Give Me Shelter

I had about decided to quit posting to this site.  However, stupid things keep coming up.

Obviously the story, as told by walmartwatch, conveys the impression that people were not allowed to take shelter a Walmart while Katrina is bearing down.

Keep in mind the timing.  The storm just arrived at New Orleans this morning.  How can a newspaper possibly have that story in their paper this quickly?

In addition a Walmart is not a shelter.  The Superdome is much safer, even if it was damaged.  10,000 people took refuge.  They were equipped to handle it.

If Wal-Mart sheltered those people, and something happened to the Wal-Mart that caused any of the people to be hurt or killed, most of the posters on this board would be screaming for Wal-Mart’s hide. There would be lawsuits and the hint that Wal-Mart’s stores are not safe. You tell me these things wouldn’t come to pass. Make me laugh a little.

Wal-Mart is nice enough to allow RVs and overnight campers into their parking lot at many of their stores.  I don’t think a store is built to shelter people from a hurricane, though.  I saw on the news that stores in that area actually DID close ahead of the brundt of the storm.  Nick is right in that WM would be raked over the coals if someone was hurt in their store while taking shelter from the storm.

I found the website to the Lafayette Daily Advertiser and amazing there is no stories about Wal-mart in the past 7 days.  Usually this website offers a link to the whole story.  Maybe they can’t provide a link to a great fake story.

Maybe if lawyers promised never to file frivolous lawsuits, Walmart could open its doors as a shelter in such situations.

As it is now, some old lady would spill hot coffee on herself and sue the store out of existence.

I must say I have to agree that a mention of an article like this is just completely unfair...walmartwatch seems to be running out of problems to draw attention to.... i’m glad this grassroots movement has gotten started, but with blurbs like this, they are quickly going to lose credibilitly :(

Bender,

How many newsless days before we see a crisis alert on Wal-Mart Watch:

“Woman buys 2 dozen eggs at WalMart Supercenter. One egg turns out to be cracked. Corporate irresponsibility has run amok!”

Wal-Mart donated an initial $1 million to the relief effort (and is sending merchandise, trucks, and other help) and is collecting donations at all of their stores and websites.

I just saw a picture out of New Orleans.  They showed a picture of a Target store which collapsed.  It proves my original point.  A Walmart store would not be an adequate shelter.  WALMART WAS RIGHT AGAIN.

While I do not agree with you Dave, about Walmart being right or good, I have to say- it is totally stupid that this organization is focusing on stories like this when the WORKERS and the CUSTOMERS are the true functions of making walmart into what it is not parking lots and rain storms. Dave, like you, I can barely read this website anymore.  It has gone from a hopeful message of advocacy to a whiney fingerpointing about meaningless details and anacdotal tales of strife.

i happen to work for sams club in which is also walmart. now let me tell you all something not only have we gave 1 million dollars in relief but for your info we have over 40,000 fellow associates devisated by this dissater the majority of these people will continue to receive there paychecks even though they are not working at this moment. we are sending thousands of dollars of supplies,support people from all over the u.s.a. we are letting our own associates use our internel email to contact there family and friends and if doug sends the walmart jet to the state of michigan you can bet your sweet pattot we will fill it with fellow associates to help where ever its needed now what are you all willing to do??????????

You know? Wal-Marts effort seem like cover for the bad reputation that they have earned. The things they are doing are to show what a great bunch they are. A million dollars and some supplies are like one of their own workers sending ten bucks and a pup tent!!! How about giving their own people that work, or rather worked, a living wage, maybe affordable insurance. They can afford to throw some money for PR reasons but fail to take care of their own. Maybe if these forty thousand fellow associates were paid decently they could have afforded to leave town like the well off did. Wal Mart is a big part of the reason that the average wage for blacks there is eleven thousand dollars a year there. So, what are we willing to do? Show Wal-Mart for what they really are, GREEDY!!! And in this case, advantageous as well. They made sure to get their efforts in the news. They are taking these peoples plight and using it to bolster a better image of themselves. If you were living in New Orleans. You might well be one of the casualties instead of giving applause to these greedy creeps!!!