Posted on 09/08/2005 6:35:58 PM PDT by AndyMeyers
"We then specifically asked the DWF agent that we (and other citizens in the flotillia) be allowed to go to the hospitals and help evacuate the sick and the doctors and nurses stranded there. We offered to bring these people back to Lafayette, in our own vehicles, in order to ensure that they received proper and prompt medical care,"
"The DWF agent did not want to hear this and ordered us home. We complied with the DWF agent's orders, turned around and headed back to Lafayette along with half of the flotillia. However, two of my friends were pulling my other boat, a smaller 15ft alumaweld with a 25 hp. The DWF agents let them through to proceed to the rescue operation launch site," the email continued."
Some internet sites/blogs are reporting that it was FEMA that ordered the boats turned away. The letter writer was clear it was a state of Louisiana agent.
Only public workers may be heros. Didn't you know?
I wondered about this. At first we were seeing "heros" in fishing boats rescuing people and then nothing. I didn't know why they stopped.
If you had a 1,000 folks show up with boats...how many would be there to rob houses? I'd bet on at least 40. Thats the issue with this concept. There are good intentions, but in the real world...you have trouble with some folks.
Blanko Blanco and her ilk are going to come out of this with toxic shame.
"If you had a 1,000 folks show up with boats...how many would be there to rob houses? I'd bet on at least 40. "
So it's because the local police didn't want any competition????
The other issue is competence. Out of 1000 boats, how many boaters are not going to be able to handle navigating through a flooded city, dealing with hazards (like cars), and won't end up being victims themselves.
While I'm sure it would make worlds of difference, I'm also sure they don't need more people to rescue. Telling them to go home was probably a tough call, IMO.
la officials....they seem to be at the end of everything bad since k hit land in la...hmmmmm
Reminder to self: NEVER - EVER - move to Louisiana.
No wonder Pelosi doesn't want an investigation.
I'm skeptical that 40 were there to loot. It's possible though. I would rather take the chance that they were all there to save lives.
I would trust 1000 cajuns with boats a hell of a lot more that any federal or state agents in an emergency.
The problem is still SOMEBODY doesn't want the rescues or someone doesn't want something seen.
There is an article in the New York Times detailing where ALL weapons in New Orleans are being confiscated from ALL private citizens!
Something is ODD!
I agree that it would have been a tough call. Unless he was ordered by superiors to stop rescue attempts, he should have told people that they assumed all risks and let them pass.
You just nailed it. If there's one thing a government bow wow can't stand, its an unpaid volunteer.
"Blanko Blanco and her ilk are going to come out of this with toxic shame."
The Dems will never, never accept that. It will always be Bush's fault no matter how much evidence to the contrary.
I think with some passage of time, a lot of these "field" decisions won't look so bad. Sitting here high and dry, it's easy to look backwards on the situation and armchair quarterback. For example: even though I think the mayor of NO is a POS, has zero leadership capabilities and a foul mouth to boot, I'd let him off the hook on the busses. Suppose he would have made the "right" decision,"ordering" the fine government employees of NO to man the buses and evacuate the city 24 hours before this hit. How many drivers would actually have shown up-or come back after the first run? Suppose he actually managed to get 100,000 well-mannered, orderly,and agreeable people willingly out of there (NOT). Where, exactly, would they go? Certainly, hundreds of people would die in an emergency evacuation like that (even if it could have been done) from accidents, natural causes (lots of older and infirm people), gunfire (apparently this is actually "natural" in NO). AND THEN, what if the hurricane would have veered a little further east and the levees didn't break? He would have been a bigger POS than he is now. I would imagine that he is haunted by the decisions that he made - but that's why it's lonely at the top.
With a "statesman", not a politican in charge of the investigation (if there are actually any statesmen left), it will probably be determined that some decisions were downright stupid, but many were tough decisions like this one.
At the suggestion of writer Michelle Malkin last Friday, I have cobbled together a blogsite called Texas Clearinghouse for Katrina Aid to serve as a clearinghouse for refugee efforts in Texas.
Texas is getting more refugees than any other state -- that's fine, we'll take them all -- but we need help providing them with food, clothing, medicine, and shelter. We need help taking care of their pets, too.
If you are a refugee, you can information that will help you find relief. If you want to donate or volunteer, you can find someone who needs you. Believe me, there are a lot of organizations who need your help.
Right now the site mostly covers Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas but I'm adding more every night. My wife was down at Reunion Arena in Dallas Tuesday handing out care packages and spiritually ministering to the refugees as a representative of her employer. She says that the situation is tragic and that there's a lot of work to be done. There are so many children who don't know where their parents are or even if their parents are still alive.
There are a lot of churches and other organizations in Texas that need help in dealing with the problem and I would appreciate it if you would get the word out.
Many thanks,
Michael McCullough
Stingray blogsite
Considering the looting performed by the NOLA Police Dept, the same concern would apply to the various government agents on the scene.
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