Mayor: 200 trapped on Ninth Ward rooftops; bodies floating in Bywater

WWLTV.com ^ | 02:37 PM CDT on Monday, August 29, 2005 | WWLTV

[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.

[rdb3]

Shall I stop what I am doing and prove how touchy feely I am, or can I deal with it in my own way? I'll wait for all you frigging self righteous saints to provide me with the proper approved guidelines.

Okay, ladies. Now would be the time to shake the dust from your sandals and walk away.

[freedomson]

Huck, old buddy, it's okay, don't angry up yer blood.

We'll go out back, spark one and laugh this whole thing off.

C'mon, let's go.

[azhenfud]

Sir, with all due respect, the Constitution of the United States is not a document defining the rights of the American people, nor limiting what they collectively should or shouldn't undertake. It is a document defining the limits of government and its relationship to the people who empower it (the government).

Get a grip. As a Republic, we've empowered legislators to express as much compassion - or lack thereof - (and thankfully those are VERY limited instances) as the citizens of these United States wish.

This time thankfully, as I would hope always until your change of heart, you are in the minority.

[Howlin]

At least the homeowners and grown people of New Orleans are physically capable of taking care of themselves.

You are quite foolish.

[exnavychick]

Well, that's what we have Amendments for. Where would you come down on the idea of an Amendment to the Constitution that would EXPRESSLY permit such action by the federal government?

Surely you would be okay with that, since Amendments are the perfect way to address your concerns about all this "extraconstitutional activity". Then you would have an updated version of the political Emily Post to reference in case of the next natural disaster.

[Howlin]

Who are you to demand anything from me?

Since I could very easily make the argument that you should have KNOWN after 1993 that the WTC would have been hit again, why you think WE out here should have helped NYC, act of God or terrorism aside.

[cyborg]

I am going to pray for you Huck. I'm being serious. I'm not a saint but I think you need some prayer.

[azhenfud]

I'm done

[exnavychick]

He's just getting angry because he's being shown over and over again that sometimes, doing the right thing means "breaking the rules", and politics be damned.

[rdb3]

Maybe, but sometimes you have to point your pretty little toes in another direction, and keep moving.

[najida]

Sweetie,
I think it's baser than that...

Some folks can't stand to see others paying attention to something that isn't all about them.

[sinkspur]

What God would murder children just so the living could act out for Him? That's what the Devil would do. Not God.

God doesn't "murder" anybody. There is death, a result of a humanity that once sought to be like God. And death happens in many ways.

Instead of imputing "motives" to God when there are hurricanes or natural disasters, large numbers of believers choose to do what they are able to alleviate misery and suffering. Like Job, we overcome the temptation to question why some of these things happen, because we know that Our Father knew us from all eternity, created us, and loves us immeasureably.

You don't trust God very much, do you? If you did, you wouldn't be so concerned with your miserable tax dollars going to alleviate human suffering.

[Howlin]

I am done, too; it's useless.

[exnavychick]

True, and that's very good advice.

[azhenfud]

"....you have to point your pretty little toes..."

Speaking of which...I hope you're getting along well - despite what some think's "constitutional".

[Howlin]

I have really had my eyes opened this very day; "real" conservatives apparently are FOR looting and against helping those in need.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I think some people just think they have to prove how "conservative" they are, and (for some reason I can't begin to understand) they think the way to do that is to behave as though they don't give a damn about anybody.

My guess is, when Mr. Rubber meets Mr. Road, a lot of those folks would give the shirt off their backs to help a fellow American in a situation like this.

In other words, it's all talk. At least I hope it is. Call me optimistic.

[exnavychick]

Possibly. But I hope that isn't the case here. Just a case of terminal stubbornness. :)

[cyborg]

hey good to see you :-) You are right.

[rdb3]

I'm doing as well as well can be right now. God has been very good. Things have changed dramatically since the wreck that seriously added to the problem.

But I'm still here.