Posted on 08/29/2005 12:39:10 PM PDT by Smogger
Mayor Ray Nagin said that 200 people were stranded on rooftops in the Lower Ninth Ward and several “bodies are floating in the water” in the Bywater neighborhood and in Eastover.
Nagin made the announcement in his first press briefing after Hurricane Katrina slammed just east of the city, but did plenty of devastation to New Orleans.
Nagin said that the 200 stranded people included 20 police officers who were riding out the storm at their homes in preparation to take over shifts from other officers. He said that boats would be dispatched on rescue missions later in the afternoon.
Mayor Nagin issued a "boil water" recommendation for water in the city - except for Algiers and the CBD due to a water main line break that may have compromised the water.
Nagin said at least 20 buildings in the city had collapsed and that it might be 48 hours before residents would be allowed back to their homes to assess the damage.
(Excerpt) Read more at wwltv.com ...
"King George"? Do you mean President Bush?
Is you purpose on this forum to debate issues, or, just be a silly troll who belives they are being clever?
.
As a nation, I think it is a good thing we are big enough, and wealthy enough to aid our own in times of national disasters.
Is it your belief that we should leave those suffering from the effects of this disaster to fend for themselves?I would be interested in you explaining fully your position.
Well which is it? ARe you pissed off because people you don't know aren't allowed to "return to their homes" or that "King George the socialist" will spend "our tax dollars" on "various aid programs."
Imagine the NERVE of the president showing up with money and aid when hundreds of people may have been killed. You should have spent last year in FL like I did. And btw, nobody stays during the storm because they are afraid they won't be allowed back to their home. They stay because its there home.
I happen to believe you're just here to stir up trouble.
Nit picking? No. We don't know what the stories are for the other 180. Many might have valid reasons for being there, too. Many more might not have been ABLE to get out. Are you aware that a lot of people in NO don't own cars? The city shut down the bus lines, so unless they could hitch a ride with someone, a lot of people couldn't get out. This is a city that normally has one of the best and most used public transportation systems in the country--a lot of people just don't own cars, because it's easier to ride the bus or the trolley. If the city shuts those down, folks are out of luck.
The pumps in N.O. have never been capable of preventing the city from flooding. The pumps get overwhelmed by severe rainstorms routinely, and areas of the city flood. The pumping stations then remedy the flooding, but they cannot prevent it.
Cheap shot!
"ALL"?? And you know this because...?
Go ahead, and display more of your absolute (and heartless) idiocy.
All were?
Regardless, that's just one possible reason people may not have left. Others may not have had transportation available to them, may have (foolishly) tried to protect a business, etc. Still others may be emergency personnel and police.
It's very easy to sit in judgment of these folks, but the truth is some people have a legitimate reason for staying. Certainly, not everyone who does stay deserves the kind of scorn you've heaped upon them here.
I like to see which celebrities are going to have concerts for these people. Is Queen Oprah going to help her people with all her millions? Are we going to witness Live Aid for the people of New Orleans?
Good grief. And if they move to Kansas, what ever will they do about the tornados? Oh, wait, that's their fault for not staying in New Orleans where there are hurricanes.
It isn't the power to protect YOU from yourself that is the issue but the power to prevent YOUR presence in dangerous situations making them more dangerous to OTHERS by hampering the police and fire authorities. Your power to do only what YOU want at any time is limited.
Federal involvement comes when State authorities request help and it has resources which the States do not have.
OUR Constitution states the purpose of the government it created as "...to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity...." That is good enough for me.
Yeah, but the floating bodies are excellent candidates..
And, no, all the senior citizens and disabled were not taken to the Superdome. They either had to get there themselves or get to a transport location.
This was certainly true when we lived there. It didn't take a lot of rain before we almost needed a pirogue to get where we needed to go!
I would presume you also then include those who didn't have the means to leave? People too poor to afford the gas it would take to evacuate, for example? (I mean, haven't we heard plenty of griping about the prices at the pump here on FR?) So, if they're too poor to leave...too bad for them? Or is there just absolutely NO excuses in your narrow little view? Too stupid to live?
The people that should have known better and had the means to go didn't deserve to die, either, though they should have seen that as a possible outcome of their decision to stay. Doesn't mean I don't feel sorry for them or their families. After all, how many times have hurricanes fallen short of the dire predictions that get repeated all over the televsion, ad nauseum? Even this one didn't turn out as badly as it could have, though it was certainly bad enough.
I did hear on the radio news that coffins were floating about.
Everyone could live in Kansas, but it doesn't make much sense, does it?
Throughout history folks have lived along coasts, rivers, faultlines, volcanos, etc., yet they continued to live there and risked the dangers. Why? Because it made some kind of sense to them at the time.
Should I be forced to pay for their decisions in increased taxes and insurance rates?
I don't mind it. Coastal communities will add a lot more over time than they ever lose.
Promoting the "general welfare" is a constitutional mandate. There are lots of ways to do that. So long as it gets debated in the legislature, signed by the President, and constitionally enacted into law, then there's no way I can say I didn't have my chance to affect what goes on.
Vote
Can you believe some of the comments? The law enforcement folks are told they have to stay and most want to stay to help and then when they're stranded or killed, some freepers have the nerve to make comments like this?
And for the others...some people are just poor but most of us on FR who have computers and can afford things like internet service don't understand that there is abject poverty left in this country.
If they are from the cemetary that is Landrieu's base.
Yes. One of the first things that happens during a flood of a low-lying town like New Orleans is that coffins float away. And I wouldn't be surprised if cheap coffins fall apart and the bodies float separately.
I don't know where you are from baby, but down in N.O. there are several people who 1. Poor 2. Homeless 3. Have no vehicle of their own. How exactly, would you suggest these "ignorant" people evacuate? Canoe? Your callousness toward this disaster is sickening. It isnt like these people were out having hurricane parties. Good thing there are some good people out there who care for the less fortunate. Hope your job is safe or you may end up one of the very people you never had sympathy for. You are shameful.
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