News New Orleans disaster predicted in 2001

[kat]

Nowhere in your article does it say Bush insisted the governer call a state of emergency as you claimed. Perhaps you're confused and it was your mother told you this.

My apologies...I should have said "appealed" in my first post as it would be a little misleading to suggest that the president can force the state to relinqiush it's rights. So again I'll ask you, WHY would the President of the United States have to give a personal APPEAL to the Governor to start a mandatory evacuation?!

I'm puzzled how does a high crime rate cause this??

In reference to the state of lawlessness, armed thugs and shooting at rescue helicoptors. Don't try to distort my statements.

Utter twaddle. If the federal government has no responsibility then why do they have an emergency reserve fund to assist in precisely this scenario.

It is the Federal Governments responsibility to assist the state. It is not the sole responsibility of the Federal Government and I will post in a following post exactly what the states responsibility is according to the Governors own executive order.

BTW has there been a single disaster in the USA in the the past 50 years that you have not been in the middle of?

It's 43 years, and I've been in enough to know what to do..and what to expect to be done by whom.

You seem to be most unfortunate.

Odd, I always considered myself to have been fortunate to have survived numerous disasters. Perhaps it has to do with your own personal life philosophy that you would suggest otherwise.

I was also surprised by your response to another post that despite your father being in the USAAF and a scout leader you struggled to get C rations during one of the many disasters you've lived through. I thought the motto of the scouts was "be prepared"

That should tell you something about what to expect if post Camille in Biloxi...even after taking refuge on base...we still had wait and search out food and water. Note, I don't find any humor in your comment. Picking through debris for dead bodies and helping your friends and neighbors mourn and put their lives together isn't...humorous at all.

 

[kat]

For the person(s) who thinks it was entirely the state's responsibility to handle the disaster, it was actually the FEMA's responsibility since last friday when Bush declared it a national emergency.

We all know what the 'F' in FEMA stands for, right?

Nobody said "entirely" but are you sure about what your saying or are you talking through your you know what?

 

[TRCSF]

Jack Cafferty, conservative pundit, just asked on CNN if the relief was timed to get where it was needed at the same time Bush made his photo-op today.

That would explain the delay.

 

[TRCSF]

Nobody said "entirely" but are you sure about what your saying or are you talking through your you know what?

The Louisiana governor was calling for mandatory evacuations while Bush was still enjoying his month long vacation in a luxury resort in Rancho Cucamonga, eating cake and pretending to play guitar.

What you're trying to do is shirk responsibility for this utter failure from the President of the United States to other people, despite obvious evidence that it's the president who f*cked up.

So who is it that's talking out of what?

 

[kat]

If you haven't been paying attention recently, Bush is, technically, the President of the United States of America. He's (supposed to be, anyway) in charge of FEMA and and this country's response to such disasters. Especially AFTER he federalized the emergency last week.

It's funny, the Republican party says it's the party of personal accountability, but they sure like to ignore that everytime Bush loses another major U.S. city.

Bush has lost another major city? LOST? oh my word.
I'm not sure if your talking politically or in regards to the disaster?
Politically your couldn't be more democratic then NO unless you were DC. in regards to this horrid disaster here is the executive order that outlines who is responsible for what during a disaster.

LOUISIANA EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. KBB 2005 - 18
________________________________________________________________________________
LOUISIANA EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
________________________________________________________________________________
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana must be prepared to respond in a coordinated, effective, and efficient manner to all emergencies and disasters to which it is subjected;
WHEREAS, effective preparations, including the development of an emergency operations plan, which is coordinated among all the departments and agencies of the state of Louisiana, increases the ability of the state to mitigate the adverse effects of emergencies and/or disasters; and
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana will best achieve effective coordinated emergency planning by updating the state=s current emergency operations order through the replacement of Executive Order No. KBB 2004-20, issued on August 12, 2004, and by the Military Department, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness updating its emergency operations plan;
NOW THEREFORE I, KATHLEEN BABINEAUX BLANCO, Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:
SECTION 1: A. The director of the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Military Department, state of Louisiana, (hereafter "director") shall direct the state of Louisiana=s emergency and/or disaster operations.
B. The director, or the director=s designee, shall also coordinate the activities of all non-state agencies, departments, and/or organizations involved in emergency management within the state of Louisiana.
SECTION 2: A. The director shall supplement the provisions of this Order by prescribing rules, regulations, and procedures, which combined with the revisions of this Order, shall constitute the Louisiana Emergency Operations Plan (hereafter "Plan").
B. The Plan shall provide for the emergency operations that may be implemented should an emergency and/or disaster strike the state of Louisiana or an area within the state of Louisiana.
C. The Plan shall be binding on all departments, commissions, boards, agencies, organizations and employees of the state of Louisiana, and on all local governments or political subdivisions of the state authorized or directed to conduct homeland security and emergency management operations.
SECTION 3: A. The director shall control the activation and/or implementation of the Plan and the conclusion and/or deactivation of the Plan.
B. The director shall also control the activation and deactivation of the State Emergency Operations Center (hereafter "Center").
2
C. The activation of the Center shall constitute the implementation of the Plan.
SECTION 4: The departments, offices, agencies and organizations of the state of Louisiana government have primary and support responsibilities for the following Emergency Support Functions (ESF):
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 1 Transportation Department of Transportation and Development P
Louisiana National Guard S
Department of Corrections S
Office of the Governor - Office of Elderly Affairs S
Department of Health and Hospitals S
Board of Regents S
Louisiana State Police S
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries S
Volunteer Organizations S
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 2 Communications Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and
Emergency Preparedness P
Louisiana National Guard S
Department of Agriculture and Forestry S
Department of Corrections S
Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism S
Department of Economic Development S
Department of Environmental Quality S
Office of the Governor - Division of Administration S
Office of the Governor - Office of Elderly Affairs S
Office of the Governor - Oil Spill Coordinator S
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center S
Department of Health and Hospitals S
Department of Justice S
Department of Labor S
Department of Natural Resources S
Louisiana Public Service Commission S
Board of Regents S
Department of Revenue S
Department of Social Services S
Louisiana State Police S
Department of Transportation and Development S
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries S
Volunteer Organizations S
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 3 Public Works & Department of Transportation and Development P
Engineering Louisiana National Guard S
Office of the Governor - Division of Administration S
Department of Health and Hospitals S
Department of Natural Resources S
3
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 4 Firefighting Department of Agriculture and Forestry P
Louisiana National Guard S
Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism S
Department of Natural Resources S
Department of Transportation and Development S
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries S
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 5 Emergency Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and
Management Emergency Preparedness P
Louisiana National Guard S
Department of Agriculture and Forestry S
Department of Corrections S
Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism S
Department of Economic Development S
Department of Education S
Department of Environmental Quality S
Office of the Governor - Division of Administration S
Office of the Governor - Office of Elderly Affairs S
Office of the Governor - Office of Indian Affairs S
Office of the Governor - Oil Spill Coordinator S
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center S
Department of Health and Hospitals S
Department of Justice S
Department of Labor S
Department of Natural Resources S
Louisiana Public Service Commission S
Board of Regents S
Department of Revenue S
Secretary of State S
Department of Social Services S
Louisiana State Police S
Department of Transportation and Development S
Department of the Treasury S
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries S
Volunteer Organizations S
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 6 Mass Care, Housing Department of Social Services P
and Human Services Department of Corrections P
Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and
Emergency Preparedness S
Louisiana National Guard S
Department of Agriculture and Forestry S
Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism S
State Fire Marshall S
Office of the Governor - Office of Elderly Affairs S
Department of Health and Hospitals S
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center S
Board of Regents S
Volunteer Organizations S
4
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 7 Resource Support Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and
Emergency Preparedness P
Louisiana National Guard S
Department of Agriculture and Forestry S
Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism S
Department of Economic Development S
Office of the Governor - Division of Administration S
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center S
Department of Health and Hospitals S
Department of Labor S
Department of Natural Resources S
Board of Regents S
Department of Social Services S
Louisiana State Police S
Department of Transportation and Development S
Department of the Treasury S
Volunteer Organizations S
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 8 Public Health & Department of Health and Hospitals P
Medical Services Louisiana State University Health Science Center P
Louisiana National Guard S
Department of Agriculture and Forestry S
Department of Corrections S
Department of Environmental Quality S
Board of Regents S
Department of Transportation and Development S
Volunteer Organizations S
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 9 Search & Rescue Department of Wildlife and Fisheries P
Louisiana National Guard S
Department of Agriculture and Forestry S
Department of Corrections S
Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism S
Louisiana State Police S
Department of Transportation and Development S
Volunteer Organizations S
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 10 Oil Spill, Hazardous Office of the Governor - Oil Spill Coordinator P
Materials and Louisiana State Police P
Radiological Department of Environmental Quality P
Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and
Emergency Preparedness S
Louisiana National Guard S
Department of Agriculture and Forestry S
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center S
Department of Health and Hospitals S
Department of Natural Resources S
Department of Transportation and Development S
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries S
5
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 11 Agriculture Department of Agriculture and Forestry P
Louisiana National Guard S
Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism S
Department of Environmental Quality S
Department of Health and Hospitals S
Department of Natural Resources S
Board of Regents S
Department of Transportation and Development S
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries S
Volunteer Organizations S
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 12 Energy Department of Natural Resources/Intrastate
Natural Gas P
Louisiana Public Service Commission/Power P
Louisiana National Guard S
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 13 Public Safety Louisiana State Police P
& Security Department of Justice P
Louisiana National Guard S
Department of Agriculture and Forestry S
Department of Corrections S
Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism S
Office of the Governor - Division of Administration S
Board of Regents S
Department of Revenue S
Department of Transportation and Development S
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries S
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 14 Community, Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and
Recovery, Mitigation Emergency Preparedness P
and Economic Department of Economic Development P
Stabilization Louisiana National Guard S
Department of Agriculture and Forestry S
Department of Environmental Quality S
Office of the Governor - Division of Administration S
Office of the Governor - Office of Financial Institutions S
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center S
Department of Health and Hospitals S
Department of Labor S
Department of Natural Resources S
Louisiana Public Service Commission S
Board of Regents S
Department of Revenue S
Department of Social Services S
Secretary of State S
Louisiana State Police S
Department of Transportation and Development S
Department of the Treasury S
Volunteer Organizations S
6
PRIMARY/
ESF ANNEX DEPARTMENT/AGENCY SUPPORT
ESF 15 Emergency Public Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and
Information Emergency Preparedness P
Louisiana National Guard S
Department of Agriculture and Forestry S
Department of Corrections S
Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism S
Department of Economic Development S
Department of Education S
Department of Environmental Quality S
State Fire Marshall S
Office of the Governor - Division of Administration S
Office of the Governor - Office of Elderly Affairs S
Office of the Governor - Office of Financial Institutions S
Office of the Governor - Office of Indian Affairs S
Office of the Governor - Oil Spill Coordinator S
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center S
Department of Health and Hospitals S
Department of Justice S
Department of Labor S
Department of Natural Resources S
Louisiana Public Service Commission S
Board of Regents S
Department of Revenue S
Department of Social Services S
Secretary of State S
Louisiana State Police S
Department of Transportation and Development S
Department of the Treasury S
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries S
Volunteer Organizations S

 

[TRCSF]

I don't mean lost as in lost the vote politically.

I mean lost as in the city has been destroyed. Just look at what's happened to this country since Bush took office.

Yes, Louisiana has had plans for this disaster. The federal government took over Louisiana's handling of the disaster last friday. They've been the ones in charge.

And if you listen to what the governor and mayor have been saying, the Federal Goverment has completely and utterly bungled the operation.

 

[kat]

The Louisiana governor was calling for mandatory evacuations while Bush was still enjoying his month long vacation in a luxury resort in Rancho Cucamonga, eating cake and pretending to play guitar.

What you're trying to do is shirk responsibility for this utter failure from the President of the United States to other people, despite obvious evidence that it's the president who f*cked up.

So who is it that's talking out of what?

"Gov. Kathleen Blanco, standing beside the mayor at a news conference, said President Bush called andhttp://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWL082805catastrophe.f4dd3f.html for a mandatory evacuation for the low-lying city, which is prone to flooding. "

Then why...did...the president... have to call and "personally appeal" the governor to start a mandatory evacuation?

 

[kat]

I don't mean lost as in lost the vote politically.

I mean lost as in the city has been destroyed. Just look at what's happened to this country since Bush took office.

Yes, Louisiana has had plans for this disaster. The federal government took over Louisiana's handling of the disaster last friday. They've been the ones in charge.

And if you listen to what the governor and mayor have been saying, the Federal Goverment has completely and utterly bungled the operation.

Why don't you read...the...executive order...and then think about why someone might want to shift the blame someone else when they've failed to do their own job.

 

[Art]

And here's FEMAs responsibilities:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA is an agency of the United States government dedicated to swift response in the event of disasters, both natural and man-made.

FEMA coordinates the work of federal, state, and local agencies in responding to floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. FEMA provides financial assistance to individuals and governments to rebuild homes, businesses, and public facilities; trains firefighters and emergency medical professionals; and funds emergency planning throughout the United States and its territories.

FEMA also has responsibilities in the event of nuclear power plant severe accidents. [1] [2]

FEMA has responsibilities in what it defines as four domains of emergency management:

Mitigation: Reducing the severity or likelihood of the hazard.
Preparedness: Ensuring you have the capability to respond to the hazard.
Response: Immediate actions taken to save lives, property, the environment, and the economy.
Recovery: Subsequent actions taken to restore property, jobs, and services.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FEMA
So out of the four domains which it defines as it's areas of responsibility it would seem to have failed miserably at the first 3 so far.

 

[Skyhunter]

"Gov. Kathleen Blanco, standing beside the mayor at a news conference, said President Bush called andhttp://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWL082805catastrophe.f4dd3f.html for a mandatory evacuation for the low-lying city, which is prone to flooding. "

Then why...did...the president... have to call and "personally appeal" the governor to start a mandatory evacuation?

Talk about out of context.

time of the article

10:59 AM CDT on Sunday, August 28, 2005

from the same article

She said Interstate 10, which was converted Saturday so that all lanes headed one-way out of town, was total gridlock.

The evacuation was underway while they are doing the interview. She wasn't saying he told her to order a mandatory evacuation, she was saying that the president himself was appealing to people to get the hell out of there!

Would you guys give it a rest.

There is plenty of blame to go around. In the words of Harry Truman, if your listening George, "the buck stops here!"

 

[Art]

"Gov. Kathleen Blanco, standing beside the mayor at a news conference, said President Bush called andhttp://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWL082805catastrophe.f4dd3f.html for a mandatory evacuation for the low-lying city, which is prone to flooding. "

Then why...did...the president... have to call and "personally appeal" the governor to start a mandatory evacuation?

I presume it is an honest mistake that you didn't notice his appeal came after the evacuation had begun.

 

[kat]

I presume it is an honest mistake that you didn't notice his appeal came after the evacuation had begun.

Uhh...I could swear I typed M-A-N-D-A-T-O-R-Y...
BUT I'm sure it's an honest mistake for you to have not noticed that.

 

[TRCSF]

Just a reminder.

It wasn't Gov. Blanco or Mayor Nagin who shipped several thouand Louisiana National Guardsmen overseas.

It wasn't Gov. Blanco or Mayor Nagin who cut tens of millions from the levees and emergency response coffers.

It wasn't Gov. Blanco or Mayor Nagin who gutted FEMA.

It wasn't Gov. Blanco or Mayor Nagin who said, tuesday, that there was way to predict that the levees could fail.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

And it wasn't the governers who sent half of the national gaurd equipment overseas.

Earlier this month the Louisiana National Guard publicly complained that too much of its equipment was in Iraq. The local ABC news affiliate reported dozens of high water vehicles, Humvees, refuelers and generators are now abroad. Other states are facing shortfalls as well when facing fires, floods or other disasters. A few months before summer began, Montana's governor called for that state's National Guard to be brought home from Iraq because of possible wildfires. As is the case with Louisiana's Guard, Montana found that critical equipment was overseas in Iraq. This included the bulk of the Guard's helicopters which are critical in shuttling fire crews and equipment to blazes.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/08/30/1354257

This is a betrayal of the nation of the highest order.

 

[TRCSF]

This is a betrayal of the nation of the highest order.

Bush let his own people drown.

 

[edward]

And here's FEMAs responsibilities:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FEMA
So out of the four domains which it defines as it's areas of responsibility it would seem to have failed miserably at the first 3 so far.

I talked to a man this morning who has a trucking company. He told me that he contracts to FEMA during emergencies. He also told me that he has had 50 empty trucks waiting since Tuesday morning. FEMA has not yet called??

 

[Ivan Seeking]

The head of FEMA was doing interviews day and night for the last two days. Then, last night an outraged Mayor of NO demanded that he didn't want't to see any more interviews on TV until people stop dying in the streets.

This morning there was a spokesman speaking on behalf of the FEMA jerk.

I was wondering if he didn't have something better to do than tell lies on TV. Whiile dead people were being eaten by rats in the streets, and the elderly and incapacitated were drowning in their attics, Mike Brown was shining his face and covering his and Bush's butts on TV.

 

[Manchot]

Uhh...I could swear I typed M-A-N-D-A-T-O-R-Y...
BUT I'm sure it's an honest mistake for you to have not noticed that.

The fact that Bush asked for a mandatory evacuation is completely irrelevant. There were more people evacuating voluntarily than the thoroughfares could handle, which is why there were people who wanted to evacuate but couldn't. Forcing people to do so did not change that fact. After the storm hit, and the flooding started, pretty much everyone wanted to leave.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Many people described their attempts to get out on bumper to bumper highways, and many feared getting trapped on bridges when the storm hit. Many had no cars or transportation, and others are too ignorant to understand what was going to happen. Others had no money and nowhere to go.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Bush let his own people drown.

This is why you don't fight a war with the national gaurd. Bush's double ended candle called Iraq has burned down from both ends.

I wonder if Bush supporters are finally beginning to understand the utter hatred that many of us have for this man; his many lies and games.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

We had better pray to God that we don't have another disaster or major terrorist attack.

 

[TRCSF]

This is why you don't fight a war with the national gaurd.

You know, if every able-bodied young person who supports the war in Iraq actually enlisted in the Army, there'd be no reason why Bush would have sent the NG.

I used to think it's ironic that Bush dodged the draft in Vietnam by joining the NG, then sent the NG off to die in a foreign war. Now it's doubly ironic that by doing so American civilians are dying.

 

[Evo]

I talked to a man this morning who has a trucking company. He told me that he contracts to FEMA during emergencies. He also told me that he has had 50 empty trucks waiting since Tuesday morning. FEMA has not yet called??

It most likely has to do with where he is located. They will contact companies in the most strategic locations first, if they are needed. Just because he's on the list doesn't mean he'll be used.

 

[TRCSF]

It most likely has to do with where he is located. They will contact companies in the most strategic locations first, if they are needed. Just because he's on the list doesn't mean he'll be used.

Actually there are reports all over of doctors, people with trucks full of bottled water, etc. not being allowed to get even close to NOLA. FEMA's blocking the way.

 

[Evo]

Actually there are reports all over of doctors, people with trucks full of bottled water, etc. not being allowed to get even close to NOLA. FEMA's blocking the way.

Until they get the situation safely under control, that would make sense.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

It most likely has to do with where he is located.

Brown didn't even know about he people dying at the convention center until yesterday.

Funny...I did.

Sheriffs from Alabama responding directly to pleas for help from NO for personnel to help regain control of the city, and towing a trailer full of supplies, were turned back due to confusion with paperwork.

 

[Art]

Uhh...I could swear I typed M-A-N-D-A-T-O-R-Y...
BUT I'm sure it's an honest mistake for you to have not noticed that.

That's priceless. What the hell do you think they have been trying to do since the hurricane warning was announced? The ones left behind are mainly the poor who did not own any transport to leave in. Walking the equivalent of the breath of England isn't a viable option.

The other problem which tourists also suffered from was they had nowhere to go. That is one of the issues at the moment, only a few are stuck on the tops of roofs, most are on dry land and easily accessible such as I 10 but finding somewhere to evacuate them to is the problem.

It would appear other states are not exactly jumping forward with offers to house, clothe and feed a few hundred thousand poor, black refugees from the affected states. At the moment many are simply being moved from the statium in NO to stadii in other cities.

 

[TRCSF]

Oh, guess who got the big contract.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3335685

Now we know why Americans are dying of dehydration.

There's no-bid contracts to sign.

 

[TRCSF]

What the hell do you think they have been trying to do since the hurricane warning was announced? The ones left behind are mainly the poor who did not own any transport to leave in. Walking the equivalent of the breath of England isn't a viable option.

QUOTE]

You know, a guy in the other thread suggested that. They should have just walked out before the hurricane.

I think people are spinning so hard they're getting dizzy and falling down and bumping their heads.

 

[1123581321]

The problim is that the mayor had no way of getting the poor out of the city before the hurricane.
This is because of two reasons:
1. They had little warning, they knew it was coming saturday, it hit early monday.
2. They had no previous plan to buss everyone out/have enough food-water on hand to feed everyone in emergency shelteres.
Here is a picture of busses that could've been used to evacuate those who couldn't afford it out of new orleans:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050901/480/flpc21109012015

There are also two things that should have been done differently after the fact

1. Drop 8000 or so natl. guard in immediatly after it was clear, along with enough food to feed every one in the city for 2 weeks.
2. begin bussing people out the day after the national guard has control of the city.

there is one thing that needs to be done now:

1. Not even rebuild new orleans, because if you have to build leeves and pump out water to keep out the water under normal circumstances, then you will never be ready for a hurricane, no matter what.

Thursday, 2:55 p.m.

By Bill Walsh
Washington bureau

WASHINGTON - House Speaker Dennis Hastert dropped a bombshell on flood-ravaged New Orleans on Thursday by suggesting that it isn’t sensible to rebuild the city.

"It doesn't make sense to me," Hastert told the Daily Herald in suburban Chicago in editions published today. "And it's a question that certainly we should ask."

Hastert's comments came as Congress cut short its summer recess and raced back to Washington to take up an emergency aid package expected to be $10 billion or more. Details of the legislation are still emerging, but it is expected to target critical items such as buses to evacuate the city, reinforcing existing flood protection and providing food and shelter for a growing population of refugees.

The Illinois Republican’s comments drew an immediate rebuke from Louisiana officials.

“That’s like saying we should shut down Los Angeles because it’s built in an earthquake zone,” former Sen. John Breaux, D-La., said. “Or like saying that after the Great Chicago fire of 1871, the U.S. government should have just abandoned the city.”

Hastert said that he supports an emergency bailout, but raised questions about a long-term rebuilding effort. As the most powerful voice in the Republican-controlled House, Hastert is in a position to block any legislation that he opposes.

"We help replace, we help relieve disaster," Hastert said. "But I think federal insurance and everything that goes along with it... we ought to take a second look at that."

The speaker’s comments were in stark contrast to those delivered by President Bush during an appearance this morning on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

“I want the people of New Orleans to know that after rescuing them and stabilizing the situation, there will be plans in place to help this great city get back on its feet,” Bush said. “There is no doubt in my mind that New Orleans is going to rise up again as a great city.”

Insurance industry executives estimated that claims from the storm could range up to $19 billion. Rebuilding the city, which is more than 80 percent submerged, could cost tens of billions of dollars more, experts projected.

Hastert questioned the wisdom of rebuilding a city below sea level that will continue to be in the path of powerful hurricanes.

"You know we build Los Angeles and San Francisco on top of earthquake issures and they rebuild, too. Stubbornness," he said.

Hastert wasn't the only one questioning the rebuilding of New Orleans. The Waterbury, Conn., Republican-American newspaper wrote an editorial Wednesday entitled, "Is New Orleans worth reclaiming?"

"Americans' hearts go out to the people in Katrina's path," it said. "But if the people of New Orleans and other low-lying areas insist on living in harm's way, they ought to accept responsibility for what happens to them and their property."

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Pic of neworleans http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/126535main_neworleans_flood_0831.jpg



What i find to be crazy is the fact that many liberals are blaming the hurricane on Bush.
Link -> http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46059
And that others are calling Bush a racist.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/09/02/D8CCAOI81.html


Of course, i do think that things can and should've been done differently:
For example
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/09/02/D8CC9VLGE.html
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46113
However, it is not bush's job to be the fema director.

But, in the wake of such disasters we seldom care to see the good that happens:
http://www.local6.com/news/4929516/detail.html
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/nation/12530764.htm
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=FT&Date=20050902&ID=5083504



Fibonacci

 

[TRCSF]

Whether or not to rebuild New Orleans is a complicated issue. That's really something to worry about in the long term. Personally, I don't think it should be rebuild below sea level. But I don't see why it can't be rebuilt on fill. A good portion of Seattle is actually build on fill.

 

[edward]

For a good look at what FEMA is supposed to do click on the link.
Inside the link at the top is an MS power point presentation about FEMA.

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:...May01.ppt+Fema+transportation+contracts&hl=en

FEMA has contracts with numerous companies to preposition water, ice, and emergency power production units. It appears that they must have prepositioned the water in locations that were not accessible after the hurricane. There is no other reason to explain the lack of water at the Superdome.

FEMA is now under homeland security and they seem to be tripping over each other.

 

[Art]

My apologies...I should have said "appealed" in my first post as it would be a little misleading to suggest that the president can force the state to relinqiush it's rights. So again I'll ask you, WHY would the President of the United States have to give a personal APPEAL to the Governor to start a mandatory evacuation?!

Now now Kat please don't try to obfuscate, here is what you actually said

when Bush first called and insisted the governor call a state of emergency ahead of the storm.

So what you should have said is that you were wrong as the governer had already declared a state of emergency two days prior to your Bush ref. But then that would mean you admitting you were in error.

Even so, Friday, three days before hurricane Katrina pounded the Gulf Coast, Gov. Kathleen Blanco declared a state of emergency,

http://w115.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46073

 

[Kerrie]

Whether or not to rebuild New Orleans is a complicated issue. That's really something to worry about in the long term. Personally, I don't think it should be rebuild below sea level. But I don't see why it can't be rebuilt on fill. A good portion of Seattle is actually build on fill.

They should build New Orleans like they did Venice...tons of tourism that way.

 

[Skyhunter]

Oh, guess who got the big contract.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3335685

Now we know why Americans are dying of dehydration.

There's no-bid contracts to sign.

I was wondering where Dick Cheney was.

From the way this has been handled, no wonder there is an insurgency in Iraq!

 

[kat]

That's priceless. What the hell do you think they have been trying to do since the hurricane warning was announced? The ones left behind are mainly the poor who did not own any transport to leave in. Walking the equivalent of the breath of England isn't a viable option.

http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?/base/library-88/1125213019249320.xml?nola

"By mid-afternoon, officials in Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, Lafourche, Terrebonne and Jefferson parishes had called for voluntary or mandatory evacuations.

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin followed at 5 p.m., issuing a voluntary evacuation.

Nagin said late Saturday that he's having his legal staff look into whether he can order a mandatory evacuation of the city, a step he's been hesitant to do because of potential liability on the part of the city for closing hotels and other businesses........Contraflow in effect

State Police activated the state's redesigned contraflow plan Saturday at 4 p.m., allowing traffic to use both sides of Interstates 55, 59 and 10 to evacuate New Orleans to the north, east and west after early afternoon traffic left westbound lanes of I-10 backed up bumper-to-bumper for miles in the 93-degree heat. Within hours, however, the contraflow system seemed to have alleviated much of the logjam.

furthermore:http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/plans/EOPSupplement1a.pdf

"The primary means of hurricane evacuation will be personal vehicles.
School and municipal buses, government-owned vehicles and vehicles
provided by volunteer agencies may be used to provide transportation
for individuals who lack transportation and require assistance in
evacuating."

Note the photo I posted and posted in the post above showing the buses still parked and not used for evacuations.


http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/newsrelated/hurripamends.htm

A partial summary of action plans follows...

State resources are adequate to operate shelters for the first 3-5 days. The group planned how federal and other resources will replenish supplies at shelters.

 

[McGyver]

Events in Clusters: Decontaminating Flood Waters

The New Orleans hurricane Katrina should come as no surprise. Starting with the 2004 hurricane, a new cluster trend appeared on the radar. Between '04 and '05, I recall three or four Cat 4 to Cat 5 hurricanes that headed up the gulf towards the Florida panhandle, Louisiana, and Missippi coasts. It appeared to establish a cluster affect, as well as a cluster increase in total Carribean storms. It was only a matter of time and chance that a major city like NO would take a hit. NO experts also knew the levies could not withstand beyond a CAT 3. As such, NO had requested Army Core Engineers to reinforce the levies.

Now that the levies have breached and flooded, I can't understand why no news sources has suggested adding a "bleach decontaminent" to the flooded city water. It would help to reduce spread of disease. Also, I would HOPE that a decontaminant is added to that water before pumping it out to the river and/or sea. That is a lot of bacteria to pump out untreated.

 

[Skyhunter]

They should build New Orleans like they did Venice...tons of tourism that way.

I was just thinking of something similar. Would be terribly expensive to build foundations on swampland that would withstand more hurricanes. And I don't believe we have seen the last of them.

I am not a climatologist but after listening to a few I have learned two things about hurricanes.

1. The frequency of hurricanes runs in cycles and we are in an increased cycle.

2. Hurricanes gain strength in warm water. The warmer the water the greater potential for a strong hurricane.

 

[1123581321]

I was wondering where Dick Cheney was.

From the way this has been handled, no wonder there is an insurgency in Iraq!

let's wait and give them a chance before we pounce on them just because they're halliburton.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Mayor to feds: 'Get off your asses'

CNN) -- New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin blasted the slow pace of federal and state relief efforts in an expletive-laced interview with local radio station WWL-AM.

The following is a transcript of WWL correspondent Garland Robinette's interview with Nagin on Thursday night. Robinette asked the mayor about his conversation with President Bush:

NAGIN: I told him we had an incredible crisis here and that his flying over in Air Force One does not do it justice. And that I have been all around this city, and I am very frustrated because we are not able to marshal resources and we're outmanned in just about every respect. (Listen to the mayor express his frustration in this video -- 12:09) [continued]

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/nagin.transcript/

 

[kat]

This is from one year ago:

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/091904ccktWWLIvanFlaws.132602486.html

 

[Skyhunter]

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/nagin.transcript/

That was the most real and moving speech I have ever witnessed from a politician.

Now that Bush has a fire lit under his a$$ I wish him the best.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Trent Lott is outraged over the criticism of the reponse. This is not the time, he complains. I say now more than ever is exactly the time to require an accounting. [edit] Perhaps he would prefer that we all just listen to him tell us what a wonderful job is being done.

Unless we're interrupting his debris removal efforts, I don't see the problem. It seems like he is more concerned about appearances than the outrage and suffering. And if he's not fending off criticism, he's busy congratulating everyone on what a great job they're doing.

Who does he think is listening? The rescue workers?

 

[pattylou]

Trent Lott is outraged over the criticism of the reponse. This is not the time, he complains. I say now more than ever is exactly the time to require an accounting. [edit] Perhaps he would prefer that we all just listen to him tell us what a wonderful job is being done.

I have to wonder, if we had the kind of reporting out of Baghdad that we have out of New Orleans, if we'd see more criticism of the government on that issue as well.

As I understand it, there have been no decent water purification facilities for over a year, bodies decomposing in the streets, rubble, regular violence, ... In short, the same sorts of conditions that we've seen in New Orleans over the past week.

I couldn't believe Bush referred to the destruction in New Orleans as similar to what a massive weapon might do. The 'man' has no shame.

Kicking off a day-long visit to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, President Bush expressed astonishment at the destruction, saying: "It's as if the entire Gulf Coast were obliterated by the worst kind of weapon you can imagine."

http://www9.sbs.com.au/theworldnews/region.php?id=119671&region=4

Please do not respond to this post. It is straying off topic

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Bush just declared that the convention center is secure

Barbara Starr, a CNN reporter at the center says, uh, no, its not.

 

[1123581321]

I couldn't believe Bush referred to the destruction in New Orleans as similar to what a massive weapon might do. The 'man' has no shame.

Please do not respond to this post. It is straying off topic

Why is it so bad to say something like that?
What do you suggest he compare it to instead?

Fibonacci

sorry, i responded.

 

[Evo]

Oh, guess who got the big contract.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3335685

Now we know why Americans are dying of dehydration.

There's no-bid contracts to sign.

Did anyone actually read the article? It says Haliburton, as a result of a 2004 contract, will be working on Naval Bases.

What has that got to do with anything?

"KBR was assigned the work under a "construction capabilities" contract awarded in 2004 after a competitive bidding process."

 

[Rabid]

Here's another gem.

President Bush flew over the ravaged city and parts of Mississippi's hurricane-blasted coastline in Air Force One. Turning to his aides, he said: "It's totally wiped out. ... It's devastating, it's got to be doubly devastating on the ground."

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/08/31/D8CB3CF81.html

 

[loseyourname]

I have to wonder, if we had the kind of reporting out of Baghdad that we have out of New Orleans, if we'd see more criticism of the government on that issue as well.

As I understand it, there have been no decent water purification facilities for over a year, bodies decomposing in the streets, rubble, regular violence, ... In short, the same sorts of conditions that we've seen in New Orleans over the past week.

Sorry to respond as well, but when a thread is this long, it will go off-topic. As Vanesch points out, as long as this is part of the natural evolution of a discussion, let it be.

Anyway, I just wanted to point out that it is the duty of the cities themselves to provide for their own cleanliness. Trash removal, sewer maintenance, water purification, peacefulness - these are all municipal responsibities, not federal ones. So unless you meant to imply that seeing more coverage would incite increased criticism of the New Orleans municipal government, I don't see how these things apply.

 

[Astronuc]

Trash removal, sewer maintenance, water purification, peacefulness - these are all municipal responsibities, not federal ones.

Under normal circumstances, yes. The devastation from Katrina and the subsequent flood is not normal. Most cities require assistance from beyond their borders, especially when people have evacutated.

Cities (and counties), states, and the federal government need to sit down at some point and decide all the issues regarding emergency response and management. The kind of disaster that just happened will happen again, possibly even this year, along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.