Posted on 09/03/2005 7:31:08 PM PDT by plain talk
... add LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton to the list
... There were inadequate supplies, inadequate plumbing, and no porta-potties. There were conflicting instructions - go to the Superdome, don't go to the Superdome. In the end, the Superdome itself needed evacuation as conditions became intolerable. Emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks, ambulances and police cars were not moved to higher ground before the hurricane hit. It is obvious the city had no plan other than telling people to drive out of the city.
Homeland Security automatically grants authority for emergency management to the "lowest possible organizational and jurisdictional" level", in this case to the City of New Orleans. ...
We know that they immediately asked for help, but they do not seem to have implemented plans or put in place mechanisms for coordinating with federal, regional, or local agencies to direct the help that was at hand. There was no back-up communication grid; radios and walkie-talkie systems for different organizations operated on different frequencies, making coordination impossible. ... How did city officials suppose that supply trucks or transport buses would access islands in a giant cesspool? If they knew that if the city was 80% underwater, there would be no access, what options were available? Plans for amphibious transport vehicles. Or a mandatory evacuation by bus beforehand - by force if necessary - for those with no car. Didn't happen. Why did the city authorities wait until the worst had occurred before emptying prisoners in jail onto the street - which, if true, explains in part why we have seen violence and crime. Why weren't prisoners relocated during the main evacuation to secure alternatives? Same with hospital patients. Some were evacuated. Why weren't they all?
(Excerpt) Read more at asininity.com ...
To put it simply, NOLA had NO emergency response plan in force.
Bush told the Governor of Louisiana to evacuate.
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