Katrina Live Thread, Part XIII

Various ^ | 1 September 2005 | Various

[NautiNurse]

28,000 National Guard troops are deployed to the disaster areas in Mississippi, Alabama, and to Louisiana, where SWAT teams are working to combat the looters and shooters in New Orleans. Additional 1400 National Guard troops are being deployed daily.

Shootings reported at a New Orleans hospital, rescue boats, and a military helicopter, while conditions continue to deteriorate at the SuperDome amid refugee deaths and chaos. Evacuation of New Orleans continues.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert has voiced serious doubts about rebuilding New Orleans with federal funds, while assuring the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida that the United States Congress stands ready to help them in their time of need. New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin issued a "desperate SOS."

Doctors at two desperately crippled hospitals in New Orleans called The Associated Press Thursday morning pleading for rescue, "We have been trying to call the mayor's office, we have been trying to call the governor's office ... we have tried to use any inside pressure we can. We are turning to you. Please help us," said Dr. Norman McSwain, chief of trauma surgery at Charity Hospital, the largest of two public hospitals.

The Port of New Orleans is now open to shallow draft vessels. Congress is reconvening in an emergency session. International offers to assist the U.S. have been received from Russia, Japan, Canada, France, Honduras, Germany, Venezuela, Jamaica, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, China, South Korea, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, NATO and the Organization of American States.

Jesse Jackson has arrived in Louisiana...

Links to various news, local and state government websites:

WLOX TV Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagula has link to locate family and friends
2theAdvocate - Baton Rouge Includes Slidell, St. John Parish, St. Bernard Parish updates, and other locations.
NOLA.com
Inside Houma Today includes shelter and volunteer updates
WLBT.com Jackson MS
WALA Channel 4 Mobile, AL Includes links to distribution centers, Emergency Ops, etc.
Sun-Herald Gulfport MS Includes link to town by town reports
Gulfport News via Topix.net
WAFB Baton Rouge
Mobile Register via al.com
Mississippi updates via Jackson Ledger
Lafayette LA Daily Advertiser
Pensacola News Journal
St Bernard Local Government
Alabama Homeland Security Volunteers can sign up online
Alabama DOT
Alabama.gov
Louisiana Homeland Security
Louisiana State Police road closure info
State of Mississippi Website has traffic alerts, emergency contact numbers

Streaming Video:

WWL-TV (via CBS): WWLTV via CBS
WWL-TV Now via WFAA Dallas **NEW LINK**: http://www.wwltv.com/cgi-bin/bi/video/makeadplaylist.pl?title=beloint_wfaa&live=yes
WDSU-TV: http://mfile.akamai.com/12912/live/reflector:38843.asx
WPMI-TV: http://www.wpmi.com/mediacenter/default.aspx?videoId=113739
WKRG-TV: mms://wmbcast.mgeneral.speedera.net/wmbcast.mgeneral/wmbcast_mgeneral_aug262005_1435_95518
WTOK-TV Temporarily Not Live Streaming (follow the link on the home page): http://www.wtok.com/
WJTV-TV: mms://wmbcast.mgeneral.speedera.net/wmbcast.mgeneral/wmbcast_mgeneral_aug262005_1435_95563
Louisiana Statewide Katrina Network (WJBO-AM Baton Rouge): http://ccri.eonstreams.com/ccri_la_batonrouge_wjbo_am.asf
Gulf Coast Storm Network (radio): http://www.stormalert.net/main.html#
Louisiana Scanner

Related FR Threads:

FYI: Hurricane Katrina Freeper SIGN IN Thread FReeper Check In thread
Discussion Thread - Hurricane Katrina - What Went Wrong?!?
Post Hurricane Katrina IMAGES Here
Looting Begins In New Orleans
Hurricane Katrina HOUSING Thread
Martial Law Declared in New Orleans

Due to the number of requests to assist, the following list of some charities is provided.
This is not intended as an endorsement for any of the charities.

www.redcross.org or 1-800 HELP NOW - note: website is slow, and lines are busy
Salvation Army - 1-800-SAL-ARMY or Salvation Army currently looking for in-state volunteers - (888)363-2769
Operation Blessing: (800) 436-6348.
America's Second Harvest: (800) 344-8070.
Catholic Charities USA: (800) 919-9338, or www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee: (800) 848-5818.
Church World Service: (800) 297-1516 or online at www.churchworldservice. org.
Lutheran Disaster Response: (800) 638-3522.
Nazarene Disaster Response: (888) 256-5886.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: (800) 872-3283.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is accepting donations at its 3,800 stores and Web site, www.walmart.com.
National Black Home Educators Resource Association http://www.nbhera.org/

Previous Threads:
Katrina Live Thread, Party XII
Katrina Live Thread, Part XI
Katrina Live Thread, Part X
Katrina Live Thread, Part IX
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VIII
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VII
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VI
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part V
Hurricane Katrina, Live Thread, Part IV
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part III
Katrina Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm 12

[TNdandelion]

NAS Memphis closed (except for BUPERS) many years ago. 10 years or more.

Not saying this to shoot down the idea or anything....but if a base is closed or has been downsized, the remaining barracks may have been destroyed to make room for something else or they may be inhabitable because they haven't been maintained.

I certainly think the idea is worth investigating and checking on, but the fact that a base is closed doesn't necessarily mean that the barracks are there or functional.

[BurbankKarl]

That's a consumer AK variant on the back, and a Ruger Mini 14 in the side. Might be officers personal weapons, or taken from gun stores... They did say that the NOPD armory is under water.

[twntaipan]

So with that the case, even if the president wanted to lend assistance, it would take a good deal of determination on the part of Louisiana officials, not to mention time, to implement this.

And then, of course, those demonRATs can kiss their chances of being reelected down the drain.

In the end they simply prefer to complain about the lack of help from Washington, all the while knowing they are the ones causing the delays and suffering.

[Howlin]

Well, we didn't have to wait long:

From the Houston TV channel:

Already in the first hour they have arrested two men for molesting women in the bathrooms.

One man was arrested for fighting.

You just wait and see: we're going to see in Houston EXACTLY what we saw in NO; then everybody's going to realize what went on in the SuperDome didn't have anything to do with that hurricane.

[Uncle Ike]

"I wonder if you switched during the Olbermann show."

Naaaahh... I don't think I've watched more than 2 minutes, total, of Olbermann in the past three years...

I switched over to F0X, where Oreilly is doing his usual whining, obfuscating, and demanding the impossible. He's not any better, but from long practice, I've learned to tune him out to the level of background noise...

:)

[Thud]

Not with the population and civic-mindedness of New Orleans. See this article:

http://www.city-journal.org/html/eon_08_31_05ng.html

[Arkinsaw]

The structures may be sound but there will be problems with mold. Any place that is somewhat warm and damp will have problems with mold. Let it set for several months and you will have an extreme problem.

Mold, chemicals, decomposing biological matter, all infusing every pore of the city and every piece of wood in all those houses.

Every house in those areas will need sheetrock, lumber, nails, carpet, glass, shingles, baseboards, electrical work. Many will have wood swelling and warping that will total them out.

Even if people are able to return in a month or so, how many are going to have the means, or the desire, to stay in such conditions? Even if materials are available, which they won't be in sufficient quantities, there won't be enough contractors or builders to do the work. Many of them will be working on their own homes and businesses if they can stay in business and have the equipment. How many people will this city be able to support even when it is dried out? Even on the day it is dry, people won't be able to just pop back into the house and drive to work in the high rise downtown.

How will this city attract businesses? Those that are headquartered there, or have major facilities there, are taking it on the chin. Will they have the desire to return?

How many small businesses in the area will be able to survive months of zero income, lost stock, and physical damage?

The Corps of Engineers will repair the levees and pump the city dry. I predict they will succeed in a surprising time. But I am wondering if the damage to the city is near fatal anyway. Will New Orleans change from a real city, into a historical backwater. Still attracting tourists, with a busy port, but little else.

This is truly epic.

[Yaelle]

Maybe FedEx can use that picture in a new ad.

Who would have thought 5 days ago that we would ever see photos like these in our lifetimes?

[Howlin]

Missed that, but he's surely has Bush in his sights.

But he really made me mad when he said that when the hurricanes hit Florida that the help was on the ground the very next morning.

That's just not true. It NEVER is.

[geopyg]

---"But in New Orleans, we see masses of able-bodied people sitting around waiting to be spoon-fed."----

I think for a lot of these people there is no leadership (along with no supplies). But with leadership (even "home grown") they perhaps could do something more to better their situation than what we've seen. Some of that WAS visible, they showed guys getting water and drinks and passing them out. But it looked pretty limited.

And then of course there are people like the gal at the Superdome saying how "yeah - they gave us food, but it was cold and you could barely eat it. No hot food for three days. Just water, water, water."

[nunya bidness]

What guy? Are you listening to the steam I linked?

It's local NO talk radio and the callers are pleading for troops while the mayor says he doesn't have the authority to declare martial law and is passing the buck to the governor.

This whole thing is failing because an entire city and state was based on government subsidies and that money was thrown down a rathole of corruption that was supposed to be spent preparing for just this scenario.

The future of NO is twodold: continue to subsidize as was done before or turn rebuilding over to the private sector. But if the private sector has a hand in the rebuilding don't expect welfare housing to be a high priority. Which means that most of the so-called refugees (look up the definition of that word to understand the political ramifications of its use) will be assimilated by the various states and towns that have let them in.

[lawdog]

It's called SEMS, NEMS etc..... I'm not a Big Bush guy but this is NOT Bush's fault...

Rule #1 Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

[Cedar]

"You just wait and see: we're going to see in Houston EXACTLY what we saw in NO; then everybody's going to realize what went on in the SuperDome didn't have anything to do with that hurricane."

Think you're right.

[Mo1]

You just wait and see: we're going to see in Houston EXACTLY what we saw in NO; then everybody's going to realize what went on in the SuperDome didn't have anything to do with that hurricane

What is wrong with those people

This is just SICK

[Krodg]

Do you have a figure on those who have been evacuated, not including those who left?

[Deo volente]

Ted Koppel has hit a new low tonight.

He's devoting his entire Nightline show to trashing the president.

"He's too late and the help is inconsistent...blah blah blah...Bush bad...blah blah blah..."

NOTHING about the primary responsibility of the LOCAL authorities to take care of this.
NOTHING about the fact that the president warned the locals beforehand to evacuate.
NOTHING about the fact that the mayor and governor waited until it was too late to do something. And are still fumbling and bumbling, four days later.
NOTHING about the lack of foresight of the local governments for the past several decades to plan ahead for this inevitable occurence.

Only "Bush is to blame, etc. etc......"

[ARealMothersSonForever]

A minor correction. Each county commissioners court in Texas must adjudicate on evacuee disposition. Dallas county is now accepting 50k+. We will accept our neighbors that are in need. I am not a Rick Perry fan (he punted to the legislature on education, and they dribbled to the state district/supremes). Harris county (Astrodome), and Bexar county (San Antonio) have each accepted 25k+. The governor is prohibited from imposing upon a county. This is really about providing for our friends and neighbors. Sorry for a lecture. The funds will be there for certain. Yet for us (overly) proud Texans, it is not all about the funds. Six additional counties in Texas are meeting as I type. We will follow through for fellow Americans.
obnoxious rant off

[MarMema]

Let's hope this is it. I don't want to hear about the big hearts in Texas being hurt by their generosity and optimism.

They should have just taken out the women and children, perhaps dogs too, for now.

There are thugs in the astrodome and infants still waiting in NO for water, it seems.

But there is a functioning prison in Houston....

[Dont Mention the War]

Why isn't more of this being reported in the news?

For the same reason you've never seen any of the truly horrific images and videos from 9/11: The MSM has arrogantly decided that you, the lowly mere consumer of news, can't handle it.

(Presuming this bit of news is true, anyway. But there's certainly plenty the reporters are trying to self-censor regarding this story. I personally think that's part of the reason some like Shepard Smith and Anderson Cooper are having those little breakdown moments on the air; somewhere in their hearts, they want to blow the lid off everything they've seen and heard but they're afraid of running afoul of unspoken "journalistic ethics" that require them to act as if us little people need them to filter the news before we get it.)

I didn't explain that very well, but it's late.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Did they quit letting y'all buy guns in SD?