend, the embargo was lifted for Gramercy, LA. Today, the embargo was also lifted for DPC Industries, Inc. at Reserve, LA. However, embargoes remain for New Orleans, Norco and the remainder of Reserve, LA and Gulfport, Delisle, Waynesboro, Quitman and Enterprise, MS because customers on the line, or interchange partners remain out of service.

With the exception of the embargoed areas, trains are moving, despite challenges. In the Baton Rouge, LA, Jackson and Gulfport, MS areas, a lack of electrical power is creating the need for signal crews to place generators at approximately 70 flasher crossings. A lack of electrical power and the significant demand for gasoline, is making it a challenge for crews in these areas to get to work, still many are persevering to keep the railroad running.

Fortifying the troops
About 150 to 200 employees and contractors were directly involved in the clean up efforts. In Mississippi, power was restored in time to put first responders in commercial lodging. With so many people fleeing New Orleans, commercial lodging and access to food and gasoline is limited in Baton Rouge. Maintenance of way and signal workers in these areas spent the first couple of days working long hours, eating little and sleeping in the depot or in their trucks.

On Sep01, the Southern Belle departed Kansas City for Baton Rouge, complete with the Kansas City kitchen car, Baton Rouge sleeper car that accommodates 22 people, the Dallas crew car, the St. Louis power car stocked with groceries, and the Port Arthur baggage car stocked with drinking water. A specially equipped tank car pulled by the Belle was filled at Heavener and taken to Baton Rouge to fuel maintenance of way vehicles. A reefer car pulled by the Belle from Kansas City was filled with ice at Heavener and switched at Shreveport to provide relief for crews on the east end of the railroad. Since the Southern Belle arrived in Baton Rouge, it has been providing a dry place to sleep and three meals a day for operating department employees who continue to service the area.

KCSR and labor unions work together to provide relief
It is estimated that approximately 70 KCSR employees may have been directly affected by the hurricane. KCSR is attempting to contact these employees via phone. When that is not possible due to downed cell phone towers or power lines, KCSR has gone door to door to determine our employees' situations. If you have specific knowledge of an employee who has been affected, please report it to the human resources employee hotline at 1-800-989-3641.

Understanding the severity of the situation, the labor unions have been very helpful and flexible in allowing KCSR to do what is necessary to accommodate victims while keeping the railroad running. Some employees who are living temporarily with friends or relatives have been temporarily reassigned to areas where they do not have seniority.

Affected employees are being allowed to take their unused 2005 and 2006 vacation time, or receive pay for that time now. To take advantage of this opportunity, the employee should contact their local chairman, who will in turn get in touch with Southeast Division general manager Mark Redd or Midwest Division general superintendent Daniel Torres. In the affected areas, employees have been able to fill the tanks of their personal vehicles with KCSR's fuel supply, and bottled water and other supplies like paper towels have been provided to employees for their families.

The hurricane hit on payday weekend, so a phone number, 816-983-1573 was established for employees who may not have received their paycheck or direct deposit as a result of the hurricane.

Providing aid for the greater good
KCS is keeping in close contact and cooperating with the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the rail industry's combined effort to provide assistance to the relief effort. KCS will make its trains available to move emergency relief supplies and equipment, including bottled water from Kansas City, MO and 44 containers of food from Los Angeles to Macon, GA KCS is responding to requests to make vacant buildings available in south Louisiana for storage of emergency supplies. In addition, KCS will be making a charitable contribution to the Bush-Clinton Relief Fund for the states of Louisiana and Mississippi and to The Salvation Army in Louisiana and Mississippi.

In support of the greater community and to ensure that the right help is getting to the right people in the right place, KCS recommends support of three national organizations involved in the relief effort who have set up disaster relief funds.


When disaster strikes, the American Red Cross is on the scene providing emergency shelter, food, water and other critical assistance. Go to http://www.redcross.org/ for information on how to contribute to the American Red Cross.


The Salvation Army is providing services to storm victims and first responders in the Gulf Coast states. A $100 donation to The Salvation Army will feed a family of four for two days, provide two cases of drinking water and one household clean-up kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies. The web site at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/ outlines how you can make a financial or in-kind contribution or volunteer.


The United Way of America has a "Hurricane Katrina Response Fund". To contribute to this fund, go to https://volunteer.united-e-way.org/hurricane-katrina/donate. - KCSR News

[Big_Boy_4005]

Dave, I don't think it's MTV, I think it's just TV, that has shortened attention spans. Perhaps MTV has made it worse with 3 minute clips.

Ed, ever the optimist, you are so right though. We Americans do take for granted some things that are almost unheard of in other parts of the world.

Unfortunately, this leads to high expectations, and lots of whining, when things don't go just right. The evacuation of New Orleans is a perfect example. The Monday morning quarterbacks are just getting warmed up on TV.

The financial aspect of all of this is frightening. People are pointing their fingers at every level of government, city, state, and federal. Who has the resources?

Certainly NOT the city. Most of the people who were left behind, were those who paid little or no taxes. Government of higher level was already contributing to their very existance, through various support programs.

The State only has a slightly larger tax base to draw upon, so the buck stops with the feds.

Who are "the feds"? They are us, every tax paying citizen, though we often forget. First we have to keep these people alive, then we have to rescue them too. Insult to injury, but our punishment for tolerating poverty in this land of extreme wealth.

I heard one report today, that the President is going to ask for 100 billion dollars to help cover the cost of Katrina. It isn't as if the treasury has that kind of money. It means more I.O.U.'s, in the form of bonds and T-bills, need to be authorized by Congress. Of course they will, but this begs the question, when will the house of cards collapse? When will the taxpayers not be able to cover the debt service on this massive loan? Is it over 5 trillion yet? I've lost track since the anti-terrorism campaign started.

Perhaps the plan is to pull an Enron on the rest of the world. That would be the ultimate revenge.[*^_^*][|(][sigh]

[edblysard]

Actually,
If you stop and think about it, all of this, and how we reacted, say a lot about the country we live in and the people who make up the citizenry.

Think about it...in any other country, Katrina would have just about shut down the entire country...the death of a Chief Justice would be cause for civil unrest.
And I don’t think there are too many places where something like 9/11 wouldn’t have collapsed the entire economy...

We are a pretty tough bunch of people!

Ed

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman
[br
Not to slam your idea or thought, but for some reason here in the US we get all puffed up over an event, then the next Micheal Jackson case comes along and over half the country forgets what they had as a cause for that day, sad but true, remember 9-11, many are already tired of the terror war and it's only been what 3-4 years? Though making the RR have more upfront notice is a good thing®

Dave, it's difficult for the media not to suffer from A.D.D., which means the people get it too. 9/11? After Katrina, the price of gas, and the death of the Chief Justice, some people can't remember Iraq, and that's still going on.

The Northwest mechanic's strike has fallen off the local radar, as it goes into it's third week. To top all of that off, Gilligan died.

Of course all of this human interest keeps everyone from noticing the national debt going into overdrive. If this keeps up, they will have to invest in faster printing presses.

I'm not sure if this country is ready for another disaster. Maybe next week.[:0][swg]

You beat me to mentioning Bob Denver, my favorite little buddy, may he rest in peace. Could it be that MTV has spawned a new culture of ADD? I have heard reports that there could be a connection to ADD and MTV. [:D][:D][:D]

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman
[br
Not to slam your idea or thought, but for some reason here in the US we get all puffed up over an event, then the next Micheal Jackson case comes along and over half the country forgets what they had as a cause for that day, sad but true, remember 9-11, many are already tired of the terror war and it's only been what 3-4 years? Though making the RR have more upfront notice is a good thing®

Dave, it's difficult for the media not to suffer from A.D.D., which means the people get it too. 9/11? After Katrina, the price of gas, and the death of the Chief Justice, some people can't remember Iraq, and that's still going on.

The Northwest mechanic's strike has fallen off the local radar, as it goes into it's third week. To top all of that off, Gilligan died.

Of course all of this human interest keeps everyone from noticing the national debt going into overdrive. If this keeps up, they will have to invest in faster printing presses.

I'm not sure if this country is ready for another disaster. Maybe next week.[:0][swg]

[Train Guy 3]

QUOTE: Originally posted by conrailman

Maybe Bill Gates could give a Few Billion Dollars and Donald Trump Too?

Come on... be serious.

[Modelcar]

...Saw some pictures of one of the newer serious leaks there in the big dig a month or so ago and have been wondering how in the world do they get that repaired and stopped....The water is always above it at that point and sounds serious and leaks generally just get worse.....

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by hoodunits



I live near Boston where the state and federal government just completed the Big Dig at a cost in access of 15 billion. Still the North and South Stations are not connected by rail.

Don from Boston (used to be hoodunits GP9FL9)

Um, Don:

(1) Ya' mean that thing with over 100 major leaks?

(2) Ya' mean Boston, as in MBTA that had to take over 10 years to get the Old Colony/ Greenbush line construction started because the NIMBY's found rediculous ways for lawyers and their political hacks to slow the process and waste public $$$$?

That Boston?[:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by hoodunits

The truth may be that no addional money was ever appropriated for upgrading the levees to meet NOAA projections for category 4 and above hurricanes in the Gulf. The US government is broke and whether a war in Iraq or infrastructure in this country gets funded depends on political clout and increasing our national debt. Jesse Jackson has neither political clout or money. I don't think is he is the only critic either.

This storm, I assume will start our country thinking about long term infrastructure improvements. It could start with upgrading railroad bridges and increasing double track routes. Putting them high and dry and making them always accessible.

Some of the large pumps used to empty the New Orleans bowl had to come from Europe. Imagine if we had strategically located pumps and large generatrors stationed at military basis ready to roll by train at a moments notice. Remember the old Lionel GM generator car. Was there ever such a thing in real life?

I live near Boston where the state and federal government just completed the Big Dig at a cost in access of 15 billion. Still the North and South Stations are not connected by rail.

Don from Boston (used to be hoodunits GP9FL9)

Not to slam your idea or thought, but for some reason here in the US we get all puffed up over an event, then the next Micheal Jackson case comes along and over half the country forgets what they had as a cause for that day, sad but true, remember 9-11, many are already tired of the terror war and it's only been what 3-4 years? Though making the RR have more upfront notice is a good thing®

[Anonymous]

....."They are not refugees, they are displaced persons"..... [:(!]

[Anonymous]

The truth may be that no addional money was ever appropriated for upgrading the levees to meet NOAA projections for category 4 and above hurricanes in the Gulf. The US government is broke and whether a war in Iraq or infrastructure in this country gets funded depends on political clout and increasing our national debt. Jesse Jackson has neither political clout or money. I don't think is he is the only critic either.

This storm, I assume will start our country thinking about long term infrastructure improvements. It could start with upgrading railroad bridges and increasing double track routes. Putting them high and dry and making them always accessible.

Some of the large pumps used to empty the New Orleans bowl had to come from Europe. Imagine if we had strategically located pumps and large generatrors stationed at military basis ready to roll by train at a moments notice. Remember the old Lionel GM generator car. Was there ever such a thing in real life?

I live near Boston where the state and federal government just completed the Big Dig at a cost in access of 15 billion. Still the North and South Stations are not connected by rail.

Don from Boston (used to be hoodunits GP9FL9)