Posted on 09/05/2005 9:01:40 PM PDT by joholso
State had no plan. Governor hasn't got a clue and stands in the way of progress. City had an incomplete plan that wasn't used. Mayor is a wack job political hack. My favorite line was yesterday when he said "Put me in charge!"
Ok, Nagin, you are now in charge of cleaning up the city busses and school busses you didn't use to evacuate those without transportation, and your are in charge of cleaning up the Super Dome and Convention Center that weren't even set up to handle 1 person much less thousands. Hell, even Mexico City plans for ten days of food and water at it's designated hurricane shelters. A pack of nabs from a busted vending machine doesn't go very far at the Super Dome.
D. Regional Transit Authority
* Supply transportation as needed in accordance with the current Standard Operating Procedures.
* Place special vehicles on alert to be utilized if needed.
* Position supervisors and dispatch evacuation buses.
* If warranted by scope of evacuation, implement additional service.
So the statements by the locals prior to Katrina was so much CYA. They knew they couldn't pull off a mass evacuation or major hurricane response so they tried to punt. Absolves them of nothing IMO. They should be serving jail time.
FGS
"I don't suppose the city being in control of(in Nagin's own words) drug addicts would matter? Send in the relief workers anyway?! To be preyed on by anarchists, including some of NO's finest, that were looting, shooting and tooting openly? I'm not a big fan of the Red Cross, but I wouldn't send 'em into a war zone either. SHEESH!"
Did someone tell that to Oprah's and Travolta's photographers? Thanks to idiots at Homeland, we'll have pictures of Hollywood and the MSM passing out tetanus shots and insulin instead of Red Cross trucks.
Do you realize how long it took to put Hollywood and the MSM in its place?
Understand something, there were countless people on the ground in the early going doing evacuations and rescues. Volunteers for the most part? ORDERING an unprotected group of relief workers into this pit of vipers would have been unconscionable. Do you think for a minute that Oprah and Travolta et al were there to help, or could there have been other motives? Screen shots and sound bites anyone? Sean Penn's efforts(?) were not parlayed into another "feel good" segment because his boat sank.
JMO, but you really should get a clue regarding the leftists and their MO.
FGS
What about those pictures of 300-400 buses.....????????
"Understand something, there were countless people on the ground in the early going doing evacuations and rescues"
No there was NOT! The Convention center had no food or water for 5 days.
And this is while Red Cross Trucks and other non political Relief Organizations were blocked! Yet - the Hollywood and MSM icons get thru?
Homeland blocked the good guys and I guess there are quite a few here that don't care about the Repubs that have to run in 2008.
Friends of ours stopped over Saturday afternoon, conversation quickly digressed to rants over the administration in NO/LA. I had totally forgotten this.
Prior to Floyd or Fran, we too had folks who weren't moving fast enough. Administration in this part of the country got on the tube and told folks, "If you want to stay, fine. Just get a permanent marker, write your name on your forearm, write your NOK below your name so we can identify the body."
Problem solved, evacuation went rather smoothly.
You're just not paying attention. VOLUNTEERS, people from all around the area brought boats and were locating and taking people out of their homes, businesses, etc. They were doing this at some personal risk wouldn't you say? For that matter, private helicopters were even getting people out.
Now, the Red Cross is a quasi gov't agency, an NGO might be an accurate term. They work in concert with government entities during disasters wouldn't you agree? If the gov't agency tells them it's not safe to take their people into an area, the Red Cross then has decision to make. They could choose to go in on their own initiative. Would you?
As for supplies for the evacuation/assembly areas, the city was responsible for that part of the operation; security and all. The fact that they botched this part of the operation will be to their shame forever; NOT the Red Cross and NOT the federales.
FGS
"Now, the Red Cross is a quasi gov't agency"
No its not - its a c-corp.
And it was STOPPED by FEMA from going in - as were other disaster relief organizations.
Look, I don't make the rules and this is going down as one of the biggest embarassments to the fed gubmint - not just the state and local.
Excellent post, but unfortunately you can't expect po people to take responsibility for themselves, let alone themselves and their families!
Here in the North East we are prone to blizzards - this time of year is when me and my family start preparing, gathering fresh batteries, flashlights, bottled water, canned goods, blankets, candles, matches, etc. etc. etc. - we may not get hit with a blizzard but if we do, we're prepared, only takes an hour or so of your personal time to round up these items but it's an hour or so well spent imo.
Maybe it's just as well you don't make the rules. You would have supplies pre-positioned on every street corner in America that had even the remotest possibility of experiencing a disaster. And, a NG contingent full time to protect it, FEMA rep to manage it, local gov't to sit on their butts and demand FEMA do something at the first sign of trouble. Oh, and we'll need the president to be in full time contact with these people in case there needs to be an immediate federalization of assets ordered.
I am not the least bit embarrased by the fed's response; maybe you're too easily embarrased. And I honestly don't think you can see past your nose on the issue. JMO.
FGS
Telling an entire city population, "You're on your own" is an inexcusable abandonment of responsibility and a recipe for disaster.
"And I honestly don't think you can see past your nose on the issue"
And why was it appropriate to stop the Red Cross and not the Travolta's and the Oprah's and the Penn's?
I'm SO confused. I thought this was found by a freeper this morning. Granted it was before my coffee, but this wasn't the find?
Because the Red Cross was actually capable of helping, but, had they been allowed to enter, the rampant chaos and lawlessness would have rapidly made them require rescue themselves. The Red Cross was needed and needed to be protected, even if it's from their own bad judgement.
The Oprah's, Penn's, and Travolta's are essentially useless. Letting them go in and get killed by looters is really no great loss (or a great benefit depending on your viewpoint).
"the rampant chaos and lawlessness would have rapidly made them require rescue themselves"
These reports by the MSM are now proving to be wildly exagerated.
Literally so, now! :)
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