Posted on 09/03/2008 8:18:13 AM PDT by navysealdad
The number of New Orleans evacuees at Fort Chaffee continued expanding as Gov. Mike Beebe visited the base and consulted with officials early Monday morning.
New Orleans residents evacuated to Fort Chaffee out of the path of Hurricane Gustav numbered 2,308 Monday afternoon with around 200 more expected to arrive at the training grounds by the end of the day, according to Maj. Keith Moore, spokesperson for the Arkansas National Guard.
Several New Orleans residents who arrived at Chaffee complained that the bus ride from their city was “miserable.” Tiffany Smith said during the nearly 24-hour transport, neither air conditioning nor water was provided and the driver stopped to allow restroom breaks only three times. Smith said the bus ride was especially burdensome because she is pregnant.
Both Tennille and Jackson said Louisiana officials are responsible for transport conditions from New Orleans, and will be responsible for such conditions when the evacuees are transported back home.
Evacuees were shuttled into Fort Smith throughout Labor Day and dropped off at either Wal-Mart Supercenter, 8301 Rogers Ave., or Central Mall.
Sgt. Chris Harris of the Fort Smith Police Department confirmed that several New Orleans residents were detained for shoplifting, but likely not arrested since they are in town only temporarily.
Some evacuees reportedly purchased alcohol from a liquor store near Wal-Mart, drank the alcohol in the Wal-Mart parking lot and became disorderly, Harris said.
“Wal-Mart requested officers work off-duty to maintain some type of order and make sure nobody gets disorderly,” Harris said. “At this time, off-duty assistance (from the Police Department) will continue into Friday.”
Many evacuees spent much of Labor Day sitting outside the barracks they have been housed in, chatting amongst each other. Some expressed anxiety that radios were not provided in each barrack, others said they appreciated the shelter and accommodations.
Ingrates
Why do we keep saving New Orleans? Seems a waste of money.
I’ve been wondering where Looter Guy got to. Now we know. :^)
The offscourings of the scum of the dregs of the scrapings from the bottom of the last barrel.
Wow, just wow. The government moves you free of charge out of the path of a hurricane, and you complain. I just don’t get it. It makes no sense.
My Gustav refugee relatives have all went back home now, but before they left, they lifted about 2 cases of beer, 3 chickens, 3 dozen eggs, 80% of my broadband service, pound of bacon and lots more.
“Tiffany Smith said during the nearly 24-hour transport, neither air conditioning nor water was provided...”
Tiffany Smith should have walked then. She can carry air conditioning and water on her back.
And who’s surprised there was looting?
I hope you provided their beer of choice-Heineken!
Next Hurricane, a Tent City somewhere out in the middle of nowhere. Maybe Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s county could donate his time to run it for a few weeks.
“Ingrates”
Reparations.
Fine, stay home and DROWN damnit.
The San Antonio refugees are whining about wanting Government funds for gas to get back home even though they could have taken the public transportation instead of driving their vehicles. After the hit we have taken on the increased crime after Katrina...the reason Houston wouldn’t take more as they even had to apply for Fed funds to fight the crime by these folks... IMHO, it is cheaper to just give them the money to get them the hell out of here.
...several New Orleans residents were detained for shoplifting...
Some evacuees reportedly purchased alcohol from a liquor store near Wal-Mart, drank the alcohol in the Wal-Mart parking lot and became disorderly...
LOL, what else would anybody expect from busloads of Democrat welfare-staters?
Give them each a $2,000 "debit" card - - that'll shut them up.
P.J. O’Rourke hit the nail on the head when he once described New Orleans as nothing but a high crime drainage ditch.
LOL
LOL
Touche!!!!
Next time nothing but limos and executive suites at the Waldorf for evacuees.
I live in Fort Smith, and my understanding is they are hitting the WalMart on Zero Street too (it’s the one closer to our house). The Fort Smith PD are hopping trying to keep the peace with all the reports of shoplifting and drunk and disorderly at local WalMarts and Central Mall. So much for my trip there this week (I’ll just hit the Neighborhood Market if they don’t figure out where it is).
So they get free transportation (being bussed by Fort Smith Public Transit), free room and board (the Salvation Army is helping feed them), free internet and television, and this is the thanks the good people of Fort Smith get.
I told my sister to call an exterminator. And to shop at CV’s in Barling till they blow out of town.
Well, there's a plan that needs a re-think.
NOLA is America’s toilet and Gustav flushed it. So did Katrina. The excrement has to go somewhere unfortunately.
NOLA is America’s toilet and Gustav flushed it. So did Katrina. The excrement has to go somewhere unfortunately.
Unfortunately, they’ve hit another WalMart closer to my house (still 10 minutes away from us). I won’t tell them where the third one is :)
They should’ve taken up to Van Buren up north of the river and let them shop(lift) at that WalMart...it’s in a dry county, if I’m not mistaken.LOL
Fortunately, I know enough about this city to find what I need without having to hit WalMart for a while.
Mark the ingrates with a big I on their foreheads and then next time, leave them in NO. Goodness, while I suspect MOST of the people transported were thankful, it defies common decency to complain about the help you get, and then to come and act in an anti social manner in the place that has welcomed you.
susie
Well, but it’s not their fault. They were planning on looting in NO and since they were made to leave, they just had to adjust their plans...
susie
“Tiffany Smith should have walked then.”
Tiffany can’t walk. Tiffany pregnant.
With a baby!
There is plenty of praise from a lot of the evacuees—however, some of their compadres seem to believe it’s okay to loot the host city (in this case, mine).
Grateful people don’t make good copy for the media. Sadly.
susie
Exactly, and that is why Tiffany Smith should be thankful for a ride...a ride of any kind...hot, cold, with seats, in the back of a pick up truck, whatever.
Sheesh, these thankless folks who depend on you and me.
We were at the Grapevine Outlet Mall in Texas over the weekend. Someone tried to snatch items out of a bag I was carrying. Later there were mall security running around after purse snatcher types. We immediately thought Gustav evacuees.
I live a few miles from there, and I haven't been in that mall for over two years, and I hope I never have to go there ever again.
“I haven’t been in that mall for over two years, and I hope I never have to go there ever again.”
Uh oh, why do you say that?
We’ve gone to the Parks mall in Arlington. There seems to be a lot of degenerates of all types that hang out there.
I should add, I just hate going to malls in general, I much prefer the more open stores.
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