Free Republic

Washington bus convoy returns with only one evacuee 07 Sep 2005 15:50:03 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Ten buses sent from Washington to help evacuate victims of Hurricane Katrina returned nearly empty on Wednesday after volunteers could find only one person willing to come to the U.S. capital, a city official said. The convoy drove around several days looking for people displaced by the disaster but poor federal planning hampered their efforts, city spokeswoman Sharon Gang said. "As we were in touch with federal officials we were told different things along the way," Gang said. "There was...

WASHINGTON - It may take a little longer for hundreds of Hurricane Katrina refugees to arrive in the District. The original mission of the 10-bus convoy was to pick up stranded residents in downtown New Orleans. But WTOP Radio has learned the city had already been evacuated. So, Council Member David Catania says the convoy has been re-routed to the New Orleans airport. If all the refugees are gone from the airport, the convoy will make a last stop in Baton Rouge before returning home. It is likely the buses won't return to the D.C. area until mid-week. Mayor Tony...

In the category of the road to hell is paved with good intentions, a ten bus caravan headed from Washington, D.C. to bring back 400 Katrina victims from New Orleans is mired in confusion and poor planning somewhere down South.The rescue caravan, organized by D.C. City Council member David Catania, was reported by WUSA-TV reporter Bruce LeShan to be stopped in the middle of nowhere before reaching its destination.LeShan, who is stuck on the caravan and called in his report, said there is no gas to be had, no hotels with vacancies and that the drivers pulled over because after...

Eric M. Weiss Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, September 3, 2005; Page B01 A convoy of 10 buses provisioned with food, water and officers to keep the peace left the District yesterday evening bound for the troubled city of New Orleans, hoping to return by Monday with as many as 400 evacuees who will be sheltered at the D.C. Armory. Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large), a leader of the effort, said he hoped it would be only the beginning. He called on other communities in the Washington region to take in those in need. "This is a region...