FNC's Major Garrett: Red Cross Blocked by Order of the Louisiana State Government

Hugh Hewitt ^ | 9/7/05 | Hugh Hewitt

[BlackRain]

Your Fault - Not Bush's

CHALMETTE, La. – When St. Bernard Parish officials realized last week that St. Rita’s Nursing Home had not evacuated as Hurricane Katrina bore down on the parish, they called to ask why. Their offer to send buses to help was turned down, they said Wednesday.

No one knows for sure why officials of St. Rita’s, a privately owned nursing home, chose not to evacuate. On Wednesday, officials were still unsure of the number of people who died there, but previous estimates put the toll at 30 or more.

“This is the worst thing I’ve ever seen, and I drug bodies to the levee after Hurricane Betsy,” said 60-year-old Raymond Couture, one of the rescuers searching St. Rita’s this week.

This suburban parish a few miles from downtown New Orleans was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent flooding. Officials have estimated that the parish’s death toll may reach 500.

Details of what happened at the facility are still sketchy, but the descriptions of what’s inside the single-story, football-field-size building horrify even hardened disaster veterans.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/katrina/stories/090805dntexkatrita.2ee8c38.html

[57chevypreterist]

Blanco cried -- people died

[RetiredArmy]

Interview contines:

MG: Just who's fault is this anyway? All this? Who is at fault?

HH: Well, George Bush of course. That is what all the democrats are saying. Bush caused the hurricane. Bush caused the flooding. Bush caused the winds. Bush delayed the response. Bush is a racists. Bush and Halliburton wanted to make big money on high oil and gas prices. Bush hates the environment and wanted to destroy it. Bush planned this from the beginning because his poll numbers were dropping. This is totally Bush's fault. The democrats say so.

/Sarcasm still on.

[danamco]

Blanco cried -- people died


She was warned by Max Mayfield at least 72 hours ahead. That is the time here in Florida when we start boarding up windows and buy water and groceries for several days, and then closely we watch if we need to get out of our area!!!

[Cboldt]

I was under the impression the only authority she has refused to surrender is with the National Guard.

That's the impression she wants you to have. Fact is, she is in charge and she says she is in charge, even to the detail of setting criteria for selecting evacuees to be assigned to certain shelters.

[blackie]

Roger that ~ and the liberal moonbats are trying there damnedest to change the subject!

The truth will out!

Be Ever vigilant!

[TeleStraightShooter]

When Blanco (D-La.) withheld food and water from the huddled masses in New Orleans, she was letting them have the Schiavo Treatment.

The reason?
It was for their own good......

[Cboldt]

Here's the article you two were discussing, and the FR thread where I saw it ...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1480310/posts
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05246/565143.stm

[Howlin]

Why did you ping me to your post?

[elc]

That's about the Red Cross specifically. I'm trying to ascertain the true extent of Blanco's refusal to relinquish authority. There is nothing in that post about authority of FEMA.

[Born Conservative]

Thanks. Apparently, Rush is discussing this today, and there is a new thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1480310/posts

[elc]

Fine, then someone please show me a link that details this and explains the authority of FEMA.

[Howlin]

Fox just said that the LA authorities "feared that the Red Cross would do more harm than good?" WTH?

[Born Conservative]

Shep actually told that at the time it was occurring (that people were not allowed to leave). He also was pushing the story about Nagin allowing dozens of people from the hotel near the Superdome (where he set up his headquarters) being given preference for transportation out. They were allowed to cut ahead of people who were waiting in line for hours to days to get a bus out. That story seemed to have gotten lost in the shuffle.

[NonValueAdded]

I'm sure it as discussed elsewhere and I'm too busy at the moment to do the search, but isn't the Red Cross acting on behalf of FEMA as far as those deliveries go? If that is the case, Blank-o locked out FEMA just as much as the RC. We should tell Major that he has a scoop worthy of a Buckhead, just a day early for the anniversary. :) Puts him in the running for an Eagle award. I'll write the nomination when the time comes.

[Born Conservative]

Just curious: did you get this same response?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1480310/posts?page=21#21

[Cboldt]

someone please show me a link that details this and explains the authority of FEMA.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1477440/posts?page=786#786
http://www.dhs.gov/nationalresponseplan
http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NRP_FullText.pdf

There are Louisiana resources as well, that describe their plans. I haven't had occasion to make a list of links for that, but do have these:

http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=26
http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=27
http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=26

Lots of reading - the one FR thread linked above has some discussion that should help you cut through the mustard.

[Cboldt]

Just curious: did you get this same response?

I didn't e-mail her a cite and explanation of why I believe her story is in error. I'm glad I didn't waste my time, she sounds like a royal beyotch.

Seems more than one person got that response, and one was sent today. Ann is standing by her story, for now.

[griswold3]

Just wanted to share my personnal experience with you.
We've got a small trucking company. Got the call Tuesday 8/30 to hook and drop Red Cross trailers to LA. While on route got the call to divert trailers to Mississippi, we would not be allowed in to LA. (Didn't ask why.) Got somewhere close to Jackson, MS and could not get through. Roads closed. Sat at truckstop with about 70 other trucks with supplies until Sunday. (Rumors of hijacking and fuel shortages rampant.) Directed to central location and dropped trailer came directly home.
The scope and magnitude of this disaster cannot be explained. You have to see it for yourself. No human could coordinate the logistics for this operation. Shortfalls were due to the communications complete breakdowns due to the Hurricane.

[George W. Bush]

They were allowed to cut ahead of people who were waiting in line for hours to days to get a bus out.

Last I heard, that has been debunked somewhat. They didn't cut in line for those buses. They were foreigners who had been trying to get out of town after the airlines closed on them and the rental cars were all taken and the hotels kicked them out. They then pooled something like $25 thousand to charter buses.

Shep wasn't exactly wrong but he didn't have all the facts yet. Or so it appears.