Let us not forget that "Senator" Mary Landrieu once ignored orders to leave Grand Isle before a storm flooded the road out, and she had to be rescued by helicopter (I'm not making this up). She is not exactly a genius, is she?
Well, no, she is certainly not that, but more than that, I think she feels entitled to special treatment. I'm Mary Landrieu, why shouldn't a helicopter be sent for me? I am not one of the "little people" after all.
10 08 02
Gimme Shelter
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In New Orleans, residents found it hard to believe that emergency officials still had not prepared emergency evacuation alternative routes to overcome the notoriously flood-prone road dip underneath the Southern Railroad trestle at I-10. Moreover, four years after 1.5 million people fled southeast Louisiana to escape Hurricane Georges -- the largest evacuation in the history of the Gulf Coast -- construction of a pumping station for the dip is still 20 months from completion. That's two hurricane seasons away.
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On Sept. 28, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu called a hurricane preparedness meeting of top officials from Orleans, St. Tammany, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes. Landrieu's visitor, Sen. Jim Jeffords (Ind-Vt.), who chairs a Senate committee that is working on $280 billion national transportation and public works appropriations bill, heard concerns such as the need for multi-million dollar emergency back-up generators for pumping stations, flood protection for evacuation routes, and a light rail system to evacuate the indigent and disabled. The hastily called summit was certainly a good photo op for Landrieu, who is seeking re-election. But it was also a good idea, and it should serve as a model for future regional cooperation on disasters.
Isidore also provided Mayor Ray Nagin his first experience with the city's Office of Emergency Preparedness atop City Hall. Nagin noted that an estimated 100,000 residents of the city rely on public transportation, and he said he hopes federal support for a future light rail system will enable the city to evacuate these residents to Louis Armstrong International Airport and points beyond.
In addition, Nagin deplored the "patchwork of networks among the parishes in terms of [emergency] communications and technology." We expect police and emergency agencies to be talking to each other on the same radio channel during an emergency. Apparently, they were not, at least not during Isidore. Nagin is correct to worry publicly about such a lack of coordination, and we share his concern.
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Landrieu recently won a Senate committee's approval for $9 million in federal funds for two highway upgrades critical for future evacuations: $4.5 million for two-lane Louisiana 1, the only evacuation route for Grand Isle, Port Fourchon and much of Lafourche Parish. An equal amount will fund the construction of the southern extension of Interstate 49, linking the West Bank Expressway to the city of Lafayette. Landrieu's projects come for a vote in the full Senate at a date to be announced, an aide to the senator said. Both measures deserve the bi-partisan support of every Louisianan.
http://tinyurl.com/d8v5s
Tropical Storm Bill drenches Louisiana
Published Tuesday, July 1, 2003
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A fishing vessel was missing in the Gulf of Mexico today, and thousands of homes and business had no electricity in the wake of Tropical Storm Bill, which blew across the South with wind and record rainfall.
Some customers were likely to be without power until tomorrow, utilities said. A quarter of one Louisiana town was flooded after its levee broke - for the second time in less than a year.
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Water receded from the lone road to the coastal sport fishing and beach town of Grand Isle, La., but the road remained closed early today, stranding residents and vacationers, including U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu.
http://tinyurl.com/azjbr