More Than School Buses Were Available

This image from Wednesday morning August 31st shows much more tranportation was available than previously thought. People searching for conspiracy relating to Katrina may have been led to scrutinize the federal response by the heavy media and political campaign that has been orcestrated, (by whom I don't know - but thats what were here for.

Something really weird was going on thats for sure.

The image below coupled with the Louisiana state FEMA organization not allowing the Red Cross into New Orleans starting on Monday right after Katrina struck, and continuing most of that week, preventing food, water and hygenic supplies from getting to the Superdome.

The Salvation Army was also prevented from offering aid.

Survivors kept from evacuating New Orleans



Digital Globe Image for comparison with image above.

Also on Wednesday as reported by the New York Times Gov. Blanco was searching for buses,

Ms. Blanco burst into the state's emergency center in Baton Rouge. "Does anybody in this building know anything about buses?" she recalled crying out.

They were an obvious linchpin for evacuating a city where nearly 100,000 people had no cars. Yet the federal, state and local officials who had failed to round up buses in advance were now in a frantic hunt. It would be two more days before they found enough to empty the shelters

Well its plain to see for all now just where those buses are. Many of them on dry land no less with open highways to use.

The more I see and hear about the faulty evacuation of New Orleans and its disasterous aftermath, the more I believe all roads lead back to Louisiana.

Maybe its a case of follow the money.

Maybe a focus needs to be on who the power brokers are behind Nagin or Blanco and what benefit they would derive from the billions that are to pour in.

Maybe a game of political one upmanship went horribly awry for Gov. Blanco, afterall Monday morning the media was saying New Orleans dodged the big one. Could the finger pointing by her be to cover an earler mistake? Such as a refusal to help New Orleans because Nagin endorsed her opponent in the Governors race?

What may Blaco be hiding by her refusal to put Louisiana guard under federal command - they do have to follow her orders - were they told to shut-up?

Was the federal government taken for a ride by Blanco and Nagin between Friday and Thursday? - is federal revenge the removal of their voting base to states as far away as Alaska?

It seems that the elite in Louisiana stand to benifit a great deal from others misery.

I would like to open the floor to conspiracy theory having to do with the unusual activities in-state and its resulting effect on the response to Katrina to give those ATS members not buying into the blame FEMA thing a chance to air their thoughts and opinions.

Phoenix



Edit to add this related ATSNN story because it may add some points to whom benifits,
www.abovetopsecret.com...

[edit on 10-9-2005 by Phoenix]

Heres your answer from the mayor

www.nola.com.../mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_09_10.html#078696

Originally posted by AlabamaCajun
Heres your answer from the mayor

www.nola.com.../mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_09_10.html#078696

Thats a very nice letter from the Mayor

So he had no authority over the transit buses nor the school buses.

hmmmmmm

May I remind folks that his own press conference calling for mandatory evacuations detailed that any item could be confiscated for emergency use.

Then there is the fact that the hurricane evacuation plan called for these buses to be used with a police escort.

Then when the buses are plainly present on Wednesday at a time when the Mayor was calling for help they inexpicably remained parked - it stetches credibility to claim that out of a crowd numbering in the tens of thousands no one knew how to drive a bus - at least thats according to Nagin in his letter.

That was the biggest load of CYA I've read in - well - forever.

All I can say is it took alot of balls by the state and local officials of NO ( if that was indeed their intention ) to use a natural disaster to better there precious little city, and cleanse themselves of the poor. So, is this going to turn NO into a city of wealthy, well established and a rich community, instead of the poverty stricken and paycheck to paycheck type families?
Talk about a cleansing. Out of all those that suffered and had death staring them in the face, would even considering going back, when the very city they belonged to failed them in their hour of need.
And if this was the intention of the state and local officials we vote into office.................and it turns out to be sucessful in "cleaning house", whats to say it won't be tried in further natural disasters. Or maybe it already has in past catastrophies, natural or man made???? It is definately a scarey world we are all living in. God help us all!!!

Originally posted by cruella
All I can say is it took alot of balls by the state and local officials of NO ( if that was indeed their intention ) to use a natural disaster to better there precious little city, and cleanse themselves of the poor.

The city leaders (elite) meeting with Nagin in Dallas expressed their desire to change the demographics of New Orleans - what you've said may not be far off the mark in regards to the future.

What I want to know is how this was engineered behind the scenes in a very few short days - or was it an implementation of a long planned contingency.

Good guestion. I have a feeling that in the end after we learn the real truth, we will all be sickened by it, and those caught with there pants down, will merely get a slap on the hand and a shame on you. Lets just hope justice can live up to its name in those instances.
Meanwhile, those affected will grow a deep hatred to those chosen to lead our government. It could most definately change the way the average american views our own country. Land of the Free..............ha.............how about Land of the Advantaged!!!!! It doesn't look good. And it has already made me loose faith in this wonderful US of A.
I realize this in only one state having a problem and hopefully it is the only instance of this type of thing happening (if its proven to be truth). I live in a wonderful state, but is it???.............................???? Am I suppose to trust my local government??? just like the good folks of NO did.

here is another instance ( 911 being the other) where the 'officials' were caught totaly flat-footed and unprepared (delibertly or otherwise) for something that, contrary to some 'officials' opinions, WAS forseen and talked about in the past.

AMERIKA is not ready for anything other than taking the'fight' overseas. this is a perfect example of what America has been turned into.......a population out of touch, a govt that is pre-occupied, a govt concerned only with 'the bottom' line, a country whos major focus is overseas, a govt that has given into corporations and those that have lead them, a govt that can not be a govt to the country that it has taken over................................................

Originally posted by Phoenix
I would like to open the floor to conspiracy theory having to do with the unusual activities in-state and its resulting effect on the response to Katrina to give those ATS members not buying into the blame FEMA thing a chance to air their thoughts and opinions.

[edit on 10-9-2005 by Phoenix]

Just because you're blaming FEMA doesn't mean there isn't blame at the local or state level. It's a mistake to present this disaster as being the responsibility of just one group. State and local officials were grossly negligent in their preparations, but the response was just as poorly handled by the Federal authorities when it had become clear the situation was beyond the capabilities of state and local resources.

-koji K.

[edit on 11-9-2005 by koji_K]

Originally posted by koji_K

Originally posted by Phoenix
I would like to open the floor to conspiracy theory having to do with the unusual activities in-state and its resulting effect on the response to Katrina to give those ATS members not buying into the blame FEMA thing a chance to air their thoughts and opinions.

[edit on 10-9-2005 by Phoenix]

Just because you're blaming FEMA doesn't mean there isn't blame at the local or state level. It's a mistake to present this disaster as being the responsibility of just one group. State and local officials were grossly negligent in their preparations, but the response was just as poorly handled by the Federal authorities when it had become clear the situation was beyond the capabilities of state and local resources.

-koji K.

[edit on 11-9-2005 by koji_K]

koji_K, read again,

ATS members not buying into the blame FEMA thing a chance to air their thoughts and opinions.

I purposely started this thread to elicit opinions from members who do not buy into the blame FEMA bandwagon.

What I am trying to figure out is; if someone were to drive the buses lets look at the routes.
There are:
EAST
I-10 leading east and west. West goes right through the East Orleans which is flooded from the breach at the Industrial canal along with the bridge to Judge Perez drive which is also flooded. Beyond that I-10 over Lake Borne was washed off of it's peirs and slidell to the north was trashed and flooded.
CCC (Cresent City Connection) guarded by neighboring parish and sherif.
River ferries, no power to operate the ramps not sure if anyone was available to pilot the river with a ferry.
WEST
I-10 West - 20+ water under train bridge I-10 passes under. Ironic that new pumps were recently installed to drain this annoying problem, no power.
Airline Hwy, Metarie Roadand Jefferson Hwy were possible exits but there you would also meet the say sherifs deputies.

This leaves a situation where mostly airlifts and boats were the only hopes. Once the guard was there then busses could be escorted out.
The main problem was getting food and water to the people some thing that needed outside help.

Next time a city is faced with this dilema try the following.
Portable Potties loaded on trucks and parked in a secure place from wind/flood damage.
Cargo containers of food and water secured on high ground near designated meeting places.

In several places people maintained order as best they could but they were not armed. None of this would have stopped the 1% of uncivilized that decided to commit crimes. But had there been supplies with plans to replenish them then a lot of incedents may not have happened.

Wow. You found a ton of buses there. Now, find me a picture of all the bus drivers.

Originally posted by QuietSoul
Wow. You found a ton of buses there. Now, find me a picture of all the bus drivers.

Wow, thanks for reminding me that it is passe' to ask for volunteers which is now wholly incompatable in the modern welfare state.

My bad.

Seriously do you actually buy into that Nagin excuse for inaction in the face of having his people without aid for days while finger pointing at others?

The moniker "Someone ought to do something" as an open ended statement does not apply in an emergency - using the available tools to their fullest extent even if the result is imperfect does apply.

Nagin gave-up without even making an attempt, the excuse would hold up somewhat better had he asked for volunteers but I cannot find where he did.

Can you?

Originally posted by QuietSoul
Wow. You found a ton of buses there. Now, find me a picture of all the bus drivers.

What do you need bush drivers for? If even 2% of the people left could drive, there would have been enough people to drive all those buses (maybe not enough busses to be FILLED but at least the number left there would have been greatly reduced).

Bus drivers.
I'm sure you all saw the story of the 20 year old Jabbar Gibson who "commandeered" a bus, filled it up with people and made his way to Texas.

www.chron.com...

So, I say....Potential Bus Drivers were literally everwhere.

They could have had volunteers from other states or towns drive the busses. They could have had FEMA people, police, firefighters, national guard drive them. Hell they probably could have called the teamsters union and asked for volunteer truck drivers and got them!

Phoenix, you said: The city leaders (elite) meeting with Nagin in Dallas expressed their desire to change the demographics of New Orleans - what you've said may not be far off the mark in regards to the future.


Do you have any evidence that the elite city leaders who met with Nagin in Dallas expressed their desire to change the demographics of NO?? Is there an article with quotes from the leaders or something Thanks

Wow. You found a ton of buses there. Now, find me a picture of all the bus drivers.

What is so special about driving a school bus? It seems that any competent driver could drive one. I've driven a U-Haul truck that was 26 or 27 feet long. Biggest problem was making sure I had the headroom when re-fueling.

Perhaps there was METHOD IN NAGIN'S "MADNESS".

Someone at a higher level of government could have dropped the hint that if the metro and schoolbuses were NOT used for evacuation and allowed to be flooded then the Feds would help them usher in a NEW NEW ORLEANS with a BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT FLEET OF METRO AND SCHOOL BUSSES to replace the aged, flooded ones?? But. if the busses were takenout of the flood zone loaded with evacuees, then he would be stuck with his aging fleet. That may also be why much OTHER NOLA city public equipment was also not taken to high ground. (Free new fire engines, police cars, city, government vehicle fleet, all brand new courtesy of the Federal tax dollar. [B]The DIS-INCENTIVE TO SAVE THIS EQUIPMENT IS TOO GREAT TO IGNORE. [/B]

Hmmm.... You've made some interesting points. All those buses could have been used. Until I read this thread, several things hadn't occurred to me. While it did take the Feds too long to respond, there could have been other reasons for it than the ones I considered. It certainly appears that someone could've driven those buses out of there. I thought they didn't because they were submerged in the flood. I stand corrected on that. This is all I could find about the meeting in Dallas:

Dallas Meeting Plans
N.O. Rebuilding -
Without Poor Blacks
By Wayne Madsen
9-11-5


Dallas meeting plans reconstruction of New Orleans without poor African Americans. According to well-informed New Orleans sources, New Orleans' wealthiest families, including those who are direct descendants of the French who settled New Orleans (not the Acadians [Cajuns] who were poor refugees from British tyranny in Nova Scotia) are meeting in Dallas today with Bush administration officials, New Orleans city officials, wealthy Texas oilmen, and bankers to plan for the reconstruction of New Orleans. These wealthy New Orleans residents live in the gated community of Audobon Place, a section of the city near the Garden District replete with personal helipads that still has running water and sewage and was only slightly affected by hurricane Katrina. It is now reportedly being patrolled by private Israeli security forces. Yesterday's Wall Street Journal ran a piece with more details on this story.

The Dallas meeting focused on rebuilding and re-zoning New Orleans without the "criminal element," a code word for the city's poor African American community.

These New Orleans residents have been scattered across the United States and are now under the control of FEMA. There is an understanding by the wealthy New Orleans elite that the poor will never be able to return. The Journal reported that the person who chaired the Dallas meeting was Jimmy Riess, one of the wealthy New Orleans elite who also served as Mayor Ray Nagin's Chairman of the Regional Transit Authority, which is in charge of the city's buses, trolleys, and trains. New Orleans sources report that public transportation was purposely not used to evacuate the poor New Orleans residents as a means to depopulate the poorer and more flood-prone sections of the city.

[edit on 18-9-2005 by Mirlin11]

As of 2003, the most recent year for which data appears to be available, the Orleans Parish school district, which operates New Orleans' public schools, owned only 324 school buses. In addition, a Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development profile of the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA), last updated May 5, notes that RTA owned 364 public buses, bringing the total of the city's public transit and school buses to fewer than 700 (assuming the fleet of school buses has not been dramatically increased since 2003)

The New York Times reported on September 4 that Louisiana emergency planners believed it would take as many as 2,000 buses "to evacuate an estimated 100,000 elderly and disabled people" in the event of a catastrophic hurricane like Katrina. This was "far more than New Orleans possessed."

But since there was not enough busses to evacuate the 100,000 plus residents that needed it, The mayor instead used what buses he had and arranged pick-up points thruout he city to shuttle people to area shelters (such as the superdome, and the convention center) before the storm hit.

Now those same evacuees are being sent to other areas in the country for temporay housing. while the city is rebuilt and drained.

Pointing to a group of buses and saying they could have been used to evacuate people is a good idea if they had a place to go, which is why federal aid was needed in the first place. Yet was not given until 5 days after the hurricaine hit

Originally posted by Jehosephat
Pointing to a group of buses and saying they could have been used to evacuate people is a good idea if they had a place to go, which is why federal aid was needed in the first place. Yet was not given until 5 days after the hurricaine hit

Agreed. Had the state of Louisiana prepared evacuation shelters in northern LA for NOLA evacuees, many still would not have left. When the majority of your state is in the cone, to where do you send you citizens?