MacArthur grants accept citizen-nominations; Pulitzers I'm not sure about.

Posted September 5, 2005 6:19 PM by Linkmeister

I'm going to give to the Red Cross. I gave a small donation this weekend while I was out with my friend, Sara. The bar we were at, Babylon, was selling Jell-o shots & Mardi Gras beads to help raise money. I've been glued to CNN. And I've taken a couple days off from blogging because I almost feel guilty writing about my love life when so many people's lives have been shattered.

Posted September 5, 2005 6:28 PM by Jeff Funk

I've been wondering that all week.

Nola.com has also re-posted their 1992 series on hurricanes here:

http://www.nola.com/hurricane/?/washingaway/

I haven't read it yet. I'm not sure my blood pressure can stand it. However, I can't help but notice that in the synopsis for part 2, they estimated that approx. 100,000 people wouldn't have the transportation to evacuate.

Posted September 5, 2005 7:29 PM by Janine

Well said. I may even forgive them for misuse of the term "exponentially."

Posted September 5, 2005 11:10 PM by janet

From the Pulitzer site, in the entry forms:

Entries for journalism awards must be made from material appearing in a United States newspaper published daily, Sunday or at least once a week during the calendar year. While many newspapers prefer to submit entries of particular staff members or achievements, entries may be made by newspaper readers or any interested individual.

Posted September 6, 2005 12:42 AM by Tina

Where is the city government in all of this? Should they not shoulder some of the blame? Or the state? First line of defence should be the local boys. Why must everything fall on the federal? People think that the federal government should jump in anytime anything happens. Are we too reliant upon distant agencies? I realize that the scope of this incident is beyond comprehension, but I do not hear about the other communities demanding help. They are slowly picking up the pieces and rebuilding, where they can. Whatever happened to self-reliance? Pride in what you could accomplish for yourself?
My prayers and thoughts go out to the people caught up in this catastrophe. But, remember, the loss goes beyond the environs of New Orleans. There are others to help, also.

Posted September 6, 2005 9:19 AM by Rous

Rous: there has been criticism both of the state and city governments for what happened in New Orleans. The reason the federal response is being so severely criticized is that it was both unconscionably slow (it didn't begin until DAYS after the end of the storm) and that FEMA prevented aid from reaching the city. If not doing their job and keeping anyone else from doing it isn't the epitome of criminal incompetence, what is?

Posted September 6, 2005 9:50 AM by Bruce Adelsohn

Top FEMA Deputies Make Brown Look Qualified.

Does appointing those guys rise to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors?

And: The chief forecaster of the National Hurricane Center had personally briefed Bush the day before Katrina made landfall.

Posted September 7, 2005 7:17 AM by James D. Macdonald

Yes, both the city & state govts fell down on the job, but that does not excuse the federal govt, especially FEMA from being equally, if not greater incompetent in their response. Given 1) all the chest thumping over the last couple of years by Bush & Co. about how the govt was ready for any emergency and 2)the emergency that happened, New Orleans being devasted by a hurricane was one of the three most talked about potential disasters in recent years,* and therefore persumerbly one that a lot of preparations had been made for. Thanks for qouting from the Times-Picayune editorial, Jim. Hope they do get a Pulitzer for it. Can only add please continue to GIVE EM HELL to all who are responsible for this diasterious response to Katrina!
*The other two were 1)another terrorist attack equal or greater to that of 9/11 and 2) a massive earthquake in southern California.

Posted September 7, 2005 5:00 PM by David All