I live in Sydney, Australia and I've never been to Houston. You should be really proud for the help you've given these people. Well done.
Now if only International Aid would come in too. That would help. We gave $350 million in Tsunami aid....other rich countries such as Saudi Arabi only gave $10million. Now we are in need of aid....where is the help?! God Bless America. Help anyway you all can.
No kidding. We've helped many other nations through hard times, refusing their help now is not only stupid but snotty. Not to mention we've created hard times in other nations. But that is neither here nor there.
Where did you hear this? I've been informed of quite the opposite. Vehicles, Helicopters, medical assistance, etc. being brought in from Canada, Germany, Russia and many more... last count was like 15-17 countries. Reported on wnn on abc overnight.
I do remember reading something a few days ago where Bush supposedly said something to the effect of "Thanks, but we can handle it." I honestly don't remember where I read it though and if it was a legit quote. I'll see what I can find.
I was with ya ima_drummer2k.. Together: Bill Brasky!! Third Friend of Brasky: Did you know Bill Brasky is the godfather of my son? Fourth Friend of Brasky: Bill Brasky? First Friend of Brasky: He's a big fella! Second Friend of Brasky: Oh yeah, he's a big guy! Goes about 6'7", 385. Third Friend of Brasky: Well, anyway.. he shows up at the church in his golf pants, caked in mud. Well, ol' Bill Brasky pushes the priest aside and says, "I'll baptize that piece of calimari!" Then he pours Scotch all over my baby son and says, "There! You're baptized!" Fourth Friend of Brasky: And your son is blind to this day! First Friend of Brasky: Yeah, he makes brooms somewhere in Georgia, doesn't he? Third Friend of Brasky: I have no idea. [ pause ] To Bill Brasky! Together: Bill Brasky!!
I saw that on the news last night...I'm not sure why they would....Hell, we help everyone so why not let others lighten the burden...BTW, I'm proud to not only be an Houston transplant in Dallas, but to be a Texan...
Found an article about us turning away International Aid. I won't comment anymore on it here, just wanted to post the source for those requesting it. Any comments about this should go to D&D I would think. ---------------------------------------------- http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050902/ts_nm/weather_katrina_annan_dc_2 Annan urges help for generous US 48 minutes ago U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan urged the world on Friday to show the same generosity to the United States in helping it recover from Hurricane Katrina as Americans demonstrated in crises like the Asian tsunami. "The Americans are usually very generous in assisting in other crises," Anna told reporters in Sweden. "Now they have had this serious blow and I think we should try and help President (George W.) Bush and the administration, the American Red Cross and NGOs...who have been our partners in other crises around the world like the tsunami," said Annan. The U.S. government has received offers of help from around the world after the hurricane devastated New Orleans and other parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast, killing possibly thousands of people. But many governments and bodies like the European Union say there has not yet been any request for assistance and Bush has said America can take care of itself. Criticism is mounting that his administration was slow to respond and ill-equipped to help. That is in sharp contrast to Washington's response to the Asian tsunami in December 2004, when the U.S. military played a prominent role and the American government and public gave generously to collections for aid efforts. Annan said he believed Washington was "positive" to offers of help from the United Nations and others to provide relief.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/09/02/D8CC51BO0.html EU Nations to Offer Oil From Reserves Sep 02 9:17 AM US/Eastern By ROBERT WIELAARD Associated Press Writer NEWPORT, Wales European nations are offering to provide oil to the United States from their strategic reserves to offset shortages in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, an EU official said Friday. Separately, the EU executive Commission in Brussels said it has offered disaster help to U.S. authorities trying to cope with the damage caused by the storm, which lashed New Orleans and coastal towns in Mississippi, causing massive flooding. Speaking on Britain's Sky News network, EU security affairs chief Javier Solana said the U.S. administration has approached several EU member states individually for help. "Whatever they ask for, it will be given from the reserves of oil that the different (EU) countries are providing," he said. Solana did not say if the offers by individual European governments involved supplies of crude or refined oil products, such as gasoline. In Berlin, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said the United States has asked member states of the International Energy Agency to provide oil and that Germany would "of course" support Washington. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, chairing an EU foreign ministers meeting, said the EU as a whole would play no role in supplying emergency deliveries of oil, but added, "There might be other assistance that can be offered." Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast and shut down around 90 percent of crude production capacity in a region that is responsible for around 30 percent of U.S. crude output. The International Energy Agency, a Paris-based oil market watchdog that includes 17 of the 25 EU states, said it is consulting with members on tapping their strategic reserves. "We have ongoing consultations with all member countries, but we need an unanimous agreement to release strategic reserves," IEA spokeswoman Gundi Gadesmann said. "A decision may be reached fast." IEA member countries hold some 4.1 billion barrels of public and industry oil stocks, of which roughly 1.4 billion barrels are government-controlled for emergency purposes. EU officials said 16 of the 25 EU countries maintain a 90-day strategic oil reserve to deal with any sudden shortfalls in supply. They are: Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Austria, Greece, Ireland and Hungary. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said it had received a call from the IEA exploring the option of releasing some oil reserves. Japan has one of the largest petroleum reserves in the world, with 320.7 million barrels as of June 30. Separate from the IEA discussions, the European Commission said oil sector experts from all EU nations will meet in special session Sept. 9 to discuss the oil supply situation. They comprise an EU panel that meets twice a year and was founded during the first oil crisis in 1973. "On the agenda it will have issues relating to supply and possible release of stocks," said EU spokeswoman Antonia Mochan. "What they will discuss ... is issues facing the world oil market at the moment and possible release of stocks." The EU foreign ministers, meeting Friday in Newport, Wales, also discussed humanitarian help for victims of Hurricane Katrina. EU spokeswoman Francoise Le Bail said in Brussels several EU nations were ready to help with specialists in areas such as water supply and mobile shelters, if requested by the U.S. She said the EU had not yet received any U.S. request for help.
The topic of me being from Houston came up with two random people in Nashville today... one woman taking college yearbook pictures, and someone waiting at the infiniti dealership for maintenance.. BOTH of them mentioned what Houston has been doing... one woman was saying god bless your city... and asking who our mayor is etc... and the other guy referred to houston as something along the lines of being the place where all the humanity is happening..p Awesome to have random people not even from Houston telling me god bless your city
i saw an interview with an evacuee at the astrodome and he said something along the lines of "thank Texas right now, they are showing alot of love,,,,in fact they are helping more than the federal government" they are cooking bacon in the DOME for 15, 000 people!!
They ought to have a trade-off... bbq for the people from La. in return for the Louisianians cooking creole/cajun food for the volunteers. My 2 favorite foods...
I have always been proud that I can refer to myself as a "Texan," but I am even more proud of the response, leadership, and generousity that has been shown by Texas and especially the leadership and sympathy that my beloved hometown of Houston has provided, and continues to show, to all of the refugees that have survived the horrible effects of Hurricane Katrina. Great Job Houston!
I too had thought about starting a thread to say I am proud to be a Houstonian! Open the Astrodome, the Reliant center. Kicked ( I think that was the word used by some officials) the convention folks out so we can share George R Brown. How about the family who is sharing their house with 15+ people and talking about taking in more. The young lady who gives up her apartment and moves back with her parent. The couple who just bought a place and had not moved in but willingly gives it to an extended family of 10+ ... The line of people dropping of food at the Dome ... The school districts, the hospitals taking in children, patients ... (My wife said she saw several Louisiana children at Ferguson Elem last Friday) The stories go on and on ... Houstonians, you are the best.
In D&D, the various faith communities we have around the town often are questioned...not merely for their creeds, but also for their deeds. But make no mistake. The effort you are seeing from churches, temples and mosques is making this possible. Literally...Bill White went to Second Baptist and said, "We're bringing these people in, but we can't afford to feed them. You guys will all have to do it." And they (inter-faith ministries in Houston)are. They're staffing it as of this Monday...and paying for every meal from here on out, most likely. Certainly for the next 2 months. I heard the other day that will run at $1 million/month. Today I'm hearing that's closer to $4 million/month.
I went to volunteer this AM as a physician and they had so many volunteers that I wasn't needed today. They told me to come back on Mon. Houston has definitely stepped up. Houston Native
