Posted on 09/04/2005 12:35:07 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
NEW ORLEANS - Supplies were running low for Greg Picolo and his neighbor, Wendy Smith, stranded in their flooded neighborhood about a half-mile north of the French Quarter. That was when about two dozen firefighters from the Los Angeles area came to their rescue.
Because California has one of the largest swift-water rescue programs in the country, firefighters from the state are taking a lead role in evacuation efforts in this city, about half of which remains under water, authorities said.
So far, a task force that includes firefighters from Los Angeles city and county departments has rescued more than 1,000 people, according to Charles Hurley, assistant chief of special operations of the California Office of Emergency Services.
Teams and equipment from California were loaded Monday night into military cargo planes bound for Lafayette, La. By Tuesday noon, teams began lowering watercraft and inflatable boats into the water in New Orleans.
Four hours later, they had rescued 197 people, according to Capt. Greg Terrill of the Los Angeles Fire Department's swift-water rescue team based in Pacoima.
The team worked until 11 p.m. and ferried about 500 people to safety, Hurley said. The rescues continued all week. On Saturday, firefighters picked up 93-year-old Marie C. Lindsey from her home in the middle of the city.
After being taken by boat to an Interstate 10 ramp, Lindsey was taken by helicopter to a medical staging area at Louis Armstrong International Airport, where she was treated for dehydration.
"I was so thankful to see them," said Lindsey's daughter, Veronica L. Walker, who was at the home with her mother. "It was the best sight. God really does bless us and keep us all."
Still, some residents are preferring to stay in their homes.
"They think the pumps are going to turn on," said Mike Alves of the Los Angeles County
Swift Water Rescue Team based in Pico Rivera. "That's the big thing around here. A lot of people think the water somehow is leaving."
Most firefighters said they think the water will not be pumped out of the city for about eight weeks - by Saturday, it had only receded about eight inches.
On Saturday, the California Highway Patrol said it is sending equipment - including three fixed-wing planes and three helicopters - as well as 100 officers to help Louisiana state police, with an advance team of several officers reaching Baton Rouge on Saturday afternoon.
A Federal Emergency Management Agency official said urban search-and-rescue teams from the state that had been dispatched to the region remained late Saturday in Dallas and Houston staging areas, awaiting word to continue deploying.
Amid rescue and evacuation efforts, American Red Cross officials said Saturday that they are aware of at least 10 families who have arrived in Los Angeles after driving themselves out of the region.
The Red Cross officials said they have given shelter to the families, who are not part of federal evacuation efforts, but declined to provide details.
"It's so sad," Los Angeles Fire Capt. Chuck Ruddell said of ongoing rescues in New Orleans. "We'll pick them up and take them somewhere else, but where do they go from there? They really don't know."
That's good news.
Gee... I wonder if John Kerry is in one of those Swift Boats?
No, but he will send in his own "after action report".
Can someone tell me when the evacuation routes out of NO were officially closed? TIA.
After the hurricane came through I believe.....the Counterflow plan was stopped a couple hours before the storm started to hit to let some people go East...the freeways were mostly empty then.
I-10 lake flooded near Metrarie to the west, and the I-10 broke up to the east during the winds....then the dikes broke later Monday night.
I doubt if they were officially closed. Katrina eventually closed them.
Probably put in for a Purple Heart.
God bless this CA bunch. SWR is always dangerous and exhausting exhausting work, and every time they're called out someones life depends on them getting it right.
Excellent. Thanks.
Am i missing something? I keep hearing all about "These people had no cars, they had no way to get out, they needed public transportation..blah, blah blah." Yet,When I see the rescue videos and overhead shots I sure see a lot of cars ( of course, now flooded) and I heard reports about people in the water "dodging all these cars".
Am I the only one asking "Why are all these cars still there? Why didn't "all those people with no transportation" drive out when they had the chance. I understand there were people who medically or physically couldn't get out....but some responsibility surely must go to all those thousands that just didn't heed the evacuation demands. That happens a lot in hurricaines. People refuse to leave and then we have to "rescue" them. That sure isn't getting talked about.
A good percentage of the stragglers were planning a scenario of looting and pillaging (imho).
Wanted to tell you about my friend’s experience in New Orleans – he’s still in the French Quarter – luckily high and dry and safe. We talked today on his cell phone.He doesn’t have a car. He said that by the time they realized how serious the storm was, all of his friends with cars had already left. All of the instructions on how to leave city via public transportation that they were getting over the radio and TV were contradictory. They’d go to one pick-up point and there’d be no one there. At the next there’d be a bus or two and 10 people for every available seat.
Once they decided that they couldn’t get out, they spent the remaining time getting all the supplies they’d need to weather the storm. There are 7 people in his apartment right now, plus 5 dogs and 3 cats.
They said that the generosity they’ve seen on the streets has been amazing. For every one act of violence or looting that they’ve seen, they’ve seen 15 acts of kindness. He can’t walk down the street without having someone ask if he needs water or something to eat.
I hope we start seeing a few more good stories come out of New Orleans soon.
ping.
He took one in the ass while liberating a cache of red beans and rice....
Undoubtedly.
Thanks for the thoughtful message.
Texas hospitality. Maybe we should also give Louisiana's land to the Texans.
I know this is soooo late, but just getting computer access. just want to say thanks to the california firefighters that belong to the swift water rescue team cat 4. one in particular, jim gill. i was in ( literally ) katrina, and these guys picked up and were in new orleans on short notice to help in any way they could. hats off to anyone that came and is still here helping. you are appreciated.
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