That's true, but I'm not denying anything. Let's just say that FR is far more enjoyable when this sort of behavior is less pronounced.
If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
Posted on 09/04/2005 6:52:12 PM PDT by Lorianne
AUSTRALIAN survivors of Hurricane Katrina told last night of their dramatic escape from New Orleans and the unfolding civil disaster in city.
The group, joyful at fleeing the nightmare of the Louisiana city, lauded one of its members as a hero. Bud Hopes, of Brisbane, was praised for saving dozens of tourists as the supposed safe haven of the city's Superdome became a hellhole.
"I would have to say that Bud is solely responsible for our evacuation," Vanessa Cullington, 22, of Sydney, told the Sunday Herald Sun by mobile phone from a bus carrying 10 Australians to safety in Dallas, Texas.
"I dread to think what would have happened if we hadn't got out. It's so great to be free."
News of the group's escape came as reports said as many as 10,000 people might have been killed by the hurricane and its aftermath, and President George Bush ordered more troops and an increased aid effort for the stricken Gulf of Mexico states.
As the Australians left the Superdome, food and water were almost non-existent and the stiflingly hot arena was filled with 25,000 people and the stench of human waste. Gangs stalked the tourists and women were threatened with rape.
"Bud took control. He was calm and kept it together the whole time," Ms Cullington said.
Mr Hopes, 32, said: "That was the worst place in the universe. Ninety-eight per cent of the people around the world are good. In that place, 98 per cent of the people were bad.
"Everyone brought their drugs, they brought guns, they brought knives. Soldiers were shot.
"It was like a refugee camp within a prison.
"It was full on. It was the worst thing I have seen in my life. I have never been so frightened."
Realising that foreigners were a target, Mr Hopes and the other Aussies gathered tourists from Europe, South America and elsewhere into one part of the building.
"There were 65 of us, so we were able to look after each other -- especially the girls who were being grabbed and threatened." Mr Hopes said.
He said they had organised escorts for the women when they had gone for food or to the toilet, and rosters to keep guard while others slept.
"We sat through the night just watching each other, not knowing if we would be alive in the morning."
John McNeil, 20, of Brisbane, said the worst point had come after two days when soldiers had told them the power in the dome was failing and there was only 10 minutes worth of gas left.
"I looked at Bud and said, 'That will be the end of us'," Mr McNeil said.
"The gangs . . . knew where we were. If the lights had gone out we would have been in deep trouble. We prayed for a miracle and the lights stayed on."
Mr Hopes said the Australians owed their lives to a National Guard Staff Sgt Garland Ogden, who had broken the rules to get the tourists out of the dome, with 60 people being evacuated to a medical centre.
"We did some shifts at the hospital to help nurse the sick to say thank you. It was a real Aussie thing," he said.
As the bus carrying the Australians crossed the Texan border, spirits were high.
"We've had hotdogs and chips and everyone is laughing," Mr Hopes said.
Later, the bus arrived at Dallas Convention Centre, where the Australians were processed.
Family and friends gathered at the Brisbane home of Mr McNeil's parents, Peter and Mary, where they were joined by Mr Hopes's sister, Debbie Browne.
Mrs McNeil broke down when she saw images of her son leaving New Orleans.
"There have been times during this past week when we didn't know if we would see him again," she said.
Mr McNeil said he could see a change in his son.
"They've been traumatised," he said. "I think they've witnessed several atrocities."
The other Australians on the bus were Emma Hardwick, of Sydney; Simon Wood, of Wyalkatchem, WA; Michael Ryan, of Lithgow, NSW; Yasmin Bright, of Newcastle; Michelle and Lisa van Grinsven, of Sydney; and Elise Sims, Tea Tree Gully, Adelaide.
Meanwhile, three Australian couples were safe in Los Angeles, awaiting flights home after being rescued from New Orleans by a Channel 7 news crew.
Tim and Joanne Miller, of Rockhampton, Garry and Cynthia Jones, of Brisbane, and Jack and Gloria Slinger, of Perth, crammed into a four-wheel-drive vehicle with reporter Mike Amor and two colleagues for the early morning dash.
The crew had arranged to pick up two couples from the building where they were holed up and found the Slingers on the streets.
"They were very wary about about coming out of the building. It was a pretty frightening scene -- bodies, shootings, looters," Amor said.
A phone call in the middle of the night gave hope to relatives of Brisbane's Fiona Seidel and her sister-in-law, Katie Maclean.
Mrs Maclean's husband, Andrew, was contacted by a New Orleans police officer who said he had seen the pair get on a bus.
Thanks.
I knew I saw that at the time, and just told cyborg I'd look for it in the morning.
What a shabby lie.
Multiculturalism is not the problem. The establishment of a welfare state, which inculcates the populace with an entitlement mindset, laziness, not to mention ignorance and illiteracy. Coupled with the denial and refusal to take personal responsibility for your (generally speaking)actions. I would say the left, namely the Democratic party and its policys, is the direct cause of the uncivilized behavior that we have recently witnessed in New Orleans and to a lesser extent in the greater area of the state of Louisiana.
You take Geraldo with a grain of salt. I admire the fact that he has an unending desire to put himself where he might get killed. His "machismo" is friggin hysterical, but hey, he get's a good story now and then. He was also absolutely brilliant to realize the only way he could keep his career going was to hook up with Fox News. Were he anywhere else, he'd be laughed off by most. He does enjoy tragedy... and the promoting of it... juuuuust a bit too much, however.
as a side note: how y'all holding up? reckon you must be dog tired by now.
i do wish he'd learn that at times it is good to stfu
There are times when Geraldo should remember: "less is more" : )
"The more I read, the more I think this hurricane was a cleansing rather than a disaster."
***
So this is how the sick "conservative" mind thinks? Let me guess . . . you're also "Christian."
Sick, sick, sick . . .
I'd rather deal with the condescending racism of liberals than the outright bigotry of those I've been unfortunate to encounter on this board.
But thanks for the enlightenment.
Forty sheep charging the wolf is fine, if there's just one wolf.
Looking at the big picture...and considering that it will be 60 days before they even start thinking about allowing people back in...you may see alot of folks give up on Orleans. These people might just decide to stay in Houston or Dallas or wherever...but these people will find law enforcement in those locations to be a bit more lawful. By spring when most folks move back to Orleans...there might be up to 5k residents sitting in Texas jails. Maybe thats not a bad thing.
---Yes; many, many NOPD deserted their posts; I have seen and heard about this on FR threads and on the News...numerous turned in their badges and quit....that's also been on the news...others said they didn't see the use of working...they'd lost everything (paraphrasing)...two committed suicide (according to reports)...many members of the NOPD failed to serve and protect when the going got tough.....---
Yes, and I would still like to know why most of the officers I saw during the coverage were white.
Was it my imagination? Did anyone else see this? Is the composition of the NOPD 90% white or what?
I realize from certain veiled references that certain freepers think I'm a racist for asking, but I'm curious and have no apologies to offer. If we can't discuss, what's the point of having a forum?
That is definitely not my understanding, though I have no first-hand knowledge; I read on a thread (don't remember which one) that the non-black members of the NOPD are "tokens."
My God, those poor people! In 1986 my husband remodeled one of the major hotels seen through smoke yesterday. He KNEW this would happen. It is astounding to think NO officials didn't. They DID and did NOTHING to stop it.
That's true, but I'm not denying anything. Let's just say that FR is far more enjoyable when this sort of behavior is less pronounced.
If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
Well. they sure look to be a lot more than "tokens" from what I'm seeing. I wonder if we can get the straight story about this?
I have no idea how one would find out; I doubt the Department has public information concerning ethnicity of their force.
I also read their force numbered ~1,400, which means ~466 continued to work (less than 1/3 stayed working).
So, of the 466....
"Irrespective of what it was "really like" in the Dome, this particular reporter seems quite intent on writing "Heart of Darkness" into the experience."
What would you call it, a ray of sunshine?
I Agree...
time for me to call it a night; if you find out anything, please give me a ping. thanks.
"Everyone brought their drugs, they brought guns, they brought knives. Soldiers were shot.
"It was like a refugee camp within a prison.
"It was full on. It was the worst thing I have seen in my life. I have never been so frightened."
This sickens me to no end. But of course, this just one of many hundreds of reports that demonstrates how the brave, valiant citizens of NO are truly the scum of the earth. A pox upon them all. (Oh wait...according to the health officials, that's only just about to begin...)
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