Terrible, just terrible...

[Wing Nut]

You hear about this stuff happening far away and in distant places, and it never really affects you until it hits where you are.  How would you like to be those people sitting there watching the Superdome fill up with water below you?  One man on the news was just wandering with his two kids and when a newsperson asked him his story, he told of his wife being washed away, and his losing his grip on her hand.  Now he has two young children to care for by himself...  

And it's only going to get worse...

Water Continues to Rise in New Orleans  

[Katahu]

Mother nature is never kind.

[C]

Terrible - I suppose it was almost inevitable that at some point the flood defences wouldn't be able to take any more

[Craig.]

thankfully the superdomes size means the occupants can be moved well above even the worst possible level.
This is going to get worse before it gets better sadly. Hopefully those who are still in the city will be able to get out some how.

[Saitek]

It was on the news here that video. Ever so sad.

I just can't help wondering though why these people sat there in their homes. Seems like a type of suicide to myself.

[Craig.]

Quite simple. Pride, foolish pride but pride none the less. These are usually older residents who have made it through many hurricanes. Sadly this wasn't just another hurricane. A woman i met on the plane on my last trip to the US actually lived just outside of Biloxi, she said to me, generally they wouldn't leave for hurricanes as its not all that uncommon, but her family feared a huge one at some point and would leave if they saw one coming. Hopefully she did leave. Not much left of most of the gulf coast towns from central alabama to west louisiana.

[Saitek]

Maybe - could be that he didn't have a car or something - but I think it is more likely to be what you said - they don't want to leave and can't be bothered with the hassle.

[Craig.]

Maybe - could be that he didn't have a car or something - but I think it is more likely to be what you said - they don't want to leave and can't be bothered with the hassle.

Sadly some didnt have a way out as you said. However thats why they opened up the Superdome and other shelters, these were for most accessable, and its when people dont even choose to use those that i cant understand.

[Wing Nut]

It's a case of all of the above.  The roads were so packed, that some didn't have time to get out either.  Some are people returning, thinking the danger is over with...

[Romulus111VADT]

The super dome is no picnic. No power, No AC, No Water, Hot as hell, bathrooms backed up and overflowing. Not to mention the smell from all the 9,000 + people sweating to death. One guy got so frustrated that he committed suicide by jumping off one of the stands into a walkway between the stands.

They have very limited food and drinkable water. It could take days to get some to them. Most will be lucky to have a home to go back to. Most are homeless now and have lost everything.

[Katahu]

If a person lost a home, but still has the family together, that person has not lost anything. Family is more important in a case like this.

[Scorpiоn]

I think you'd be singing a different tune if all you had was your loved ones.

[Katahu]

True.

[Scorpiоn]

This boils my grits.  Here we have people who have lost everything, and they're trying to stay wherever they can, and now these hotel managers are charging up the wazoo!  These guys have just no shame!  One refugee said he was told $120 would be what he'd have to pay for a room.  And then the owner had the nerve to add that only two people were allowed!  Mayor Bill White has asked that businesses open up and allow refugees discounts.  I've come to distrust managers, owners etc. and I highly doubt these folks will get any relief.  Fortunately there are all kinds of temporary shelters opening up.

At least government owned things are forced into submission.  Most museums, zoos etc in Houston will allow free or discounted admission while the folks sit it out here.  Dunno about other cities.  I'm seriously considering shelling out a few for the Red Cross.

[H]

This boils my grits.  Here we have people who have lost everything, and they're trying to stay wherever they can, and now these hotel managers are charging up the wazoo!  These guys have just no shame!  One refugee said he was told $120 would be what he'd have to pay for a room.  And then the owner had the nerve to add that only two people were allowed...

The course of habit, I'm embarrassed to admit since I've been directly involved with it  :-[ (fortunately, not in such a major disaster). You only have so many rooms to rent out and the 'money' talks.