Posted on 09/02/2005 2:49:29 PM PDT by Guenevere
This e-mail received in the past hour from a local couple who just escaped from New Orleans. They wanted to stress how poorly Louisiana's Democratic controlled government handled the situation...
My husband and I have an unbelievable story about the situation in New Orleans.
We were stranded tourists that ended up stranded due to Delta canceling our flight on Sunday at 11:25am. That was the beginning of our nightmare.
We were in a city we weren't all that familiar (where are the stores, no local knowledge, no local network) and were unable to leave. I won't spend time discussing having to stay in the midst of a category 4 hurricane (something we would NEVER do, being from Florida and being wise to hurricanes). But what is more upsetting is what happened to us afterwards...........
We were staying in a small hotel 3 blocks off of Canal on Tchopotoulis Street in the Warehouse/Art District. This hotel did not have a generator, nor did it have any provisions for food. We were on our own.
For 2 days, we did our best on the streets trying to scrounge some water and food and tried our best to find out how to get these supplies and more importantly, to get back to the airport when it opened (we were under the false hope that the airport would open and we would somehow fly out when that happened).
Tuesday was the beginning of our delusion fading and the quick realization of what was coming. We saw the looters going into the athletic store on Canal (while Brian Williams was doing a segment for the nightly news) and the police exerted minimal effort to stop this as we came to realize - they had no where to put the looters/criminals. That was probably the first of our realization that those in charge (which still trying to figure out just who is), is not doing anything and planning for anything. There is absolutely NO LEADERSHIP.
But we did our best to endure the heat, no AC, the little food that we could get and talked to as many people as possible to get any information we could. We at least had a hotel room. When ever we asked the National Guard and police where was the help, the water, the food, all they could say was "it is coming" and be happy as we were in the driest part of the city and "the water is coming" (meaning the levy broke).
On Wednesday, we were desperate, out of food, out of water, and could not now flush a toilet. My husband and I set out on our morning walk to Canal Street to see the news media (that was the only way we could learn anything). We realized that there were less people that day. As much as we wanted to leave the media alone to do their job, we were increasingly frustrated as to how they obviously had water and probably food. How come? Where was ours. My husband finally asked one of the crew (no one would even give us eye contact at that point -(Side note - we are in our 40s, white and friendly looking). how they got in - as we were figuring that one of the reasons there was not any support and more supplies was the roads were still down. That guy told us that they drove in from Tampa and they had no problem coming in. Then where are the supplies? Where is the Red Cross?
We were dumfounded, but knew we had to leave as soon as possible - if we had to walk.
We saw some buses at the W Hotel and asked if we could go, we would pay whatever necessary. They were full and were taking guests/families out of the W and the Sheraton hotels. Sorry. What?????? We could not believe this. We ran around and asked the police again when is anyone coming? "They are coming; they are bringing in buses to the Superdome and busing people out to Houston". (We did not go to the Dome as the Mayor said that was for people with special needs and for hotel guests to stay put). But we could now possibly walk there (we still heard there was water up to the dome, but we could go there and wait for buses).
Somewhere around this time, we saw another police person and as a pharmacist I told him I was concerned about the people that were going without meds and I would volunteer to go into the Walgreen’s on Canal (the looters had already broken into the front part for supplies) and if a police personnel was there I could dispense and emergency supply to anyone showing a Rx bottle with maintenance medications. He said the supplies "are coming". I got very angry and said they need to be here NOW. He asked for a suggestion and I said I already told him mine. He said that would take a lot - we would have to get approval from Walgreen’s corporate, yada yada. I said, can't you see out here, this is like a 3rd world country. Walgreen’s won't care; they'd love the publicity (I work for the competitor CVS and I know they would feel the same way). They want patients to have meds. The policeman said even if they could do it, he had no way to get any kind of "approval" for something like that as they all had no communication. What?????????????
We got very annoyed, depressed and made the short trek to the Convention Center to see about any person in charge to see if there was any medical, buses, water, food, etc. We went there and there was NOTHING except for people waiting. We tried to ask for anyone in charge, who knew anything and there was NO ONE. (By the way, the national guardsmen that we had seen earlier that morning, 3 hours later still did not know anything or give us any other information).
We could not believe. But we knew one thing; we were getting out anyway possible. I felt like the people who were going down the steps of the World Trade Center thinking they were really going anywhere when in reality our fate was set and officials had sacrificed all of us left in the city.
We called collect to my mother in law and I unleashed a lot of tears of frustration and she told us some obvious: Look for someone in charge - we did that THERE WAS NO ONE (she did not believe) Ask police and national guard - we did that also - no information
She said buses were coming. I said that was not true - there were no buses, there was NO water, NO food, NOTHING, unlike the TV was showing her of all of the relief that was "coming". Where were they?
She told us to hang in there, she was going to stay glued to the TV and we could call her back.
As prayers were being raised for us, about 45 minutes later we saw some people on the street near a few vehicles (we had already asked everyone that morning near a car if we could pay to go with them, never any room). These people took pity on us and allowed us into their hotel shelter. Come to realize this was the hotel the police had been staying in for the last several days. They had food, water, alcohol, generators. We could not believe our luck. We also could not believe what these people were now telling us about the looters. They were afraid. They also had pistols (I have never seen a pistol in my life). They were awaiting a SUV that a person was letting them take as he was not leaving. They promised us if they had enough room they would take us out of the city. We were elated.
At that point 4-5 policeman came back into get the rest of their clothes and belongings and said, we need to get out of there as the looters (gangs of New Orleans) had gotten guns from a store they broke into and they were coming this way. The policeman said he was getting out of there and would not be coming back as there was nothing they could do. He then asked how many weapons we all had, and for about 12 people there were only 3 guns. He gave the men 2 more guns, a shotgun and a pistol and said we would need it.............
I felt like we were in a Hollywood movie. Not that much longer as we awaited the SUV, another vehicle came and we all knew we needed to be ready to go at any moment. We all piled in the vehicle while the guys stood watch with the guns. We were transported then to another hotel about 2 blocks away. We were hurried out and told that we would not be able to fit into the vehicle they were getting but that we needed to get our names on the list that the guy was taking and we would be bused out. That was fine with us. We did that and within 1/2 hour we were on the bus, and heading out of the city.
I won't describe the looks on the faces of those who saw this bus as they knew someone was leaving and they were not. I was horrified for them. I wanted to let them on as they were walking over the bridge.
We asked where we were going and they told us, Baton Rouge. We got a cell signal and called our mother-in-law to tell her to book our flight on Delta to get out of Baton Rouge.
The bus was paid for by the Marriott Corp who was dedicated to getting their associates and guests out of the city. Rumor is the CEO or Mr. Marriott, or someone high up at Marriott got buses ready on Tuesday and had to get special permission from the governor to allow the buses in. They had to make more than one phone call to make that happen, but that is what they did.
They allowed all of us to stay in the ballroom. We decided to go to the airport and sleep there and hopefully get an earlier flight. That is what we did and we got back into Orlando today at 11am.
We had not been able to hear/see any of the news and were flabbergasted to see the Governor and that woman Senator get on TV and talk about all that they were doing. All of that is hogwash. They aren't doing anything for all those poor people there still in the city and nothing to stop the looting. I believe I saw prior to the hurricane that the Governor could go to the highest level and get the military to come in and take the security over and be in charge of such if she declares it to be at that state. Why has she not done?
We just got back from eating with my in-laws and my mother-in-law told us she frantically started calling everyone she could to get us some help in there. She told us something very scary, on Wed when she was calling at about 10:30am, she actually (you have to know her to know that only she could do this) got to talk to a man with the Red Cross with trucks, supplies, etc in their trucks only awaiting the Governor to allow them to get in.
My husband and I are exhausted as we haven't slept in days and are emotionally drained, but can't help but think if it weren't for the Grace of God and a little good timing, we would still have been there. And today is one more day past and NOTHING HAS CHANGED. SOMETHING IS WRONG. There is no reason they don't have church buses that can come in and get these people, let the Red Cross in, let supplies in, etc..........
Please help them. Call us if you want even more details.
Thanks- God Bless- [name withheld]
Senator- My husband and I are absolutely disgusted with how you and your Governor have allowed such disarray to occur. Not to mention how you've left the tourists there for dead. Oh, yea and your own people who are dying in the streets.
There is NO EXCUSE for not getting reinforcements to the National Guard in earlier knowing the gang like undertones of your violence-tending city.
I remember the day when NOLA was not a favorite of travelers as it was considered "dirty and dangerous". My husband and I love NOLA and met there 16 years ago in college at the Sugar Bowl. We are sickened by what we personally went through and we are even more nauseated by what is happening even a day later as no more help has showed up.
What is the problem? We demand to know. You, your officials, your Governor owe us, your own citizens that you've left for dead an apology.
I couldn't believe what you were saying after not seeing/hearing the TV for over 3 days. I just hope the top of this e-mail that we've e-mailed to anyone who will listen will do some help.
If we lived within 6 hours of NOLA we would call all churches, get buses and drive through your barriers just to get these people OUT> All that FEMA can do later will be done. It is NOW that these people need help, or else who cares how many millions you all get donated.
Or, perhaps, is that the purpose? Are you all doing this for a reason and that is to let attrition happen and then there will be fewer victims to divide the money between. SHAMEFUL
There comes a time when it's proper to discard the niceties and "git 'er done." If that means feeding your family, protecting your shelter, or fighting off bands of two-legged predators, then that's how it is.
I agree, and the pioneers who lived exactly as you describe developed our country with the raw courage and isolated self-determination you so aptly describe.
There is a lesson in this for all freepers ,it's a lesson that is as old as the hills : Put not your faith in princes for they will surely betray & fail you. This is what was writ large this week in New Orleans.
Stinking Rat Leadership!!!......My thoughts exactly!
In "The Big Easy" life ain't so easy anymore.
Too bad those elected always thought it was. It is evident that the mayor and governor had no clue how to proceed. Pitiful. The Tsunami tragedy was managed better. Within 2 days there were "tent cities" to house people out of the weather and hot sun. Water, food and supply drops started almost immediately and in the chaos there was organization.
I have yet to see one single tent set up on that highway where people are sitting, starving, sweltering and succumbing to death. The stench that people keep talking about coming from the city, is really coming from the stinking Mayor and Governor of the state. Putrid politicians!
Leadership? No. More like stinking piles of worm vomit. That's the Democrat's attempted simulation of leadership.
PING
Canteen Ping!
This is how things will proceed. The city will force everyone to leave shortly, and the leevy system will be fixed...with the water pumped out in 30 days (no less). By early Oct, significant numbers of residents will want to return immedately...although basements will still be filled of water, and utilities will not be turned back on in operation until the end of October (no earlier).
The mayor will start his tirades again...about this 60 day period that residents are forced to stay out of the city. Finally, the Corps and FEMA will be finished with their part, and around early November...people will pour into the area. The looting results and damage will hit them full force. For alot of them...there will be no homes left. And the tirade will go into over-drive by this point.
Some major businesses will study the impact of keeping corporate there in NO...and quietly move their exec's out to Baton Rouge or Dallas or Houston. The companies won't talk about it...but you will hear rumors by mid-November.
The bar zone....will find itself with few if any tourists in November, and several hotels will come to a point of closing because the cost of fixing facilities will be substantial and there will be doubt of tourists running back at full force for a year or two.
The oil business sector will continue on...they will fix all things and get their job done. Buddy, junior and guys will work their way back to real life.
The folks downtown...those who stayed at the SuperBowl and now are being pumped to Dallas and Houston...will demand and get $5k checks from the fed government...and spend it right there on booze and fun. When offered a free trip back to NO...they will turn it down. Dallas and Houston will then comprehend that they have to find permanent cheap housing for at least 10,000 NO residents each. These folks won't ever return.
The university in NO...down for this entire year. Forget about any classes.
The mayor...a slug...will disappear by the next election.
And finally the population of the town in 18 months....probably 50 percent less than in 2004. The Saints will likely stay...but forget about everything else. This town got its own situation...they earned their reward. This is not the typical town in America...they are special.
It's very true that many many hurricanes "headed straight for N.O." somehow conveniently take a "turn" at the last minute. I blame the media for this. They use the N.O. threat to keep viewers watching. And for that i understand why many residents didn't believe it. They've been cried wolf too many times.
Compounding that, the city was preparing for Southern Decadence next week which i believe is one of the city's biggest events of the year. So that too could be why some stayed. Didn't want to lose time on those preparations.
What Leadership? If there had been any leaders there worthy of the name, they would have had things under control much sooner.
the only thing I can think of why the Red Cross and others were not allowed in is because they expected another levee tofail and the city would be even more under water.......
otherwise, there is no explanation.....
ping
where were the cops?...the firemen?
the fire dept is famous for rescuing cats high up in trees.....couldn't they have seen to it that people could leave?
which brings me to this conclusions........the police and firemen did not come to work......there was no law and order in the city because because the police/fire depts were well undermanned...IMO, of course......
I also don't understand why food and water wasn't dropped down......
Thank you, Guenevere.
PING.
It is, and it's all Bush's fault....because they are just poor blacks down there and HE doesn't give a rat's ass about them.
The spin has begun, and it's nauseatingly apparent that the left will do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to turn this into some sick political coup.
Thank You for posting your experience in NO. Thank God you got out.
My heart aches for those souls left there for days and days without food, water and shelter. Young and old suffering without hope.
There needs to be a radical shake up in the Gov. in LA.
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