Posted on 09/06/2005 10:15:17 AM PDT by Abigail Adams
I have to leave for awhile....but I just wanted to mention that I have been watching Fox this morning...
It is a LIVE "cost of freedom", with Neil Cavuto...he had on Jesse Jackson and Jackson says he has a bunch of full tractor trailers heading for Miss. with supplies, but he still refuses to let Neil or anyone say that part of the "lack of help" was in any way Nagins or Blanco's fault.
He said that Nagin couldn't take those buses and fill them with people before the hurricane, GET THIS, because as a mayor he only has jurisdiction over the city of NO...so he COULDN'T take the buses past the city limits of NO...LOLOL!!! What a putz...
He also had on Geraldo----who is still insisting that after Tuesday..the day of flooding...that Bush and all KNEW of all of the people in the CONVENTION CENTER, and did nothing...or the Red Cross.
Now, I may be wrong, but I bet if we went back over the threads of Katrina....Geraldo didn't even go to NO until like Thurs or Friday.. so first of all he doesn't know what happened on WEd...and second, NO ONE knew there were people in the Convention Center until the end of the week...
And, both Jackson and Geraldo keep saying that the Red Cross and others didn't get in....they still don't say that they weren't LET IN by the LA Homeland Sec. dept...
Will get back later....
Watch out for Ophelia, Howlin!
Press Releases
Date: 9/10/2005
Contact: Denise Bottcher or Roderick Hawkins at 225-342-9037
UPDATE: TASK FORCE PELICAN
SATURDAY - SEPTEMBER 10, 2005
Department of Natural Resources
- Federal Oil and Gas Production
o Evacuations
Evacuated Platforms 124 15.14% of total platforms
Evacuated Rigs 4 2.99% of total rigs
These evacuations are equivalent to 15.14% of 819 manned platforms and 2.99% of 134 rigs currently operating in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM)
o Oil & Gas
Oil 59.88% (898,161 BOPD) shut in
Gas 38.29% (3.829 BCFPD) shut in
umulative Shut-in Oil Production: 2.963% of yearly production
Cumulative Shut-in Gas Production: 2.203% of yearly production
Today's shut-in oil production is 898,161 BOPD. This shut-in oil production is equivalent to 59.88% of the daily oil production in the GOM, which is currently approximately 1.5 million BOPD.
Today's shut-in gas production is 3.829 BCFPD. This shut-in gas production is equivalent to 38.29% of the daily gas production in the GOM, which is currently approximately 10 BCFPD.
The cumulative shut-in oil production for the period 8/26/05-9/9/05 is 16,223,825 bbls, which is equivalent to 2.963% of the yearly production of oil in the GOM (approximately 547.5 million barrels).
The cumulative shut-in gas production 8/26/05-9/9/05 is 80.411 BCF, which is equivalent to 2.203% of the yearly production of gas in the GOM (approximately 3.65 TCF).
MMS will issue the another update on Monday (09.12.05).
- State Oil and Gas Production
o Oil 50% shut in
o Gas 29% shut in
o Loss of this production equates into approximately $2.6 million in daily royalty and severance income to the state of Louisiana
o DNR is communicating by phone and e-mail with most companies to get reports on damage and to facilitate access and movement of men and materials to restore oil and gas exploration and production
- Pipeline Issues
o Gasoline Pipelines
Colonial Products- 100% capacity (full power restored)
Plantation pipelines- 100% capacity
o Propane Pipeline
Dixie Pipelines- app. 50% capacity (2 million gallons per day)
The Dixie Propane Pipeline is currently running at full capacity; however, the Hattiesburg, MS, terminal remains without power
o LOOP
The LOOP is currently operating at about 75% of its maximum.
2 of its 3 berths are open
. Which allows dual discharging while also eliminating the turnaround time between pumping sessions.
Entergy expects to have the LOOP's tank facility power back today, which will allow LOOP to access to the special crudest that refineries are requesting
Entergy is working with GE to obtain a 22 MW generator to provide power to the Fourchon Booster Station.
. Operations may return to normal by this weekend.
7 ships are awaiting entrance into LOOP
Outbound deliveries are resuming with the exception of a few large refineries located in the New Orleans area
o Entergy
Entergy reports that there has been extensive damage to Entergy's gas distribution system
This has affected service to many of Entergy's 147,000 natural gas customers in New Orleans
Entergy also reports that as water is pumped out of the city, company teams of employees will reenter to survey areas for damage and isolate leaks. Areas that are damaged will be identified for repair
Those repairs will be prioritized and worked to return the system to normal operation
Continue working with PSC to provide electricity to key areas to improve capacity
Department of Health & Hospitals
- The Department of Health and Hospitals has established two response teams in several regions of the state to go into shelters and help evacuees who need social services such as counseling, substance abuse treatment or therapeutic services for people with developmental disabilities.
- Each team will have a social worker, psychiatric worker, addictions counselor and registered nurse. They will work 24 hours, seven days a week to refer people to appropriate services in the region to receive treatment. The teams also will offer on-site counseling.
- Teams will work in Baton Rouge, Houma/Thibodaux, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Alexandria, Shreveport and Monroe areas.
- DHH, in conjunction with several other state and federal agencies is implementing a mosquito control plan in the New Orleans area. Beginning Sunday, September 11, US Air Force planes will begin aerial spraying in that area.
- In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, state officials are suspending all activities related to the Louisiana BEACH Monitoring Program through Oct. 31, the end of swim season. This is due to excessive damage to some of the monitored beach sites. Also, the state's public health laboratory, where the beach water samples were analyzed each week, is located in New Orleans and is now out of commission
- Dialysis services in the New Orleans area have been greatly disrupted by the recent events surrounding Hurricane Katrina. The Department of Health and Hospitals urges patients on dialysis to continue treatment. Patients unable to access their usual dialysis unit should call 504-338-4267 or 985-537-6903 to arrange treatment.
- Staff with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Medicaid office are now in evacuee shelters assisting families who need to enroll in Medicaid for health care benefits. Staff with the Louisiana Department of Education is assisting.
- The Hurricane Katrina Louisiana Medicaid Program is primarily for children younger than 19, pregnant women, people with disabilities, people who are 65 years of age or older and very low-income parents with children younger than 19. Many people who have not qualified for the program in the past will qualify because they have lost their homes and their jobs because of the storm.
- Due to the difficulty that many families who have evacuated their homes would have in providing documentation typically required to apply for Medicaid, the state has eliminated some of the verification requirements, making it easier to apply.
- Those affected by the storm can apply for the program in person or at a local Medicaid office. Applications are available at Medicaid offices, on the Medicaid Web
Department of Transportation & Development
- MAP
. DOTD's Motorist Assistance Patrol is expanding its service in Baton Rouge in light of heavier traffic on I-10 and I-12.
. It has doubled the number of vans in use, increased patrol hours to 10 p.m. daily.
. Effective Monday, DOTD will add a MAP tow truck to quickly remove disabled vehicles from the interstate
- I-10 "twin-span" bridge contract awarded:
. Hours after opening bids for emergency repairs to the I-10 twin-span bridge, DOTD used the "fast-track" method to award a $30.9 million contract to Boh Brothers Construction Co. of New Orleans, the low bidder on the job.
. Work will begin Monday and continue 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Cooperative effort continues with the Corps on the London Street canal repairs and pumping stations. And debris cleanup and road sign and signal work continues.
Department of Social Services
- Disaster Food Stamp Program was extended from Friday, Sept. 9 and will continue through Friday, Sept. 16.
o Residents from the following devastated parishes may participate: Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Washington, St. Tammany, St. Charles, St. John, West Feliciana, Lafourche, Terrebonne, Tangipahoa, Livingston and St. Helena.
- There are currently 48,905 displaced citizens in 228 Louisiana shelters
o Another 659 citizens are housed in six special needs shelters
o FEMA and Red Cross are now tracking out-of-state shelters
- To ensure that all shelters have available inventory to care for displaced citizens, DSS is requesting those housing 25 displaced citizens to register with the state by calling (866) 310-7610
o If a shelter is already registered with its parish Office of Emergency or is a private residence, it is not necessary to call
Department of Environmental Quality
- Water Sampling
o DEQ and EPA have collected more than 100 water samples at several areas affected by Hurricane Katrina
o The results from the Sept. 4-5 sampling show high levels of bacteria and very low levels of toxics
o The levels were below any levels of concern
- Debris Burning
o Due to the large amount of debris, variances have been issued for open burning of debris in Terrebone and LaFourche parishes
o Where possible, the debris will be burned in a curtain destructor which will minimize smoke and particulate matters
o Plans are in place for FEMA, DEQ and the EPA to monitor the air around these sites
o DEQ enforcement staff will inspect the burn sites to verify the material burning is hurricane-related debris.
- Possible Fish Kills
o DEQ expects to see scattered fish kills across southeastern Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
o Most of these fish kills will be associated with low dissolved oxygen in the water
o This low dissolved oxygen results from the organic matter washed into the streams, lakes and bays from storm debris and floodwater runoff
o As the organic matter in the water is assimilated the oxygen levels will return to levels that will support aquatic life
- If you want to report an environmental hazard, call DEQ at (225) 342-1234 or 1- 888-763-5424.
Department of Labor
- DOL announced Louisiana needs more federal assistance to help pay unprecedented unemployment claims and to get people back to work
o Louisiana Department of Labor Secretary John Warner Smith said at a press conference Friday that
o Included U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and several other federal officials
- DOL One Stops and Job Centers will be open and accepting applications for Unemployment Insurance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance from: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat., Sept. 10 and Sun. Sept. 11
- Evacuees looking for employment can call the DOL toll free number at 1-866-310-1585 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Jobseekers also can visit the Department of Labor Web site, www.LAWORKS.net to post a résumé
- DOL has taken at 115,000 unemployment claims from person who lost their jobs because of Hurricane Katrina
- Those already receiving U.I. checks before Hurricane Katrina can pick them up in the lobby of the LDOL administration building
o LDOL Administration Bldg.
o 1001 N. 23rd Street
o 8 am to 5 pm
o Proper identification is required
Department of Wildlife & Fisheries
- Louisiana Seafood Board Launches Message Board for Gulf Coast Seafood Industry
o The Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board announced it is launching a web message board in partnership with Seafood Business
o Designed to reunite members of the Gulf Coast and Louisiana seafood industry affected by Hurricane Katrina
Provides a platform for separated family members and acquaintances to post information on their whereabouts and the status of their loved ones
Also provides the means for fishermen to report on damages and losses to the industry by sector and location in each state
o Available online at www.LouisianaSeafood.com
- Ducks Unlimited Pledges $15 Million To Help Restore Louisiana's Coastal Marsh
o Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands restoration
o Ducks Unlimited will work with partner conservation organizations, federal conservation agencies and the state of Louisiana
o To protect and restore 52,000 acres along the Louisiana coast by 2008
- Wildlife Office Personnel Working on Storm Recovery Projects
o LDWF's Wildlife Division biologists, technicians and foresters have been working in and around state wildlife management areas in the Washington and St. Tammany Parish areas
o Including Pearl River and Ben's Creek WMA
o The major effort is focused on tree and debris removal from roadways within or near the WMAs
o Signs of life - fresh deer and turkey tracks - have biologists encouraged
- Fur and Refuge Division personnel have made preliminary surveys of other WMAs
o WLF personnel found property largely intact on the western edge of Lake Borgne in the Biloxi WMA
o Pass-A-Loutre WMA at the southeastern most tip of the state has sustained severe damage from a wetland/marshland vegetation standpoint
Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
- Our offices continue to work with local and federal agencies to identify and meet the needs of those affected by Hurricane Katrina
o Disaster Recovery is working hand in hand with FEMA to conduct site visits to the affected parishes to assess the needs of the parishes.
The critical issue there is to restore the function of the local government
o Working with FEMA, the Disaster Recovery Division of OHSEP is assessing the needs of the individuals; together we have and we will continue to provide assistance to individuals and families in need
o OHSEP continues to coordinate commodities distribution with FEMA to those in need
o Another issues working now is to provide more secure temporary housing for those displaced by the storm.
o OHSEP is working closely with FEMA to move trailers and tents into areas to house sheltered evacuees
Department of Education
- Superintendents of school districts impacted by Hurricane Katrina have now been able to assess damage
o In Jefferson Parish, 57 of the 84 schools have been inspected
9 have severe damage, 11 need repairs and 37 have no damage
Monday, October 3rd is the target date for some schools to reopen in Jefferson Parish
o Orleans Parish has 126 schools, but only 8 have been assessed on the West Bank. All are usable
o In Plaquemines Parish, six of the nine schools are completely flooded
o St. Bernard Parish believes all 15 schools are under water and have suffered extensive damage
o Both Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes are unable to estimate when they will reopen schools
o St. Charles Parish has assessed 19 schools and only one has minor roof damage
No date has been set to reopen the St. Charles Parish School System
o In St. Tammany Parish, five of 51 schools are severely damaged and unusable
However, St. Tammany believes the 2,600 students can been platooned in other schools when the district reopens on October 3rd
o In Washington Parish all nine schools suffered damage, with three of them needing major repairs
Washington is planning to open schools September 19th
o The City of Bogalusa reports some damage to 10 schools and says the Central Office has been destroyed
Officials hope to reopen schools October 3rd
- DOE Call Center continue to answer questions from concerned parents and teachers Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
o That toll-free number is 1-877-453-2721
Board of Regents/ Colleges & Universities
- The LSU Hurricane Information Hotline
. 225-578-4636 and 1-800-516-6444
. Now open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays (previously open 24/ 7)
. Students may call with questions on such topics as enrolling displaced students, course scheduling, and financial aid
- Donations Accepted During LSU- Arizona State Game
o LSU Foundation staff members will be manning LSU's Tiger Talk call center, taking donations to the relief fund
o Call 1-877-LSU-GIVE to make a donation
- Southeastern Louisiana University
o SELU will host two special sessions for displaced students
o Sept. 10 @ 12 noon and Monday, Sept. 12 @ 4:30 p.m.
o Held at the SLU Student Union
o Students will be provided academic counseling, advice, and other information regarding application and registration at Southeastern
###
BTW, Geraldo is wrong. He arrived on Thursday and went to the Convention Center that afternoon. Steve Harrigan had been there Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning.
HOWEVER, whether they knew about it on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in Washington is neither here nor there since without legal authority to go in Washington could only watch with the rest of us.
http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005509100309
officials giving them the run arownd in Alex. too.
Date: 9/10/2005
Contact: Denise Bottcher or Roderick Hawkins at 225-342-9037
Jefferson Parish Banks Reopen as Part of Governor Blanco's Effort to Rebuild Southeast Louisiana
Gov. Kathleen Blanco announced today that the recovery from Hurricane Katrina will reach a significant milestone in Jefferson Parish on Monday. In order to assist citizens in the parish with their basic living expenses, banks and savings and loan associations will reopen 13 locations on Monday.
With the close cooperation of the Governor's Office of Financial Institutions, these institutions have organized a branch-office sharing arrangement that will result in branch facilities being opened across both East and West Jefferson Parish. At this time, 23 of the 30 institutions which were taking deposits in the parish prior to the hurricane will either open a branch office of their own or will share a facility near their prior branch office. These institutions represent more than 80 percent of the parish's deposit base.
Work continues at an aggressive pace to quickly open the remaining branch offices which are unable to open on Monday. All institutions not able to reopen in Jefferson Parish on Monday will have alternate locations.
"This move to get banks open and serving customers is part of my plan to rebuild and restore Southeast Louisiana," said Governor Blanco. "I am dedicated to returning life to normal for our citizens. Giving them access to basic banking services is a very important step in that direction."
"I applaud the effort these banks and savings and loans have made to reestablish basic banking services for their customers in one of the hardest hit areas of the state only two weeks to the day following Katrina," said John Ducrest, director of the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. "This commitment to their customers' needs is unprecedented and truly reflects the care and concern this industry feels for its fellow citizens."
For their cooperation in opening the banks, Governor Blanco expressed her appreciation to Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, Sheriff Harry Lee, the mayors and police chiefs of the parish's municipalities, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Louisiana State Police, the Louisiana Bankers Association and the Community Bankers of Louisiana.
Those needing assistance contacting a financial institution, should visit www.ofi.louisiana.gov or call 1-866-783-5530.
-30-
Press Releases
Date: 9/10/2005
Contact: Denise Bottcher or Roderick Hawkins at 225-342-9037
MEDIA ADVISORY: Governor's Visit to Slidell
September 10, 2005
5 p.m. Depart for Slidell
5:30 p.m. Arrive temporary City Hall complex at Slidell Public Works Barn on Bayou Lane
5:40 p.m. Meet with Slidell CAO Reinhard Dearing; Parish President Kevin Davis; Police Chief Freddie Drennan; City Council members
6:10 p.m. Depart on aerial tour of Slidell
6:30 p.m. Land at Marina Apartment complex for brief walking tour
7 p.m. Depart for Baton Rouge
-30-
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/091005ccjrwwlarmstrongairport.4527678d.html
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport will reopen to scheduled passenger air traffic on Tuesday Sept. 13, following the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina, airport officials said Saturday. Cargo flights are set to resume immediately.
04:47 PM CDT on Saturday, September 10, 2005
Staff reports
4:46 P.M. (Staff reports): Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 13, for scheduled passenger air service. Cargo flights will resume immediately.
Armstrong International Airport has been operational since Tuesday, Aug. 30 for humanitarian relief flights and civilian and military rescue efforts.
4:19 P.M. (AP): Three people from New Orleans face identity theft charges in Mississippi after trying to get personal information from Hurricane Katrina evacuees at a shelter in Laurel, Miss.
Jones County Sheriff Larry Dykes said Saturday that the trio posed as representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to try to get personal information from some of the more than 1,700 people from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Louisiana at the Magnolia Center, a multipurpose venue in Laurel used for concerts and horse shows.
...
Edward Charles Francis Jr., 44; Michelle Davis, 39; and Danielle Marie Doyle, 36, are being held without bond because they are considered a flight risk, Dykes said. They were arrested this past Monday and charged with identity theft, he said.
4:09 P.M. (AP): The Federal Emergency Management Agency has paid out $669 million nationwide to families affected by Hurricane Katrina, officials announced Saturday.
Nationwide, FEMA has registered 573,262 families, agency spokesman Ed Conley said.
3:56 P.M. (New York Times): As of Sept. 7, State Farm, the largest residential insurer in the area, had received more than 62,000 Katrina-related claims from homeowners in Mississippi and Alabama, as well as 16,000 auto claims.
Compounding the problem is the complexity of hurricane-related claims. Hurricanes are a combination of wind and water. Most private homeowners' policies will pay for wind damage. But if the damage was the result of flooding, coverage would be available only if the homeowner had separate flood insurance purchased from a government program or a private insurer. Many residents who suffered severe hurricane damage did not have flood insurance, so sorting out the damage in those cases is sure to be complicated.
3:16 P.M. (AP): Hornets owner George Shinn wants his team to stay in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, but understands that cannot be done.
"Our objective is not to abandon ship here or to get out of dodge," Shinn told The Times-Picayune from his summer home in Telford, Tenn. "Our plan is to hope and pray New Orleans rebuilds. And I think it will with everyone's support and the federal money that's coming in there. I think it will be stronger."
The Hornets have received offers to play NBA home games this season in Louisville, Ky.; Oklahoma City; Kansas City, Mo., Nashville, Tenn; and San Diego.
...
Shinn said hopes are dimming to play in Baton Rouge because the downtown Rivercenter and LSU Assembly Center in Baton Rouge are being used as evacuation shelters and medical facilities.
3:00 P.M. (AP): A group of police, doctors and National Guardsmen inspected Charity Hospital, where doctors and patients had been stranded in rising flood waters.
Doctors hoped to be able to reopen it to help treat skin infections, dehydration and other illnesses, said Dr. Jeffrey Kochan, who is overseeing medical services in New Orleans. But they found the basement full of water, meaning electricity couldn't be restored. Kochan said they would inspect the city's other hospitals.
3:00 P.M. (AP): The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said most of the city could be drained within a month, though some areas hit by the storm surge could take longer. The estimates are far shorter than early predictions by the corps, which has struggled to get breached levees repaired and pumps operational.
"We learned long ago not to be too optimistic in times like this. But a few days ago we were talking about 80 days," said Lt. Gen. Carl Strock, the Corps' chief of engineers, who was in Vicksburg, Miss.
Power and other utilities remain out in most of the affected region. More than 427,000 customers lack power, and 500,000 have no phone service, state officials said.
2:48 P.M. (AP): Just under 60 percent of the Gulf of Mexico's normal daily oil production remained blocked from market Saturday because of production platform evacuations forced by Hurricane Katrina, a federal agency said.
Following a survey of 56 energy companies, the Minerals Management Service reported that 122 of the 819 staffed platforms in the Gulf were shut down, blocking 897,605 barrels -- or 59.8 percent of the Gulf's normal daily production of 1.5 million barrels.
2:46 P.M. (AP): Vice President Dick Cheney toured Hurricane Katrina shelter operations in Texas' capitol city Saturday, a group of about two dozen protesters gathered outside chanting, "Cheney, Cheney, you can't hide, we charge you with genocide."
2:30 P.M. (Staff report) American Red Cross spokesman Joe Degnan said Saturday that while the organization appreciates people's willingness to help, individuals and groups shouldn't just pack up and head into devastated areas or major shelter centers.
"We need to make sure we have trained people who can come," Degnan told a group of reporters assembled in Baton Rouge for a joint FEMA/Red Cross press conference. "It's not just people coming to load and unload trucks, and even that takes training."
He said the Red Cross needs volunteers with special training in areas including congregate living, health care and financial assistance.
Degnan said there currently are about 36,000 Red Cross volunteers involved in Katrina relief efforts.
2:20 P.M. (Staff report) U.S. Ambassador Joe Sullivan said Saturday that foreign governments have contributed a total of about $700 million in cash and in-kind aid to Katrina relief "with other things pledged and promised."
Sullivan spoke briefly Saturday at a joint FEMA/Red Cross press conference in Baton Rouge. He discussed incoming foreign aid as well as the status of foreigners caught up in Hurricane Katrina.
Sullivan said a Spanish parliamentarian was among the evacuees and had since returned to Spain. He said initial estimates had more than 1,000 foreign nationals among the missing, but that number is down to "the low hundreds," with no foreign nationals among the confirmed deaths.
International donations and offers have included 20 tons of relief supplies from Tunisia, two tons of disposable diapers from the Republic of Korea and a shipment including cots, sheets and blankets from Italy. An elderly woman from Lithuania even sent her life savings – €1,000, about $1,241 – to benefit the Katrina relief effort.
1:11 P.M. (The Dallas Morning News)
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt toured the Dallas Convention Center Saturday so that he could take his own first-hand look at the shelters.
Leavitt's late-morning visit was part of a two-day trip to meet with evacuees in shelters in Georgia, Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee to explain the benefits available to those displaced by the hurricane. He credited Dallas for its quick action and said that money will be forthcoming to repay the city and county governments.
“Communities all over the country realize this is not something we can or should wait for somebody from Washington to solve,” he said.
12:29 P.M. (The Dallas Morning News): The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is setting aside about 5,000 foreclosed homes in 11 states for Katrina survivors.
The agency normally sells the homes to consumers and investors. HUD spokesman Brian Sullivan said Friday that the houses will be "held off the market indefinitely until we can get past this business."
Foreclosed homes that are in poor condition and can't be easily repaired won't be included in the plan. But HUD plans to spend up to $10,000 on repairs on each house.
Earlier this week, HUD began notifying real estate agents and potential buyers that the properties were being pulled off the market.
The HUD relief program also includes about 5,600 public housing units within 500 miles of storm-damaged areas.
10:39 A.M. (AP): New Orleans Police Chief Eddie Compass said Saturday that his hard-pressed force was regaining control despite a shortage of roughly 300 officers.
"We're much more organized at this point," Compass said. "We have our logistics in order and the patrols are going very well."
Compass said more than 200 people had been arrested in recent days and were being held in a makeshift jail.
Of a force of 1,750, Compass said he is short about 300 officers, but he had offered no details about where they were or why they were not available for duty.
"I can't worry about that now," he said. "We're doing the job we have to do."
8:51 A.M. (AP): Two New Orleans couples were married Friday night at a shelter in Fort Worth, Texas.
Donna Mathis and James Nelson, Jr., and Annie Lee and Leo Tate said their vows less than two weeks after surviving Hurricane Katrina.
The double wedding was arranged in just two days by shelter volunteer Annie Alvarez, who persuaded businesses and individuals to donate everything from bridal gowns and bouquets to wedding-night rooms at an upscale Fort Worth hotel.
Lee and Tate have had an on-and-off relationship for 27 years, but the timing had never seemed right to tie the knot. After reuniting again in June, they set a December wedding date, but Katrina changed their plans. They barely made it to their attic in time when New Orleans flooded, then were rescued and moved to the Superdome, where they spent five days sleeping outside on cardboard mats to avoid the stench inside.
They formed quick bonds with fellow shelter residents after they arrived last week, and decided to marry in front of the people they now call family.
Mathis and Nelson also arrived last week. Friends for two years, they started dating seriously earlier this year. Once Mathis was reunited a few days ago with her 2-year-old daughter, who was in another part of Louisiana with her father when the storm hit, she decided the wedding couldn't wait.
"We were thinking how we needed something to rejoice in, something to cry happy tears over," Mathis said. "This is a way to make our lives normal. We can start our lives over, and we'll be together."
http://www.wwltv.com
We can only hope that this situation is temporary. No one, from the mayor down, wants imported gangs and criminals here in Baton Rouge. I have seen some very unsavory characters at our local Walmart and have taken precautions accordingly. My wife and I have concealed carry permits. It is a good idea for anyone who ventures out of doors.
By the way, we just yesterday got our cable modem service back on line.
Guardsmen get treated to Louisiana hospitality
It started as a chance encounter at a Raceland convenience store, where
a Tennessee National Guardsman went to buy canned ham and a loaf of
bread.
A woman there noticed the soldier’s pending purchase and told him that
that kind of meal in south Louisiana wouldn’t do. And on the spot she
made a couple of phone calls, said 2nd Lt. Steve Haley, a Tennessee
Guardsman.
“Within two hours, they had enough to feed 200-plus” soldiers and
airmen, Haley, of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The generosity the Tennessee troops are receiving in Lafourche and
Grand Isle is widespread, the soldiers said, and residents there are even doing laundry for the visiting Guardsmen who arrived in the state Sept.1 to help the region repair damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Saturday afternoon, several Tennessee troops gathered at the Naval Air
Station-Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, where in the back seat of a
Humvee sat a large pot of red beans, thick with sausage slivers, and a
pan of rice. Haley said the meal was a gift from a Lafourche Parish
woman, Haley said.
Holley said people in towns in the parish have laid out tables full of
food and deserts for the troops. “They’ve been eating gumbo,
jambalaya,” he said. “Good food.”
And the people aren’t stingy, Haley said. “’No’ is not an option, and
‘just a little bit’ is not an option, either,” he said.
The soldiers and airmen are part of Task Force Tennessee, which is
assigned to Lafourche Parish and Grand Isle recovery efforts. About 360
Tennessee Guardsmen are in the area, and another 109 were on the way
Saturday, said Col. Garry Hicks, the task force’s commanding officer.
“We have had nothing but -- considering the circumstances -- a most
rewarding experience,” Hicks said. “These people down there put their arms around our people. I have to say those people in Lafourche are a great group of folks.”
http://www.nola.com
Weekend bump for updates!
Time Magazine Sept. 19 issue
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1103591,00.html
Mayor
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1103577,00.html
Governor
by Rep. Scalise
Yesterday we had a Jefferson and Orleans Delegation meeting with Governor Blanco. Two items myself and others brought up was the desire to establish a timeline for people to return to communities that were not damaged by the water, as well as the ability for people whose homes and businesses were severely damaged to inspect their property when the water recedes. These issues were also brought up to New Orleans officials and they were receptive to the requests. We wanted to dispel rumors that some neighborhoods might be bulldozed before people have a chance to return. After both meetings I am confident that people will be able to get into their homes to view the damage and remove any personal items prior to any demolition of buildings if they occur. I am also hopeful that a timeline will be established shortly for people in areas that have no standing water (like Algiers, downtown, the French Quarter, and parts of Uptown) to be able to return so they can get their lives and businesses going again. The main things holding that back continue to be health issues, and the restoration of power and sewerage.
Jefferson Parish implemented a program yesterday called Operation Jump Start Jefferson. It allows businesses to obtain a pass to begin entering Jefferson Parish starting tomorrow in order to restore their facilities. This will make it possible for more services and resources to be available to residents once everyone is allowed to return in a few weeks. For more details and to obtain a pass click on the following link:
www.jeffparish.net
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport will begin resuming commercial flights on Tuesday September 13th.
If you are still trying to contact your employer, here is a site listing nearly 200 businesses in the New Orleans area with contact information and notes to employees:
www.findyourneworleansemployer.com
Power continues to be restored to most of the parishes affected by the storm. Here is an update from the Public Service Commission indicating the percentage of power restored to each of following parishes as of September 9th:
St. Charles: 97% restored
Lafourche: 97%
Tangipahoa: 81%
Plaquemines: 68%
Jefferson: 45%
Washington: 32%
St. Tammany: 31%
Orleans: 11%
St. Bernard: 1%
* These numbers are two days old and rapid progress continues to be made so your parish may already be much better than these numbers indicate.
As we are dealing with the many problems related to the nation’s worst natural disaster, it would also be appropriate to pause and pay tribute to those who lost their lives four years ago in the nation’s worst man-made disaster on September 11th.
http://www.bayoubuzz.com
Press Releases
Date: 9/11/2005
Contact: Denise Bottcher or Roderick Hawkins at 225-342-9037
Governor Blanco's Schedule for Monday, September 12, 2005
Governor Blanco will meet with President Bush Monday, September 12, 2005 on the Iwo Jima in New Orleans. Commanding officer of the Louisiana National Guard Bennett Landreneau and senior advisor James Lee Witt will join her in the briefings. Afterward, it is expected that the Governor and President Bush will take a walking tour of the French Quarter.
Just saw video of the Prez in NO today. Looks like he was traveling in a military truck, with his head sticking up out of the top! (Can he do that, with no protection against bullets???)
anyone hear about a minor levee breach, both the CG and guy on the ground reported a breach, seems to be minor but being told to move to higher ground.heard this on the scanner
just reported it was the pumps backing up, no levee breach.
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