What I find the most appalling: the multitude of water systems that shut down due to the power outages. Thousands of people were without potable water (and with no electricity, boiling water to make it safe is a big problem) and there were towns with no water pressure at all. There were fire fighters trying to put out burning buildings with water pumped from creeks, because the hydrants were dry... Thankfully, it sounds like most of the water systems are back up, at least here in central KY-- don't know about in the western areas. But why why why were there not generators either on site, or very near by? Why no backups?

Appalling thing no. 2: cities and counties that lost internet, land-line phones, and cell phones, and were in contact with the outside world only by ham radio. There were places that couldn't report in to the state emergency agencies for more than a day-- and they're the places that undoubtedly needed the most help, and needed it fast. But they couldn't get the word out that they were in desperate need...

This emergency is not over; people are cold and hungry and thirsty; people are dying. And the rest of the country doesn't seem to even know or care. Did we learn nothing from Katrina?

--Sharon