Another national news site had a statement that FEMA was doing an excellent job of getting supplies and equipment to the needed locations. Maybe you should read before you vent.

  The power to our house and barn has out for three days now. I am concerned that the water lines and hot water heater in our house will freeze and cause more problems when the power does come on.  We are dodging powerlines and transporting water about 5 miles for our horses.   FEMA is nowhere to be seen.  The model does not work for disasters.  By the time a federal-centralized agency mobilizes to help it is too late. Despite the good intentions of our Federal government, the best solution would be to have a reserve of funds for the local and state police and local national guard units to purchase generators, chain saws, water, gasoline, etc. and distribute it to where it is immediately needed.  There is no way that the federal government can ever respond fast enough.  I agree with  your disappointment in FEMA but the model is flawed it will never work for a fast response to a disaster.

Folks, what the heck did we do before FEMA and the Guvment to bail our arses out? Figure it out and deal with it..........

"We have plenty of folks ready to go, but there are some limitations with roads closed and icy conditions," she said.

WTF? They are a disaster response team - worse conditions happen overseas in an earthquake, typhoon or tsunami and they're afraid to drive on icy roads? But they still want people to evacuate...makes one wonder if they even listen to themselves....

"Just where the hell is FEMA"

Get a grip, welfare moochers! Even though this shakes your faith in "Global Warming", it isn't a tragedy. Here in Minnesota we are equipped to deal with ice, snow, and cold temps. How? We just get out there and deal with it. FEMA doesn't come. We salt/sand our driveways, the streets get plowed and salted/sanded and the broken power lines get fixed. When ground freeze cracks pipes, we dig them up and fix them.

The next ice age is coming, whiners! Global warming my posterior! Pack 3 bags, and move to Brazil if you can't wait out a little inconvenience.

I though Obama was going to fix everything. Obama hates black people? How does it feel to have the shoe on the other foot?

Who said we didn't need to spend more on infrastruture? This country's infrastructure is outdated and adding to the misery.

Folks just want some heat and water. Every time there's a storm we have massive suffering. Regarding the stimulus bill - let's get our power grid and water systems up to speed.

This is embarassing.

Steve the dog man

Your post is very offensive to me. !st not all people here are welfare moochers. We work our butts off 60-70 hrs/wk. 2nd I spent 3days at work taking care of people during this storm even though I live less than 1 mile from my job. Lastly I grew up on the border of Wi and Mn so I can speak to you on this. Never in my 40 years in Wi have I ever see an ice storm. Sure there was maybe a build up of ice on trees,nothing like this.I had 3" of ice on my windshield when I finally left work. And never did we lose power for days on end. and I can say beyond a doubt neither have you unless with in the last few years. Which I would know, as my family still lives in that area. Also the roads in Mn are flat compared to here (Ozark mts) and also for the few times it snows or has storms like this, what would be the purpose of having all the snow equipment the midwest has? a waste of money that's what. I think you should see the whole picture before you say something you know nothing about. And btw my guess would be that 75% of the people who live in this area are from Mn,Wi, and the midwest.However we northern people were and are prepared for storms. My daughter and the nieghbors were out pushing a car up the hill so one nieghbor could get work at the hospital. I also agree that we don't need gov. to fix our problems. Fema is worthless.

Where is FEMA no excuses. My sister in Calvert City Kentucky is taking care of 3 elderly people in her home with a gas firlplace and 1 profane burner. Not right, after Katrina and a new admisistration we have to do better.

For all above who had complaints or solutions to an ice storm, why didn't you recognize that the first poster----Bill--- is a fraud.

Does anyone think his wife is peddling a bicycle generator to power his computer?

When a disaster of this magnitude happens in any high density population area, it is quite impossible to fix it real quick. A lot of people are going to suffer and die because they have become complacent about their own self-reliance and preparedness.

The Sun doesn't always shine. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it snows and sometimes it ices over.

As a survivalist, I have spent a lot of time thinking about massive calamities and how to survive. For some calamities, like a nuclear explosion, I think I would prefer to be at ground zero. For the loss of electricity, I have pretty much prepared to survive without a national and local grid for about 30 days. Then, I'm going to get nervous.

The culture of survival began with a good conservative upbringing and fierce independence taught by my parents. Boy Scouts also trained me to survive in the woods- and plan ahead, try not to make a fatal mistake and think, always think.

My garage is full of tools, from chainsaws to generators, taps and dies, wrenches, saws, drills, and repair kits to fix a broken tool or gasoline engine. Gasoline is stored in my summer lawnmowers and cars---I will not tell you the secret of getting gas from a car tank--- for that I will charge you money.

I have my own well, not "city water." My furnace oil tanks will last 30 days.

My generator safely and reliably will run my whole house; I have a back-up generator in case that one fails. The generator is portable and requires only five minutes to plug into my transfer switch and start with a battery. My wife can do this, it is so simple.

Boy Scouts also taught me that if YOU are prepared, then you can help your neighbors.

Understand that FEMA is limited as to what you expect them to do. They cannot turn on your electricity because the lines are down. Amateurs don't work on power lines- it can kill you. FEMA has a few generators, but can't transport the thousands needed for every home. There are no "portable" generators that replace a power company generator--- go look at one some nice day---they are huge.

In summary, it appears to me that "HOMELAND SECURITY" and FEMA have, since 2001, failed to re-organize and plan for these mega-catastrophies. They seem to think a bad day is a few cities blocks getting blown up. Put a million people under duress, and they can't handle it. WHY?

The reason is that no one could handle it. You have been sold a bunch of propaganda about FEMAs capabilities.

If, instead, of buying walkie-talkies for every firehouse and police station in the country, they had encouraged self-reliance and taught people how to survive on their own for two weeks, this whole storm would have been an annoyance, not a catastrophe.

Remember, if you learn nothing else, you are, really, on your own. Now, stop whining and go prepare.

FEMA is nowhere to be seen let me tell you! I believe that they don't show unless the President declares it an emergency and Obama has not done that at all. It's a Governor's job to call up the National Guard for emergencies and the President to call it a Disaster to get FEMA involved.

We were without electric for 21 hrs but this is something you have to expect when you live in this part of the country and you know you're supposed to be prepared for it. It is not something you sit around waiting for someone to help you with. You stock up on food, fill you car with gas, and make sure you have a way to keep warm plus extra water for drinking if your pipes freeze. We're still chipping ice off our porches and driveways to be able to get around. We've seen ice storm before and the biggest problem is that the electric companies don't get out and cut back the trees and maintain their lines when the weather is good. They wait till something knocks them down and then go out in the dead of winter to fix them. A bit of maintenance or even inspecting their lines would go a long way to prevent this type of mess.

People pitch in an help each other when needed. Let the "do nothing" government stay in Wash. DC.

Agree with you LAST......................

It would probably made a little sense to give some money to the power companies for extraordinary maintenance tasks, but instead, Homeland Security bought them walkie-talkies, night vision goggles and condums. Nice going, FEMA.

Oh, I almost forgot. During my own ice storm in New York back in 1998, I found it real difficult to get money out of the ATM--it was electric, you see.

You might want to keep a couple of hundred dollars cash in a mattress, so you can buy things when the power is off for a week or more.

The Governor of the state has to request help from the President before FEMA can respond. Apparently your Governor agrees with you about leaving FEMA out of it.

I bet you knew that when it was President Bush.

DaneLover - good grief not every one can build a bomb shelter like you can. I have priced generators and they are really costly. Cheap ones in Colorado runs about $3000 each. This does not cover the cost of gas and what if you are trapped due to snow or impassable roads? How do you replace the gas if the outages go on for weeks? A generator is a very short term solution. I was prepared here in Colorado and had enough food for three weeks and still struggled because the snow in the country did not melt and we ran out of gas. And that was for a country home, people in a city should not have to go through this. That is what FEMA should be helping with and does not seem to work.

And the President...has plans for a BIG "supperbowl" party....there's thinking of the people!

Doesn't matter who wrote what. There's always two sides to the story. You can believe whatever source that makes your 'side' favorable.

dumbrepublican you are a dumass. is this your conveinient excuse for global warming? great so now that its a cooling trend you and your pc lemmings from the wacko society have gone to "climate change"? too cold! brrr global cooling? man its hot! global warming? get a life and go have a little social interaction your mind is turning to mush, warm sludgy mush, or cool chilly mush whatever your climate czar says is more appropriate, its still mush.

Steve the dog man. I forgive your ignorance to such matters as I, too once lived in the frozen tundra, but you have no clue of what an ice storm is.

When the weatherman predicts freezing rain, or snow...you start praying for snow by the feet. Snow can be pushed aside. Ice developed from fallen snow can be removed from roads with salt brine.

But, when it's 29 degrees & it rains all day, you get 2" of ice that wraps itself around each of even the tiniest twigs. 1500# branches turn into 4000# branches, they break, tear down power lines...you get a small fire, then you have a road blocked by a tree, and the kicker, those hot wires.

There's probably around 1.4 million households in KY, and 600,000 of them are all out of power at the same time. Due to the average winter temperatures, almost all homes are heated with electric heat pumps. Now, factor in the unseasonably cold temps 12-25 degrees, and you may see where there could be an "emergency".

Half of these houses will be frozen for over a week, and it may take 3 weeks to restore power to everyone. I suppose, you would build a fire in the fire place?

Now factor in your neighboring states are fighting the same battle, and count how many bucket lift trucks your local utility has...do some math, and see that people can freeze to death in the weeks it will take to turn all the lights/ heat back on.

You probably have lost power in a spring or summer storm. I can assure you that in the winter and your heat depends upon it, it's a different animal. It's not a convenience thing, it's life or death.

Unless Minnesota has developed snap resistant trees & more importantly power lines, you're no more equipped for an ice storm than anyone, anywhere. You can't be.

The energy systems have been deregulated in many states and it's been just as much a disaster as the deregulation of the financial system.

Excerpts from article by By Hiram Lee

31 January 2009 ...Decades of deregulation, the short-term pursuit of earnings to satisfy shareholders, and the anarchy and waste of private ownership have left the electrical power system in shambles. A severe storm brings out the real state of affairs, to the general public’s detriment.

The maintenance of power lines and other equipment, as well as investment in new technologies to bring the system into line with increasing energy demands, have consistently been neglected in favor of reaping fast profits.

“We have fragmented and balkanized our electronic power system,” noted John Casazza, who has written a number of books critical of energy deregulation. “No one is taking a look at what is best for the grid and our nation. Instead, you have 1,000 different entities just looking out for themselves and how to make the best profit.

I want to address several topics with this reply. I have parents that live in one of the hardest hit areas of Western KY, Princeton, KY. The area has been devastated. As for preparedness, there is no way an area can prepare for this type of disaster. The posters from MN live in an area where buying large amounts of snow removal equipment is feasible. It is not in a small town in KY of 6,500 people where a tornado is about as likely in January as a major winter storm. We in KY get storms like this maybe once or twice a decade. It is just not practical to spend that much money for equipment that may rust before it is used. I seriously doubt in MN that it rains for almost two days at 29 degrees leaving two to three inches of ice. As for the power companies, they send our crews out to help in other disasters. As for the Governor and his response, I do not believe he realized the magnitude of the disaster since communications were down in many KY towns. The only way I contacted my parents from my home in Central KY was with a "Magic Jack " phone that used the internet to get on the local circuits. The long distance and cell towers were down in the area. People in the area are doing the best they can. Power was shut down for the entire town until Friday. Friday night, the local hospital and small pockets near the hospital gained power. Water service in the town is very spotty and not fit for consumption. People have just tried to do the best they can and help their neighbors.

Now to FEMA and Obama, where are they? I agree that FEMA has been very slow to help out in this disaster. Obama has not even been here to flyover. I remember that during the Katrina disaster, Bush was criticized for everything, even the things that were the fault of Mayor Naggin and the Governor of LA at that time. At least Bush went there. Obama has only lifted a pen to sign the emergency declaration. That is the only bone thrown to us. I guess that is payback for being a state that was smart enough to see through his rhetoric to the real socialist agenda that drives him and not vote in mass for him as directed by the "infatuated with Obama media." He only cares about his leftwing socialist friends that want to confiscate through taxes more of the money we hard working people in KY make. We are not all illiterate, welfare drawing, hillbillies here. We are people that are quick to lend a hand to others when needed. We in KY took in Katrina victims. We help other states when disaster strikes. It is a shame though that when disaster comes to our door, we are in some cases belittled and literally left in the dark.

FEMA is waiting for brown people to need them. OBAMA HATES WHITE PEOPLE.

The one thing Obama should do above all others is provide a big chunk of his bailout money to the states and utilities to help pay for the cleanup and restoration of power.

Then he should sign one of his presidential orders oking the states to force those on welfare who are able to work to help with the cleanup.

DaneLover

Oh, I almost forgot. During my own ice storm in New York back in 1998, I found it real difficult to get money out of the ATM--it was electric, you see.

Good thinking.

dealing with the unexpected can be extremely difficult. how do you get people to check in on their neighbors for concern sake..If we all did that, many lives can be saved and assisted for help. these climatic, disasters times are very difficult for everyone involved. please, were all in this together. be observant, vigilant and concerned for your neighbor..

I don't like white people either........and I'm white.

Most of the respondents in here need to first get out their geography books and look up the state of Kentucky. I used to live in Cincinnati Ohio and believe me south of there except in the mountains there is nothing that approaches the northern tiers ability to manage storms of this nature. Snowstorms cause problems. This was a snowstorm of the first magnitude followed by a severe ice storm on top of it. I live along Lake Erie in Ohio and we missed the ice by about 60 miles. We are still digging out. The Kentucky area is on the disaster list and needs upgrading to major disaster so federal funds can flow more swiftly. Kentucky had 700K homes without power and that is major. This storm stretched from NE all the way to Texas and was over 1400 miles long at one point. It had everything from rain to 4 inches of ice coverings. We go over 18 inches of snow in two days. Arkansas and Missouri are also having major problems coping.

Its about time to put katrina out of disscussion. If katrina gets anymore money and kentucky is left out in the cold and these hard working tax paying citizens are shafted any more there should be a 5 million man march on washt.

Did you see how oldbama looks after less than 2 wks in office. His hair is turning gray and the wrinkles and bags under his eyes. At this rate 1 yr might be too much.

Come on folks give BO a chance. He has been busy having a Super Bowl party. He doesn't have time for a disaster.

Wow, some great posts here.

It dosen't require a bomb-shelter to prepare yourself for a disaster. Water, food, generator. The generator will run your furnace and your well pump. Lights are optional, but nice. When its cold you can store perishables in the snowbank, otherwise hook up your refrigerator. An 8000 watt Briggs and Stratton brand generator costs $ 1200 at Lowes. It is adequate for all purposes. Remember to wire it and the transfer switch during nice weather, as all the little plugs and extension cords will not be available during the storm.

Other essential equipment includes a chain saw, and gasoline storage. Storing gasoline is troublesome, as it must be used within about three months or it degrades. Your summer lawnmowers as well as about 15-20 gallons in tanks is usually adequate for two weeks. You cannot run your generator continuously, because most 8000 watt units burn 7-10 gallons each 24 hours.

Rationing emergency power is tricky and requires the whole household to use only the power they need.

Especially important, is the circuit that trickle-charges your generator battery must be active to maintain a good battery. Trying to pull-start a 15 HP generator motor is nearly impossible.

As an aside, it occurs to me, as one poster above suggests, that warmer climate people tend to not prepare for disasters very well. Since their everyday weather is usually mild, the occasional disruption is viewed as an annoyance, rather than a disaster. Wind and water, in the extremes, will bring humans to their knees.

Everyone needs to be prepared, individually, at all times, for the worst of situations. Once you live through a disaster, your mindset is always changed. You realize what local,county,state and federal agencies can really do. And, you change your preparedness accordingly.

Being prepared is not a frig full of beer, and some chips and dip. You don't have to buy 2 freezers to store food. Spam, hot dogs, and baloney don't require freezing. Soups in a can don't require freezing. Bread, crackers, peanut butter and jams don't require freezing. Think.

The silly excuse by the Brits, who are also experiencing a bad snow storm, is that buying plows and trucks for a disaster that only occurs every twenty years dosen't make sense. Does it make sense to lose $ 2 billion of business activity because you thought you could save money by not buying the trucks? $ 2 billion buys a lot of trucks.

Humans have a bad habit of hoping everything will be okay most of the time. Their planning is guided by this nearsightedness. When a disaster does occur, they assume that other people were wise enough to prepare to help them. Bad decision.

Good for FEMA and President Obama for their swift response to this ice storm!

I just hope everyone,including the seniors who live alone and in remote areas get the help they desperately need.

LOL the Feds responded when the STATE ASKED.JUST AS IT SHOULD BE. . Why are you leftist not throwing a temer tanturm that the FED was not there before the storm hit like you were about KATRINA?

The biased news media would not say one thing to harm OBAMA and his administration.

We were in the bad ice storm that hit the northeast in December. We were without power for four days while it was 15 outside. Many in our area were without for week. We never saw FEMA or the National Guard but never expected them, either. That has nothing to do with the fact that Bush was still pres, I just wouldn't expect FEMA to rush to the site of every ice storm.

I feel bad for the people in Ky who are dealing with it now, but no one rushed to our aid either, and we're fine

It amazes me how people don't allow "scale" into a decision of success or failure.

Katrina- massive amounts of people didn't get out and had to be saved....failure.

Rita- everyone was smart enough to get out of the way, so more resources were available for a smaller amount of people....success.

Amazes me that I have been to New Orleans twice in my life, and I knew the strength of their levys. Heck, every tour guide in New Orleans makes that a focus of their dicusussion. I also knew the strength of the hurricane when it was going to hit.....and I was no where near there. "Oh heck, I'll just ride it out. It's too much trouble to leave".

I got caught in the hurricane evacuation of Rita. It's not fun taking 3 hours to go 30 miles! I totally understand that. If I stayed, however, I didn't have anyone to blame but myself. But not these days. Just blame the Government for not fixing MY mistake.

Anyone that could have gotten out and didn't should have been charged for their rescue and fined for inhibiting the rescue of people that couldn't get out.

It is an ice storm! Don't we have one every year? It is not like Katrina where we had to evacuate people from an area bigger than Great Britain. Obama can't handle it? What will he do when we get something real.

The media is going to talk about this one because it is an easy one. It will be fixed in a couple of more days and they can pretend Obama made somethng happen.

Icestorms should have a rating like hurricanes.

Anyone who has not lived through a major ice storm has no idea what it can do. Str8talk is right, when you hear of the weather folks talking about freezing rain, you pray for snow by the feet. I'll take 2 feet of snow over 2 inches of freezing rain any day.

I feel for the people affected by this ice storm. At least when we had our bad storms (1998 and 2003) it was in the spring and the weather warmed up a little, melting the ice. Still did tremendous damage The idea of an ice storm in the middle of winter where the temperatures do not warm up enough to melt the ice, then having wind, snow, and possibly MORE ice on top of it - makes me want to faint. This is a BIG job for FEMA, just as Katrina was a big job.

We've been without power or heat for eight days...FEMA is nowhere to be seen, nor is the national Guard they keep talking about. Even the county (Hopkins) is not giving any support or answers to the citizens as to when it will be back up. The power company crews work sporadically, one day they get half a street up and the next day they've moved across town and left the other half still without. It is pitifully handled...

Uh, you guys, the President did send FEMA in. He has also promised monetary aid for clean up expenses - and he did it just as soon as the federal guidelines were met. Every Kentucky guardsman has been activated - there is not an infinite number of Guardsmen but you can't really point a finger of blame for that. All we had got activated. The need for them to check on residents in isolated and rural areas whose nearest neighbor might be a mile away is more important than checking in towns where there are neighbors right over the back fence (Like Madisonville, Hoptown, or Dawson)

There is also a reason for only "partial" streets being brought back online - they are hitting repairs that reconnect essential services first, then they hit repairs that restore the largest number of households with a single repair (in other words if one repair will restore 50 homes and another will only restore two homes, the 50 home repair will get done first) And this provides more warm homes for less fortunate neighbors, friends and family to flee to.

When we get out of this, then we can start raising Hell and demanding our aging power grid get some much needed upgrading! In the meanwhile, be a good citizen and check on your neighbors. If they are freezing, invite them in from the cold, thaw them out with some coffee and give them a hot meal. If they are in trouble, contact emergency services for them. We're Kentuckians, let's sound a bit more LIKE Kentuckians. I've got NewsVine friends e-mailing me and asking if there are really shootings, lootings, and riots in the streets - Ummm, Noooo.

We've been without power or heat for eight days...

ummmm.....how are you posting? Seriously....not being mean. I'm truly curious how you can post without power.

This is a far more accurate representation of how we respond to adversity in Kentucky:
Free Event to Boost Morale - This is in Louisville where we have lost 6 so far related to attempts to stay warm going sideways. Also, in the past 24 hours 8,000 homes in the Louisville Metro had power restored. When you figure these repairs involve having to climb up frozen pole after frozen pole (because yesterday's melt made it too muddy for the basket trucks in most cases, according to the local news) that's pretty impressive progress.

Christy and others in KY - I graduated from UK and know your state well. The people help and support each other. I have contacted many people I know inside and outside Kentucky to get as much to you as possible.

FEMA was asked to help a couple of days after the storm. The State of KY was slow in asking for help. There is a thinness in the ranks of the National Guard because of our obligations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Besides, travel in and out of Kentucky and West Virginia are terrible at best. Many roads are blocked and electricity is going to be a problem for quite a while.

We are all sending our prayers your way. Hang in there!

Whats wrong with people from the surrounding areas taking in people until this thing gets straightened out. Shut off the water, drain the pipes, get a few contact numbers and a few volunteers. i am sure there are people out there with extra room and services that could take in a few people here and there. that's what this country is supposed to be about. Lets abandon the idea that we need government. in actuality, if the utility companies could get workers from other non troubled areas, we don't need FEMA.

Right on, Greg..........FEMA isn't a power company.

Neither can anyone expect FEMA to be able to store food and water and deliver this stuff in 30 minutes to anyone in need.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS are the failure. It is a local responsibility to think about how to take care of your towns. Store food, water and generators locally----don't expect FEMA to be able to assume your responsibilities.

Didn't New Orleans have a state government too.. Did not hear any this take care of yourselves stuff then.. I mean the mayor of New Orleans sat there while 30 buses were ready to go and did not even use them.. This is bull and you know it.. We need food,blankets and heaters and the fact is our government right now is not worth 2 cents getting help into more rural places..

From the Kentucky state website:

President Obama approves Governor Beshear’s request for federal disaster declaration to speed relief

Press Release Date:
Thursday, January 29, 2009

Contact Information:
Jay Blanton
Jill Midkiff
502-564-2611

FRANKFORT, Ky. – President Barack Obama last night approved Gov. Steve Beshear’s request for an emergency Presidential Disaster Declaration that will expedite assistance to people in need across the commonwealth.

“President Obama called me last night to express his concern about the plight facing our state and many of our people. I appreciate the president’s quick response to our request for a disaster declaration,” Gov. Beshear said as he traveled throughout Western Kentucky to meet with local officials and survey damage to the region. “We will move quickly to bring power generators, communications equipment and debris removal equipment into the region to help restore power and protect our people in their time of need.”

The requested aid seems somewhat limited:

Specifically, Gov. Beshear said the commonwealth is asking for two things:

• The federal disaster declaration will free up equipment such as emergency generators, communications equipment and debris removal materials to help in areas where snow and ice has downed power lines or created other damage.
  
• A request for joint public disaster assistance that will allow state and federal officials to work together to simultaneously gather damage assessments in communities to expedite reimbursement from the federal government.

In addition, the following was added today:

Governor Beshear orders unprecedented total callup of Kentucky National Guard

Press Release Date:
Saturday, January 31, 2009

Contact Information:
COL Philip Miller
Public Affairs Officer, Kentucky National Guard
502-607-1556, cell 502-229-3258

FRANKFORT, KY. – Governor Steve Beshear today directed Kentucky's Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, to order the unprecedented activation of all Kentucky Army National Guard units, along with selected portions of the Kentucky Air National Guard. The activation is in response to the devastating winter storms that rendered more than a half million Kentuckians without electric power and has paralyzed most of Western Kentucky.

"This is the largest state callup of Kentucky National Guard forces in the history of the Commonwealth," said Gov. Beshear, "It represents the strongest possible effort to relieve human suffering and ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens."

The activation will place an additional 3,000 Soldiers and Airmen into the effort to address the needs of the people of the Commonwealth during this winter storm. Prior to today the Kentucky National Guard had 1,600 Citizen-Soldiers supporting the relief effort. The total number of troops on duty will be 4,600 by the end of today. This activation exceeds troop levels for the 1997 flood (1,600 troops) and Kentucky’s support of recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 (approximately 2,000).

MISSION PRIORITIES

An immediate priority has been placed on assisting in the restoration of electric power to water plants, communications facilities and homes. Troops are currently clearing routes for emergency response vehicles as well as helping utility crews gain access to damaged power transmission lines.

Establishment of shelters and points of distribution for essential supplies are also prime missions for Guard Soldiers and Airmen.

Weather permitting, National Guard helicopters will continue to conduct overflights for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet over roads that are impassable. Additionally, two helicopters have been assigned to provide support to utility companies to identify damaged power transmission lines.

Wishing you the best, whether you are "survivalists" or not.

Sorry to hear about your plight. The truth from someone who's there. FEMA what took you so long?

The Governor didn't ask FEMA for food, blankets, or heaters according to the press releases from the Governor's office:

Specifically, Gov. Beshear said the commonwealth is asking for two things:

• The federal disaster declaration will free up equipment such as emergency generators, communications equipment and debris removal materials to help in areas where snow and ice has downed power lines or created other damage.
  
• A request for joint public disaster assistance that will allow state and federal officials to work together to simultaneously gather damage assessments in communities to expedite reimbursement from the federal government.

as posted above. Are you suggesting that FEMA isn't providing what was requested? Source?

If FEMA is still as backward as it was when Horseboy was "running" it, that needs to be addressed. If you are just making assumptions based on the fact that people are hurting for things FEMA wasn't asked to provide--well, you are entitled to do that. Although I don't see the point.

Thank you Fisherman for your prayers. I live in central Ky. We don't have time to blame Obama for FEMA mistakes or claim that Global Warming is a joke. Things thawed out pretty well today. Many folks are cleaning up. "AGSTS" we have possums here in Ky with more smarts than YOU..........

Having lived in Ky for 5 years, This is a tragedy. Given it's location this kind of weather is far from being normal for this area, My heart goes out to you all. Things are tight economically but, I sent $100 for relief to your Civil Defense

My two nieces live in Central Kentucky and I have a daughter in Cincinnati Ohio. Last year I had to buy a generator and meet her in Columbus because they were without power down there for three days. My two nieces lost power for 1 day but are alright now. Apparently it is the rural areas that are hit the hardest and aid getting into these areas is slow. I was involved in getting aid down to the Katrina victims. From up here on the North Coast we sent 10 Trailers down there. Kentucky is not that far away so we are trying to find out who is in need and who we can help through my nieces.

Afraid...great post..just the facts where were you during Katrina when Bush was getting bashed d/t the slow response of the local gov....

and to those in Ky.....the ones that are posting have power..my prayers go out to all of you..after a hurrican here in Va we were without power for a week in the dead of the hot summer but after a week we learned something..we learned that sitting around the camp fire out back with neighbors was fun and entertainning.That spending unplugged time with our children was rewarding. that cooking over an open fire was healthy and that reaching out to help our neighbors was rewarding....so for all the suffering you are experiencing now,,,something good can come of it....... amke the best of it andGod Bless

Wow...Christy851474....I am so sorry to hear that, I hope and pray that by now you and your neighors got all the help you guys need!

I do hope some good will come out of this in that people in Ky, and elsewhere, will learn the lessons those of us in the north learned a long time ago....when they are predicting a storm, prepare for it. Fill your car with gas and your home with food. Perishables can go in a snow bank if you lose power. Make sure all your flashlights and radios have batteries. Maybe do a few loads of laundry. Get out the extra blankets. Drain your pipes so they don't freeze....

Can someone who has been to both Kentucky and the Northeast give us a comparison of trees? Even in inner city Louisville we have trees over 100 years old all over the place. As much as we love our huge oaks hickories, and maples it was the loss of huge branches off these trees that took out much of our lines. There is a tendency here to trim just the part of the tree actually touching the lines and to leave branches that extend above and below the line in place.

It is typical for the Republicans to turn their backs on real americans.  Blame Obama who cares real people that Bush didn't care about are going to die or suffer.  Who cares about blame.  Have some humanity.  That is our issue everyone cares about politics not making america great or even caring about someone else.  It is bad.  Help these people and that is it.  Blame Obama who cares.  But just help them.  Shesh.

alex - If you don't have anything positive to say....don't post anything. You are showing your ignorance and selfishness in this very difficult situation.

Why don't you get off your ass and help?

I'm with you on this one Alex. They blamed President Bush for Katrina and the slow reaction and inability to render aide. But now, when the shoe is on the other foot the story isn't supposed to be about blame it is supposed to be about helping the people. The sad thing is, I agree. The most important thing is to help the people but I find the lack of consistency very interesting.

And frankly, the audacity of some to claim they somehow have inside information into what Obama cares about and what Bush cares about is irritating. President Bush cared then and I'm sure that he cares now just as I am sure that Obama cares about the people.

Maybe if more of the rich Dems had paid their taxes FEMA would have the resources necessary to help out more. I did my part. Alex, I'll bet you did too.

I thought they (in LA) were blaming their govenor, a woman who did not get re-elected, and the mayor of New Orleans who was slow/ineffective in the town evacuation? That nitwit is still mayor last I heard.

Alex it right. IF Bush was responsible for slow FEMA responses, Obama is now slow in the same fashion. Does it take a miracle to open your eyes?

Jason - stop with the Bush bashing. Obama wants 60,000 more troops sent over to Afghanistan. Is that caring? It is the President's job to declare a disaster and he has a TV just like you do and knew about this storm.

Besides this is not a political matter. We all know that if people were less self-centered they'd be out helping in this mess. In our area of Southern Ohio we didn't get hit as badly as some other place but we do help each other. I had company during the power outage, we made room for them, and we had prepared for this. We pushed out cars too to get people to work but for one whole day there was a weather alert and it was illegal to be on the road. Basically, the road department told everyone they were not going to try to clear the roads until the worst of the storm was over and then they'd deal with the ice. Only medical emergencies were dealt with.

Besides this is not a political matter.

Then what possible excuse do you have to keep posting that lie, Last?

The President can't activated FEMA until the Governor requests federal help--and the Governor can decide what help s/he wants, too.

Governor Beshear requested federal help on Wednesday, January 28. The President approved the request on Wednesday, January 28. Not fast enough for you?

Of course, you were the one who posted that National Guard equipment didn't get sent over to Iraq with the National Guard, and that the Army sent all NEW equipment over there--as if there hadn't been highly publicized Congressional hearings with Generals testifying otherwise.

I am really glad you are totally prepared for anything that could happen, very impressed that you understand the importance of neighbors helping neighbors, and don't even fault you for blowing your own horn about it so much--but maybe you could try to tell the truth about matters that aren't personal? Or at least stop posting things that aren't true because you don't like the outcome of the presidential election.

What Dharma Girl said...(cut and paste here) I agree.

We here in the Northeast just went though this ice mess before Christmas. The power companies worked their butts off including our Canadian neighbors who helped. Thank you!

The further south you go the less winter eqipment is available. Living in the country is actually a plus in someways, less congestion and most folks have chain saws and fireplaces or wood stoves. We keep at least 12-24 gallons of water on hand along with a supply of food. For us it's just an inconvenience; Not so with the elderly, very young, or infirm. We need to try and be the good neighbors we used to be 2 generations ago.

It is important that each town be prepared. FEMA is not the answer, self and community reliance is. ALWAYS keep a supply of candles, matches, flash lights, batteries, and a battery or wind up radio on hand; Water, blankets, First aide, medications, and food. Most know the drill .... DO IT, it can save a life.

God bless you all who are and may be effected, my heart goes out to you. We're bracing for another weather event on Tuesday. It's been a hell of a winter.

Idiot Alex.

And your use if profanity shows your ignorance Fisherman144. It is obvious that YOU do not have anything positive to say, so why don't you find more productive things to do like sending money or rendering aid to those in KY who need it.

Rude and stupid posts like this do not help anybody. Last I knew the same guy was in charge of FEMA that Bush put in there. So that makes your post stupid. FEMA is not the problem. FEMA reacts to what is asked for. Logistics will cause some delays but the crux of the problem is in equipment to repair the damage to the power sources.

Ah logdump, its interesting isn't it. The GOP supproters for years have been saying that to no avail. Now you can understand our frustration with the socialist democrats who wanted to blame Bush for everything. How come the news media isn't there with camera's showing all the suffering....because if they even for a moment show Obama NOT extending his almighty powers, they might actually show him for his true colors.

You would think that Obama would have had enough foresight to send extra blankets and any other necessary items that may be needed. WHY he is the President.

You liberals and your double standards make me sick to my stomach.

As for the people in Kentucky, I hope you all fare well and survive and that if you need help your neighbor can help you until others arrive.

Former SGT,

" You liberals and your double standards make me sick to my stomach."

I hope you get over your illness soon. Perhaps it would help you to know that once the Kentucky Governor asked for help from the Government it was was given. I am not a liberal or a fundamentalist just a middle of the road realist that takes the time to look at all sides before I draw a conclusion.

I believe we should ask a couple of questions about this horrible situation. One would be has this situation happened before? The second question would be, if it has happened before like last year, what did the State and local communities do to prepare?

Your answer to these questions was, "You would think that Obama would have had enough foresight to send extra blankets and any other necessary items that may be needed. WHY he is the President."

It is going to be difficult to want less Government on one hand and foresight on the other.

As far as the blame game thing, lets talk apples to apples. Did Bush respond when the northeast was hit with its ice storm? No. (but then again, we all in mainly Blue states)
Did Obama respond fast enough here? Maybe not

Barbara, he reacted the very same day the request by the governor was made. Just how much faster can he get?

...he reacted the very same day the request by the governor was made. Just how much faster can he get?

That is what I saw for Kentucky, and some of the people who are complaining (I am quite safe and warm, not throwing stones at people without heat, safe water, food, passable roads who are complaining) do not seem to have a clue about what FEMA has been asked to provide.

I would be interested in whether the FEMA response is (and was) timely--that was a lot of the complaint that splashed all over President Bush. I had hoped that the next appointee with some actual agency experience would be more competent, but I don't know if the people who are actually suffering will see it, even if he is, after reading what help Gov. Beshear requested. None of it seemed to equate to citizen rescue by FEMA personnel.

I'll ask again--yes, the president approved the request the same day--does anyone know if the FEMA response was timely and is adequate? If it isn't too soon to know. That is apart from the question of whether the governor requested appropriate help.

Even after 2 weeks in office, it is going to splash back on the new president if it was not, the buck stopping where it does...

Christy.........

Carbon monoxide poisoning always results from someone doing something stupid. Stupidity causes death.

Heat, water and food----aren't these essentials somewhat the responsibility of individuals? Dosen't anyone prepare anymore?

Christy if you think FOX NEWS is going to care about Ky you're waisting your time. They are to busy bashing the president,twisting news stories to satisfy their republican cult and being wrapped up in some story about a smoker getting kicked out of a non smoking apartment building.

DaneLover, there are many broken lines in Kentucky, including gas lines (that's where the carbon monoxide is leaking from). I guess because of our stupidity gas lines broke. One cannot empathize if they haven't walked in those shoes.

The carbon monoxide poisoning comes from people using alternative heating sources improperly.

Never hook up diesel-powered generators inside or use charcoal grills inside. These have led to numerous hospitalizations and deaths.

Even if a diesel generator is located outside, it must be vented away from dwellings. Here in Lexington one family had a generator outside that exhausted toward a neighbor's house and the neighbors required medical attention due to the carbon monoxide poisoning from carbon monoxide levels inside their house.

At least 7 people statewide have died from carbon monoxide poisoning, although none here in Lexington. However, despite warnings in the Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper, online, on radio stations, and on television stations, many people even in Lexington have required hospitalization due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Kerosene heaters require proper ventilation and safety procedures or they can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, too. Also, it is important to have a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector in addition to a battery-powered smoke detector in homes.

I'm not an expert or a medical professional, so I can't give medical advice. Please read detailed information about safe operating instructions for all generators, kerosene heaters, gas stoves, etc.

Sonoflucy.............

Don't even try to patronize me.

Gas lines are placed a least one foot below a frost level, they seldom rupture.

Carbon Monoxide is NOT a fuel conducted through a "gas" line.

Don't try to tell parables like Jesus, you suck.

The stupidity stands. Anyone who puts a generator INSIDE their house in the cellar is an ignoramous. Anyone who brings the charcoal grill into their house to cook is an ignoramous. Carbon monoxide will fill the house. Gas lines contain natural gas or propane, NOT carbon monoxide. Get some brains.

Wow Icycle,

I guess that would constitute a majority of the major networks for the last 8 years. Whats the problem?

danelover, "gas lines contain natural gas or propane, NOT carbon monoxide. Get some brains." Do some research -

Natural gas is non-toxic and is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel available. Under normal operating conditions, natural gas burns cleanly, producing heat, carbon dioxide and water vapor. However, if natural gas is not burning properly or the appliance has a mechanical problem, it could create carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, poisonous and potentially fatal gas that is produced by the incomplete combustion of natural gas caused by an improperly functioning appliance.

I am sorry that I was ill-informed and the poisonings happening are primarily from exhaust of other heating appliances. However, the CDC states that 5% of carbon monoxide poisonings occur from the above scenario.

Source: Northwest Gas Association www.nwga.org

MSNBC has had us as one of their top stories since Gov. Breshear requested the disaster declaration - which the President provided the very day it was requested. All our gaurdsmen have been activated. I really can't find fault with the response. It's a difficult situation and everyone is doing what they can. My biggest beef is that we have a major infrastructure issue that has bit us in the butt twice now in 6 months and our congressional reps are playing political games for the benefit of their party instead of getting down to business for the benefit of their people back home. My other beef being that I hold the utility companies to blame for duct-taping the system together to protect their profit margins for their shareholders (E-on, Duke)

We are losing people to house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning from attempts to keep warm at home. It should be noted that we are reaching out to nieghbors. We checked our two elderly neighbors. Families with power are taking in relatives and neighbors without power. The most vulnerable are those in rural areas whose nearest neighbor could be a half mile or more away.

There are a variety of reasons someone would not want to leave home for the emergency shelters that are open. I, for example, would never leave my pets to go to a shelter. Might be different if the kids were still home but they aren't so there's no way I'm leaving my furry children. A lot of the FEMA materials have been distributed to shelters. I've heard that some shelters are still running on generator power.

Bottom line, we'll get through it and once we do, we can start raising Cane to get our system upgraded enough to not fail so easily every time Mother Nature gets a kink in her tail.

Sono....................

That does not answer your ridiculous suggestion that gas lines carry carbon monoxide.

INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION results in carbon monoxide.

A broken gas line leaks natural gas---unless it is ignited, there are no combustion products. If you would like to explore the lethal effects of carbon monoxide, please place your generator in your cellar and run it.

Breathe deeply..................................................

Wow I wouldn't want to be your friend. You aren't even American. You care nothing for your fellow American's. Wow. You don't even seem to care. You probably typed this response from your heated house. Thanks.

He has a point. We should all come up with a worst case scenero for our county or state and plan a plan that lets you survive without outside help. I live in the Alaskan bush (250 miles from a major city ) . We have no organized fire or police, but some of us still belive that we are our neighbors keeper. We realize that in a major catastrophe we are on the tail end of getting help--in fact our EMS would probably be pulled to Anchorage or some other urban area with more people. We have to live semi-prepared. I think there is a lack of this preparedness present in the US of late. We seem to expect the nation or help from the federal level. We are also too dependant on infrastructure such as running water and electricity. Ice storms happened 100's of years ago, we have just changed our current living conditions and now they are a menace. These people had at least 12 hours of warning and probably should have tried to stock up on food and water like you would for a hurricane. We need more people who are prepared on a neighborhood level than on the federal level.

If you refuse to allow "Big Brother" into your bedrooms, homes, schools, churches, offices and local Government, do not protest when he arrives late in your parish to help you with a problem your father/grandfather/great-grandfather dealt with alone.

Why can't I have big brother out of my bedroom, home, school, etc. and still have him deliver emergency supplies on time? That is the classic logical error of "this or that" with the option of "a little bit of that and a little bit of this" never being offered. I believe you need to do some serious thinking about the proper role of government.

Darwin wins every time, and the weak and unprepared will cease to exist.

I wonder how you and your neighborhood would fare if the supermarkets, gas stations, banks, etc. were to suddenly be destroyed.....

Many years ago, I farmed in Iowa north of Cedar Rapids. We got wicked winters there with lots of snow and cold. Power in the dead of winter was out for days. We learned to "be prepared" as boy scouts and that ethic still sticks with me. I could heat the house with Gas or wood. I could run lights with line power or a generator. It seems I have had a stand-by generator every where I have lived for 30 years. In Missouri after a tornado, there were only 3 families that had power in our area right after the storm. I and two others immediatly started our generators and supplied power for several other houses.

Even now semi-retired in Upper New York, we have the means to be self sufficient for some time if the need ever develops.

In today's world, in townhouses and apartment complexes, It hard to be self suffifient but you can have food,water,lights,warm clothing,and some emergency heating if you are in a cold location. The life you save may be your own.

Actually if our supermarket burnt down my freezer is full and I do know how to make bread. I think every one should know how to survive without TV dinners and it's a pity that so few people seem to know how to cook even simple things.

Now here's an idea - I keep my gas grill tank full - you can cook almost anything with one. They even have heaters called Mr Heater that run on propane gas tanks and they do a pretty good job. If you have a large house you try to stay warm in a small portion of it. Close off the rest. If you have a gas kitchen stove with electric ignitors - a box of kitchen matches works to light the burners just fine. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Another thought: Keep ice chests handy especially if you have heat but no electric. Use that ice/snow to keep refrigerated goods cold.

We had folks here in small town rural New England during our ice storm who held bon-fires, had a party and got rid of the fallen branches at the same time. Having a good sleeping bag for all family members is also a help.

If you do leave your home make sure to drain your pipes or you will return to an ice palace.

Our grand parents and G grandparents handled it you can too. Great time to start reading those books and playing board games etc. Check out the LL Bean and similar catalogues for ideas. You will prevail.

Amen.........damned if you do and damned if you don't..........

I live in an apartment building and have survival equipment here for alt least a week with no outside help. I have a propane gas grill on my balcony with two canisters and could cook if I needed to 10 gallons of fresh drinking water etc. Years agao we lost power for 3 days and by chance I had little gas in the car. Gas stations were down for the same reason no elec. Every since then I have kept supplies on hand. Kentucky just got socked and they will survive. Fedeak aid is on the way but it could have saved lives had not their National Guard troops been in Iraq.

Looks like being a survivalist is not so lonely after all.

I LIKE YOU!! Boy you hit the nail on the head. We were raised to HELP our neighbors & not complain. There was plenty of warning of what was coming. There is always plenty of warning, people just want to think it will never happen to them. They need to wake up, put up & SHUT up!

Thank you for saying what you did!

I doubt your claim. People died in the thousands from disasters today that they wouldn't. Let's not complain. Just get support to the people so they don't die. It is that simple. Now we are in a new time. Technology rules and our government is sucking it up not helping us again.

I agree we need to be more self suffient and not depend on the goverment to bail us out all the time but on the other hand we do pay taxes to the federal goverment for such emergency like this. I was in Karina and was there helping rebuild yes FEMA was slow coming to the aid of many people but unless you where there nobody would have any ideal what had to be done just to get to most of these people and they had plenty of warning just like the people going through the ic storm.

I live in the country and yes it is hard to get around and yes I get mad because all around me power is coming on but sometimes that is just the way it is and we have to live with it. I( would like to thank all the people that is working so hard to help get everybody electricity, water back up and running.

SuperChicken thats just it you're an old timer. Things are different now.Folks don't grow their own food.The school house isn't in walking distance anymore. Doctors don't make house calls. We depend on a very different system now.

I'm with chicken man there on this one... we are raising, have raised, generations of millions and millions who do not understand how their own toilets work. They can not last a few days without electricity, they do not understands the basics of staying warm, having water, they freak if their tv's don't work and they panic at any adversity.

America we must not think the government can, should or will save us from every single event or storm. It can't and it makes us weak when we expect them to.

I felt the same with NO and the floods. Dang it, the warnings had been shouted for days and simple common sense told you that that city, below sea level was a very, very bad place to be period.

When the sheets hit the fan and Mother Nature has her way then be prepared, help each other, ask for help but stop the whining and feeling sorry for yourself. This is life, no guarantees, no refunds.

Look I have compassion and it’s a bitch to get through these kind of things but come on…This where is the government and who’s fault is it stuff is crap.

Hey Chicken, I wasn't raised conservative, don’t know how I was raised come to think of it, to think for myself and use the “God damn brains you have” I suppose… I don't think that little "conservative" remark has a place in the thoughts. Other then that though....

Funny thing the people who are most anti federal government are the same people who cry that states do not have enough rights......

Icycle and Jason....................

Icycle, you express the mindset of the grasshopper. Let's depend on the ant, when the going gets tough. Hope you are first in line.

Jason, you seem to think that I, and others like me, sit around trying to think of ways to save ne'er-do-wells like you. Whoever told you that might be true, have told you a lie.

This is how it is, Jason; I take care of my family first, and then I might be able to help you, if I think you are worth saving.

icycle-The system has not changed one bit. Grow up and buy a candle.

agree. agree. agree.

Bill - jason -being prepared does not mean going out the day a storm is supposed to hit and buying all your supplies. When you in an area that has hurricanes for instance - I did for a good many years too - you keep plywood stored and numbered for each window. This idea that you run to Home Depot and buy plywood to put up each time is stupid and wasteful. You always have a couple of packages of good batteries - you don't run out to Wal-Mart and buy them the day before. You always have extra food in the freezer.

Being prepared for a bad storm is not spending $1000 the day before to get all this stuff. It is having it . You buy a portable heater you keep in the garage. You have a kitchen drawer with batteries, candles, and flashlights in it all the time. You keep plenty of blankets.

When I hear a storm like this is coming, I may run to the grocery for milk, eggs, and bread, fill my car with gas, and pick up a pack of new batteries but the rest is always stored and ready. Supplies that you've accumulated over a period of time and make sure it stays working - not a major spending spree the day a storm is to hit. It isn't hard to be prepared

But Concerned don't you see, Obama can't hate white people. He is half white. He can't be racist because he is black. I'm sure that the Bush haters can find some way to make it his fault--after all, had he stopped the drilling twelve years ago the climate change would have stopped and this storm would never have hit. Darn that President Bush. He got us again!

shakespear72

Why is it that only white people can be racist???

Now Floyd, I didn't say only white people can be racist. I said BHO cannot be racist because he is black. I've been hearing for at least two years on NBC, ABC, and CBS that black people cannot be racist. I know... It was a surprise to me too. I'm just trying to enjoy the Kool-Aid until President Hussein's term (or terms --God forbid) are over.

Chris, sorry ...

I'ts not official racism until a bigoted "leader" stands up in front of a camera and announces that Obama must hate white folks and that's why the help is slow in coming. Could I suggest Senator Byrd for a spokesman?

It's all ridiculous, FEMA really cannot respond quickly and never will.

At least this didn't happen to city that is below sea level with a cat 5 storm bearing down, it's really kind of hard to understand why the Gov and Mayor didn't evacuate sooner. This storm is so wide spread evacuation was not an option.

FEMA has failed the citizens again. It is funny that we all talk about all these things that FEMA does. Well it seems to me that our government is bent over to big companies and bailing them out. Then FEMA is a no show for these people. It makes me sick like Katrina. The government can develop billion dollar technologies and launch attacks from our home soil all around the world. So why can't we seem to get it together and send a truck and some chain saws to these people. The fact that FEMA is good in some ways doesn't answer my question. I wonder what can they really do for us? For me? In a diaster if I don't live in the typical area of a disaster.

FEMA is very quick the respond in areas that are always hit by disaster. But others pay and get NO HELP. If you not going to show up give me back my money. Some of my money goes to FEMA same as someone who lives in a disaster area. I don't need that insurance but half of the time that never gets paid.

KJ-851827, I'm glad "local organizations" are doing "a super job." I know their resources must be very limited. Neighbors helping neighbors is the fastest and most efficient way to provide help in rural areas. At least that's the way it was when I lived in southeastern Kentucky.

It likely takes much time for FEMA and the state to get resources to isolated rural areas, especially when roads are impassable due to fallen power lines and trees. And, even the small cities in southwestern Kentucky like Paducah are a long way from Kentucky's metropolitan centers in Louisville and Lexington (where I am), and the government center in Frankfort.

And, as long as the ice remains on the power lines and trees, it must be very difficult and dangerous work for all the utility line workers due to the danger of falling limbs and ice, as well as the cold, etc. I thank God for all the utility line workers, National Guard personnel, snow plow drivers, and others from so many places, even far from Kentucky who have come to help restore services.

Even here in Lexington over 27,500 remained out of power yesterday afternoon according to the Lexington Herald-Leader's website despite the efforts of many utility line workers, including some from as far away as south Alabama according to one news report on the WVLK radio station.

Haven't you heard, since we are freezing down here they have changed what they are calling it, it isn't global warming any longer now it is "climate change"

Cheapster, I've been paying taxes since I was 15yrs old. I think that should be enough to what i can do for my country. But what does my country have done for me? Nothing so far but raise gas prices, food prices, weak economy and deal with smart asses like you.

Does the govt pay any of your bills. I don't think so. You and I pay our own health insurance, pay our own bills and guess what? We are all still paying taxes. So yah, FEMA should get their ass of them chairs and start helping out people. Punk!

So Basti27 is it now, "Ask what your contry can do for you?" I'm only asking because I want to make sure I've got the new message correct.

After all, I've paid my taxes since I was a kid too. I even paid taxes on my lawn mowing money from my summer jobs. I pay for gas, insurance, I pay my taxes (which aparantly isn't necessary if you want to work in the Obama administration) and yet not once has my country paid my bills. So what have they done for me???

My country has demonstrated to me and the world that modern democracy works -- even when I disagree with the majority. My country has provided stability so that I can purchase a home, a car, or whatever else I want with the relative assurance that even in tough economic times the value of the nation as a whole will protect the security of my belongings. My country has kept me safe from terrorist attacks. My country has provided infrastructure to ensure that I have roads to drive on, schools to attend, a police force to protect me, and a fire department to protect my home.

There is an ice bust of Al Gore in Fairbanks, AK. It was created when it was 50 below up there. The day it was made public, the temp went to above freezing. Maybe if someone makes one there, you will get a thaw. Sorry this storm has caused so much havoc. Maybe we created the havoc with our complex lifestyles. Hope you find one humorous thing today. How are you posting with no electricity. Let me know, so I can do it when we lose ours.

I was wondering the same thing, Janet....

Very well said. I agree.

As a New Orleans resident, I find your comments interesting. Exactly when is FEMA supposed to come in? How does one prepare for "contingencies"? What if those plans do not work out? During hurricane season, our plan is to get out, but many cannot afford it, nor can they afford to move to higher ground.

Regarding what is happening to you, substitute extreme heat for cold and that's what it is like for us, along with flooding. Downed lines, no gas, no access to supplies. Add to that the dangers of mold and disease. Add to that comments from people in other parts of the country that we are stupid and deserve what we got because of our corrupt government (state and local).

When disaster strikes, people need to help each other. That's all that really matters. When your weather problems have subsided, remember that someone else's weather problems are probably beginning.

Well, with that narcissistic view, I hope and pray that you never need any help and suffer like these innocent people are suffering through this storm.

I Hope the people needing help get it soon and for those who had the finances to prepare I am glad you are warm and safe..I fear the elderly on set incomes who barely survive with power may not be able to survive much longer, as well as those families who are out of job and already relying on savings to survive that crunch not being able to prepare as fully either... I say if you are in that area and can help do so, don't count on Fema..There is no way to prepare fully for any disaster..I know I did not expect a tornado to rip through and leave me without power for 31 days..I prepare for couple weeks at most for any outages, you never know the magnitude in a memo before hand !!

Sav31,

I agree with your posts. My Husband and I have lived all across the country and with each Geographic area we face different challenges with nature. Born and raised in the South, always dealt with Hurricanes. My Mother made it through Hugo and My brother was on the Mississippi side of Katrina. Yeah actually there were other states that were hit by Katrina, but they just did not whine about it and were neighbors helping neighbors. I have lived in Houston during Hurricanes and one Christmas a horrible ice storm, you can always be at least somewhat prepared to take care of yourself.

Self Reliance is great and Depending on the government is a copout and a way to shift blame.

My prayers are with you in Kentucky.

Sgt Doc................One of the most sensable post I have read. I live just south of I 40 in Arkansas so we dodged the bullet this time. We have been hit other times though. I really wouldn't expect any help from FEMA either if we got hit as bad as your area was.

I believe the Fed's should be providing money to the utilities to pay for the restoration of power and to the states to pay for cleanup. Helping the power companies would reduce or eliminate rate increases to pay for the disaster and helping pay for the cleanup would provide jobs to people even if they would be temporary. Both of these would do some small part to help with the economic recovery.

Fixing infrastructure would not have done one thing to avoid this. You could have the best road ever built any where in the world and if it is covered by 2-3 inches of ice and broken trees and power lines your a$$ ain't going no where.

Uncle Rick

And meanwhile, Obama shucks his coat and turns up the heat in the whitehouse.You really think he cares about anyone freezing. He's out for his own comfort. Quit bashing Bush. This is Obama's problem. Wasn't only the people in KY that voted for Bush twice. So did I and would do it again.

Uncle Rick

It's about time someone said it. 8 years of neglect can't be turned around in 10 days. Wonder why the right wingers (aka Fox News) aren't screaming bloody murder that it must be the stupidity of the people that didn't get out in time, after all the storm had been predicted.

I am finding it quite amusing that the right wingers blame Obama after 10 days for all that wrong, but when Bush was around, they would always go back and blame Clinton, and even go back 30 years and blame Carter. It's like Bush wasn't even there for 8 years. Well maybe they are correct about Bush "not being there"

Wonder if the lack of work crews trying to put this thing back together have anything to do with the utilities just plain not having enough people working to fix things down there. Ain't deregulation of the electrical utilities great !

My heart goes out to the folks down there, and I for one will be sending a check to the Red Cross to help out. Oh wait can I do that, is that one of those hideous transfers of wealth?

Z-man, I re-read the article, and a few others and I can't find anything to substantiate your contention that there was a lack of response on the part of Pres. Obama. Could you please provide the source of your info.?