Kudos to Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans!

Originally posted by JacKatMtn
I am sure there were some stubborn people who thought they could ride out the storm (local government included), but the majority of those now being rescued had nowhere (but the superdome) to go.

I am sure that the frustration level is at the breaking point and hindsight is 20/20, but I bet if the mayor looks at himself in the mirror, he wishes he had that 48 hours back.

I checked out the hurricane Katrina thread for a history and found this within, so transportation was available and pickup points listed and the mayor actually discouraged the citizens from going to the superdome, so I must take the heat off of him because he did try get the people out, it appears that alot of the stranded decided to wait out the storm. My apologies to the mayor for my prior statement...

Nagin orders mandatory evacuation in face of Katrina

Nagin said the city could and would commandeer any property or vehicle it deemed necessary to provide safe shelter or transport for those in need.


He also opened the Louisiana Superdome as a shelter of last resort that would begin accepting people around Noon. He said the Dome would have few supplies and that people were expected to bring food and other necessary items. RTA buses were going to be sent to pick up those going to shelters at designated pickup points.


Nagin discouraged staying in the Superdome, saying that people would not have access to power and possibly plumbing.

It's 10:07am EST and CNN just said they are going to play the entire interview within the half hour. I suggest everyone listen.

Why the hell wernt preparations made for this in the first place?

People werent evacuated from the coasts unless they had a car, why werent buses provided? Why wasnt food and water and blankets stockpiled in case of eneregencies?

The mayor should have been saying this from the beggining and demanding that this be done, even if his powers dont extend that far. To do anything less is a gross dereliction of duty.

There is no defence for this criminal negligence, the collapse of the leeves is not an unlikely scenario, it is an inevitability, and plans should have been in place to deal with the very worst case scenario.

wish I could watch it I'm at work and can't figure out how to watch it for the site.

I have the feeling that many government high officials in the states devastated by the hurricane will be resigning their post in the coming months.

Found it.

www.airamericaradio.com...

Right at the top of the page, it's a 10mb file. The first politician that I've heard in a while that sounded real.

He gives ranks to Honore too.


jako

This guy is very angry, It most be frustration knowing that you need help and it is taking to long.

Reaction to all this was to slow.

He is right.

The most to suffer is usually the poor in America.

others defend the administration by asserting that it's the responsibility of the governors of the affected states to request federal help, and that they obviously didn't do that fast enough.

That's bull#.

The areas were declared disaster areas BEFORE the storm hit. How is that not "fast enough"? Even Bush himself is admitting that the response is "unnacceptable". Well, here's a suggestion Mr. Bush.... You have the resources of the world's most powerful nation at your disposal... Why don't you come off the golf course and DO something about it!

Right now I'm watching CNN Live with President Bush congratulating everyone and everyone applauding.

Big difference on views of the matter.

Originally posted by Gazrok
That's bull#.

The areas were declared disaster areas BEFORE the storm hit. How is that not "fast enough"? Even Bush himself is admitting that the response is "unnacceptable". Well, here's a suggestion Mr. Bush.... You have the resources of the world's most powerful nation at your disposal... Why don't you come off the golf course and DO something about it!

While I readily agree with the statement of ‘unacceptable’ in regards response there are some issues which the state level governments immediately let down their constituents and should individually assume personal responsibility for respective ‘inactions’ rather than point fingers to save their large fat political arses.

What was the declaration of mandatory evacuation about?..a favor?...you have to go now, fend for yourself? The states under federal law and mandate to receive continued FEMA funding and grants must have a plan for evacuation without the direct intervention of the federal government at least for the first 72 hours prior and even after a presidential order has been issued.

LA for example:

II. PURPOSE
It is the intent of this plan to establish guidelines for the direction, control and
coordination for providing shelter, food, and other essential support services for
people who have relocated from their normal residences due to the threat posed by a hurricane along the coast.

-[snip]-

D. Although local government has overall responsibility for shelter and mass
care operations within its jurisdiction, ARC has been chartered under Federal
law to provide mass care to victims of natural disasters.

1. The potential magnitude of hurricane evacuations requires the
cooperative efforts of all local governments, State agencies, DSS and
ARC in reception and care planning.
(EOPShelter supplement pdf.)

Where were our federal dollars spent in the ‘good faith’ LA would carry through with its’ obligations and funding for such an event?

Sounds as if the grants, loans and subsidies for continued studies, structure, plans, and general logistical oversight were spent ‘differently’ at the state level. And if this is truly the case, criminal and federal charges should be brought upon the governor and mayor for their dereliction of duties to the state and federal government.

Moreover, how do you start pointing fingers away when it is clear, more than clear of the states initial responsibility in the event of a disaster?

E. PROGRAM
When a disaster occurs in Louisiana, an assessment of damages and the resultant impact on area citizens and their homes and / or communities is made by the LHLS/EP. The Assistant Director of this office is the GAR and, as such, he may involve representatives from local government and other State or private agencies in determining the disaster impact. Regional FEMA personnel are involved as early as the GAR deems appropriate
(IHPA Admin Plan.pdf)

The mayor of NO as well as the governor of LA relaxed far too quickly before the levy’s failed. Just like politicians offering no real leadership and false concern. Dodging another bullet seemed apparent at first, the internal assessment and lack of preventive action has cost one too many lives.

What was the plan? If there was a plan, how would it be implemented?

48 hours prior to landfall, were he LA guard units fully activated? Were contiguous states properly notified of possible estimates of refugee influxes? Were contiguous states asked for any assistance? Was transportation available from the city and state level to truly implement the mandatory evacuation? Where are the food stores in LA that each state must maintain? Where were the evacuation plans? How was distribution to be handled in the event of incapacity of the greater metro area of NO? If a flood was possible what were the various contingency plans? If 50k had arrived at the Super Dome there would not have been enough food and water for one day. Where was the leadership of NO of LA?... …..reading paperwork to the masses and doing nothing! On and on and on….. No plan was implemented to completion.

The state has the responsibility and assistance can be requested at anytime from outlying states as well as the federal government, portions US tax dollars are ear marked specially for states ‘needs’ in emergencies as well as disasters for of research grants, loans and lines of credit etal (carte blanche) for such an event. The states must be the first line of protection for the people this is as simple basic understood matter of national security, period. The first link failed.

Under the 'state of emergency' in NO as declared ...were the vehicles commondeered Ray Nagin’s order to assist in evacuation?

.

I agree wholeheartedly with this. Ray Nagin, we need more men like you! Specifically we need more men like you in office. This guy tells it just like it is. No spin, no wasting peoples time. He knows the truth.

i love this guy...

this guy should be the mayor of yonkers, NY...

Originally posted by marg6043
This guy is very angry, It most be frustration knowing that you need help and it is taking to long.

Reaction to all this was to slow.

He is right.

The most to suffer is usually the poor in America.

So we should be socialists right? and pay 70% of our earnings to the government yet still allow the rich to circumvent the taxes so we make the middle class disappear and make the rich richer and the poor poorer?

Well now not only is coming clear that troops to be the first send were troops returning from Iraq, giving a meaning of "Thinning" forces a more meaningful definition.

First 300 troops to arrive in NO were troops that came straight from Iraq.

Also now the problems with the water and the corps of engineers is pointing to the fact that funds were cut from them to be used in Iraq.

So it was no money to help the corps of engineers to stay on top shape.

Take a look at the people suffering in NO, is not the rich or the well off but black poor Americans.

Very sad indeed.



[edit on 2-9-2005 by marg6043]

Originally posted by marg6043
Take a look at the people suffering in NO, is not the rich or the well off but black poor Americans.

Very sad indeed.

news.yahoo.com...:/050902/ids_photos_ts/r188314569.jpg

news.yahoo.com...:/050902/photos_ts/2005_09_02t172656_450x310_us_economy_katrina_worldbank

news.yahoo.com...:/050902/ids_photos_ts/r4017918195.jpg

news.yahoo.com...:/050902/ids_photos_ts/r2873579265.jpg

u sure its only poor African Americans only??, it seems to me i see all colors suffering in NO.

Originally posted by SpittinCobra
They are not going to bring any food to NO, water yes food no. They do not want people to stay.

A large convoy of trucks has arrived in NO, bringing water AND food. I've heard two figures; 2.5 million and 5 million MRE's.

But you are right - they want people out of NO so they can do their job. An estimated 400,000 left on time, approx. 100,000 decided to stay. Subtracting out the immobile and sick, that's about 80,000 who didn't leave and have caused much of the problems.

Are you aware that hospital that were trying to evacuate patients were SHOT AT?

from Mainer
Thats junk, there is a lack of leadership down there and he is the first person who should be responsible for leading. What is he doing? Passing the buck: "its the governer who whould be doing stuff, its the president." No, its New Orleans' problem and he is the only leader whose sole job is to lead NO. He can order the police to stop the looting, to commendeer vehicles to get those people out. He can get his out of his suit and into a truck and go pick up people himself.

I agree - he's no Rudy Giuliani. He shirked his responsibility big time.

The job of FEMA is one of co-ordination. They rely on mayors and governors to tell them what they need, and then they round up and dispatch the resources. Nagin did very little in this capacity. Instead of communicating with FEMA, he is now whining about everybody else so that the spotlight is taken off of his own failures. He's such a poor leader that his police force was quitting on him.

from marg
Also now the problems with the water and the corps of engineers is pointing to the fact that funds were cut from them to be used in Iraq.

So it was no money to help the corps of engineers on top shape.

Marg, there were simulations that this type of destruction could occur from a Class 3 hurricane in 1999. Katrina was a Class 5. And I don't think it was the COE that said that, but maybe they did. I though it was a politician.

Mayor Ray Nagin is the only honest person in any leadership roll.

Ray Nagin for President.

Originally posted by deltaboy

u sure its only poor African Americans only??

, it seems to me i see all colors suffering in NO.

Oh, excused me "Mosty black poor Americans" my mistake.

Originally posted by Mainer
Thats junk, there is a lack of leadership down there and he is the first person who should be responsible for leading. What is he doing? Passing the buck: "its the governer who whould be doing stuff, its the president." No, its New Orleans' problem and he is the only leader whose sole job is to lead NO. He can order the police to stop the looting, to commendeer vehicles to get those people out. He can get his ass out of his suit and into a truck and go pick up people himself. This situation is out of control because the three main leaders, the mayor the governor and the president are all passing the buck. Don't praise this man, he is as much of the problem as anybody.

crikey thats a bit harsh, where are You and your truck? not in new orleans ill bet!!!

Edit

[edit on 9/2/2005 by UnMature]