Hurricane Katrina Disaster Updates

[DEPUTYDAWG]

I'm thinking those snipers don't want rescue or assistance. Sounds like it's the gangs, and they think they've got a pretty nice situation right now - they can steal, murder, rape, do whatever they want - the city is theirs. Gangs always look at their territories as their property, they figure now they can have it without the competition from the government. I really think they like this. That's why they fire on rescuers and anyone governmental - to keep them out.

So true, so true...

 

[Dara]

Ted Koppel asked Michael Brown some tough questions. Anyone see it? I found video of it here. Wow.

 

[Beyond Belief]

the story being told on Greta on Fox right now is describing how a man from NO took a school bus, picked up 80 people and they chipped in to pay for gas and drove to Houston. This guy is a hero. A man taking responsibility. How many school buses are sitting there that can be used to move these people?

 

[SieSie]

Oh SieSie, I think maybe you took my comment the wrong way...I was agreeing with you. If you took it the other (sarcastic) way, I am sorry! I haven't been very good at expressing myself here today :slap:

No, I meant it that those who have the time, capability and means to be snipers and shooting at rescue workers and aid, REALLY do not seem to be desperate for aid. Obviously the copters are around/above them, and rather than flagging them down begging for a drop of water supply or food, they're making a conscious choice of making them retreat, so others who are law-abiding, desperate citizens can't get help.

Sorry if I was unclear earlier...DD

:blowkiss: Oh DD, I'm so sorry I misunderstood your reply - I gotcha now! (We need a winking smiley) Thanks for the PM, too! Take care.

 

[Dara]

Fairly often? Dang, say it ain't so! LOL

I share the same sentiments with you, as above.

ETA: For example, you comment about the disparity between the private hospital and the county-run hospital. OMG, I'm TRYING to figure out WHY there would be such a disparity as to why one can be evacuated so much more efficiently than the other...but unless it's sheer number of patients and staff, or patient/staff ratios, I don't know how it could be justified. Anyone know? Is one considerably larger than the other?

Sanjay Gupta is updating on that. He said they watched from Charity Hospital as non-essential personnel were evacuated from Tulane (which was fully evacuated yesterday). At that time, there were patients being manually ventilated (meaning they should have been on ventilators, but there wasn't power...it's a poor substitute from what I understand, since a person has to actively squeeze a bag). When Sanjay left, this afternoon, there still over 200 patients at Charity this afternoon. He says he can't imagine why non-essential personnel got taken away from Tulane while critical patients were left at Charity.

They showed video. It's terrible. And Michael Brown told us how well the hospital evacuations were going.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

the story being told on Greta on Fox right now is describing how a man from NO took a school bus, picked up 80 people and they chipped in to pay for gas and drove to Houston. This guy is a hero. A man taking responsibility. How many school buses are sitting there that can be used to move these people?

I haven't seen the news yet, oh my...how ingenious! ("took" a bus - legally or not?!LOL) Re school buses - here in TX, the State's School Bus Administrator has been coordinating donations of buses and school bus drivers since Wednesday...that's a different service than I work, so I don't have any idea how many they've coordinated already, but I do know from cruising through the front lobby, that they're getting a lot of calls, which is a good sign. I would bet that many we've seen on TV the last 2 days are Texas buses. But at this point, yeah, start using some available LA buses.

About time for me to get off-line and go watch the news!

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Sanjay Gupta is updating on that. He said they watched from Charity Hospital as non-essential personnel were evacuated from Tulane (which was fully evacuated yesterday). At that time, there were patients being manually ventilated (meaning they should have been on ventilators, but there wasn't power...it's a poor substitute from what I understand, since a person has to actively squeeze a bag). When Sanjay left, this afternoon, there still over 200 patients at Charity this afternoon. He says he can't imagine why non-essential personnel got taken away from Tulane while critical patients were left at Charity.

They showed video. It's terrible. And Michael Brown told us how well the hospital evacuations were going.

Oh boy. :waitasec:

 

[kgeaux]

the story being told on Greta on Fox right now is describing how a man from NO took a school bus, picked up 80 people and they chipped in to pay for gas and drove to Houston. This guy is a hero. A man taking responsibility. How many school buses are sitting there that can be used to move these people?

This was a GREAT story. For those of you who missed it: The doors to the offices were blown open, he walked in, picked up the keys and drove the bus off the property. He had never driven a bus before! He'd stop and pick up people as he saw them in need, he had a bus full by the time he drove up to the AstroDome! They were an "unauthorized" bus load of people, so they didn't get into the AstroDome right away, but the Red Cross finally got them all in. The bus is parked out on the lot, having served its noble purpose. Greta asked him if he saw any of those he rescued in the dome and what did he say when he saw them? He said, "I tell them I love them." What a great story about the human spirit!

 

[Dara]

Bill O'Reilly talking to someone who is supervising medic services in NOLA. He says all the patients are finally out of Charity Hospital (and I believe all hospitals), but there are employees barricaded on an upper floor, hiding from drug-seekers who are shooting, and starting IVs on each other to stay alive. They need troops at Memorial Hospital, too.

 

[Casshew]

Thats a great story kgeaux! something to smile about

 

[Casshew]

Grrrrr.. pictures like this drive me nuts!

These people in one long line up - with soldiers standing around... why not have 10 lines ++ ?

 

[rollerbladr123]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050903/ts_nm/mayhem_dc_1

Murder and mayhem in New Orleans' miserable shelter
By Mark Egan 5 minutes ago



Quote 1 NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - With the rotors of President Bush's helicopter sounding overhead, New Orleans' poor and downtrodden recounted tales of murder, rape, death threats and near starvation since Hurricane Katrina wrecked this city.

More at link....

 

[Shadow205]

Did anyone else hear the story tonight on FOX about the nursing home? They found everyone dead. They said there were 80 some patients and all were dead. I have searched for a link to the story but havn't found anything.

 

[Dara]

Did anyone else hear the story tonight on FOX about the nursing home? They found everyone dead. They said there were 80 some patients and all were dead. I have searched for a link to the story but havn't found anything.

I heard it. On Larry King Live. They said it's believed they all drowned in the first storm surge. Did they say 80 patients?

 

[Shadow205]

I heard it. On Larry King Live. They said it's believed they all drowned in the first storm surge. Did they say 80 patients?

That is what I heard Dara. Sad.

 

[tybee204]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050903/ts_nm/mayhem_dc_1

Murder and mayhem in New Orleans' miserable shelter
By Mark Egan 5 minutes ago



Quote 1 NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - With the rotors of President Bush's helicopter sounding overhead, New Orleans' poor and downtrodden recounted tales of murder, rape, death threats and near starvation since Hurricane Katrina wrecked this city.

More at link....

That article is totally devastating. Keeping those people locked in that Dome with no help or protection is criminal. Heads need to roll from the top to the bottem.

 

[Dara]

That is what I heard Dara. Sad.

Wow. Oh, and I didn't mean I didn't believe you about the number of patients. It was more like, Oh, no, did they say 80? I'm just getting progressively horrified. I thought I was maxed out. I watch all day, then my husband comes home and my friends get off work and I catch them up.

 

[rollerbladr123]

That article is totally devastating. Keeping those people locked in that Dome with no help or protection is criminal. Heads need to roll from the top to the bottem.

I agree Tybee- that article just made me sick !!

 

[Buzz Mills]

I saw the head of the Army Corps of Engineers interviewed on PBS, and his lead General had estimated it would take anywhere from a month to to two and a half months to pump out New Orleans. They are still weighing what would be the best approach. One of the considerations is, with the Lake level dropping they may breach part of the levee and allow the water from the "New Orleans Basin" to drain back into the Lake. They have to weigh that approach against the odds that the River (and Lake) could rise if storms came through, and that would defeat that approach. It's going to be years before New Orleans is inhabitable again. The refugees are going to be living elsewhere for a long time.

 

[Mabel]

Bill O'Reilly talking to someone who is supervising medic services in NOLA. He says all the patients are finally out of Charity Hospital (and I believe all hospitals), but there are employees barricaded on an upper floor, hiding from drug-seekers who are shooting, and starting IVs on each other to stay alive. They need troops at Memorial Hospital, too.

This contradicts what I heard tonight, that the patients at Charity Hospital are still waiting to be evacuated. I hope what you heard is correct.