NEWS: Nagin and Blanco Defend Katrina Response in Congress

Testifying before Congress today, Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin defended their actions before and after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf coast earlier this year, killing around 1,100 Louisiana residents. Republican lawmakers grilled the duo over a slow state and city response that didn't plan adequately to evacute elderly, disabled, and poor people who could not escape the storm's path on their own, as well as criticizing fantastic statements that greatly exaggerated the death toll and reports of violence among survivors. Blanco and Nagin defended their actions saying that they did all they could in the short time they had to prepare, and urged Congress to pass more funding to rebuild and upgrade the state's battered levee system.

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I'm glad these two are getting their feet put to the fire about their atrocious state and local prepartion and response to this tragedy. The recent revelations that Blanco's office seemed more interested in her PR image than what was happening to the people of her state (see BBC link below) also lends much insight to what really happened in Louisiana.

Related News Links:
www.alertnet.org
news.bbc.co.uk

[edit on 12/14/2005 by djohnsto77]

I hope the victims of the fiasco remember what they did.

I am sure they will get the message that people were not happy with the way both of them and others handled the situation, once they are out of office.

I loved the part where Nagin defends the WILD stories that had us all in an uproar (emphasis mine):


This was great too…



I’m sorry, but his actual defense of his ridiculous, panic-inducing statements is just as dumb.

Hey Nagin! Here’s a newsflash: panicking the already panicked citizens with exaggerated body counts, reports of rapes and murders at the Superdome, and marauding gangs is not going to convince a lot of folks to come out of their fast-flooding homes. “Hey ladies, don’t drown in your houses, come to the Superdome so you can be raped first,” is not an effective way of helping your constituents.

Moron.

Post removed by author to use on another thread.

[edit on 12/15/2005 by centurion1211]

He didn't look too happy about his speech when he was giving it. Strange.

Of course, I may very well just be in denial. Most likely the case.
Move along people, nothing to see here.

--Kit.

As beautiful a city as New Orleans was, the current situation, combined with the institutional corruption that has dominated local politics for generations, leaving me with little sympathy for the city. Unless the local politicians can present something to the Congress other than appeals for tons of money, thinking that Louisiana and New Orleans should be forced to bite the bullet and rebuild the best way they can--sink or swim, if you will.

Still, this is all very unsettling for me being a native Louisianan, a long time resident of New Orleans and being a graduate of the University of New Orleans and Tulane University, the futures of which seem very unstable, at best.