New Orleans

[TBrown]

This is a tragedy on a colossal scale, but I do think that the government response has been unacceptably slow. I was watching CNN last night and I kept hearing about all these National Guard troops who were ready to enter the city "in the morning" to restore order. I found myself thinking "Why not tonight? Why not right now?" I mean, we've all seen the footage from Iraq during the first few weeks of the war and we kept hearing about how the military "owns the night." They can operate just as well, if not better, in the dark. They have the equipment and training to do that. The looters and miscreants causing havoc inside New Orleans have even less organization and training than the Iraqis had. It seems to me that they could have launched operations immediately. The native New Orleans police and rescue personnel are no doubt doing the best they can, but it's important to remember that they are victims as well. Their own homes, lives, and families have been affected by Katrina. Outside help is critical and that fact should have been obvious to FEMA before the damage even ocurred. Four days is too long.

 

[OkeeDon]

Heard on the news last night that the United Nations has asked the US what it can do to help. The newscaster said there has been no response from the US...

 

[Iplayfarmer]

You all can do to the looters whatever you want, and I'll probably support you whole heartedly. The ones I'd be after are the incomprehensibly ignorant fools who are shooting at the rescue helicopters and vehicles.

As a first responder myself, this hits real close to home. I can't blame the rescuers for grounding their helicopters since everyone knows a downed bird isn't going to help anyone.

I have never been one for gun control of any kind. Then again I never realized the sheer magnitude of the wretched stupidy of some of our citizens. Maybe rather than requiring background checks to buy a firearm, we should require an IQ test. Of course most of the guns being used in La. right now were probably not obtained legally anyway.

 

[SkyPup]

What I can't understand is how our government managed to successfully keep the reality of a hurricane disaster in New Orleans, Miami, Norfolk, Cape Cod, Charleston, Tampa, Chesapeak Bay, etc. a TOP SECRET for decades and decades.

You'd think that somewhere, somehow, someone might have thought sometime that any Class III+ Hurricane would cause a serious amount of damage, death, and destruction.

The complete idioticy and ouright lunacy of our pathetic National Press, T.V., and journalists never ceases to amaze me.... all they can do is try to make a profit off a natural disaster and human suffering. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[ronjhall]

<font color="blue"> National Press, T.V., and journalists never ceases to amaze me.... all they can do is try to make a profit off a natural disaster and human suffering. </font>
I just turned the TV off. This is worse than watching the 9/11 tragedy. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif At least someone local took control of command and got what needed to be done, done.
This one they expect someone else to take command. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Then blame them for not doing it fast enough. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
I need to get some seat time. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[TBrown]

<font color="red"> This is worse than watching the 9/11 tragedy. At least someone local took control of command and got what needed to be done, done.
This one they expect someone else to take command. Then blame them for not doing it fast enough.
</font>

I'd have to agree with you on that. The leadership down there isn't really passing must the way Guliani, Pataki, and others did on 9/11. They seem completely shell-shocked and are spending an inordinate amount of time finger-pointing. Someone needs to step up.

 

[Dargo]

I don't know how true it is, but a friend of mine who lived in Jefferson Parrish in NO told me that FEMA will pay for his flood damage, but if he chooses to rebuild in the drained swamp (New Orleans), he will not be eligible for flood insurance again. He either has to raise his property 15', leave, or rebuild in a flood zone with no flood insurance. FEMA said that they are not wanting to insure against a "sure thing"; another devastating flood.

I know that sounds cold, but I suppose it is a reality when building in a drained swamp. Mother nature is eventually going to claim the swamp back. Without the ability to buy flood insurance (which would be sky high on premiums anyway), I don't see how people can rebuild in New Orleans. FEMA has stated that it has always been a bad place for a city, and that there is only so much man can do to keep a swamp dry.

 

[SkyPup]

If you receive a Federal Insurance Flood Payout to rebuild your flooded home and you have another flood disaster within the next ten years, they pay out the insured loss and the property is condemened, ie no more building permits for that property again......FEMA should not be forced to pay twice, once is enough to get out of the flood plain permanently.

 

[slowrev]

9-11 and the New Orleans disaster are not in the same scope. With 9-11 only a small part of the city was affected. In new orleans pretty much the whole city is wiped out. How many city offices and fire stations were wiped out in 9-11 ? How many in New Orleans ?
Different situations here. I do suppose New orleans could use their Nat guard troops back from Iraq though.

Ben

 

[Boondox]

I absolutely agree with TBrown. While I was on active duty we had plans for just about anything, and before any action or potential disaster those plans would be dusted off and reviewed so they were fresh in everybody's mind. We knew what dangers we would face and what resources were on hand or available. We were encouraged to develop mental agility in order to be able to respond flexibly to any situation we encountered.

I'm wonder, with all the strings now being pulled from distant Washington, if our leaders are so far removed from the action they have surrendered the ability to act quickly. Sorry, but this CIC reminds me a lot of President Johnson who proudly boasted that our pilots couldn't even pass gas over Vietnam without his permission.

Pete