Compelling Reading
Here’s a guy with his shit together from a building in the CBD near Camp St. A couple of excerpts are below, but I would recommend that you go to his site and bookmark it.
From The Interdictor:
On bodies: “Dead bodies everywhere: convention center, down camp street, all over.”
On the rule of law:
Crime is absolutely rampant: rapes, murders, rape-murder combinations. … In case anyone in national security is reading this, get the word to President Bush that we need the military in here NOW. The Active Duty Armed Forces. Mr. President, we are losing this city. I don’t care what you’re hearing on the news. The city is being lost. It is the law of the jungle down here. The command and control structure here is barely functioning. I’m not sure it’s anyone’s fault — I’m not sure it could be any other way at this point. We need the kind of logistical support and infrastructure only the Active Duty military can provide. The hospitals are in dire straights. The police barely have any capabilities at this point. The National Guard is doing their best, but the situation is not being contained. I’m here to help in anyway I can, but my capabilities are limited and dropping. Please get the military here to maintain order before this city is lost.
The update from a police officer taking refuge in this guy’s office building from yesterday is particularly disturbing: police officers are quitting outright, participating in the looting, command and control for NOPD is nearly non-existent.
Two French Quarter hotels report that they arranged bus transportation for their guests, but the ten buses were commandeered and the hotels told to move their guests to the Convention Center where they could wait with everyone else for transportation out of the city. Guests were unhappy and scared about the security ramifications of walking from the French Quarter to the Convention Center.
I expect more information about the West Bank later today or tomorrow from on-the-ground sources (although still second and third hand and will pass those on when I get them.
Houses in the Bellemeade subdivision were reported to have lost most of their shingles, some roof damage evident on homes, some looting appears to have occurred. That source spent Tuesday night in his home but left immediately Wednesday morning. The necessary resources to live on the West Bank are not obtainable.
BLaco’s Press Conference Notes:
School buses have been ordered to New Orleans to help get people out. More than 12,000 National Guardsmen should be in place by Friday evening. Asked for 40,000 troops. 250 Police being deployed today, most LA State Troopers. Civil unrest being addressed. Out of state police are being brought in, have been issued oaths of office, and now have arrest powers in Louisiana. 1100 NOPD officers reported on the streets. (note above description of lack of command and control authority for NOPD) State Police ask for end to rumours of hospitals being attacked, SWAT teams dispatched to those locations have found nothing. “We will have those few individuals creating problems under control in short order.” 50,000 people in shelters in LA. Capacity for 70,000 more reported. SSA checks can be mailed to new locations. Info at any SSA office across the state. Full benefits loaded onto peoples food benefit cards today. They are prepared to add more people to those rolls. LSU Medical center - Charity is currently being evacuated, evacuation began when doctor at Charity, through the internet, was able to contact personnel at the Superdome who made resources available (helicopters, etc.) Tulane evacuated, Touro mostly evacuated, VA waiting for evacuation, West Jefferson and Meadowcrest largly operations, other hospitals have been evacuated to varying degrees.
Search and rescue operations have not exactly been halted…they continue where they feel it is safe to do so.
Update:
Sheet pilings to begin being driven today at 17th street canal. Corps has been dropping sandbags. Breach is not being closed completely so that as lake falls water will move out and back into lake. S&W Board trying to restore pumps.
Post office ->mail delivery, employee safety highest priorities. Zips 700-704, delivery will resume as fast as possible. Checks the primary focus. Trying to establish temporary locations to file change of address so mail can be properly routed to evacuees. 4000 postal employees from metro area sought - call 877-477-3273 to check in, receive help with temporary job assignments, etc. 40 postal inspectors being deployed to supply security for mail service, secure facilities, deal with postal theft.
Update II:
17th street breach: lake level continues to drop. 15 hours of work already. Isolating breach site from lake. London Breach has water flowing back into the lake. Progress being made, 24 to 36 hours to complete isolation of breach from lake at 17th street.
WHy no food being brought in to convention center and superdome? Nat. Guard continuing to push people out, 300 buses have left superdome, forward distribution points being set up for incoming supplies. Fixed wing - huh? - and Rotary wing assets being flown out of superdome area. Distribution is ongoing…as fast as it is coming it is being dispersed.
Charity hospital looters…radio contact with staff indicates that security staff is armed and providing security. CEO says there hasn’t been security breaches at charity hospital.
These people aren’t really answering these questions. They’re answering questions, but not the ones asked.
Update III:
Blanco: (paraphrased - I can only type so fast) Please discontinue saying that there is shooting and rioting in the Superdome. Not a perfect situation but the reports are upsetting the people in the dome with access to radios and causing problems inside. Everyone is very calm, hope has been lifted because buses are rolling. These people are our priority, we’re taking care of them, we don’t want to upset them.
Casuality figures? Actually, Aaron Broussard has 4 bodies. we know there are dead bodies, difficult for family memebers, frankly, our situation is so difficult we believe there will be thousands but no official count exists in any form whatsoever at this point. portable morgue being established. focus on saving people. that’s just the reality of the situation.
Evacuation population swelling in B.R. , What about security — pulling in more troops to help with security.
Have to stop for now. Work requires my attention.
Related posts:
Can someone tell me if the French Quarter is under water? How deep? Please, e-mail.
It is so typical that the Bush Administration is totally unprepared for this disaster. Those poor people need help yesterday. Children are starving! This adminstration has been so focused on terrorism, that they have no troops left to properly handle this horrible catastrophe. They should be ashamed of themselves, but they won’t be. They can just turn off the TV set and go to a nice warm bed.
Regina,
I fully agree with what you say. I hope after THIS that the U.S. population WAKES UP to what Bush REALLY is….
WHY are there not MORE rescue helicopters int he area?
WHY were the inhabitants not FORCED to leave the city BEFORE the hurricane hit (I heard it was a “mandatory evacuation” - here in Germany this would mean the authorities would FORCE you to leave the area even if you don t like it) - I guess they didn t take it SERIOUS enugh!
Bush takes NOTHING serious! Especially not the global warming of the planet which lets this kind of hurricanes come more and more often for years now….it s the talk all over Europe, why NOT in the U.S??
I hope the U.S. voters will think about it BEFORE your next election.
Good luck for those still in the N.O. area.
P.S. In Germay major news magazines are collecting and asking to spend money to help the survivors in New Orleans - I m not sure however whether it lacks money in the first place. Especially NOW in these days where so many will die if your Bush administration doesn t HURRY UP with the rescue efforts!
Imagine if all the soldiers in Iraque and other countries Bush invaded withlout reason and unjustified were in New Orleans NOW!
Manuela
Why is it that US can fly to foreign lands and drop food and water from military airplanes but can’t seem to do it at home. Its pure bull shit and racism. The Superdome can be spotted clearly from any plane..just drop the food, water and supplies where masses of people are. I am really interested to see how many Americans and other countries will donate for the poor and black from Louisiana, I’m sure it will not be as they did for the Tsunami victims. The National Guard should distribute what is needed and maybe some of the mayhem will stop!!!!
It is no doubt we should have been more prepared. If many knew that the people that stayed behind had no means of getting out, then it should have been provided and therefore saving many lives. Children, elderly, the sick, just so mnay lives that could have been saved of taken out of this disaster.
The shelter and evacuation should have been provided and done two days prior to the hurracane touching ground. If they knew this city was so vulnerable why was nothing done until after the fact.
It really just makes many people mad that nothing is done right until its just too late!!! When will they learn?
We are all praying for all of those that are in need.
There has never been a standing army designed to deal with Natural Disasters. The National Guard is used for natural disasters. The Regular Army, Marines, and Navy do not normally deal with these situations, and are in Iraq and Afghanistan.
There are plenty of people in the Guard and the Red Cross that can handle this situation, the problem is getting them into New Orleans. Roads are destroyed, logistics need to be planned for, supplies need to be shipped. It does not happen instantaneous.
The idiots who are saying global warming started this hurricane, that the Bush Administration is causing deaths and is unprepared, should read the papers and watch T.V.
SE LA and Southern Miss are Destroyed. Road, flooding takes time to get through with truckloads of men and women from the National Guard. The is no longer an airport in New Orleans, how could anyone fly into there?
The Mayor ordered an evacuation of the city, people did not leave. Many did not believe it was serious and stayed. How can anyone blame Bush, or Global Warming on Human Stupidity.
New Orleans is below sea level, the people that live there are aware of their vunerability to a hurricane. 50 years of coastal erosion due to daming the Mississippi River resulted in over 1000 acres of land disappearing from New Orleans. Bush, Clinton, Reagan, Carter, Nixon, Ford, Kennedy, Eisenhower have all been in power while the coast eroded. The coast would have shielded New Orleans from some of this.
But EVERYONE has known that a CAT 5 storm would destroy New Orleans. Everyone has decided to stay. Just like the people that live next to the Mississippi river in the midwest, they knew of the possibility of flooding. The U.S. cannot protect against Acts of God.
Lastly, addressing the global warming issue, there have been hurricanes hitting the Gulf Coast for 1000’s of years. It has nothing to do with global warming, it has to do with the weather patterns that are created in the tropics.
Summary: People living in the Gulf Coast have always been aware of their vunerability if a hurricane hits. I live in Houston and have lived through many. But when a mayor says to “Get Out”, one should leave immediately. Many people stayed out of stupidity. Some people stayed because they had nowhere to go, which is understandable. But none of this was caused by the present administration. If anything, the blame should lay on Louisiana as they did not get all of the people out that wanted to out.
Manuela,
You obviously do not know what you are talking about. Quit wasting our time.
People on this blog have no idea the scope of this disaster.
1. Bush sent an Armada 1 day late. He could have sent the ships a day sooner. It takes 5 days to get ships to the area. Sending ships sooner than that could have been dangerous given how unpredictable Hurricans are. It “could” have swung back across Florida and back into the Atlantic. Although not likely, you can
I agree that you just cant blame it all to one dirrection because many have contributed to this disaster, not just in the past few days but for many years (like the scientist in houston posted).
However, it is very hard to be patient and understand that there needs to be planning before they get the help they needd, when there are so many people (at fault or not) that need water, food and shelter.
They need help soon and although “they” are trying, all the planning just isnt working. Not fast enough…it has now been 3 days!!!
The scientist in Houston writes that people did not leave when an evacuation was ordered. How could the sick, the elderly, and the poor who do not own a car have left? How can people who have cancer or Parkinson’s and no money leave? They were simply abandonned by the authorities. Telling people to leave without giving them the means to leave is a charade.
The scientist from Houston also writes that it is the role of the National Guard to deal with natural disasters. True, but many National Guard units have been sent to Iraq and that may be true for Louisiana. The National Guard should have been sent in, or in their place Army units, to evacuate and house needy people before the hurricane struck. The poor tend to be concentrated in certain neighborhoods. They could have been located and moved out. In any case, when catastrophe strikes it is the role of all of our institutions to help.
In my opinion, even private organizations like the Chamber of Commerce should have used their contacts with members and their collective resources to establish and provide convoys of trucks taking the poor and vulnerable out of the city. The captains of industry have a responsibility to those among whom they live and work.
The Chamber of Commerce has a lot of clout, locally and nationally. The Corps of Engineers has been calling for years for a rebuilding of the levees around Lake Pontchartrain. Had the Chamber of Commerce used its clout, federal and state funds would allocated. They failed the city even before catastrophe struck.
Natural catastrophes will always occur, and- -pace Dennis Hastert- -they’ll occur everywhere. We can face them more effectively if we work in solidarity with our fellow citizens and if our leaders in government at all levels or in the private sector provide the leadership. They did not in the case of New Orleans.
The Bush Administration has again failed to respond adequately to a terrible American disaster. Just as he did on 9/11 (which I personally witnessed in NYC) Bush is acting with cowardice and crass hypocricy. The Iraq War costs the U.S. $186 million per day — to kill people. Can’t we allocate enough money, Bush & Co., to save the lives of our fellow Americans in New Orleans?
Are there any military bases open for these poor people to stay in? In addition to being bussed to the Astrodome in Texas? What about shelters in other nearby states? And why can’t they just bus them to airports to have them flown to shelters across the U.S.? What about cruise ships? It’s just so frustrating to see all the people without any place to go!
Manuela,
I have lived in New Orleans and live in Houston. I have several family members that are staying with me in Houston now and know the situation intimately. Please address which issues you disagree with, otherwise you seem ignorant.
Tamara,
True, the poor, the sick, could not all be evacuated, but many people stayed. Neither New Orleans, nor the rest of the gulf coast has ever had a system in place to evacuate everyone in 1 day. The evacuation order occured, many people left, many people stayed under their own will, and I agree with you, the poor, the sick could not be evacuated. But that was a failing of LA and Mississippi emergency services, not the National Government.
Secondly, the National Guard is not a standing Army, regardless if there are troops in Iraq, the National Guard must be “Called Up” to become activated. “Calling Up” the National Guard does not occur in 1 day. People in the National Guard have other jobs, and live all over the state. It takes time to call them up, organize them, and get them moving supplies in. I think LA has done a fantastic job getting them on time. As well as Texas, Utah, and the other states sending their National Guard men and women.
Lastly, you state the Chamber of Commerce should have used their members to help evacuate, that would be great, but I am pretty sure most of those people that run banks, and businesses left the city. The captains of industry only have a responsibility to pay for services rendered, and to keep their workers safe AT WORK. I would not expect a CEO to try and rescue people trapped in their roofs. The CEO is trained to run a business, not rescue people. That is where the National Guard, Red Cross, Fire Dept., Police force come in, they are trained to rescue people.
Robin,
There are military bases, but not in Houston. The bases in San Antonio will be housing people, in addition, there are dozens of other shelters in Houston that are taking in people from LA and Miss. Salt Lake City, Baton Rouge, and countless other cities are taking in people also. The issue is not that there are no places to go, it is that the organization and logistics of finding and moving so many people is difficult.
My son is in the Louisiana National Guard and here are some facts for you guys:
1. He was “called up” on Friday night and told to report Saturday morning to prepare for disaster assistance. (Yes, Friday)
2. Since Saturday, he has helped prepare at least 1900 National Guardsmen as they stopped in Lake Charles at the Armory en route to New Orleans. These Guardsmen are coming from all over Texas, stopping in Lake Charles to eat, rest, pick up gear, weapons, more vehicles—and then they continue to New Orleans.
3, BEFORE they can leave for New Orleans, every man must be briefed, given written orders, given travel orders, logged in to information centers and have all their information verified. (They even make them new dog tags—guess why)
So–yes it looks like the guard was not sent early enough, but rest assured, they were called up ahead of time.
4. Now–To receive additional Guardsmen and regular army, that has to be REQUESTED from the governor. That only happened yesterday.
5. As a nurse-paramedic, I can tell you that every disaster has to have a strong team leader. Governor Blanco is running this show guys, and honey she’s just not cut out for this! It’s not that she’s a woman, (I don’t believe), it’s just that she’s not the right person to run an operation of this magnitude. We need a new boss, and we need one fast. If someone doesn’t take control of the state and manage all these organizations–well you are seeing the result of her handiwork right now.
Yes–I am from New Orleans, but now live 2 hours away.
Cindi
From Ireland; there is not the out cry as there was for the tsunami victims, I am the only one in my whole office interested or concerned.
A sense that it is just Karma!?
On the anarchy you must sort your gun laws. The masses can not be empower so with the slightest interruption in central control.
The very best of luck and I hope you get the water and food intime..
The entire situation in NO and the Gulf Coast is the result of poor planning and implementation of relief efforts following the the worst natural AND man-made disaster in our nation’s history.
State and local governments have been stretched way beyond their ability to control the situation since the moment Hurricane Katrina left the area.
This should have been apparent to the federal government about mid day Tuesday when water began lapping at Superdome.
This has nothing to do with being poor, being rich, being black, or making “right decisions”. This has to do with getting aid to people in desperate need of the most basic of supplies required for survival: water, food and simple medicines.
Within 48 hours of the Tsunami, US helicopters were dropping food, water and medicine into SE Asia. We were also strongly lobbying local governments to insert US military personnel to maintain order amid the chaos. Here in our own country, it’s a VERY different story and sad fact that as we approach 96 hours after the event, this type of aid is still only a promise.
I am quite simply amazed at the level of incompetance exhibited by our federal government AND the lack of leadership shown by our Commander in Chief.
My best wishes and greatest hopes for relief go out to ALL that are touched by this terrible tragedy.
-Mike L.
I’m not going to defend Bush, but Gov Blanco has shown poor leadership — instead of sounding like Guliani she’s been sounding like someone overwhelmed and completely out of their depth.
And I understand that those with the means to leave aren’t the ones huddled on roofs and overpasses (other than unfortunate tourists), but why couldn’t city and school buses been used beginning SAT to get the econimically disadvantaged out of the area?
I frankly don’t understand why some armed NG troops were not choppered in to the SuperDome to provide security for water and MREs before now — but the idiots using this forum to continue complaining about Bush just add to the hostility which surrounds just about everything these days.
It is impossible to prepare for a disaster of this magnitude. Residents of the Gulf coast have known forever the risk inherent in living so close to the ocean. So let me get this straight. The President and his administration is responsible for not being prepared? What about those in dire straits? I’m supposed to shift all the blame for their predicament to the government? Seems to me they should take a little of the blame themselves. So they are poor. So they are mostly black. So what. Do you seriously believe most if not all of the people now stranded in New Orleans could have evacuated had evacuation been a priority with them? Whether it was ignorance, stupidity,arrogance or whatever, they made a huge mistake and now they are paying for it. For some of those involved it is just another opportunity to behave badly and make some more bad decisions. Looting, brandishing weapons etc. Character, caring, honor,integrity and other virtues which at one time were applauded, but for the most part lost in many parts of this nation is what gets people through tough times without people killing each other.
As a white citizen of the USA I am sickened by the lack of response to the poor black and white victims of New Orleans. I want answers to questions like, why did it take so long to get these people help and who is responsible? Why wasn’t food and water dropped to these people? Why wasn’t anyone in charge at the places these people were told to go? In support of these victim’s I encrouage all citizes black and white who are appalled at the lack of response to wear black ribbins with a white strip untill these questions are answered.
i am getting a little tired of the race card. my family is white, my sister has a bi racial son white/black, i love him just as much as my children but i am tired of all the grips that i am black so no one will help me, from what i have seen to many just sit on their duffs and expect everyone no matter what is going on to help them and when they do not get the help, then the race card is played, my sister lives in low income housing and works TWO jobs, not one but two just to take care of her and her son, her family pitches in with daycare, transportation to school and emergency funds if needed, but she does work TWO JOBS and you do not here her complaining. It is about time we just look at each other as Americans and quit playing the race card and having pity parties.
The media reporting on the situation in New Orleans has been awful. The following AP “news article” (link below) is typical of the disgracefully sensational and FALSE reporting by the media. Here’s just one example: the AP writer states that “The pair (of survivors) spent two days in an attic, two days on an interstate island and the last four days on the pavement in front of the convention center.” This scenario is impossible. The hurricane hit New Orleans on Monday morning. This article appeared on Sat. morning which is a span of five days. According to the reporter, these people were stranded at various places for EIGHT days! Reporting by Reuters has been even more outrageous. They report rumors as facts and quote individuals who repeat 2nd & 3rd-hand stories about rapes, murders, etc. None of the people they have quoted have been eyewitnesses. The media has abandoned any semblance of professionalism. - Gary
New Orleans Left to the Dead and Dying - Yahoo! News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050903/ap_on_re_us/hurricane_katrina_31
Bush this, Bush that. What a convenient target and scapegoat for this natural disaster. Any excuse for the bleeding heart, short-sighted democrats to blame “Bush”. Look at the big picture people! He is doing all that he can. Just not fast enough to suit his critics. It will never be enough. IMHO, our President is taking appropriate measures in the best interest of this country and New Orleans in particular.
I am in Texas on the Louisiana border where the buses have been coming in from NOLA. They have been met at the border with food, clothes, etc to continue on with their journey to the Astrodome and other shelters. We have seven shelters here in our small town in churches. Unbelievable amounts of money have come to our small town as well as food and supplies, school children enrolled in school, believe me when I say they are being taken care of as best we can. Of cours, nothing is as good as being in your own home and in your own bed; however, due to circumstances we are doing the best we know how to do.
I too am tired of the Bush bashing. I’ve watched tv and read the blogs on the internet and the reporters can really make you want to puke.
From what I remember (and i am in a position to to remember as we were watching the same storm and I was planning to leave Sunday night if that storm had gotten any closer), Bush declared the state of Louisiana a disaster before the storm ever hit land. He did his part, the rest was up to state and local government.
As far as poor people not being able to evacuate, I believe that is BS because when we were children, my mother had to deal with 12 children (we were very poor). The churches had buses or the schools had buses. I remember several times when we evacuated on a school bus. Or our church members would come and get us and take us up the country. We didn’t have a car or money either. But we were always evacuated. And the public is much more sensitive to poor people nowdays. I have read in other places (or blogs) that there were buses in those communities but people didn’t take them for whatever reason.
It’s too late to blame anyone. Just get up and pick up the pieces and learn a lesson from this. No matter how much we cry and blame someone else, it won’t change what’s already happened. We just have to go on.
If people said looters among those hurricane
David & Helen, I absolutely agree with you about the Bush bashing. The Bush-haters jump at any & every opportunity to blame Pres. Bush for everything. Let’s look at the facts. Well before the hurricane even hit land, Pres. Bush approved the disaster declaration by the governors of LA, MS, and AL. Last weekend, on Fri., Sat. (during his radio address), and Sun., Pres. Bush implored residents of New Orleans to listen to their local officials and evacuate the city. He authorized FEMA to prepare for disaster assistance and promised them everything they needed. Within 48 hrs. of the flooding of New Orleans, Congress had passed & Pres. Bush signed a $10.5 billion aid package (which was a quicker response than even after the 9/11 attacks). The latter action is even more remarkable considering that the entire Congress and the President were away from Washington when the hurricane struck. Pres. Bush has put every federal resource at the disposal of the local officials and FEMA. In every area where Pres. Bush has direct control, he responded immediately and decisively. Unreported by the media and the Bush-haters is that the governors of both MS and AL have praised the quick federal response. The disaster response in NOLA was greatly affected by the severe flooding and by the lawlessness that hindered the activities of FEMA and local officials. The real outrage in NOLA is the fact that 1/3 to 1/2 of the New Orleans police force abandoned their duties (in abject violation of their sworns oaths to protect the people.) Meanwhile, Pres. Bush spent the whole day on the Gulf Coast yesterday and will visit again on Monday.
Of course, this won’t come as a surprise, because I intend to spit venom stronger than any snake that our government and yes, I am a black woman. But, I was raised during a time when Martin Luther King told us to march for our rights. And I lived during a time when
Malcolm X cried: “By any means necessary!”
I believed the hype. Everything that you said about freedom. I digested and thrived on it.
Now, I knew that something was wrong in America but, like everybody else, I talked about it among my friends and my family.
Because, what could I do, right?
But, Monday when hurricane Katrina hit a creepy realization came upon me, that this wasn’t like every other storm, this was apocalyptic! And of course I held my breath and feared for the worse, but not in my WILDEST, most far fetched nightmare, did I conceptualize the horror that was to unfold. But as each day passed and I saw my people still believing.
I watched from morning, to noon and through the night, because I knew America was going to pull through.
But, now as I hear about the body count, as I hear about the hunger, the thirst, the filth, and I see George W. Bush, portraying some “half-baked” concerned official.
All that I am able to do is cry barrels of tears. And it takes me back to a time that I am not familiar with, firsthand, but, I feel that the regard that the American government gave us, the black race, through this most illuminating tragedy, is no more than what they did to us, when they brought us over in the many slave ships.
So, I say to you, George Bush, from my God to your God, he doesn’t hear you, because you are truly the Anti-Christ! I feel sorry for your wife, your daughters, your father and your mother. There are no words to express the feelings that float in my head, like the chemical waste that floats in New Orleans, Mississippi, Alabama. And I ask everyone, why didn’t this happen in Florida, last year? Too bad the people in New Orleans, didn’t have Jeb as the Governor.
And I am going to close by saying:
“Something STINKS in AMERICA! And I believe we can all find it in the Bush!
A very proud Black Sista’ in Palmdale, California. My Name Gaylene Johnson-Ward and daughter Lonique D. Johnson
Gaylene–I understand your frustration and distress. But as much as I hate to say it, Bush was just a small part of this problem. OUR OWN GOVERNOR went 3 DAYS before asking for extra troops to secure the area so Fema and Red Cross could come in, because they will not enter unsecured areas! The president cannot just push her out of the way and say’ “I’m takin over and sending in the Marines! She HAS to make the request–effectually relinquishing some responsibility.
So everyone involved made big mistakes because this was not a disaster-=it was a series of at least five disasters…hurricane, wind damage, initial flood, levee break, secondary flooding, inaccessible rescue areas, and then crminals shooting at rescuers…all these things served to slow down rescue, and cost us God knows how many beautiful Louisiana lives.
Your are right about the biggest problem–I furiously watched and waited for the rush of celebrity performers and donations…..and for the first five days it was pathetic! I am caucasian, but I do feel in my heart that America was very slow to respond…I feel it was racial and class discrimination.
They don’t realize the multitudes of poverty-level New Orleans citizens who spend most of their lives in their own neighborhoods because that’s all they know and ALL THEY COULD AFFORD!
The audacity of ordering people to evacuate and just assuming they have the money and means to do it.
Our officials were warned beforehand, “you’ll have many displaced citizens. Better set up large tents in high areas, stocked with food and water, where they can wait for evacuation and care. Fema was told, “People from Louisiana don’t live in tents.”
Well, not in tents, but it’s okay to let em live on the interstate while starving.
And GET THIS: today a load of porta’potties was flown in and dropped off. My son is National Guard and saw it with his own eyes. CAN YOU IMAGINE? Why couldn’t they drop potties and food this week?
Bad Bad teamwork fellas–mostly by state officials…they ran the show. I don’t think Gov. Blanco knew what she was doing, but it’s over now. And we must make it up to those poor souls who will be forever scarred by those horrific sites and feelings.
Rally your reps for money and tax breaks and grants, and housing allowances for the victims. Give tax breaks to those who employ the victims. They can create special incentives to all who decide to go back and start over.
You are right, all I could think about as I watched them suffer on that I-10 bridge is, “God, how can we do this to them again? What the hell is wrong with our world?”
Gaylene–I understand your frustration and distress. But as much as I hate to say it, Bush was just a small part of this problem. OUR OWN GOVERNOR went 3 DAYS before asking for extra troops to secure the area so Fema and Red Cross could come in, because they will not enter unsecured areas! The president cannot just push her out of the way and say’ “I’m takin over and sending in the Marines! She HAS to make the request–effectually relinquishing some responsibility.
So everyone involved made big mistakes because this was not a disaster-=it was a series of at least five disasters…hurricane, wind damage, initial flood, levee break, secondary flooding, inaccessible rescue areas, and then crminals shooting at rescuers…all these things served to slow down rescue, and cost us God knows how many beautiful Louisiana lives.
Your are right about the biggest problem–I furiously watched and waited for the rush of celebrity performers and donations…..and for the first five days it was pathetic! I am caucasian, but I do feel in my heart that America was very slow to respond…I feel it was racial and class discrimination.
They don’t realize the multitudes of poverty-level New Orleans citizens who spend most of their lives in their own neighborhoods because that’s all they know and ALL THEY COULD AFFORD!
The audacity of ordering people to evacuate and just assuming they have the money and means to do it.
Our officials were warned beforehand, “you’ll have many displaced citizens. Better set up large tents in high areas, stocked with food and water, where they can wait for evacuation and care. Fema was told, “People from Louisiana don’t live in tents.”
Well, not in tents, but it’s okay to let em live on the interstate while starving.
And GET THIS: today a load of porta’potties was flown in and dropped off. My son is National Guard and saw it with his own eyes. CAN YOU IMAGINE? Why couldn’t they drop potties and food this week?
Bad Bad teamwork fellas–mostly by state officials…they ran the show. I don’t think Gov. Blanco knew what she was doing, but it’s over now. And we must make it up to those poor souls who will be forever scarred by those horrific sites and feelings.
Rally your reps for money and tax breaks and grants, and housing allowances for the victims. Give tax breaks to those who employ the victims. They can create special incentives to all who decide to go back and start over.
You are right, all I could think about as I watched them suffer on that I-10 bridge is, “God, how can we do this to them again? What the hell is wrong with our world?”
The president can’t be blamed for the disaster alone, but that stupid mayor can.what color is he? how can people say this is a racial thing when the one who should have gotten the people in the nursing homes, hosptial,and the poor out of new orleans is black as well.The Mayor knew the possible results of a hurricane that had been predicted in the past and the mayor should have spent the days before getting ready for thousands of people to be in the superdome with police protection,food water,ect….the mayor of new york could have handled this situation……The president should have gotten the army in sooner….but the people themselves should have acted as humans!!!! not wild animals the people that commited crimes in this situation should recieve severe punishments they should get sent under the jail…….so there is enough blame to go around for everyone…….the government,red cross and fema all need to concentrate now on making sure the money that is sent to help victims does just that and doesn’t get wasted. N O needs to look at getting a new mayor.Everyone needs to just stop trying to make everything be about race we are all people black, white,green or purple we are all americans.
I am sick and tired of this dumbas# race card being pulled. Look people! Everyone is saying “more could have been done”, “help isn’t coming fast enough”, and “it’s all Bush’s fault”. Shut up and think for just one second about the fact that this is the single largest emergency in American history. With hind sight being 20/20 it is so easy to think that nothing is being done. I have tons of friends and family working round the clock over there and to hear people who are bitching instead of contributing is infuriating to say the least. As far as the race card look at the TV a little closer if whites hated blacks so much why are thousands apon thousands of them risking their own safety to help them. 90% of the victims left their are black true, but 80% of the people providing aid on the ground are white so why can’t they get a little thanks istead of this bullshit?