[smacintush]

It seems that the original esimates of 10,000 or more may have been way high. I read somewhere (can't find the link now) that at the current rate of recovery it's possible, that the final count could stay in the hundreds.

Do you think that the press was sensationalizing the death toll, or was there a political reason to give such a high estimate? It's one thing to be off on your estimate, but this seems like it's a little TOO far off.

Seems to me that there were a lot of people eager to scare the hell out of people and make this administration looks as bad as possible.

Do you think that if the death toll stays very low, that this will change the view of how bad of a job that everyone has done in evacuation/rescue and recovery? Perhaps the view that such a deplorable job has been done was overblown too? There has been an AWEFUL lot of political grandstanding during all of this.

Thoughts?

Linky 1

Linky 2

Linky 3

[villalobos]

Originally Posted by smacintush

It seems that the original esimates of 10,000 or more may have been way high. I read somewhere (can't find the link now) that at the current rate of recovery it's possible, that the final count could stay in the hundreds.

Do you think that the press was sensationalizing the death toll, or was there a political reason to give such a high estimate? It's one thing to be off on your estimate, but this seems like it's a little TOO far off.

Seems to me that there were a lot of people eager to scare the hell out of people and make this administration looks as bad as possible.

Thoughts?

Linky 1

Linky 2

Linky 3

Well it's always tough to gauge casualties in such a catastrophe. IIRC the number of deaths for 9/11 was vastly overblown as well.
There is some sensationalizing going on on TV, I think that's a fair statement. But at least it gets politicians to get of their butt and react to the situation apropriately. It seems lie it is the only way to get politicians to react these days....

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by villalobos

Well it's always tough to gauge casualties in such a catastrophe. IIRC the number of deaths for 9/11 was vastly overblown as well.
There is some sensationalizing going on on TV, I think that's a fair statement. But at least it gets politicians to get of their butt and react to the situation apropriately. It seems lie it is the only way to get politicians to react these days....

That's a good point. I remember 9/11 estimates being ridiculously high. But those were very early estimates before they had an idea who got out.

It's been long enough now since Katrina that I would THINK they could have gotten a little closer.

[villalobos]

Originally Posted by smacintush

That's a good point. I remember 9/11 estimates being ridiculously high. But those were very early estimates before they had an idea who got out.

It's been long enough now since Katrina that I would THINK they could have gotten a little closer.

It took a while for 9/11 too, and certainly more than a week. Just like it will take a while to realize how many people escaped the wrath of Katrina. The area affected is so vast it is real impossible to know. We are talking flooding over the area as big as a whole state. It is gigantic.

Speaking of sensationalism, the home page on CNN is a perfect example.......

[tie]

It is the idiotic mayor of New Orleans who started the sensationalism. I don't think it has anything to do with trying to make the administration look bad. I also don't think there is much connection to 9/11 estimates. The problem is that in these circumstances, it is impossible to be skeptical without seeming heartless and insensitive. I don't think anyone truly believed the high estimates (I didn't and nobody I know did, I'm sure the press didn't either), but nobody can contest them publicly.

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by smacintush

Do you think that if the death toll stays very low, that this will change the view of how bad of a job that everyone has done in evacuation/rescue and recovery?

According to this the "official" death toll is about 360 so far. At this rate Katrina my not even make the top ten worst natural disasters in America. I don't want to downplay the loss of life and an historic American city…hell, American "icon"…but it seems to me with all of the talk of heads rolling maybe some people deserve an apology from people like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. The Bush haters and the media REALLY blew this one. It's like they were waiting for something to happen for them to POUNCE on.

[Hawkeye_a]

For lack of a better place to post this....

A friend of mine had to travel to Bombay, India last month, and he just got back. He was delayed in Singapore due to heavy rains and flooding in Bombay. I received the following information as a forward from my mom today:

/begin info
Rain in New Orleans due to
hurricane Katrina... 18.0 inches
Rain in Mumbai (July
27th)...................................... 37.1 inches

Population of New Orleans... 484,674
Population of Mumbai....
12,622,500

Deaths in New Orleans within 48 hours of
Katrina...100
Deaths in Mumbai within 48hours of
rain..................... 37.

Number of people to be evacuated
in New Orleans... entire city
Number of people evacuated in
Mumbai........................ 10,000

Cases of shooting and
violence in New Orleans... Countless
Cases of shooting and violence
in Mumbai........... NONE

Time taken for US army to reach New
Orleans................. 48 hours Time taken for Indian army and navy to
reach Mumbai...12 hours

Status after 48 hours...New Orleans
was still waiting for relief, army and electricity
Status after 48
hours...Mumbai was back on its feet and it was business as usual

And India is a third world country... ?!
/end info

[spacefreak]

2003 France heat wave deaths: 14,802

1995 Chicago/Milwaukee heat wave deaths: 550

2005 Katrina deaths (via simulation): 61,290

2005 Katrina deaths (Nagin estimate): 10,000

2005 Katrina deaths (actual as of 9/13/2005): 657

[SimeyTheLimey]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

For lack of a better place to post this....

A friend of mine had to travel to Bombay, India last month, and he just got back. He was delayed in Singapore due to heavy rains and flooding in Bombay. I received the following information as a forward from my mom today:

/begin info
Rain in New Orleans due to
hurricane Katrina... 18.0 inches
Rain in Mumbai (July
27th)...................................... 37.1 inches

Your mom needs to learn geography. New Orleans is a lot more than 37 inches below sea level, and the flooding wasn't caused by rain.

But nice troll attempt.

[Hawkeye_a]

Originally Posted by SimeyTheLimey

Your mom needs to learn geography. New Orleans is a lot more than 37 inches below sea level, and the flooding wasn't caused by rain.

But nice troll attempt.

Watch your mouth. She only forwarded an email she received to me. No need to get nasty about it. Ass.

[Rolling Bones]

Forty-five dead patients have been found in a New Orleans hospital, in the biggest discovery of bodies yet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4240262.stm

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by SimeyTheLimey

Your mom needs to learn geography. New Orleans is a lot more than 37 inches below sea level, and the flooding wasn't caused by rain.

But nice troll attempt.

Post BS. Get all mad about it when someone calls the BS to the carpet. I WAS ONLY FORWARDING AN EMAIL!

You watch your mouth Simey. There's a fringest whose got something to say and gosh-dangit, whether or not it's accurate doesn't matter. It's his MOM!!!

[Macrobat]

Not to mention that monsoon rains are not a natural disaster in Mombai, but a seasonal, regular occurrence (which means they should be pre-prepared to deal with them). Or to mention that there was one HELL of a lot more than just rain in New Orleans. Doesn't take into account the double storm surge from the Gulf and Lake Ponchatrain, wind damage (tornadoes live in hurricanes, remember), and damage from flying debris. Also doesn't say anything about any loss of infrastructure, the very FACT that it is a "Third World country" makes it quicker to be back on its feet, as there is far less to get back up and running. Also ignores completely that the hurricane damage was not confined to the City of New Orleans, that New Orleans wasn't even the worts-hit area, even, but an area the size of Great Britain! Remember Katrina simply grazed NOLA on its way to annihilate Mississippi. Nice try, tho.

[Mark Larr]

Now the bloodthirsty press are screaming to publish their ghoulish agenda of parading the bodies of the unfortunate victims.

"LOOK AT ALL OF THESE DEAD BLACK PEOPLE THAT BUSH PERSONALLY KILLED WITH HIS BARE HANDS!!!!!ONEONELEVEN!!"

[Gee-Man]

Actually, if the death toll turns out to be very low, EVERYONE, including me, will have to eat their words a bit.

Not only will the accusations against the feds look a little overblown, but just as much, the angry accusations of incompetence against the local and state governments will look exaggerated too.

Just pointing that out in case anyone is under the illusion they will be "clean" after the horrible mess Katrina left behind starts to sort itself out.

[Rolling Bones]

Originally Posted by Mark Larr

Now the bloodthirsty press are screaming to publish their ghoulish agenda of parading the bodies of the unfortunate victims.

"LOOK AT ALL OF THESE DEAD BLACK PEOPLE THAT BUSH PERSONALLY KILLED WITH HIS BARE HANDS!!!!!ONEONELEVEN!!"

Blame the thread starter.

This is now the official dead count thread.

[Hawkeye_a]

Originally Posted by ebuddy

Post BS. Get all mad about it when someone calls the BS to the carpet. I WAS ONLY FORWARDING AN EMAIL!

You watch your mouth Simey. There's a fringest whose got something to say and gosh-dangit, whether or not it's accurate doesn't matter. It's his MOM!!!

huh.....**** dude, i didnt know u beleived everything you read in an email that was forwarded to you. If i was parading that information as fact i would have said so, but instead i chose to mention it was from an email forward, which severely dampens it's authenticity. Mentioning that it was my mom who forwarded it to me, dosent mean shes responsible for the information, so there's no need to insult her.
I see your from the midwest, but at least try to show some class and decency.

As far as the monsoons, i agree theyre nothing n to the region(India). Was this the first hurricane to hit the southern U.S. ?

[Spliffdaddy]

wow, so who was responsible for the genocidal heatwave deaths in France?

I never saw it mentioned on the news. Is it normal for the French to have casualties in the tens of thousands?

Our federal emergency management agency may not be the best - but they're lightyears ahead of what France has.

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

huh.....**** dude, i didnt know u beleived everything you read in an email that was forwarded to you.

No, I don't believe everything I read in an email. I'd be even less likely to post it as if it had some factual merit on an internet forum.

If i was parading that information as fact i would have said so, but instead i chose to mention it was from an email forward, which severely dampens it's authenticity.

Nice back-peddling holmes. Why post it at all then??? You said a friend visited there and that you received the forwarded mail from your mother. You, in fact are believing what you're reading and trying to pass it off as some kind of inside scoop. Your BS got called to the carpet and now you're running back to the horizon.

Mentioning that it was my mom who forwarded it to me, dosent mean shes responsible for the information, so there's no need to insult her.

Did I call her a name? How have I insulted her at all?

I see your from the midwest, but at least try to show some class and decency.

Actually, the Midwest is one of the few places left where you could truly find class and decency my friend. I've not insulted your mother, but you've found it necessary to insult where I'm from? I'm not the one posting BS, you are.

I see you're from the horizon. I decided to learn more about where that might be so I .com'd it.
Horizon; The range of one's knowledge, experience, or interest.

At some point, you'll either reach beyond the horizon or be stuck in that place of naivete. I bid you and your mother, a good day.

[art_director]

It's all speculation. Throw some more nursing homes and hospitals into the mix and the number could rise rapidly. With luck that will not be the case.

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by art_director

It's all speculation. Throw some more nursing homes and hospitals into the mix and the number could rise rapidly. With luck that will not be the case.

Throw some more nursing homes in there where the supposition is made that they were either dead from other causes, or dead in general prior. I know, some will reach to great lengths to bloat the numbers. I'm personally very glad to see it's possible the number is many less than originally guessed.

Wheww. I will say this; I'm glad you qualified with the statement; "With luck that will not be the case." For a minute there, it seemed you were holding out for a higher death toll.