Red Cross: State rebuffed relief efforts

CNN.com ^ | 9/8/05 | CNN

[Safety]

Red Cross: State rebuffed relief efforts Aid organization never got into New Orleans, officials say BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (CNN) -- Louisiana officials rebuffed American Red Cross requests to enter New Orleans with relief supplies last week because of concerns over logistical difficulties, Red Cross and state officials said Thursday. The Red Cross never launched its relief effort in the city. The national president of the American Red Cross, Marsha Evans, first made the request to undertake the operation during a visit to the state on September 1, three days after Hurricane Katrina struck, a local Red Cross chapter official said. p>

[amutr22]

According to Garrett It was the La Dept of Homeland Security which is completely under the direction and control of the Governor....period.

I agree. My point was that saying "Homeland Security kept us out" is an accurate but indefinite statement.

This is what many are questioning. Is the LA Dept of Homeland Security under the direction of DHS or the Governor of LA?

[CitizenM]

Somebody email this to the wench at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazoo.

Yesterday I emailed her (Ann Rogers) and the paper with the two stories Major Garrett broke - first about the Red Cross, then about the Salvation Army. Naturally their twist on the story was that it was the federal dept. of Homeland Security that issued the orders. They even (purposely) inserted the word "federal" in the article they published. (see: Pgh Post Gazette Story-"Homeland Security won't let Red Cross deliver food" Sept. 2 - Writer, Ann Rodgers can be reached at arodgers@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1416.)

So, today, I will send them the CNN post. Doubt they will do anything. The Post-Gazette is firmly entrenched in the Bash-Bush camp. Of course, neither Ann Rogers or the Post Gazette people have replied to my emails!

[Cboldt]

This is what many are questioning. Is the LA Dept of Homeland Security under the direction of DHS or the Governor of LA?

It is a state agency, it is under the control of the Governor.

http://www.loep.state.la.us/homeland/hls-main-StateReady.htm <- LA Homeland Security

Major General Bennett C. Landreneau is the Adjutant General for Louisiana. He is responsible for the deployment and coordination of programs, policies and plans affecting the more than 14,000 members of the Louisiana Army and Air National Guard. He is also the Director of the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

http://ohsep.louisiana.gov/hlspersonnel/landreneaubio.htm

[cajungirl]

The dates are important.

CNN says they were refused wed Sept 1. I thought it was earlier.

[publana]

From: Ann Rodgers [mailto:arodgers@Post-Gazette.com]
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 10:43 AM
To: 'Publana'
Subject: RE: Mistake

Dear Ms. Pulana
Due to e-mails such as yours I called the Red Cross again to make sure I had not misunderstood them in our conversations about Homeland Security and FEMA. (The F stands for Federal). They said my story was not in error. I also have had a long conversation with Major George Hood, the national spokesman for the Salvation Army, who told me that the decision to to keep aid agencies out of downtown New Orleans was made jointly by the Louisiana Homeland Security department and FEMA.
After many calls to the federal Dept. of Homeland Security (of which FEMA is a division), both before I wrote the article and after it ran, their spokeswoman finally returned my call. She had no idea whether the federal dept. was a party to the decision to keep the Red Cross out. She said she would get back to me after she checked it out, and I am waiting to hear from her.
The Louisiana Department of Homeland Security and and Emergency Preparedness is currently impossible to reach because whatever phone lines are working down there are overwhelmed.
If the story is in error I will be more than happy to write a correction, but so far I have no evidence that that is the case.
Sincerely,
Ann
Ann Rodgers
Religion reporter
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
34 Blvd. of the Allies
Pittsburgh PA 15222
412-263-1416
1-800-234-6990 ext. 1416
arodgers@post-gazette.com
Fax: 412-391-8452
www.post-gazette.com

I guess she knows better than FOX and CNN

[Freepdonia]

Lou Dobbs got it right for a change.

Whatever happened to that guy? I don't remember him being on the left side years ago? He even supported the Republicans back then.

[Tulsa Ramjet]

"Fox News Aruba"

LOL! I haven't heard that one!

[Bronzewound]

I thought I saw and heard either Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton today state that Red Cross was told to back off by Homeland Security. I wonder if they had the story wrong or purposely tried to mislead people?

Purposely trying to mislead people. It is Louisiana Homeland Security under control of state officials (Blanco).

[handy]

I've added CNN to the growing list of links on the denial of Food and water to the victims by the Louisiana governor.

Red Cross FAQ

Hurricane Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?
• Acess to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.
• The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.

The Political Teen
FOX News Correspondent Major Garrett reported that Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco denied the help of the Red Cross. Tonight, Garrett digs deeper in what looks to be a cover-up and finds out Blanco also denied The Salvation Army. I hope there is a Part 3 to this investigation. DOWNLOAD and view video here

Radio Blogger Interview #1 with Major Garret of Fox News
Thursday, September 8 Hugh hewitt interviews Major Garret after the initial Fox Report that LA. Officials prevented the Red Cross From delivering food & water to Superdome

• HH: You just broke a pretty big story. I was watching up on the corner television in my studio, and it's headlined that the Red Cross was blocked from delivering supplies to the Superdome, Major Garrett. Tell us what you found out.
• MG: Well, the Red Cross, Hugh, had pre-positioned a literal vanguard of trucks with water, food, blankets and hygiene items. They're not really big into medical response items, but those are the three biggies that we saw people at the New Orleans Superdome, and the convention center, needing most accutely. And all of us in America, I think, reasonably asked ourselves, geez. You know, I watch hurricanes all the time. And I see correspondents standing among rubble and refugees and evacuaees. But I always either see that Red Cross or Salvation Army truck nearby. Why don't I see that?
• HH: And the answer is?
• MG: The answer is the Louisiana Department of Homeland Security, that is the state agency responsible for that state's homeland security, told the Red Cross explicitly, you cannot come.
• HH: Now Major Garrett, on what day did they block the delivery? Do you know specifically?
• MG: I am told by the Red Cross, immediately after the storm passed.

Radio Blogger Interview #2 with Major Garret of Fox News (This link will get moved to the blog archives @ some point. You may have to scroll down until them)
Thursday, September 8 Major Garrett updates us on the Red Cross AND the Salvation Army being blocked from helping by Louisiana state officials

• HH: Making an encore appearance, and we're very grateful for it, Major Garrett of Fox News Channel. Major, you certainly made waves yesterday. Perhaps the most reported story in America was yours. You followed up on it tonight. What has your investigation into the Red Cross relationship with the Louisiana Department of Homeland Security revealed today?
• MG: A couple of things. First of all, it established on tonight's Special Report, that it wasn't just the Red Cross. It was the Salvation Army. Both agencies, both organizations were ready, prepared, pre-positioned, eager, but were thwarted in their efforts to bring supplies, basic supplies...not everything these people needed, but core supplies to the Superdome, and then eventually, the convention center. Why? Because the New Orleans Department of Homeland Security said look. Our plan is to evacuate these people. Marty Evans, the President and the CEO of the American Red Cross, said on camera...you don't have to believe me. Believe her. You can read her own eyes, saying look. We were told if we came in, we would create an atmosphere that would lead people to stay, and give them the feeling that they should stay. And the state did not want that.
• HH: Now you said the New Orleans Department of Homeland Security. Did you mean the Louisiana Department...
• MG: I'm sorry. Yes. Louisiana. Right. Because it is a state agency that is answerable to the governor, although the governor did not explicitly make this statement, I'm told so far.

Investor's Business Daily

• Totally clueless about their duties were officials at Louisiana's — not Washington's — Homeland Security Department. They blocked a convoy of Red Cross trucks filled with water, food, blankets and hygiene items to the New Orleans Superdome after Katrina struck because it would have encouraged refugees to stay there.
• The Red Cross Web site says: "The state Homeland Security Department had requested — and continues to request — that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane." The ARC was told its "presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city."
• On Aug. 27, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco was asked at a press conference what could be done to avert disaster. Her pathetic answer was, "We can pray hard that the intensity will weaken." That was Louisiana's disaster-recovery plan.

CNN: Red Cross: State rebuffed relief efforts
Louisiana officials rebuffed American Red Cross requests to enter New Orleans with relief supplies last week because of concerns over logistical difficulties, Red Cross and state officials said Thursday.

[Tulsa Ramjet]

"I would suggest that the Governor and Mayor be removed from office..."

But first, they need to personally bag up about a couple bodies, attend the afflicted families funerals, and then learn how to start a bus.

[Kozak]

CNN Wakes Up

Still Bush's fault.

/sarcasm

[CitizenM]

She just does not get it, does she? And, note: her title: Religion reporter! Pretty good credentials for understanding the government and reporting on such a complicated (but easily researched) situation . She should stick to writing stories about Sunday pot-luck dinners and bingo games at churches.

[serpentineshel]

I've never heard of a way to donate to the National Guard, but I wish that there were a way.

My father works for the Post Office in a small town in Alabama.
When he went to work last week, one of his co-workers was surprisingly there (he's a Guard member). My dad asked him why he wasn't deployed. He answered that he initially was and when he and his unit got to the base, they were told to go back home...there wasn't enough money to send them in to help in the relief efforts.


My money's going to the Salvation Army. It will NEVER go to the CORRUPT United Way.

[pgkdan]

I thought I saw and heard either Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton today state that Red Cross was told to back off by Homeland Security. I wonder if they had the story wrong or purposely tried to mislead people?

They're technically right...only it was the Louisiana Homeland Security Chairman on the order of Gov. Blanco who made the call, Not Michael Chertoff or Michael Brown, which is what the lying bastards are implying

[pgkdan]

CNN Wakes Up

Yeah...they're awake and playiong their part in the great lie! The Red Cross wasn't held back for loguistical difficulties. They were held back because Blanco wanted the people in the dome to leave. She did'nt want them fed! and tyhey didn't try to show up Sept1...they were there Sunday...before the friggin' hurricane hit!

[Redbob]

"Logistics difficulties???"

Means they hadn't yet figured out how to sell the Red Cross supplies to the victims.

[cake_crumb]

Why did they collect donations to help NO survivors for a week before mentioning they never went to NO?

[cake_crumb]

"The Red Cross WAS told not to come in by Homeland Security HOWEVER it was the STATE of LOUISIANA's HOMELAND SECURITY, NOT the Feds!!!!"

Too late. Looks like Brown is popular Katrina scapegoat.

[Nevermore]

I...heard...that Red Cross was told to back off by Homeland Security. I wonder if they had the story wrong or purposely tried to mislead people?

The latter would be on the mark. See post 10. Same ol' deceit.

[spanalot]

"Louisiana officials rebuffed American Red Cross requests to enter New Orleans with relief supplies last week because of concerns over logistical difficulties they wanted to have thousands of suffering people in front of the TV cameras while they blamed Bush."

Duhhh - And why did the people at the top of the food chain let it happen? There was an open highway and Fema should have let them roll in on Monday night - We would have seen lots of Red Rrosses at the Superdome instead of Geraldo's Red tear stained acne.