12/25/24
August 30, 2005
Saints skip town.: With Hurricane Katrina bearing down, players were given time to help their families evacuate on Sunday. Then, the New Orleans Saints took the last chartered flight out of town. From California, where they are borrowing the San Jose State Spartans' field, they watched their own stadium's roof sustain significant damage while some ten thousand people sought refuge inside. Three deaths have been reported from within the Louisiana Superdome, the last of which a probable suicide. It is unclear yet if the stadium will be ready for the home opener against the Giants on September 18. Let's hope the Saints and other sports teams will host fundraisers to help the area during its long road to recovery.
I don't think there's any chance the Superdome could host a game Sept. 18. Authorities are telling people they may need to stay away from New Orleans for a month. I think a month would be a best-case, from the sound of the news reports. The Saints will probably borrow Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge this season. Here in Florida, Hurricane Frances knocked out power for thousands of residents in my county last year. Some weren't restored for more than 60 days, and that was a problem much less widespread and much less severe than what we're seeing today on the Gulf Coast.
posted by rcade at 05:12 PM on August 30, 2005
I don't see anything going on at the Superdome any time soon. It may end up being they don't use the Superdome the entire season. It's going to take a very long time to get the city cleaned up before they think of football. Whatever they end up doing, I hope everything works out for the best. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved.
posted by dbt302 at 06:20 PM on August 30, 2005
so where should the Saints play their games? Is there a college stadium nearby or maybe they will have to finally move the team to Los Angeles! I think the city is not going to be the same for a long long time..
posted by bluekarma at 06:57 PM on August 30, 2005
No one down there will be Walking on Sunshine any time soon. Calm down just a joke.
posted by jojomfd1 at 10:25 PM on August 30, 2005
I too hope and pray for all involved. Playing football isnt the main priority right now I am sure. Tiger Stadium at LSU would seem to be the right fit for the Saints if needed.
posted by daddisamm at 10:51 PM on August 30, 2005
may god bless them all
posted by footballfan at 12:06 AM on August 31, 2005
Water can be so beautiful, yet so dangerous. I too pray for all involved. Just think how hard it is with low income to suddenly move.
posted by Sports Sage at 12:42 AM on August 31, 2005
How about they play at another stadium and some of the profits be donated to help the victims of this disaster. After the tsunami, many celebrities opened their wallets, let's hope as many help those in their own country. If all the pro athletes coughed up some, and celebrities, some get 20 mil a picture, if they all coughed up a mil...just think of all they could help...
posted by Gem at 08:06 AM on August 31, 2005
I would be shocked if any sports were played in NO in the next month at all. Hell, I'd be shocked if the school's were open any time soon. (Some kids are secretly loving this). Well, I'm sorry, but a great deal of the current crisis could be made a lot better if the great post-disaster pastime of 'looting everything you can' was shelved by the huddled masses. I mean gimme a break. Way to bleed resources that could be used for rebuilding - nothing like cops getting shot trying to rescue people. According to CNN there was an attempted carjacking yesterday as well.... How!?! Where was this guy driving?!? There is no reason for anyone to be giving up a million dollars to relief in Louisiana - insurance and government have disaster relief funds. Let the insurance companies pay for it - that's their job.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:22 AM on August 31, 2005
An ESPN article about Brett Favre's Family trying to ride this one out, as they had back in 1969 when hurricane camille hit.
posted by jojomfd1 at 08:51 AM on August 31, 2005
Yes, its the latest in a string of tradegies for Favre. However, this time he has LOTS of comapny!
posted by daddisamm at 09:03 AM on August 31, 2005
Let the insurance companies pay for it - that's their job. Its also their job to minimize their risk, which means excluding flood, inundation, etc. from policies, or charging premiums for said coverage beyond the means of the average citizen. Sad, but true. Read your insurance policy carefully, it isn't as good as it sounds.
posted by garfield at 09:36 AM on August 31, 2005
There is no reason for anyone to be giving up a million dollars to relief in Louisiana - insurance and government have disaster relief funds. Let the insurance companies pay for it - that's their job. You are kidding, Right. Garfield is right, there are many things that arent covered in insurance. Add that to the fact that many may have lost thier ability to earn money-ie businsses destroyed etc. Most of the folks in the Super Dome have nothing or next to nothing--what about them? The Feds and the Insurance companies will send their billions and yet there will be more money needed. This disaster can effect your insurance as well. Increased premeums will have to be charged to make up for the losses!
posted by daddisamm at 10:03 AM on August 31, 2005
Actually, my comment was intended to inspire those responses. I am interesting in seeing how us 1st worlders handle a disaster on this scale. Bret Favre's family I think is going to be well taken care of. It's the other families that need a little more support.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:25 AM on August 31, 2005
I am interesting in seeing .... how much grammar and spellcheck seminars cost.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:26 AM on August 31, 2005
Bret Favre's family I think is going to be well taken care of. I wasn't refering to them needing money or help, just to the power of this storm, but thanks for letting me know that.
posted by jojomfd1 at 11:55 AM on August 31, 2005
Aw - take it personally why don't you.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:21 PM on August 31, 2005
naw
posted by jojomfd1 at 12:55 PM on August 31, 2005
This entire disaster is almost too much to even conceive. I'm not 100 percent sure some of these areas will ever be able to be inhabited again. Insurance will help some, but I doubt all insurance companies have the resources to aid this much extreme, extreme devastation. And, as mentioned earlier, the most cherished things aren't covered by insurance. Even when people can (do) go back, can you even begin to imagine what insurance rates would be?? The athletes have the resources to at least relocate their loved ones to other areas. How would you like to be on a bus traveling to the Astrodome, which may serve as your (and your childrens') home for months. My home was in the storm's path to the exteme north, and we received over 6 inches of rain in a short period, and I've never been more thankful. As a little bit of water runs into my basememnt, I laugh at it for the first time since I've lived here. With all these problems in the south, not to mention other problems going on in the U.S., at least we can be comforted by one thought: WE'RE LIBERATING IRAQ!!
posted by dyams at 01:28 PM on August 31, 2005
WE'RE LIBERATING IRAQ!! /me ducks, covers.
posted by qbert72 at 01:42 PM on August 31, 2005
Lets leave Iraq out of the discussion. Next thing you know, some goof-ball is going to blame the Hurricane on Bush! Seriously, its going to be a long road back for the people and areas involved. We, as a country tend to pull togather in times like this. I am sure that we will come through again!...
posted by daddisamm at 02:09 PM on August 31, 2005
There is no reason for anyone to be giving up a million dollars to relief in Louisiana - insurance and government have disaster relief funds. Let the insurance companies pay for it - that's their job. Everyone is not covered. When you here the estimates of $26 billion in damages that is only for insured losses. That does not include the uninsured, the items that were not listed on peoples insurance policy and such. Most people only end up getting about 75% of the actual loss in personal property because they don't remember or have a record of many items. So regardless of the government and insurance the people down there need help from everyone and everywhere they can get it. Even if you can't afford to send money or goods your prayers are always helpful.
posted by scottypup at 02:40 PM on August 31, 2005
Even if you can't afford to send money or goods your prayers are always helpful. To whom?
posted by cl at 03:03 PM on August 31, 2005
exactly right, scottypup. 75% is a very rosy estimate, because most don't have flood coverage, because insurance companies don't give you coverage for something that WILL happen. They couldn't make any $$$ that way. You live on a fault line, good luck getting reasonably priced earthquake coverage, if at all. Same goes for areas prone to flooding. Hopefully alot of those impacted have coverage in a state fund or something. Whatever the coverage situation, it will never bring things back what they were before. Send $$$. If you didn't send it for the tsunami, send it for this.
posted by garfield at 03:16 PM on August 31, 2005
I agree, this is a time when Americans ought to pull together and act as a family. Just as an example, the wife and I gave yesterday's take home pay to the Red Cross. Please shame me by being even more generous.
posted by billsaysthis at 04:34 PM on August 31, 2005
How about by pulling down your pants in public?
posted by yerfatma at 05:00 PM on August 31, 2005
go for it--I'd rather send money!
posted by daddisamm at 05:33 PM on August 31, 2005
The worst thing about this whole hurricane thing is the report of looters in and around New Orleans. There is no excuse for that!
posted by daddisamm at 05:38 PM on August 31, 2005
The worst thing about this whole hurricane thing is the report of looters in and around New Orleans. There is no excuse for that!
posted by daddisamm at 05:39 PM on August 31, 2005
posted by yerfatma at 07:08 PM on August 31, 2005
Fatty, you pulling down your pants in public wouldn't shame me. Nor would me pulling down mine because I'm not hung up on those body taboos. Plus, I'm not the one who'd be looking at my fuglyness, my eyes point out.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:03 AM on September 01, 2005
yerfatma, that distinction really pissed me off earlier.
posted by garfield at 06:21 AM on September 01, 2005
When Hurricane Isabel hit here in 2003, we had the same problems, but on a much, much smaller scale. When the storm hit here, it impacted an area of about 150,000 people, while this storm has impacted over 1.5 million from Biloxi to New Orleans alone. Unfortunately, there are still people around here living in "temporary shelters," because they didn't have insurance, or even with it, don't have the wherewithal to rebuild their homes from the ground up. Keep in mind also that just like here on the Outer Banks, the Gulf Coast is where all the money's at. Once you go inland, especially in places like Mississippi and Alabama, you find hundreds of small towns where the average economic profile becomes so thin it's nearly invisible. And, just becuase you have insurance, doesn't mean things are going to work as they should. Having grown up in Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola, Florida, I've loved the Gulf Coast Region for years, but unfortunately, I see a very bleak future for our fellow citizens. While the power of prayer is debatable, the power of money is not. Donate what you can to a reputable charitable organization, and then send your prayers and good thoughts so they may work in tandem with your monetary contribution.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 09:13 AM on September 01, 2005
Sorry...way off topic.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 09:14 AM on September 01, 2005
not at all
posted by garfield at 09:19 AM on September 01, 2005
yerfatma, that distinction really pissed me off earlier. billsaysthis slicing it fine about who is getting pantsed?
posted by yerfatma at 12:14 PM on September 01, 2005
that's the ticket
posted by garfield at 01:05 PM on September 01, 2005
Garfield made that remark, not this semi-clothed California. But to please leave slicing and pants out of the same sentence, good friend.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:15 PM on September 01, 2005
thoughts and prayers...