Posted on 09/02/2005 8:01:12 PM PDT by george76
Edited on 09/02/2005 8:06:13 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
This AP photo shows scores of New Orleans school buses sitting in flood waters after Hurricane Katrina - sitting where they sat instead of being used to evacuate thousands of poor people before Katrina hit.
Why are scores of school buses sitting in the flood waters of New Orleans today? Blame New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, who is one reason things have gotten worse, not better, in his stricken city since it was hit by Hurricane Katrina. His laissez faire approach to looting allowed the looters to become increasingly armed and violent, interrupting rescue and recovery operations.
But even before Katrina hit, he failed his poorest citizens horribly. He told them to evacuate the city - and then gave his city's poorest residence no way to do so.
Nagin lashed out at federal officials yesterday for the government's relief efforts, pleading for the government to round up "500 buses" to send to New Orleans to evacuate survivors.
But Nagin, who ordered a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans before Katrina hit, ought to be made to answer this question: Where are the buses of the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority? Under water? Destroyed? Why?
Here's his press release on Saturday, 8/27...He should be held criminally responsible for all these deaths!!!
C. Ray Nagin
MAYOR FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2005
Mayor Nagin Urges Citizens to Prepare For Hurricane Katrina
(New Orleans, LA) In response to the potential threat of Hurricane Katrina, Mayor C. Ray Nagin is urging all citizens to begin preparations now for the coming storm. Mayor Nagin will hold the next press briefing at 5 p.m. today in the Mayor’s Press Room, second floor of City Hall.
“Although the track could change, forecasters believe Hurricane Katrina will affect New Orleans,” said Mayor Nagin. “We may call for a voluntary evacuation later this afternoon or tomorrow morning to coincide with the instatement of contraflow. This will give people more options to leave the area. However, citizens need to begin preparing now so they will be ready to leave when necessary. Do everything to prepare for a regular hurricane, but treat this one differently because it is headed our way. This is not a test.”
The Mayor also recommended that residents of Algiers, the Lower Ninth Ward and low-lying areas begin evacuating now.
Gov. Blanco also urged citizens to take the storm seriously. “We can restore property, but we cannot restore lives,” she said.
Mayor Nagin is working with Gov. Kathleen Blanco and other City, local and State officials are watching the storm’s path and working together to make decisions that affect citizens. Gov. Blanco has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana, which provides city government with additional authority and improved access to resources needed when responding to elevated threats, such as natural disasters.
A state of emergency has been declared for the City of New Orleans. Citizens are advised to:
• Fill their cars with gas. Tolls have been suspended on roadways.
• Remove potential debris from their yards (including lawn furniture, potted plants, loose tree branches, etc.)
• Board windows and glass doors
• Make sure that nearby catch basins are clear of leaves or trash
• Stock up on bottled water, batteries, and non-perishable food items
• Check on family, friends and neighbors, especially the elderly, to make sure everyone has an evacuation plan
• Make provisions for pets. Shelters and many hotels do not accept pets.
-MORE-
“The key is being prepared for the event,” said Mayor Nagin. “We’re doing everything we can to make sure our city is safe.”
Shelters for Citizens with Special Medical Needs
There are two shelters for people with special medical needs open in the state. Citizens should call prior to going to the shelters. The shelter in Alexandria can be reached at (800) 841-5778; the number for Monroe’s shelter is (866) 280-7287. If it becomes necessary, other shelters will be opened in various cities. The Superdome will be opened as a refuge of last resort for special needs patients if it becomes necessary. All individuals may have one caretaker.
Anyone planning to spend time in a shelter should bring three to four days’ worth of food, sleeping gear, and medical supplies including oxygen, medicine and batteries for any necessary devices. No weapons or bulky items are allowed in any shelters.
New Orleans EMS is responding to medical emergencies only. For non-emergency transportation needs, citizens should contact local non-emergency ambulance providers:
Acadian: (504) 366-0911
Lifeguard: (504) 214-1911
Guardian: (504) 818-2600
A-Med: (504) 362-9490
Care: (504) 367-4231
On-Call: (504) 866-0481
Closings
New Orleans Public Schools will be closed Monday, August 29, 2005. All NOPS activities scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled.
New Orleans Public Libraries will close at 3 p.m. today, Saturday, August 27, 2005, and remain closed through Monday, August 29, 2005.
The City of New Orleans will be issuing additional advisories as the storm progresses. Citizens are asked to remain alert, monitor news stories and be prepared to respond promptly to any public safety advisories.
--END--
That picture shows about 200 buses --- at 55 passengers per bus --- if the buses only made ONE trip to the nearest safe town (100 miles) there would have been over 11,000 people safer - and alive!
The average metro bus I believe holds at least 40 passengers --- times 400 buses = At least an additional 16,000 People would have been saved!
A 200 mile round trip on the long side would take 5 hours. If they only used ONE DAY - this typical liberal democrat mayor could have evacuated at least 135,000 poor and needy and infirm citizens of New Orleans.
That's actually quite an understatement. By my count, there are around 200 buses in the AP picture. (It's also obvious that there are some unknown number beyond those shown, outside of the framing of the photo.)
Just giving the reference. It was particularly interesting that Galveston was able to have a plan to use the buses but Mayor Nagin was apparently unable to do so. Hmmmmmm, let's see. People don't have cars. They need to get out of town. The city has perhaps several hundred buses. School is cancelled, so the buses won't be needed by the kids. The buses can perhaps hold 66 people each. Hmmmmmm, what can we do to get poor people out of town?
One of two things will happen to this kid.
He will be offered a job by Greyhound or he will be arrested for grand larceny, at the request of the school board.
Oh no.
On our way out of town a woman called the New Orleans station and told the tale of an entire nursing home that had only one woman who had stayed behind to look after the patients and the lady on the radio was PLEADING for help. Her husband was there and so her and her daughter were going to stay with them to help. I wonder if this is the nursing home that you mean?
This Nagin thing is distressing, I get N.O. news and radio everyday and so when he was first running he seemed decent for a lib. After Morial (sp) anything seemed an improvement. He did some good things, such as automating the state business. I pay WC and Unemployment and witholding taxes to LA so he really made it a LOT easier. It used to be insane. He's a businessman so I thought that at least he'd have some common sense.
As for Babineaux-Blanco, she's the gov that recently went to Cuba to work out a sugar trade deal with Castro. She was all chummy. I knew that her and Landreau were idiots already. Anyone notice that Landreau has aquired a rather severe twitch??? WOW... the incompetence is frightening.
Same math here. The cynic in me says they will blame the inability to use these buses as a union problem.
Buses sitting in Lake Nagin
Buses sitting in Lake Nagin
Buses sitting in Lake Nagin
Say it again...
Buses sitting in Lake Nagin
Buses sitting in Lake Nagin
Buses sitting in Lake Nagin
One more time now...
Buses sitting in Lake Nagin
Buses sitting in Lake Nagin
Buses sitting in Lake Nagin
The real truth.......
No BS now...
Buses sitting in Lake Nagin
Buses sitting in Lake Nagin
Buses sitting in Lake Nagin
nice, ain't it?
Forget this knobs' failure as a Mayor. He is a miserable failure as a human being.
I've stepped in stuff better than him in a pasture.
LOL about Post 52.
No plan...no idea....plenty of resources....liberal lunacy....nice try....thanks for screwing us....oh but we tried and feel your pain....
But there were reports of hundreds of bodies in the region, including 30 people who died at one nursing home in St. Bernard Parish, according to Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu. The number of deaths could be far greater if infectious diseases spread among the survivors, medical officials said. 1st paragraph after "City Submerged"
I'll see if there's an online transcript from O'Reilly today.
I realize that some were too old or ill to help themselves, and that's fine; helping them would be a privilege.
Before I left on Sunday they were driving around picking up people on buses and taking them to the dome. The reporter mentioned it in passing that most were declining the offer. I just cannot fathom the ammount of lives that were lost because they wouldn't just get on that damned bus!!!!
Oh The Humanity.
No wonder people did not leave town. They had no idea what he was talking about.
I blame Blanco more than Nagin, Nagin met with Bush today and praised him, Nagin might be a boob but he seems to at least care and be involved to some degree. Blanco on the other hand is in hiding and hasn't made a public statement in days.
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