Katrina Live Thread XII

To: rolling_stone

The ugliness of incompetence...

I keep having the thought ..there MUST be some grownups in NO and/or LA government that, by now, ought to have taken over..not like a coup..just gently, kindly telling the mayor and governor "we'll take care of this"...

561 posted on 08/31/2005 6:11:46 PM PDT by SE Mom (God Bless those who serve..)

I decided to fill my tank up yesterday because I knew it was going to be a HUGE jump. Filled my Sunfire with 'Plus' (the most expensive, which was actually a mistake on not paying attention to what I was doing) at a total of $35. Today the same amount of 'unleaded' would have cost me nearly $40. 25 cent jump here in Southeast Ohio for unleaded.

562 posted on 08/31/2005 6:11:54 PM PDT by nascaryankee (PETM (People for the Ethical Treatment of Meat))

All the miltary units are HF, FM, and SATCOM. They have *no* problems talking to each other and coordinating.

Unfortunately, NO didn't see fit to invest in portable radios, apparently.

563 posted on 08/31/2005 6:12:08 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)

"Canada has offered aid and says it's a blank check for more if needed. Japan's said similar, but they have also offered their own strategic oil reserves if needed"

Thanks to them all--Canada, Japan, Russia, and Israel.

Where's Indonesia, Bosnia, France, Latin America, Egypt (gets $2 billion per year from the USA), Saudi Arabia (gives more to pay off Al Qaeda than to anyone else), China (hey, no Walmart, no Chinese economy), and anybody else in this bloomin' world?

Thanks for nothin' . . .

564 posted on 08/31/2005 6:12:11 PM PDT by CondorFlight

Nobody has been picking up the people on the I-10.

Look at them sitting there in teh blazing sun and nobody comes to their aid.

Yes, there are lots of rescues going on, but it is going to take a long time to rescue everybody.

565 posted on 08/31/2005 6:12:14 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=rwfromkansas)

Totally agree. People need to see exactly what has happened down there. No need to show the gruesome stuff 24/7 but it s/b shown perhaps 3 times in a 24 hour period--with plenty of notice to the audience so those that need to turn away have time to do so.

566 posted on 08/31/2005 6:12:15 PM PDT by Tarheel ( Murphy's law #21--Internet flame wars are started by two cats who did not like their supper.)

Somebody here gets it.

567 posted on 08/31/2005 6:12:18 PM PDT by independentmind

To: rolling_stone

PC and affirmative action should be relegated to the dinosaur heep. Glad to hear that about the Navy Captain -- was beginning to wonder.

568 posted on 08/31/2005 6:12:24 PM PDT by PhiKapMom (AOII Mom -- Allen in 2008)

"Or how about every school bus in Southern Louisiana?"

Nothing wrong with that. Just bus them to a freight train, put 'em on box cars with some food and water and get 'em out of there. Send the buses back in for the next load...

569 posted on 08/31/2005 6:12:32 PM PDT by DocRock (Osama said, "We love death, the U.S. loves life, that is the main difference between us.")

anyone know any thing of Gretna La.

So far, we've heard nothing apocalyptic about the West Bank. I believe they had damage from the initial storm but none of this madness we are seeing on the other side of the river.

570 posted on 08/31/2005 6:12:38 PM PDT by Types_with_Fist (I'm on FReep so often that when I read an article at another site I scroll down for the comments.)

I have this update:

From the Louisiana Department of Education.

HURRICANE KATRINA DISPLACES STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 8/31/2005
Contact: Meg Casper, (225) 342-3600, Fax: (225) 342-0193
HURRICANE KATRINA DISPLACES STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Baton Rouge, LA—Hurricane Katrina has destroyed or damaged schools in at least six Louisiana parishes. That means that more than 135,000 students must, temporarily, find somewhere else to go.

Superintendent of Education Cecil Picard said his number one priority is getting those children back in school, "I implore Superintendents around the state to take these children in. I have heard from many of them who are already doing so. To them I say ‘Thank you.’ To the others, again, I implore you to take care of the children who come to your districts.”

Superintendent Picard said he knows there are many issues that must be dealt with but that the most important thing is for parents to get their children signed up in the school system that they are taking shelter in right now, "We will worry about school records, funding, payrolls and waivers,” Picard said. "Let us work out those details. Right now I need parents and school systems to make sure these children have the stability of a classroom as soon as possible.”

Thousands of teachers have also been displaced by Katrina. They will be needed by the school systems who will take in students who have been forced to evacuate. The Department of Education urges any teacher who is able, to apply for work in the school system in which they are taking shelter.

To those who aren’t in a position to work right now, Superintendent Picard wants you to know that you are eligible for temporary unemployment benefits. Also, the Department is working with Superintendents to get all payroll systems up and running again.

A special note for Orleans Parish, members of Alvarez and Marcell are physically trying to rescue payroll documents and get them to Houston where they can be processed.

The Department of Education is setting up teams to work out the details such as MFP funding, accountability, teaching certificates, waivers, payroll and missing school records. Superintendent Picard said, "We will work with every superintendent in the state, the BESE Board, the Legislature and the federal Department of Education to resolve these issues. It will take time and we ask for your patience.”

Superintendent Picard knows that space will be an issue for schools taking in extra students. He is calling on businesses and churches to provide space for temporary classrooms especially in East Baton Rouge, Ascension, Lafayette and Caddo Parish where large shelters are now up and running.

Any Superintendent or teacher who needs help with any of these issues is urged to get in contact with the Department of Education call center. That toll-free number is 1-877-453-2721. The Department will also set up a special space on the Teach Louisiana website to help with certification issues.

Offers of help with enrollment and materials are coming in from around the nation. The Superintendent of Education in Florida is sending the "action plan” they put into place after the hurricanes hit there last year. And the Federal Department of Education has offered any help that Louisiana might need.

"We are grateful for all of their support and prayers and we will be leaning on them to get through this,” Superintendent Picard said. "This is an extraordinary time for our state. We are experiencing a disaster unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. Our job is to help you do the very best that you can to get every child in this state back where they belong; in the classroom.”

571 posted on 08/31/2005 6:12:50 PM PDT by Alia

"She'd have to ask: "Which Area, which disaster" first."

No you don't understand her answer went something like this:

Shep: Where should the folks at exit 235 on such and such road go?

Official: Yes, we are evacuating people.

It was a total non-sequitur.

She could have said I am not sure however I will get some info to you shortly, or whatever. She had front-line Intel of hundreds of people in need including several in dire medical need and she didn't answer the question or take steps to do anything. She looked like she was totally lost.

This is exactly what you do not need in a time like this.

If you can not adapt to the situation you are in then you should not be in charge!

572 posted on 08/31/2005 6:12:59 PM PDT by Mad Dawgg ("`Eddies,' said Ford, `in the space-time continuum.' `Ah,' nodded Arthur, `is he? Is he?'")

From what I understand, martial law hasn't been declared. But the 'State of Emergency' declaration is the same thing.

573 posted on 08/31/2005 6:13:06 PM PDT by nascaryankee (PETM (People for the Ethical Treatment of Meat))

"Largest port how? Certainly not in volume."

According to the 2005 World Almanac, the busiest U.S. port in tonnage handled (as of 2002) was the Port of South Louisiana, with over 216 million tons handled. The Port of South Louisiana extends for 54 miles along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and it was probably badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing flooding. In addition, the Port of New Orleans is our 5th busiest port (85 million tons handled) and the Port of Plaquemines is our 10th busiest (59 million tons handled), and neither of these ports will be operational for quite a while; to put things in perspective, the combined 145 million tons handled at the ports of New Orleans and Plaquemines are greater than the tonnage handled at the Port of New York and are exceeded only by the Port of South Louisiana and the Port of Houston (177 million tons handled).

574 posted on 08/31/2005 6:13:11 PM PDT by AuH2ORepublican (http://auh2orepublican.blogspot.com/)

To: GoldwaterChick

A student at my college can't get in touch with her parents in New Orleans...

575 posted on 08/31/2005 6:13:15 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=rwfromkansas)

To: Diddle E. Squat

Whats the president or being a republican have to do with whether or not the truck had water?

I believe this is the Louisiana National Guard under governor Blanco.

576 posted on 08/31/2005 6:13:35 PM PDT by OKIEDOC (There's nothing like hearing someone say thank you for your help.)

I don't know why the fed troops aren't in there already, but I have a feeling it has to do with local ineptitude.

One more day of this and there are no more excuses. It will go to the top.

On the Federal Level: The National Guard has been sent in, there are Navy ships either there or on the way, they are bringing in the infamous Swift boats. I would bet that the President may have called personally to get that offer of the Astrodome.

What more do you want? The President bailing out the Superdome?

The failing levees are a local problem.

577 posted on 08/31/2005 6:14:07 PM PDT by madison10

To: rwfromkansas

Hate to say this, but I don't see that they could have done anything else. The ONE hospital that's still working in the NO area is swamped, and there's about no way to get to it anyway...

578 posted on 08/31/2005 6:14:33 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)

To: Types_with_Fist

thanks have freinds and family there

579 posted on 08/31/2005 6:14:56 PM PDT by jhny7 (made in USA tested in japan mess with USA we'll use it again)

Unfortunately, NO didn't see fit to invest in portable radios, apparently.

--The police should have looted them from Circuit City before the mobs set in. There is no valid explanation why the police have such poor communications there.

580 posted on 08/31/2005 6:14:59 PM PDT by Shqipo (If NO was still French they would have already surrendered!)

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794