Katrina Live Thread, Part XIV

Various ^ | 2 September 2005 | Various

[NautiNurse]

President Bush continues to assess the catastrophic damage by air and on the ground in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Bush spent the day meeting with search and rescue personnel, relief commanders, and displaced residents in Mobile, Biloxi, and the New Orleans area. U.S. Congress passed a $10.5 billion relief package for the hurricane ravaged areas. First Lady Laura Bush issued a press statement from an evacuation shelter in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Patient and staff evacuations continue from numerous New Orleans Hospitals. Thousands of patients are being airlifted to a field hospital at Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport for triage, staging, and transport to hospitals throughout the United States.

The U.S. Coast Guard and civilian volunteers continue to evacuate thousands of survivors from their flooded homes in New Orleans. The Army Corps of Engineers continues work to repair the damaged levees.

The nation's airlines today began an operation intended to fly up to 25,000 refugees out of New Orleans. The airlines are volunteering their aircraft and crews for the program. Long convoys loaded with relief supplies arrived throughout the day into New Orleans, while convoys of buses are moving survivors out of the city.

Several large fires are burning in the city and greater New Orleans area. Reports indicate snipers are holding down firefighters. Reports of shots fired with LEO down in the St. Bernard Parish area. Rescue operations are underway. A bus carrying NOLA evauees rolled over in Opelousa, LA.

Links to various news, local and state government websites:

WLOX TV Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagula has link to locate family and friends
2theAdvocate - Baton Rouge Includes Slidell, St. John Parish, St. Bernard Parish updates, and other locations.
NOLA.com
Inside Houma Today includes shelter and volunteer updates
WLBT.com Jackson MS
WALA Channel 4 Mobile, AL Includes links to distribution centers, Emergency Ops, etc.
Sun-Herald Gulfport MS Includes link to town by town reports
Gulfport News via Topix.net
WAFB Baton Rouge
Mobile Register via al.com
Mississippi updates via Jackson Ledger
Lafayette LA Daily Advertiser
Pensacola News Journal
St Bernard Local Government
Alabama Homeland Security Volunteers can sign up online
Alabama DOT
Alabama.gov
Louisiana Homeland Security
Louisiana State Police road closure info
State of Mississippi Website has traffic alerts, emergency contact numbers

Streaming Video:

New Orleans Emergency Operations Center - is now open:
504-463-1000
504-463-1001
504-463-1002

WWL-TV New Orleans (via WFAA Dallas) - WWL-TV is operating from studios at Louisiana Public Broadcasting. CBS has a relay during the morning and afternoon. When available, use the CBS relay first as they have greater streaming capacity. Yahoo has also provided a relay.

WDSU-TV New Orleans - The news staff has started to return to temporary news studios near New Orleans. However, expect evening coverage from Hearst-Argyle sister stations WAPT Jackson and WESH Orlando when the New Orleans staff needs to take a break.

WGNO-TV New Orleans - New Orleans' ABC affiliate has returned to the air with WBRZ-TV and launched video streaming with continuous Katrina coverage.

WPMI-TV Mobile, AL - WPMI is webcasting from 5:30am - 10:30pm CDT. When off air, you can view pre-recorded reports on demand. This feed is often unreliable.

WKRG-TV Mobile, AL - This station is providing good coverage of the situation to the east in Mississippi and Alabama. However, the station is now signing off at around 10:30pm CDT like WWL and WPMI.

WJTV-TV Jackson, MS - The CBS affiliate in Jackson is providing live coverage for both the Jackson area and south Mississippi (knowing a lot of media in that area is off the air).

United Radio From New Orleans: WWL-AM, WNOE-FM, "KISS-FM," WRNO-FM, WYLD-FM, and WJBO-AM who have joined forces as United Radio From New Orleans, and they are streaming.

Related FR Threads:

FYI: Hurricane Katrina Freeper SIGN IN Thread FReeper Check In thread
Discussion Thread - Hurricane Katrina - What Went Wrong?!?
Post Hurricane Katrina IMAGES Here
Looting Begins In New Orleans
Hurricane Katrina HOUSING Thread
Martial Law Declared in New Orleans

Due to the number of requests to assist, the following list of some charities is provided.
This is not intended as an endorsement for any of the charities.

www.redcross.org or 1-800 HELP NOW - note: website is slow, and lines are busy
Salvation Army - 1-800-SAL-ARMY or Salvation Army currently looking for in-state volunteers - (888)363-2769
Operation Blessing: (800) 436-6348.
America's Second Harvest: (800) 344-8070.
Catholic Charities USA: (800) 919-9338, or www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee: (800) 848-5818.
Church World Service: (800) 297-1516 or online at www.churchworldservice. org.
Lutheran Disaster Response: (800) 638-3522.
Nazarene Disaster Response: (888) 256-5886.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: (800) 872-3283.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is accepting donations at its 3,800 stores and Web site, www.walmart.com.
National Black Home Educators Resource Association http://www.nbhera.org/ Southern Baptist: NAMB - http://www.namb.net/
Samaritan's Purse - http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

Previous Threads:
Katrina Live Thread, Part XIII
Katrina Live Thread, Party XII
Katrina Live Thread, Part XI
Katrina Live Thread, Part X
Katrina Live Thread, Part IX
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VIII
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VII
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VI
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part V
Hurricane Katrina, Live Thread, Part IV
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part III
Katrina Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm 12

[Seattle Conservative]

I read on FReepers yesterday that Halliburton has been asked to do the clean-up. There will be wailing galore on the Dims side. Now, if Feinstein's RICH hubby's company had been asked in, nary a peep.

[McGavin999]

Yep, that's now. That was not the case for the last 5 days. Also it was because of Sheps rantings that everyone, including foreign countries, think the federal government was not doing their job.

Shep's hystrionics and failure to understand who is responsible for what has caused everyone to blame Bush.

He broke it, he needs to fix it. BTW, what is in place today was NOT in place until just now. They may use his information to help save lives, but the damage he has cause to those who are actually doing the work is incalculable.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Karl Rove will be blamed, if he hasn't been already, for transporting their voting base from LA to a solid red state, TX.

Is that all those politicians care about??? Sorry, rhetorical question : (

[jeffers]

"supercat wrote:
Most of the fires are apparently being caused by breakdowns in the electrical and natural gas
distribution systems in the city. Natural gas fires are extremely dangerous since they can spread
wildly through piping systems and flare up with little notice.

And why is the gas STILL under pressure? Even if the shutoff valves are underwater, it should be
possible to send someone with a dry suit to operate them. If nothing else, find someplace far enough
away from other buildings that heat dissipation would not be a problem and burn off as much gas as
possible there."





In many of the live aerial video we are receiving you can pinpoint the exact location of broken gas mains. They look like a large quantity of gas bubbling to the surface of the floodwaters.

Most of them have not ignited yet.

[oceanview]

and exactly what does Gingrich think the response would be to a nuclear attack? that 48-72 hours into the incident, FEMA would put everything back to normal?

[epaul]

Ohhh man, ya made my day. First time today I could laugh, got tears. I'm an Okie but I'll bet the Texans aren't done yet!!!!

[Txsleuth]

I think there were a lot more posters that had your opinion, than mine...so I will accept that.

[GOPyouth]

Tyler, Texas has agreed to take 1000 more refugees from the Gulf. That being reported last night, I agreed to sign up and volunteer at the Red Cross.

I went there this evening after work and was told I needed to sign up and take a class. I signed up and went into this room with a tv. I was told we had an hour long video to watch, then another hour long video, then another hour long video.

At this point I was hesitant, but agreed to watch it. I was hoping somebody would give us the guidelines and what-not needed to help these people who arrived today.

The video started and I start seeing scenes from the movie Backdraft. Then one of the Baldwin brothers introduced himself, then began to discuss the role he played in that movie, the name of the character..etc. I got irritated that I'm having to sit through docu-drama bs rather than learning info that will help me.

The scene changed and it went on to show dramatized workers jumping into their trucks, talking about how great the Red Cross is, and so-on. At this point I got up, walked out, and went to the ladies at the registration desk. I told them that this was a complete waste of time and that it was not in the least bit productive when 1000 people were being bused into the town to add to the probably 1000 we already have. She replied that it was protocol, and that they have to make people watch the movies.

I told her I would be more productive going to the churches and offering my help. She told me that the churches were not allowed to let anybody help out with the hurricane victims without watching the 3 hour long film.

At this point I said I would then go and buy supplies and contact the Salvation Army and PATH to see if they wanted volunteers.

I have limited time with school and work that I can volunteer. It may be 1 hour at a time. Sitting for over 3 hours in a building watching a movie does not help these people.

Sorry for the rant. I'm just irritated right now.

[samantha]

I loved Dr Neil Frank with his Marine haircut and his gyrations. He was the best. We all used to try and imitate him doing his Hurricane warnings, he is such a great unforgettable character. Bob Sheets is a great former Hurricane Forcaster also. Bob is a Pubbie and lives in Lake Placid, Fl about 190 miles north of the National Hurricane Center. He moved away and then got hit last year with three hurricanes. Go figure.

[McGavin999]

Oh, BTW, there are also troops, helicopters, law enforcement etc. there today as well. I guess they were there all along just doing nothing. I guess good old Shep got those lazy SOB's off their backside and saved the world.

How will we ever thank him?

[Alia]

The Liberal-Dem Talking Points Memo has gotten "party head" approval, and is "walkin".

[HoHoeHeaux]

I just found out 50 evacuees are coming to my town tonight to be housed at the Salvation Army. (West Kentucky)I called and asked what I could do. They asked for pillows. Plenty of beds, no pillows. Got them and lots of paper supplies. My brother donated a big screen tv and I took a DVD player and lots of kid's movies. Also card and board games.

There are things we can all do to help. Let's all just pool resources and do what little we can. Whereever these poor people end up, it's not going to be short term. Many won't go back. Too much horror.

I finnally stopped crying and raging at my TV and did something to help. All of us can do something.

[Alia]

I'll bet he's chewing his own feet off, now, wishing he hadn't a published that.

[mathluv]

I heard (read on another thread) that there were servers for the net in NO. Also, on Fox, that a lot of the phone service for the South went through the Bell South building there. Some of the firetrucks that came in yesterday were going to try to get there and do some 'cooling'.

[Alia]

heh.

MR. GLOBAL WARMING TO ASSESS SCENE. TREES RUNNING FOR COVER IN NO.

[jhny7]

CNN just had a spot a while ago bout the 3 Star runnin the show telling mayor and gov what they should do he gonna be the NO hero!

[Seattle Conservative]

"they can only distribute what the governor approves them to hand out."

Unfortunately, most don't know and they'll blame it on the Prez. Gads! Doesn't Blanko have an emergency disaster checklist??? Obviously, she's not one to think on her feet.
Disgusts me - as it makes it look like all of us women will curl up in the fetal position during an emergency, which is just not true (OTOH, I guess it doesnt' hurt if people think that when Hitlery runs for Pres)

[tcrlaf]

FLASH- WDSU Homepage...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Saturday that many FEMA uniforms, badges and letterheads have been stolen in the New Orleans area are being used as fake identification by robbers.

FEMA leaders said the crooks are referring to themselves as "FEMA Procurement Officers," even though no such officers exist.

The agency said that the robbers are using the phony status to steal vehicles, fuel and valuables.

In some cases, the robbers are armed. FEMA said its agents are never armed.

FEMA officials said that if an armed person claiming to be from the agency approaches you, ask for photo identification, but also cooperate with their demands to avoid being hurt.

Anyone with information about people who may be claiming to be FEMA personnel, call the offices in Baton Rouge at (225) 296-3421 or (225) 296-3335.

[samantha]

If we all work very hard like great freepers do, we can knock this Old Media bunch on their butts with the Algores and Landrieu's and SHarptons DNC types.

[maica]

This suggestion is not made in jest.

#####

You are right. Someone monitoring FR should be part of every EOC.