Posted on 09/01/2005 6:56:22 AM PDT by Brian Mosely
NEW ORLEANS — A 2-year-old girl slept in a pool of urine. Crack vials littered a restroom. Blood stained the walls next to vending machines smashed by teenagers.
The Louisiana Superdome, once a mighty testament to architecture and ingenuity, became the biggest storm shelter in New Orleans the day before Katrina's arrival Monday. About 16,000 people eventually settled in.
By Wednesday, it had degenerated into horror. A few hundred people were evacuated from the arena Wednesday, and buses will take away the vast majority of refugees today.
"We pee on the floor. We are like animals," said Taffany Smith, 25, as she cradled her 3-week-old son, Terry. In her right hand she carried a half-full bottle of formula provided by rescuers. Baby supplies are running low; one mother said she was given two diapers and told to scrape them off when they got dirty and use them again.
At least two people, including a child, have been raped. At least three people have died, including one man who jumped 50 feet to his death, saying he had nothing left to live for.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Note to self: In a catastrophe, never travel with the herd, take care of yourself, your own, and any fellow refugees who have the sense to get out.
Bull...it was plenty forseen. They were calling this the big one on Saturday. The 48hr forecast had it making landfall as a 125kt hurricane and was right on track. I am a meteorologist...it was FORESEEN!
And this from the NHC well before landfall...
COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 15 TO 20 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...LOCALLY AS HIGH AS 25 FEET ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL.
So...who said it was not forseen? This was totally forseen and was known to be the big one. The only people who did not "forsee" it were people who were not paying attention.
I saw a photo of about 30 school busses partially submerged. They looked like brand new busses! I wondered why the H didn't the governor order the use of school busses to evacuate ANYONE who wanted to leave NO and didn't have the means on SATURDAY!!!!
There is NOTHING I own that I would risk my life to save, weathering a Cat 4 hurricane. The looters could have it. I just CANNOT imagine being trapped there in that giant toilet bowl right now. I'd lose my mind!
A hurricane is coming. Just follow the suggestions of the local Democratic politician. He really knows what's best for you. Form a line. Get on this train. We're taking you to where you'll be safe and happy. We'll give you a nice shower when you get there. Put all your possessions off to the side there. You won't need those. You don't have any guns, do you. It's not safe for you to have guns. We'll take care of you. Trust us.
Thats what I would of done,but I am not an 85 year old woman.
There were no buses that I saw, prior to the hurricane, and who, in their right mind, is going to just start walking with their family, when a hurricane is coming?
Finally, someone that understands that the innocent suffers with the poor. I have read some of the posts and they read like heartless people. They are no worse than the dispicable looters. Learn to have compassion in time of misery regardless of the wrong that some are doing.
Many of those people could not get out for various reasons. Some stayed to be a menance, but I still send my prayers to the innocent.
Based on the news reports several days before, even walking out of town would be a good option. I walked home 30 miles on 9/11 in about 8-9 hours.
In 24 hours I could be well out of NO. If I had a bike, I could be completely out of the storm path.
I've already corrected myself on that statement. Again, I stand corrected. What I meant was through the warnings, YES PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT..those that stayed either couldn't get out for unknown reasons, or WANTED to stay..again, the day AFTER the storm it was reported that N.O. had dodged the bullet when the hurricane turned slightly NE and the weaker wall would hit. The levies broke a day or two after the hurricane, THAT is what was unexpected..
Isn't it amazing what "lack of ambition" results in.
The drug trade is going to skyrocket in Houston. Be prepared...
The Governor & the Mayor should be hung for this.
Speaking of Bono, I think that "Live Eight" check from the US should be put on hold. Charity begins at home...
I would walk, if it was my last resort. No question about it.
I'm not going to to the research for you 2 but there have been many posts here on FR, with articles dating back to the early 80's that the levees are NOT being maintained properly, NOT able to withstand a > cat 3 huricane and the Democrats running the city & state are doing nothing to remedy the situation.
Let me help with the math:
Levees = good up to Cat 3.
Katrina = Cat 5
3 > 5 = the levees are gonna break!!
Result: the intelligent leave, the ignorant stay.
(yes it's cold hearted but sadly true)
Never happen..they're both Dems..the MSM will figure out a way to blame all this on Bush..it's already started..
Wrong! They were ordered to evacuate two days prior to this storm hitting.
Ummm...maybe you missed this part?
"We pee on the floor. We are like animals," said Taffany Smith, 25,
It is tough for the older folk, obviously. Easy to be a monday morning quaterback from 1000's of miles away.
Lesson learned is to get the heck outta Dodge before the storm hits!!!
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