I heard a caller yesterday on a local Chicago WLS talk radio program stating that she was in the audience of the Las Vegas Hilton, Barry Manilow show and seven NOPD officers were pointed out and were given a standing ovation. Huh? For what? Abandoning their posts?
Media Release
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
For Immediate Release
Communications
Contact: Diana Paul
Telephone: 229-6501
New Orleans Emergency Workers Coming To Las Vegas
Hundreds Of Police, Firefighters Could Come Through The City Within One Month For Much-Needed Rest
Firefighters from New Orleans will be arriving in Las Vegas today for rest and relaxation from the tremendous stress they have experienced during recovery efforts in that region. The first group of 43 firefighters and their families will arrive in Las Vegas from their hurricane-ravaged area and will stay at local hotels for three to five days.
The city is expected to rotate approximately 40 to 50 police and firefighters from New Orleans to Las Vegas every three to four days for approximately one month.
A news conference is scheduled for 6 p.m. today at Allegiant Airlines located at 6075 Spencer Street, off Russell Road.
Room and board for today’s group of firefighters are being provided by Station Casinos, Inc. Airline and transportation costs are being picked up by Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air. Other local hotel hotel/casino properties have volunteered to host emergency workers throughout the month as needed, including The Palms, Boyd Gaming, the Hard Rock and Fitzgerald’s Las Vegas. In addition, the Las Vegas Hilton is donating Barry Manilow tickets to the relief workers coming to town today.
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman received a call for help from a New Orleans official on Sunday and began working with City Manager Doug Selby, Fire Chief David L. Washington and Emergency Management Officer Tim McAndrew to make the necessary arrangements.
The city of Las Vegas is handling scheduling with the hotels and providing the transportation using city buses.
“We’ve heard so much about the people being rescued in the last week - but little has been said of the emergency workers doing the rescuing,” Mayor Goodman said. “They’re exhausted, they have experienced death and destruction, and their work is just beginning. That’s why, with the help from the local gaming community, we are providing them with a few days to get away from the tragedy before heading back to work in the devastated region.”
Relief efforts by the city of Las Vegas continue to build for victims affected by Hurricane Katrina. City, county and state officials have already mobilized resources to assist the devastated areas and will continue to work with federal officials to provide help. FEMA deployment orders have been received by the city of Las Vegas and a two-person assistance team from the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Department and two City Marshals have been deployed to the disaster region, in addition to a team from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the North Las Vegas and Henderson Police Departments.
Nevada will also be accepting about 800 of the people left homeless by the Katrina hurricane. At least 500 of the evacuees are expected to live in the Las Vegas valley and 300 in northern Nevada.
Everyone who has come into the Las Vegas valley from the affected areas should report starting Wednesday to the assessment center that is being set up at the 7,000-square-foot Fertitta Community Assistance Center (FCAC), located at the Donald W. Reynolds St. Vincent’s Plaza on the campus of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, 1501 N. Las Vegas Blvd. This applies not only to those flown into Las Vegas by federal officials but also those who may come on their own or with assistance from family members and friends.
The city of Las Vegas and other local agencies have received calls from residents wanting to donate goods to be sent to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. It should be emphasized that goods of any kind cannot be accepted by the Red Cross or the Salvation Army at this time. The best way to help is by making an online contribution at www.redcross.org and selecting the “Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund.” You can also call 1-800-HELP-NOW, or the local chapter of the American Red Cross at 791-3311.
The Salvation Army has also set up an emergency fund for the people displaced by the hurricane. Anyone who desires to help can contact the local Salvation Army, Katrina Fund, at P.O. Box 28369, Las Vegas NV 89126 or call Charles Desiderio, development director, at 870-4430 ext. 23 for additional information.
Residents can also find out what other volunteer organizations are doing in the relief effort by visiting the Web site of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) at www.nvoad.org.
More information on relief efforts is also available on KCLV Cable Channel 2 and the city’s Web site at www.lasvegasnevada.gov.
-end
They have them confused with the NYPD and NYFD.