Thousands Suffering in Fla. & CNN shows frolicking families/Disney World!

[KoKo]

I don't even want to think of the "homeless in Punta Gorda" and else where, but I just talked to friends in Winter Park, near Orlando and they have trees down everywhere, no power for their business or their home. They just got their water back and are told they probably won't have power back for 3 to 5 days. Fortunately their next door neighbor's family came to help their Dad who's dying of cancer and drove a Bob Cat into their street and chainsawed some trees so that the family could get out,or my friends would have been in their house until the road crews got all the major streets.

CNN seems to be saying: "We gave Florida it's one day of coverage, now it's onto fun at Disney World." They did say that "Animal Kingdom" is closed My macabre thought was so that they can get the dead bodies out, before anyone realizes what happened there. :-( Isn't this Commericalism at it's crassist?

[SpiralHawk]

1. CNN is also, in effect, saying

You don't have to spoil your weekend worrying about the problems in the world, escape to Disney World and whatever you do -- DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING.

Thanks a pantload, you Mass Media "journalists."

When the history of this era is written, just like GW Bush, the Mass Media will be judged to have been venal, corrupt and totally fricking AWOL.

[KoKo]

2. There is going to be a big problem politically over this. For those who

here who haven't been through a hurricane you wouldn't understand, but what's going on in Florida is really bad. And they aren't going to be able to ignore this one. It's a story we here on DU should keep up with.

There will be images of lies coming out of Florida, just like with hurricanes Andrew, Hugo and Fran. But this is even more devastating and isn't just confined to Punta Gorda...it's a 200 mile swath through Florida. The devastation to businesses and life will eventually come out, but only in the print media.

Reading articles from Fla press last night, one could see that the TV Media is only telling one side. They seem to have stopped their "continuous coverage." And, the folks living through this don't have any way to see what's going on over the state. But, it will come out...and affect this election.

[barbaraann]

4. The media is now spreading the meme "It's not like Andrew."

That's a featured story on Yahoo.

I think they will do everything possible to ensure that the death count is below the death count of Andrew. They have people guarding bodies! That is so strange.

[Massacure]

8. No shit it's not like Andrew

And big fricken deal if the death count is higher than Andrew. You really think it is anyones fault that Andrew hit?

[barbaraann]

12. The Bushes are really worried about political damage from

Charley because the way Bush Sr. handled Andrew caused HIM such electoral damage.

They are hiding and distoring the truth. I have been watching carefully for days.

Remember, with the Bushes, EVERYTHING is politics because the real agenda is to evil to shine a light on.

[chuck555]

3. If you don't like it...

shut it off. If you have to watch,save the bandwidth and spare us the nonsense.

[KoKo]

6. What about this devastation in Fla is "nonsense" to you. And if CNN

isn't covering it how are folks supposed to know about it? Shouldn't all of America be aware of this mass destruction in one of our largest states? Or do you want to put your fingers in your ears to shut it out?

:shrug:

[LittleApple81]

7. I disagree. We need to know how news is being misrepresented/non-reported.

nt

[otohara]

9. Someone's Horns Are Showing

:evilfrown:

[faithnotgreed]

10. you sound like sunny555 (former du name). please show respect - ok?

you may or maynot be the same person full of sunshine who was here recently. your use of "nonsense" and like words give you away.
i went through this with you that time as well but it bears repeating whether you are the same person or not.

regardless of who you are. please understand that a lot of people are hurting right now. florida is a disaster and so many are affected and in need of rational help and support. of course they are going to watch the news reports - in times like these people search for any bits of information they can find. and of course they need a way to express their frustration in such an awful situation....

please show some respect.

[Junkdrawer]

5. Can't have all this disaster stuff hurting the tourist industry...

Hey, maybe they can arrange Disney tours of the disaster areas. Think of the money!

Get my secretary on the phone.

[deminflorida]

11. Not to be alarmist but I think the body count is going to be way

higher than Andrew. They've brought in some federal mortuary people for some reason. Notification of families is on a case by case basis.
They maybe trying to not start a panic. Unfortunately Florida has another possibly BIG storm heading our way. Just past hours he's showing some better organization and possibly making an attempt to stay on NHC's forecast track. That means somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico and his characteristics are awfully similar to Charlie.

A panhandle strike would hurt the state even more economically, but a hit anywhere near the SW Coast of Florida, i.e. Port Charlotte, Fort Myers, Naples, etc...or even Tampa-ST Pete is going to be a disaster of unimaginable proportions.

With all the debris already on the ground and damage to nearly 250,000 homes and structures, where will everyone go? Relief crews would even have to flee for their lives.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ftp/graphics/AT05/refresh/AL0504W5+GIF/151158W5.gif

[KoKo]

13. Kick...because this Hurricane is part of the "Election 2004."

:kick:

[Tsiyu]

14. Kick

For the Good Folks of Florida
:kick:

[KoKo]

15. Some REAL statistics on Fla...Almost a Million folks without power....AP

rpts. via Miami Herald.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/9403638.htm?1c

STATEWIDE: The state's Emergency Operations Center was open and extra Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents were available to be sent to counties in need. About 1,500 Florida National Guard members have been activated, and another 5,000 were being called up.

EVACUATIONS: Evacuations were lifted in most places across the state. In Lee County, about 20,000 residents of Fort Myers Beach, Captiva Island and Sanibel Island were prevented from returning home, and Pine Island residents showing identification were allowed to return home.

CURFEWS: Mandatory curfews were in effect in Osceola County from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., in Hardee County from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., and in parts of Polk County from dawn to dusk. Orange County asked residents to stay off the roads from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

SCHOOL and GOVERNMENT OFFICES CLOSINGS: Most counties expected schools and government offices to open as usual Monday, though Lee, Osceola and Volusia planned to decide Sunday whether to reopen the municipal and school buildings. Orange County schools were to remained closed Monday. Hardee County closed schools until at least Aug. 27. Polk will close schools through Aug. 20. The University of Central Florida campus remained closed to most students and workers over the weekend, and check-in to student housing scheduled for Saturday and Sunday was postponed.

TRANSPORTATION: The Federal Aviation Administration reported that only Orlando Sanford International Airport was closed Saturday in Florida. Orlando and Southwest Florida international airports suffered minor roof damage, but were open. American Airlines canceled 83 flights Friday and 53 Saturday, mostly in and out of Orlando, due to Charley. Amtrak suspended train service between New York City and Miami for Saturday and Sunday. Amtrak's Auto Train that operates between Lorton, Va. and Sanford, Fla., is also canceled Saturday. Amtrak planned to resume train service between Sanford and New York Sunday, but a cross-country train heading from Los Angeles to Orlando was to terminate in New Orleans, and begin its return journey from there Monday.

WATER: Residents were advised to boil water in several communities, including: Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach, North Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Northport, Pine Island, Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island, Manasota Key, Cassadaga, and parts of Kissimmee. People with wells in Collier County were asked to boil their water. Residents in several counties were asked to conserve water, and Daytona Beach warned residents to limit their use of water to prevent a complete loss.

POWER: Progress Energy reported about 456,500 customers were without power by 10 p.m. Saturday, and Florida Power & Light reported power outages for another 494,000 customers. Together, the two utilities had restored power to about 200,000 customers.