U.S. Government Charters 3 Luxury Cruise Liners to House Katrina Victims

CBC.ca ^ | 9/3/2005 | Staff Writers

[thummy]

I see 3 floating slums also instead of the "long stemmed roses every day".
I had a few shares of Carnival (CCL) and sold them last Thursday on the basis of fuel costs lowering their profits. This lease by FEMA may bolster them in the short run but it has to damage CCL in the long haul. The floating slum image will stick for some time.

CCL stock tailed off some on Friday when this idea of leasing the boats came up. Wait and see what it does on Tuesday.

[Diligent]

How fast do these cruise ships move, how soon before the outer edges of the storm arrives do they have to leave, how much pounding can they take, etc., would be some questions however.

[GretchenM]

Another (serious) plan to house and care for the survivors.

[minerboy]

I cruised on the Ecstasy after I graduated from high school. It was brand new at the time and absolutely beautiful. I wonder what it will look like in about a week or so.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Here's another idea. Get empty barges. Cover the decks with tents and portapotties, staff them with personnel, load with evacuees and head up the Mississippi as Katrina approached. Might have problems but at least you're getting a lot of folks out at one time. The point is that if the kind of exchange we're doing here was done by those in charge in the months and years between major storms, a lot of workable ideas could have been at the ready and folks would have lived that died instead.

[Muzzle_em]

I wonder why the government couldn't just SEIZE those ships since they are to be put to "more important use" (by the government's standard. I'm sure the SCOTUS would agree.

[Muzzle_em]

IF they ever do any more atomic tests in the Bikini Atoll, I now predict which ships will be floated out there for destruction.

[pointsal]

When are these liners scheduled to be dry-docked and refurburhised after this tour.

[Muzzle_em]

Casinos will be filled sooner than that!
I predicts these "penniless folks" will be in there gambling as soon as they open.

[RFEngineer]

"It is apparent to me that FEMA is doing everything it can to aid the victims of Katrina"

Not many hurricane victims will see the inside of these boats. I'm willing to bet that these will house FEMA personnel that are being brought to the area.

But they can't say that's what they are doing because it would cause too much of a stink. They'll say its for refugees, and then claim that there are no refugees, so FEMA folks will live on them.

We'll see......

[Paulus]

I had the same thought. The military bases should have some structure. Housing might be a little cramped and need a slap of paint but things like school space, grocery stores, office space would be there and logistically easier to handle. I would think they'd be just another route on the road and not need such bottle-necks in metro areas.

[crosslink]

We had a story last night on the local news( I live in Grand Rapids MI.) that all of the mobile homes from 5 dealers had been requested to be shipped for use by FEMA. They did not say if they were purchased or leased. They will be shipping over 1000 units. Did anyone else have this happen in their city?

Buy Mobile Home stocks if this is true around the country.

[Don Carlos]

Ah, yes. Fond memories.

wonder if Carnival will issue each "guest" a sail and sign card.

[dennisw]

Floating housing projects. How many kids will drown in the pools? How many will sue for injuries from slipping on the deck and stairs? I see lots of opportunity for lawyers here.

[MineralMan]

"We had a story last night on the local news( I live in Grand Rapids MI.) that all of the mobile homes from 5 dealers had been requested to be shipped for use by FEMA. "

That's typical for these situations. FEMA acquires mobile homes as housing when people are going to be displaced for long periods of time. I'm pretty sure they buy them. Ownership is not transferred to the people who live in them, as I understand it.

A heckuva lot of people are going to need housing, probably for months, and a lot of them are going to be housed near the damaged areas, since there will be lots of jobs during the cleanup. Either evacuees or workers will be housed in them during the cleanup and rebuilding process.

In this case, it will probably take months or even years to do all the work. Anyone with construction experience will find it really easy to get a job during the next year or two down there.

[Diligent]

These are good ideas. I was just pointing out some issues about evacuating in the last day or so of warning.

[mcastle]

Two boats are to be used for evacuees and moored in Galveston. FEMA is readying two berths to anchor them at. Cost rumored to be $249 million for 6 month lease on 3 ships, plus FEMA must refurbish all three boats when complete. Would it be cheaper to buy a house for the victims that will be housed on these boats?

[TXLibertarian]

I'm curious - where did you see the $249 MM estimate? If true, then FEMA is spending almost $200 a person per night to house 7000 people over 6 months.