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Trapped in an Arena of Suffering
LA Times ^ | 9/1/05 | Scott Gold

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: katrina; superdome
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To: Brian Mosely

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.


61 posted on 09/01/2005 7:29:48 AM PDT by Theophilus (Save Little Democrats, Stop Abortion)
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To: GeorgiaDawg32
NO ONE could have foreseen the fury of this storm

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.

62 posted on 09/01/2005 7:30:27 AM PDT by NELSON111
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To: Pondman88

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!


63 posted on 09/01/2005 7:30:29 AM PDT by Muzzle_em (I'm an island awash in a sea of stupidity)
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To: Brian Mosely

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.


64 posted on 09/01/2005 7:30:47 AM PDT by Jack Black
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To: Brian Mosely
If these people had obeyed the order to evacuate the City they would not be in this predicament. (I don't want any crybabies to whine to me about social predicament. They could have left to a shelter in Baton Rouge). The SD was designated a refuge of last resort not a shelter. The behavior of these looters and thugs and the people that enable them deserve everything they get. I hope the NG and Police take control soon. Marshal Law is in place which means due process is suspended. I believe all looters should be shot on sight! This is not a business as usual situation. If these looters realized that they would be shot on sight for stealing and looting I bet it would stop immediately.
65 posted on 09/01/2005 7:31:26 AM PDT by 7thOF7th (Righteousness is our cause and justice will prevail!)
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To: Mrs. Shawnlaw

Thats what I would of done,but I am not an 85 year old woman.


66 posted on 09/01/2005 7:31:33 AM PDT by Lorraine
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To: Mrs. Shawnlaw

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?


67 posted on 09/01/2005 7:31:51 AM PDT by stuartcr (Everything happens as God wants it to.....otherwise, things would be different.)
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To: chgomac

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.


68 posted on 09/01/2005 7:32:08 AM PDT by rave123
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To: Lorraine

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.


69 posted on 09/01/2005 7:32:17 AM PDT by varyouga (Reformed Kerry voter (I know, I'm a frickin' idiot))
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To: NELSON111

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..


70 posted on 09/01/2005 7:32:56 AM PDT by GeorgiaDawg32 (If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my children may live in peace..Thomas Paine)
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To: Pondman88

Isn't it amazing what "lack of ambition" results in.


71 posted on 09/01/2005 7:34:56 AM PDT by 7thOF7th (Righteousness is our cause and justice will prevail!)
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

The drug trade is going to skyrocket in Houston. Be prepared...


72 posted on 09/01/2005 7:34:59 AM PDT by Russ
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To: boxerblues
With 2 days notice of a Cat. 5... the city could have been emptied. They knew the dikes were only good for a 3... and yet, the projects remained filled.

The Governor & the Mayor should be hung for this.

73 posted on 09/01/2005 7:35:05 AM PDT by johnny7 (“And now, little man, I give the watch to you.”)
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To: RushCrush

Speaking of Bono, I think that "Live Eight" check from the US should be put on hold. Charity begins at home...


74 posted on 09/01/2005 7:35:48 AM PDT by Kozak (Anti Shahada: " There is no God named Allah, and Muhammed is his False Prophet")
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To: stuartcr

I would walk, if it was my last resort. No question about it.


75 posted on 09/01/2005 7:35:57 AM PDT by RushCrush (When will Clinton come back from his vacation in Hawaii?)
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To: stuartcr; GeorgiaDawg32

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)


76 posted on 09/01/2005 7:35:57 AM PDT by PissAndVinegar
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To: johnny7

Never happen..they're both Dems..the MSM will figure out a way to blame all this on Bush..it's already started..


77 posted on 09/01/2005 7:36:23 AM PDT by GeorgiaDawg32 (If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my children may live in peace..Thomas Paine)
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

Wrong! They were ordered to evacuate two days prior to this storm hitting.


78 posted on 09/01/2005 7:36:39 AM PDT by 7thOF7th (Righteousness is our cause and justice will prevail!)
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To: Tsunamii
They are talking about a 2 year old girl.

Ummm...maybe you missed this part?

"We pee on the floor. We are like animals," said Taffany Smith, 25,

79 posted on 09/01/2005 7:36:41 AM PDT by ravingnutter
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To: rave123

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!!!


80 posted on 09/01/2005 7:37:14 AM PDT by Pondman88
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