D.C. Bus Convoy Re-Routed to Airport (Coming home empty - No one left to rescue))

wtop news ^ | Sunday, Sep. 4, 2005 - 5:10 PM

[11th_VA]

WASHINGTON - It may take a little longer for hundreds of Hurricane Katrina refugees to arrive in the District.

The original mission of the 10-bus convoy was to pick up stranded residents in downtown New Orleans. But WTOP Radio has learned the city had already been evacuated.

So, Council Member David Catania says the convoy has been re-routed to the New Orleans airport. If all the refugees are gone from the airport, the convoy will make a last stop in Baton Rouge before returning home.

It is likely the buses won't return to the D.C. area until mid-week.

Mayor Tony Williams is inspecting the D.C. Armory where about 400 refugees could be housed, at least temporarily.

Authorities in the District say the city will begin the process of searching for long-term housing after the evacuees rest in the Armory.

Catholic Charities is one organization attempting to gather information about those who can offer shelter.

Spokesman Mike Meeran says the group is looking for independent units, such as vacant apartments, not spare rooms at this point.

Those who can't offer victims a place to stay can still help, however.

Cameron Valentine with the Red Cross says the best way to give is to call (800) HELP-NOW or go to their website and donate money.

Valentine says they are not accepting donated supplies from individual organizations, "We do take in-kind donations from coorporations, but as far as individual church groups or neighborhoods getting together to gather clothing for people, we don't have the resources to clean and redistribute that."

[11th_VA]

UPDATE: I just saw on the local news, they got to the dome and there was only one person left, and he didn't want to go to DC - so they picked up a couple of college students who needed transportation to DC and are on their way back.

[chet_in_ny]

Hmmm, I guess the NYC convoy of 100 buses will turn around too.

[July 4th]

so they picked up a couple of college students who needed transportation to DC

Dude! I had the best time in New Orleans. I rode out this killer storm, and they drove me home for free!

[ladyjane]

They didn't want to go to DC? I wonder why?

[gitmo]

Something about a frying pan and a fire.

[rwilson99]

LOL

[LearsKent]

Hey, I heard some buses were coming to here to Detroit.

I am sure the "displaced New Orleans residents", upon entering Detroit, said, "Hey, did you have a hurricane here, too?!?!"

Unless, of course, they traveled on I-94 past Telegraph. Then they would see the true beauty of our City....

[Bommer]

Empty buses? Hmmmm where have I seen empty buses before

NAGIN: I need reinforcements, I need troops, man. I need 500 buses, man. We ain't talking about -- you know, one of the briefings we had, they were talking about getting public school bus drivers to come down here and bus people out here.

I'm like, "You got to be kidding me. This is a national disaster. Get every doggone Greyhound bus line in the country and get their asses moving to New Orleans."

That's -- they're thinking small, man. And this is a major, major, major deal. And I can't emphasize it enough, man. This is crazy.

Louisiana disaster plan, pg 13, para 5 , dated 01/00

'The primary means of hurricane evacuation will be personal vehicles. School and municipal buses, government-owned vehicles and vehicles provided by volunteer agencies may be used to provide transportation for individuals who lack transportation and require assistance in evacuating'...

they're thinking small, man!
they're thinking small, man!

they're thinking small, man!
they're thinking small, man!

they're thinking small, man!
they're thinking small, man!

they're thinking small, man!
they're thinking small, man!

they're thinking small, man!
they're thinking small, man!

small thinking man! small thinking man!

[CommandoFrank]

I am sure the "displaced New Orleans residents", upon entering Detroit, said, "Hey, did you have a hurricane here, too?!?!"

That's wild...ROLFMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SwatTeam]

Looky here

[festus]

Hey, I heard some buses were coming to here to Detroit.

Detroits been pi$$ed ever since the census decided they had less than some magical threshold of people inside the city limits that somehow reduced the federal $$ it could qualify for.

All that the mayor wants is more people because he figures each one he gets is more $$. Oh and as for the lootin-n-shootin they'll fit right in.

[upchuck]

What is it with RATS and logistics? They seem to have a huge black hole when it comes to simple logistics.

Not that I'm complaining, mind you :)

Give 'em hell fagot Catania!

[digger48]

And he knows that a big influx of Federal money will follow the 'refugees' wherever they land.

[Cobra64]

I agree.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Wonder what took them so long?? S\

After all, the MSM & lefties have done naught but berate the President for taking too long, and damn, they show up late.

[billnaz]

This is a good reason not to allow homosexuals in our armed forces. Would YOU want to be in a military convoy planned by somebody whose talents are more along the lines of interior decorating and hairdressing?

They're not mechanically inclined, either. Think of Nathan Lane's character trying to drive a car in "The Birdcage."

[msnimje]

But WTOP Radio has learned the city had already been evacuated.

Don't tell that to the US Coast Guard and Air Force who are plucking people off roof at this very moment. There are thousands of people still in New Orleans, just none where that Feminine Geraldine was throwing a temper tantrum.

[airborne]

"Stay out' da busses!"

[ncountylee]

We could see violence among the race-baiting mayors.

Gee...that would be terrible.

[oldtimer2]

I saw an article somewea that the mayor said they couldn't use school buses because they had no bathrooms.
That also applied to the superdome, but they used it.