Posted on 08/29/2005 12:39:10 PM PDT by Smogger
Mayor Ray Nagin said that 200 people were stranded on rooftops in the Lower Ninth Ward and several “bodies are floating in the water” in the Bywater neighborhood and in Eastover.
Nagin made the announcement in his first press briefing after Hurricane Katrina slammed just east of the city, but did plenty of devastation to New Orleans.
Nagin said that the 200 stranded people included 20 police officers who were riding out the storm at their homes in preparation to take over shifts from other officers. He said that boats would be dispatched on rescue missions later in the afternoon.
Mayor Nagin issued a "boil water" recommendation for water in the city - except for Algiers and the CBD due to a water main line break that may have compromised the water.
Nagin said at least 20 buildings in the city had collapsed and that it might be 48 hours before residents would be allowed back to their homes to assess the damage.
(Excerpt) Read more at wwltv.com ...
Me:The roads to their homes are public
You: Yea, and as such the people who pay for them should determine who may use them.
The people who pay for the roads determine when the roads may be used -- by electing their representive who then determines such. See, New Orleans, Mayor Nagin of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina...for an example.
Who among the dead in Mississippi "sought to be like God?" And even if they had, who put that desire there, and then killed them for it?
In the long run it's all probably meaningless, but people might as well do what they are going to do.
Okay. My issue is not whether or not the people of New Orleans should be permitted to drive on the roads.
My point is that federal tax money should only be used for legitimate federal issues, such as rebuilding the oil drilling infrastructure and the shipping port at the mouth of the Mississippi.
As for those who cannot make their insurance payments, find food or shelter, or supplies to repair their homes, the funds should come from the State of Louisiana, friends, family, neighbors and private charity.
Except, of course almost every other hurricane for the last 35 years or so where they said get out and nothing happened to the people who stayed, and the people who left weren't allowed back into their homes for days after the event. The tale of the boy who cried wolf comes to mind. Last really bad one was Camille in 1969
True, but our socialist government in Washington will make sure the rest of us pay.
Be careful, the big government Bushbot Republicans are watching...
Am I completely off base to say that at some point, you give money to all the residents to relocate, you take all of value that you can carry, and you break the remaining dykes and let the water reach it's natural level.
Some of the idiots who are merciless. Are you one of them?
That's good to hear. But what of those who couldn't get to a bus because of infirmity or illness?
Yep. You got it. I mean this is horrible devastation. It's almost unbelievable. It would be encouraging to us if they did give us aid of some kind but, as you say, it probably ain't gonna happen. Isn't that sad?
They live in the world of ME FIRST and ME ONLY. This situation is far worse than anyone could have imagined and I just wish they'd shut the hell up.
I think MOST FReepers are wonderful and generous. But, we do get some beauties some times who think only of me, me, me. That's everywhere in the world, but you hate to see it here, especially. Keep up the faith.
Exactly. But neighbors as well need to be mindful of who is ill or infirm around them and help to inform police or emergency squads. The problem today is, most of us don't even KNOW our neighbors. We used to sit outside on our porches and TALK to each other. How often does that happen anymore? We're all too busy or absorbed in our own world.
Ya think? Will there be anything on it that's any good? I surf every night trying to find SOMETHING I can watch. I'm even tired of FOX. All I have to do is see a liberal on there and I want to switch it to something else. Am I jaded????
There are over a million people suffering and we need to help the Salvation Army and other reputable charities as best we can.
Poking sticks into the cages of bushbots can be amusing on slow days. Hearing them say that every big spending bill that King George II signs is somehow a stealth measure to return the country to conservatism can give you a chuckle, for the first few times anyway.
But facts are facts, and the fact is that the Bush administration has far outspent the Clinton administration, and the money they're spending is ours. Further a lot of the spending is (in addition to blatant pork) is pure socialism like the no child left behind crap.
Hindsight is 20/20.
I think a GOOD mayor and governor would have-
a. Taken the risk and ordered mandatory evacuations EARLY!
b. Had a plan in place for mass transit to move those who have no transportation.
c. Used ALL means of communications (radio and television especially) to ask people to "be neighborly" check on their neighbors and help those who need help evacuating.
I've noticed that suddenly they have the vehicles to move people from the superdome. Where were those vehicles on Sat. and Sunday?
I've noticed all the cars flooded and flattened.
If I lived there and had several vehicles, I would have loaded up as many friends and neighbors and gotten OUT! I would have BEGGED them to leave, especially anyone elderly or disabled who could not get around. I know that traffic gridlock was HORRIBLE on Sunday, but it was nothing compared to NO now! I cannot imagine KNOWING my home is BELOW sea level and that a BAD hurricane is coming straight for me and thinking, "Hmmm, I'm gonna ride this out. Gotta protect my stuff!"
I cry every time I look at the photos now. I even feel sorry for those idiots who willingly stayed behind but could have left. (I don't feel sorry for the looters though). My heart truly BREAKS for those who are elderly and disabled and just could not get out of their homes, didn't know their neighbors well enough to ask for help, etc.
This should be a lesson to all of us to check on our neighbors and express human kindness from time to time, even to those whe don't know or particularly like.
On this subject, Buchanan has a great column today.
No doubt it's been posted, and the usual suspects are weighing in that Buchanan is an out of touch isolationist paleocon who doesn't understand the sophisticated nuances of big government conservatism.
I don't understand them either.
Again, you seem to be of the ilk who believe that so long as a majority of Americans desire the President to take a certain course of action, he may and in fact should do so.
Americans DEMAND that help be given in situations like this.
In overwhelming numbers. You speak of rdb3 as being on a "moral high horse." He reflects the consensus here, and, indeed, in the country.
The scope of this disaster is simply beyond the means of private charities, no matter how many, to handle. Those who hide behind the Constitution as a means to condemn their fellow citizens to death are selfish cowards.
Your pettiness is not even worth consideration. Thank God people like you are nowhere near the levers of power in this country.
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