Cruise Ships for the Homeless in the Gulf?(Just a thought.)

8/31,2005 | self

[kellynla]

The idea came up this a.m. that maybe since there is going to be a huge problem involving rescue and temporary housing of the homeless from the Katrina hurricane in the Gulf that maybe cruise ships could be used. And the S.S. Hope might be used for those who undoubtedly will need medical care.

[eyespysomething]

Thanks.

[jackbill]

When the Comfort is in port, do the crew members all stay aboard or do they disperse Drs. and nurses to other military hospitals? If so, they would be somewhat delayed just getting the folks back aboard.

[Wurlitzer]

"I think the problem is when people are describing what they have seen ON TV. I mean, we all know that news coverage would *never* focus on the worst case scenario, right? The news media just LOVES covering the story of the 400,000+ evacuees who are NOT looting, don't they? Couldn't it possibly be that the people looting are the minority and that's why they're the ones who made their way onto your TV screen? C'mon now - you're on FReep - surely you recognize the games played by the media, right?? Right????"

A very Logical thought Capagrl and you may be right, but after I read "Bias" I know the MSM will do everything possible to hide "diversity" related problems. In this case they cannot.

I too, would rather see more success, survival stories as they are more uplifting but I can only comment on what I actually see.

[yankeedame]

"sort of people?" well I can see what "sort of people" you are! LOL
I would love to be the captain.
Glad to see the Judeo-Christian values vented here on Free Republic.

Kellynla, just because something is bad doesn't mean its wrong; or in this case, "Just because something is un-PC doesn't mean its a lie."

[Calpernia]

I saw that suggestion a numerous times posted by freepers.

Problem is getting the people out of the S.D.

[newfrpr04]

now they want to take them to Houston. They should keep them in LA - build a tent city . Not all of the state is underwater. Why burden another state.

[stuartcr]

There are lots of empty barracks and barracks ships space for people om the numerous bases we have.

[Calpernia]

I would think any business owner would jump at the PR/Marketing opportunity for future customers.

[kellynla]

"There are lots of empty barracks and barracks ships space for people om the numerous bases we have."

well there's an excellent idea...

the whole purpose of the thread was to air some solutions...

thank you!

[stuartcr]

What would a success story be? The evacuees in motels all over the place? They already do show the survivors..ya can't interview the dead.

[Capagrl]

And we also saw the looting during the post-Rodney King verdict riots in '92 that was done by predominantly black people. Could it be... the overwhelming majority of the population, especially the ones who do not own vehicles (thus minimizing their capability of evacuating), is comprised of blacks? In addition, if you look at the poverty levels of MS and LA, I think it's understandable (not right, just understandable) that people who have never had the most basic standard of living would act like kids in a candy store when the opportunity arises. I'm not going all dem here and trying to justify anyone's behavior, I just believe that the color of their skin probably has more to do with population diversity (or lack thereof), transportation (or lack thereof) and poverty issues (bigger than we can fathom) than being "those kind of people" or anything else.

The MSM loves negative news - death, destruction and looting is a GREAT day in TV land. People sucking up the message and repeating it puts the icing on the cake for the MSM.

[darkangel82]

There was a DU thread about that on the CU forums.

[Wurlitzer]

I do not subscribe to the "poverty" excuse other than it seems some groups go out of their way to make stupid decisions that lead them into poverty.

In WNY, during the major snow storms (nowhere near the devastation in LA,MS,AL) you did not see hordes of people breaking into stores. There were a few to be sure, but most of us know how to behave and when we are told something bad is coming we stock up by buying stuff not stealing it.

Speaking of snow storms, the next time some idiot says "Oh Buffalo and all that snow", I'll just smile. My house will still be standing.

[Bottom_Gun]

they have 2 crews, one that stays with the ship at all times, the ROS crew, who keep the ship and supplies up. My wife was on this crew. then secondary crew, the MOS crew, are the medical personel, who are TAD to area medical bases and are called back for getting underway. I suspect that they will be Bussed up to Dundalk ( where Comfort is piered in balt.)and, they will pick the rest of them up in Norfolk on the way down. Then they will proceed down to where needed.
Hope this helps!

[yankeedame]

There are lots of empty barracks and barracks ships space for people om the numerous bases we have.

I beg to disagree. This move could open a variable

To wit:

-- If the majority of the refugees are black and are sent to closed military bases/barracks, couldn't some race pimp howl that "they" (police, whoever) were rounding up blacks and shipping them to "concentration camps"?

-- If the refugees get "out of hand" (a.k.a. start running wild/tearing up the place), wouldn't military/civilian cops be needed to restore maintain order? In a closed military establishment with (chiefly) blacks?

Won't the media love this? (Think of the photo opts! Think of all those reporters dreaming of a Pulitzer Prize.)

Wouldn't the race hustlers love this? (O, shades of 1960s George Wallace's Alabama!)

-- And if these people were brought to a closed military camp, would they be allowed to leave? At will? And, perhaps more importantly, to return at will? ("Sanctuary! Sanctuary!") If they were confided to the base could that not be construed as imprisonment? False imprisonment? And again, if a majority of these refugees, then you run the very really possibility of Sharpen,Jackson, ACLU, &c. screaming: "False imprisonment + racism!"?

[stuartcr]

They could instruct those that have evacuated and are living in motels, to go to the nearest military base and do the paperwork required to get on base, and then they could assign them quarters, if available. They could also move the barracks ships to the area...there's not much to mess up on a steel barracks barge, and they house a lot of people.

[NCC-1701]

Just a thought. IF NOLA IS finally ordered to be evacuated, couldn't the refugees be flown out? I know the airports are out, but couldn't I-10 be turned into an emergency airstrip? I have read that when the interstate system was being built, it was to be built so that they could, in an emergency, be used as runways. If I-10 west of NOLA is passable, couldn't that be used? If not I-10, Take them to Baton Rogue or Lafayette. They have airports that could be used for whatever the final destinations would be. I know this sounds bizzare, but this is a bizzare situation. Please don't flame me for this.

[Trust but Verify]

I'm sure you cannot land and take off large aircraft from interstate highways. If the weight wasn't prohibitive, what about the length of level, straight roadway that would be needed? How would you turn the plane around for take-off, and how would you get the passengers on it? Then there are highway signs, light posts, you name it. Smaller aircraft might work, but how many flights of 4 people would it take to get 50,000 out of a city?

[NCC-1701]

"... Smaller aircraft might work, but how many flights of 4 people would it take to get 50,000 out of a city?..."

Why not use the prop job type of aircraft Northwest and American Airlines use? More people, fewer flights. Look, this is an extreme what if, but if needed, why not? As far as the signage, lights, and other obstructions, remove them. Where to turn the aircraft around? Build a temporary ramp in the medians. the Army Corps of Engineers are experts at this sort of thing. My whole point is that this is a major emergency, why not look at all options to solve problems. Things are getting grimmer as the hours and days mount.

[FDNYRHEROES]

Just a thought. IF NOLA IS finally ordered to be evacuated, couldn't the refugees be flown out? I know the airports are out, but couldn't I-10 be turned into an emergency airstrip? I have read that when the interstate system was being built, it was to be built so that they could, in an emergency, be used as runways. If I-10 west of NOLA is passable, couldn't that be used? If not I-10, Take them to Baton Rogue or Lafayette. They have airports that could be used for whatever the final destinations would be. I know this sounds bizzare, but this is a bizzare situation. Please don't flame me for this.

Excellent idea. In fact, this innovation is already in place in Singapore. If their main base(s) are taken out, they can turn their long stretch of highway into a runway. This should have already been a part of the Louisiana Highway system. This should already have been a part of the planning process for the entire interstate highway system.