Hurricane Katrina Disaster Updates

[Ntegrity]

Let's hope that's the right story!!

 

[mysteriew]

Thank you all for posting that. I was just reading in Cass's thread and saw that reports were coming in that the story wasn't correct as written, and was coming here to post it. But as usual you all beat me to it!

 

[mysteriew]

Somebody goofed big time! This article was written at 3:51 PM PDT on Sun. 090405. So the correct info was known, just reported incorrectly.

As authorities struggled to keep order, police shot and killed at least five people Sunday after gunmen opened fire on a group of contractors traveling across a bridge on their way to make repairs, Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said.

Fourteen contractors were traveling across the Danziger Bridge under police escort when they came under fire, said John Hall, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers. None of the contractors was killed, Hall said.

http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/front/story/2687158p-11226089c.html

 

[Tom'sGirl]

Somebody goofed big time! This article was written at 3:51 PM PDT on Sun. 090405. So the correct info was known, just reported incorrectly.

As authorities struggled to keep order, police shot and killed at least five people Sunday after gunmen opened fire on a group of contractors traveling across a bridge on their way to make repairs, Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said.

Fourteen contractors were traveling across the Danziger Bridge under police escort when they came under fire, said John Hall, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers. None of the contractors was killed, Hall said.

http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/front/story/2687158p-11226089c.html

MSNBC Breaking News
------------------------------------------------------

Coast Guard rescue helicopter crashes in New Orleans -
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crashed Sunday in New Orleans. Both crew members reportedly were able to walk away from the scene.

 

[Casshew]

Rescue Helicopter crashes... details soon

 

[bulletgirl2002]

Crew has been resued no casualties. yippie

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Is everybody's heart racing? Geez, mine just about stopped when I saw that helicopter down. Glad to hear no caualties, and hope they'll be okay....

 

[Tom'sGirl]

Is everybody's heart racing? Geez, mine just about stopped when I saw that helicopter down. Glad to hear no caualties, and hope they'll be okay....

When it flashed up and I posted it I was glad that it included the crew were okay.

NOW, I'm waiting to hear why it came down! Hope it wasn't another nut on the ground with an assault rifle.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Fox just said it was a "rollover," with crew of 2 only, onboard....I, too, hope it wasn't due to an assault.

 

[SieSie]

SieSie, I heard one estimate to rebuild the levees to withstand a Category 5 Hurricane; that estimate was $30 billion. They need to do a study, because there are many factors that play into the levee system. They starightened the Mississippi River some years ago, and destroyed huge wetlands which were some of the protection for New Orleans. It isn't just a matter of going in and rebuilding the levees.

Ah, thanks for the explanation Buzzm!! But, after reading about some of the other places our government spends its money, II still feel the levee should've been fixed years and years ago. Didn't they say engineers knew it couldn't withstand more than Cat. 3 for over 40 years?? Lots and lots of wasted money over decades that could've gone to disaster prevention all along the gulf coast. :banghead:

 

[Dara]

This may have been posted, but we keep going round and round about whose fault it was that the National Guard didn't arrive/start helping out sooner.

We're not the only ones asking: Congress Likely to Probe Guard Response

What I've heard is that the governor must ask for the National Guard to show up and this article says, typically it is the governor's responsbility.

Now, in another thread (the Sound Off one), I posted links to show that on August 26th, Blanco declared a state of emergency, and on August 28th, the White House website posted a statement by Bush:

[font=arial, helvetica, sans serif] Yesterday, I signed a disaster declaration for the state of Louisiana, and this morning I signed a disaster declaration for the state of Mississippi. These declarations will allow federal agencies to coordinate all disaster relief efforts with state and local officials. We will do everything in our power to help the people in the communities affected by this storm.

I am surprised if that means he has absolutely no recourse to send in troops or take over if people are dying and help isn't adequate, which he admits, and his FEMA guy is the last guy to know, well, anything. But some posters say this is so. I'd like to know.

I know one thing; the governor apparently did try to get at least some of the National Guard there. The Yahoo article states:

[/font] Several states ready and willing to send National Guard troops to the rescue in New Orleans didn't get the go-ahead until days after the storm struck — a delay nearly certain to be investigated by Congress.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson offered Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco help from his state's National Guard last Sunday, the day before Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. Blanco accepted, but paperwork needed to get the troops en route didn't come from Washington until late Thursday.

[font=arial, helvetica, sans serif]

I hope Congress figures this all out.
[/font]

 

[Tom'sGirl]

Fox just said it was a "rollover," with crew of 2 only, onboard....I, too, hope it wasn't due to an assault.

A helicopter crashed Sunday evening in New Orleans. NBC News reported that the two pilots survived and were in good condition. There was some confusion over whose helicopter it was. A Coast Guard spokesman said the craft belonged to a civilian contractor doing work for the Army. Initial reports had said it was a Coast Guard chopper.

A state official said the helicopter was not involved in rescue operations. It crashed in the area of the Danziger Bridge, said Mark Smith, spokesman for the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

“The helicopter came down hard and rolled over on its side and broke its blades off and broke its tail off,” Smith told reporters in Baton Rouge.

“There were two civilians on the helicopter. Both sustained cuts and scrapes,” he said.

It was not known why the helicopter was in the area, Smith said.

ETA: Oh brother, my local CBS station is still saying it was a rescue choper.........do ya ever get the feeling the left hand and the right never get together when it comes to the news:doh:

 

[rollerbladr123]

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_09.html#076953Civillian helicopter crashes in New Orleans

Sunday, Sept. 5, 2005 8:15 p.m.
The pilot of a civilian helicopter and a passenger participating in the Hurricane Katrina rescue effort escaped serious injury Sunday night after the aircraft crash landed near
Bayou St. John in Mid-City near the Lindy Boggs Medical Center, state officials said.
Few details were available about the accident which occurred around 7 p.m.
Officials said the helicopter came down hard, rolled over and lost its blades. The Coast Guard removed the two men from the scene, but it was not known whether they received medical attention.

 

[less0305]

At least one reporter I saw had it right and the cahoonas to ask the hard questions - something nobody else has done. And I'd give anything if I knew who he was!!!! He KNEW that the governor HAD to ask for the troops and not only ask for the troops, she had to ask for a specific number. He asked her repeatedly what day she asked for the troops and how many she asked for. She couldn't answer him - because she didn't want to let it be known she had screwed up. He continued asking her and she continued side stepping and he asked her pointedly about five times, "Governor, was it in a phone call you had on Monday? Was it on Tuesday? What day?" She said, "I don't even know what day today is." He said, "Well, how many did you ask for? Did you ask for 11,000? Did you ask for 40,000?" She COULD NOT answer him. I thought the woman was going to start crying. She wanted to get out of that interview so bad, I believe she would have went to the Superdome if she could have.

The Mayor of N.O. didn't have an evacuation plan or rescue plans or relief plans. He didn't have enough supplies and food and water at the superdome. He had NO experience in any natural disasters. Actually, he had NO - none - nada - zippo - political experience at all before being elected mayor. The people of N.O. elected someone who had NO political experience. He didn't start out on the planning & zoning board and move up to city council or anything like that. He ran a cable communications company. But he's their mayor, at least until the next election.

And if Michael Brown doesn't have the experience and wherewithall to run FEMA then he ought to be run out on a rail - I don't care who appointed him.

If the President is due criticism over the appointment of Michael Brown, then that is the only criticism I think he deserves at this point - unless our elected officials find differently in their congressional hearings. I'll hold out until the findings before I start blaming the President.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

At least one reporter I saw had it right and the cahoonas to ask the hard questions - something nobody else has done. And I'd give anything if I knew who he was!!!! He KNEW that the governor HAD to ask for the troops and not only ask for the troops, she had to ask for a specific number. He asked her repeatedly what day she asked for the troops and how many she asked for. She couldn't answer him - because she didn't want to let it be known she had screwed up. He continued asking her and she continued side stepping and he asked her pointedly about five times, "Governor, was it in a phone call you had on Monday? Was it on Tuesday? What day?" She said, "I don't even know what day today is." He said, "Well, how many did you ask for? Did you ask for 11,000? Did you ask for 40,000?" She COULD NOT answer him. I thought the woman was going to start crying. She wanted to get out of that interview so bad, I believe she would have went to the Superdome if she could have.

The Mayor of N.O. didn't have an evacuation plan or rescue plans or relief plans. He didn't have enough supplies and food and water at the superdome. He had NO experience in any natural disasters. Actually, he had NO - none - nada - zippo - political experience at all before being elected mayor. The people of N.O. elected someone who had NO political experience. He didn't start out on the planning & zoning board and move up to city council or anything like that. He ran a cable communications company. But he's their mayor, at least until the next election.

And if Michael Brown doesn't have the experience and wherewithall to run FEMA then he ought to be run out on a rail - I don't care who appointed him.

If the President is due criticism over the appointment of Michael Brown, then that is the only criticism I think he deserves at this point - unless our elected officials find differently in their congressional hearings. I'll hold out until the findings before I start blaming the President.

What Less said!

And did I read it here (or in the newspaper? I can't remember)...re asking for the National Guard - she has to ask permission for different situations as well. She may have asked for assistance for humanitary help...but then has to go request separately, assistance for military presence/power, police force. That does sound like a lotta red tape, but I bet it's been that way for a long time, and who knows, there might be logical reason for the separation. But I'm sure that caused some confusion, and therefore delay, when they started having huge criminal issues and civil disturbance.

 

[mysteriew]

Did you ever think all of the finger pointing from Louisana might have a two fold or even three fold purpose?
1- CYA- Not my fault, some one else's.
2- Politics- let's face it, our country lives for it's politics.
3- The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The louder they scream, the more finger pointing they do, the more federal monies will be thrown at them. What do you hear from Mississippi? Fla.? Is Louisana trying to make sure that they get the majority of the emergency funding?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nearly a week after Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi continues to suffer, often in silence.

It felt the full force of the storm but the destruction and misery in Mississippi have been overshadowed by the catastrophic aftermath in New Orleans.
http://wkrc.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=CC95B27D-65E7-4D34-89EC-18846325AB02

 

[kgeaux]

Did you ever think all of the finger pointing from Louisana might have a two fold or even three fold purpose?
1- CYA- Not my fault, some one else's.
2- Politics- let's face it, our country lives for it's politics.
3- The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The louder they scream, the more finger pointing they do, the more federal monies will be thrown at them. What do you hear from Mississippi? Fla.? Is Louisana trying to make sure that they get the majority of the emergency funding?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nearly a week after Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi continues to suffer, often in silence.

It felt the full force of the storm but the destruction and misery in Mississippi have been overshadowed by the catastrophic aftermath in New Orleans.
http://wkrc.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=CC95B27D-65E7-4D34-89EC-18846325AB02

I wish that was what it was about. But our leadership did screw up. Big time.

 

[kgeaux]

At least one reporter I saw had it right and the cahoonas to ask the hard questions - something nobody else has done. And I'd give anything if I knew who he was!!!! He KNEW that the governor HAD to ask for the troops and not only ask for the troops, she had to ask for a specific number. He asked her repeatedly what day she asked for the troops and how many she asked for. She couldn't answer him - because she didn't want to let it be known she had screwed up. He continued asking her and she continued side stepping and he asked her pointedly about five times, "Governor, was it in a phone call you had on Monday? Was it on Tuesday? What day?" She said, "I don't even know what day today is." He said, "Well, how many did you ask for? Did you ask for 11,000? Did you ask for 40,000?" She COULD NOT answer him. I thought the woman was going to start crying. She wanted to get out of that interview so bad, I believe she would have went to the Superdome if she could have.

The Mayor of N.O. didn't have an evacuation plan or rescue plans or relief plans. He didn't have enough supplies and food and water at the superdome. He had NO experience in any natural disasters. Actually, he had NO - none - nada - zippo - political experience at all before being elected mayor. The people of N.O. elected someone who had NO political experience. He didn't start out on the planning & zoning board and move up to city council or anything like that. He ran a cable communications company. But he's their mayor, at least until the next election.

And if Michael Brown doesn't have the experience and wherewithall to run FEMA then he ought to be run out on a rail - I don't care who appointed him.

If the President is due criticism over the appointment of Michael Brown, then that is the only criticism I think he deserves at this point - unless our elected officials find differently in their congressional hearings. I'll hold out until the findings before I start blaming the President.

A couple of points: The people of Louisiana are definitely hearing where the errors were made. The buck stops right at Kathleen Blanco's desk, and it pains me to say so, because she is a nice lady. Apparently not a wonderful politician, but she is a wonderful person. Nice, nice family. Good people, salt of the earth. But she screwed up big time. And we know it.

2nd: the city-parish president of Lafayette parish is a businessman. He ran a successful pet store(!) if that sounds like experience to you! We elected him in a run against a career politician because we just thought someone who could run a very successful business might do a better job than someone who just has a lot of good ole boy networking going on. And so far, so good. So the mayor of N.O. is not necessarily a political dunce because he does not have a background in politics. That may even be a plus instead of a minus. People evacuating to the superdome were told to bring food and water with them, but apparently not all did. There were supplies that had been gathered in areas outside of New Orleans, but they were not brought in when they should have been. I'm hearing that has more to do with the governor than the mayor, but you're right, we'll see when the congressional investigation is over exactly where the blame lies.

3rd: I think FEMA is having some problems with leadership right now because they've been tucked into the Homeland Security Program. Things are new and there are different ways of running things, and it hasn't been all smooth.

 

[less0305]

A couple of points: We elected him in a run against a career politician because we just thought someone who could run a very successful business might do a better job than someone who just has a lot of good ole boy networking going on. And so far, so good. So the mayor of N.O. is not necessarily a political dunce because he does not have a background in politics. That may even be a plus instead of a minus.

I agree with a lot of what you said....but just to throw this out: I prefer to elect someone who has started out maybe serving on a board or committee here or there, then maybe sought an office a little higher up on maybe a planning/zoning board or board of adjustments. Then maybe run for city council. Because they learn things as they go. I don't want someone who has no experience whatsoever running my city when a Cat 5 hurricane is bearing down. I'll take someone who might have had some experience along the way. I don't want his or her first true test of leadership to be a test like this one. But of course, the other side of the coin is some of your longer serving folks with experience can and do become corrupt or get slack in their duties. So I guess it washes both ways. I don't live there so I don't know, but it sounded as if he didn't have a strong plan.

By the way...what was Gov. Blanco's prior experience? What did she do before becoming Gov.?

 

[mysteriew]

I wish that was what it was about. But our leadership did screw up. Big time.

I agree on the screw up. But I am thinking about the hysteria/PR nightmare that has followed. Normally, you would see a lot of covering, or at least no one in politics openly accusing. It would all be seething under subtle hints, innuendos. Remember the primary rule in politics is keep it out of the public eye. Bush spouted the normal party speak on his first announcement. "we are going to go in and get those people out, it is up to everyone". Then after his visit he went to stage 2- "there are some problems, they will be handled". Although he hasn't called for a full scale investigation yet, you can tell it is coming. Louisana officials line at first was (at least to the media) "we need help down here, it is real bad- we are going to need more help". Then after aid was starting to go in, troops were starting to go in- that is when the screaming and finger pointing began. Only after the assistance was enroute or was actually entering the city did the finger pointing begin.