From: ted@telematics.com (Ted Goldblatt)
Subject: Spreading rumors (was: Re: Violence in FL)
Organization: Telematics Intl., Inc.; Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 19:57:39 GMT

In article <1992Sep4.031055.28564@udel.edu> hartman@dewey.udel.edu (Nancy Hartman) writes:
>
>I was just talking to my friend in FL who is VERY involved in the pet
>relief work, working closely with the humane societies (I'm not sure 
>which ones) down there.  She hears first hand accounts from people who
>have been there, and people who live very near there.

If this is someone who works with the Jupiter Humane Society, take into
account that Jupiter is 120 or more miles from south Dade.  Not that the
info is intentionally distorted, but any people from there could not in
any sense be considered locals of the disaster area.

>As to her reliability, she's not a "flake", in fact she's ex-military 
>and ex-police.  

Neither of which necessarily has anything to do with either reliability
or veracity.

>She said that many neighborhoods are handling the disaster incredibly well,
>with neighbors helping neighbors, and no looting or violence.  But there
>are others (she specifically mentioned South of Cutler Ridge as one) where

"South of Cutler Ridge" is not a neighborhood - it describes most of the
disaster area (which starts a couple of miles north of Cutler Ridge and
extends south to the end of Dade county, maybe 20 more miles).

>people are shooting other people, and the looting is terrible.  They
>are frightened to even drive near many of the areas.

While I certainly can't say that no people are frightened, that isn't
very significant - in the best of circumstances, some people are afraid
to drive in areas that they feel are dangerous (mostly because minorities
and/or poorer people live there) and I cannot be concerned for this
type of persons sensibilities.  Yes, some amount of looting has occurred,
and approximately 2000 people have been arrested to date, mostly for 
looting or violating the curfew.

As far as shooting goes...

>She also verified that 2 humane society workers have, in fact, been shot.
>But, it is purposefully not being publicized.

This type of statement is what causes hysteria.  As far as I know, there
have been _NO_ credible reports of _anyone_ being shot (yes, some amount
of shooting has taken place (not unusual in some of these areas), but
that's not the same as someone being shot.  In fact, I believe that there
has been a significant _decrease_ in violent crime in the disaster area).

>She also said that for the most part, most military/police efforts are
>being centralized in certain areas, primarily Homestead.  And that all the
>pictures we are seeing on TV are from the "Safe" areas, where the reporters
>are allowed.

This is absolute bullshit!  There is _nowhere_ that reporters (or
anyone else) is not permitted (with the possible exception of parts of
Homestead Airforce Base).  The police and military are _everywhere_
(BTW, the military is _not_ providing police type protection; they are
performing disaster relief while the police and National Guard are
doing the "policing").  Certainly, they can't stand watch on every
home, but there are no "Safe" areas that are being cosmetically offered
for viewing.

>I am in no way generalizing and saying that everywhere in southern FL is
>violent, with neighbors shooting and looting from each other.  But, from
>a very reliable source, there are areas where people do have to fear for
>their lives and property.

Certainly.  There is some looting going on.  Note however that the
areas most likely to be affected by looting are also the areas most
badly hit, which have very little left to loot.  Also, as I indicated
above, while some people certainly fear, whether they "have to fear" is
another question.

>Also, since these people aren't receiving enough aid, there's also a lot of 
>stories coming back about horses and pets becoming "dinner".  Which I guess
>is probably more humane than letting the poor animals starve to death, but
>still, it shouldn't have to be that way.

Also no credible reports of this.  The only credible reports of actual
animal abuse is that on the order several hundred (200-300) of the 
monkeys that escaped from 2 primate breeding farms in south Dade (one
run by the University of Miami, I don't remember the name of the other)
have been shot (mostly by police and National Guard troops) due to the
false rumor that they were AIDS infected.

>Anyway, for what it's worth, that's what *I* heard about the situation.
>*I* think its a reliable source, and *I* believe that its true in
>the areas she's familiar with.  You make your own judgements.

None of what you are reporting is substantiated by _any_ credible news
media (or people I know that live in the disaster area).  There have
been no reports in any of the news media (which obviously have been
covering the story heavily, in some cases almost to the exclusion of
anything else - 3 TV station (2 of them network) covered the story
24 hours a day for the first week) that there are any areas off limits
to them or that there is a hint of any "coverup".  Do you believe
that these media, who _love_ to break stories of scandal and coverup,
would roll over and play dead in this case?

That's what *I* have heard about the situation, and *I* think it's from
somewhat more reliable sources than yours.

I'm sorry (a little :-)) that I'm jumping all over you, but we (in south
Florida) have a bad enough reputation (sometimes deserved) and the
people in south Dade are _really_ suffering enough that we don't need
people spreading this sort of rumor in the guise of "helping".

ted
-- 
Ted Goldblatt    ted@telematics.com     (305) 351-4367
    Telematics Intl., Inc.   Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Newsgroups: alt.hurricane.andrew