Coast Guard choppers rescued thousands, kept death toll lower

wwltv.com ^ | 09/17/05 | AP

[Ellesu]

Nearly 5,000 plucked from rooftops

The Coast Guard has released numbers which partially explain why the death toll in New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina has been lower than expected.

The Coast Guard says that during its first week of operations in New Orleans, it saved the lives of nearly 6,500 people. Officials say almost 5,000 of those rescues were by hoist in areas where the water was just too deep or dangerous for the Coast Guard to come in by boat.

All of those lives were saved by the crews of just 17 helicopters, during 1,500 flight hours in the air.

The numbers released today cover Coast Guard operations which ended September 10.

Coast guard rescue crews have been out in force since then in conjunction with National Guard units, searching for additional survivors, but also recovering the bodies of flood victims.

[beckysueb]

This has to be the largest helicopter rescue in the history of the world.

Yes I believe it is and the media is portraying the federal gov as a miserable failure!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[brushcop]

That's not surprising. We also need to remember that EARLY on, there were a number of out-of-state agencies who trailed their boats and literally pulled out thousands of people too. Not as dramatic as the USCG, but they did nevertheless. This is not sour grapes, it's just another detail we won't get from the so-called "media". And, it represents a lot of effort by folks that will never get any credit for their hard work.

[68 grunt]

Awesome! The Coast Guard lived up to its full potential and promise. A brilliant display by our most altruistic branch in this most historic moment!

[Mike Darancette]

Shhhh, don't tell anybody that the Coast Guard is part of Homeland Security.

[DocRock]

A tip of the hat to the CG, and all our other fine men and women that serve.



click the pic to watch the video

Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005
There was no delay in getting help to New Orleans

[pepperdog]

I hope that sometime, somewhere, these great heroes get the recognition that they deserve. I was so angered by the weeping and wailing of the MSM during the rescue operations that I feared I'd stroke out. Picture after picture of the Coast Guard rescuing people and the newsies complaining about the Federal Response. God Bless the Coast Guard and all our military. As someone said, the military is one place where we get our monies worth--and more!

[spna]

One of the reason the C.G. could act so quickly is because it had the authority to act. C.G. has authority to conduct search and rescue in the coastal and navigational areas of this country.

The C.G. had the authority to act without waiting to get the OK from State Governor.

[leadpenny]

I wonder who the AP writer thought all those O.D. Blackhawks belonged to?

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!!

[SandRat]

Go Coasties!!!

[Hat-Trick]

Semper Paratus, my brothers! God Bless you and keep you all.

[freema]

A big and might OoohRah for the Coasties!!

Thanks for the ping, Tonk!

We heard a report this morning on one of the MSM news channels that a team of 12 Exxon employees save 1,000 people EACH with two skiffs and two pontoon boats.

Incredible rescues, all.

[concentric circles]

Katrina, What Went Right

As investigation of the response to the hurricane proceeds it needs to include a serious examination of the news media's portrayal of events.

Rather than present stories as they were encountered the news gathering agencies interpreted events based on rumor, hearsay, partial information, unconfirmed facts, lack of investigation, and with misdirected angst that had the cumulative effect of misinforming the world.

This is really no surprise, just business as usual. It is the magnitude of events that amplified the voice of the press and magnified the egregious nature of their failings.

[A.A. Cunningham]

One might argue that Operation Frequent Wind was a larger helicopter rescue but your point is taken.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Guess I should have posted a rhetorical question alert!!

[mewzilla]

Sigh.

[Interesting Times]

Ping.

[DollyCali]

Showing off my friend, Joe, one of the coast guard men now working in NO. OneLoyalAmerican is a reservist who was activated last year. He left Chicago, his job, family and has been stationed in Cleveland, where we FReepers have been honored to FReep with him, campaign for GWB & get to know him.

This pix is of him & his lovely wife last January at his chief promotion

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I "work" with one of Master Chief's former shipmates at Station Coos Bay.

Master Chief told me about his shipmate coming months before he got here.

Once he arrived on duty, this July, I told him "Master Chief B...." said hi"

You should have seen the look on his face! LOL