Katrina - Page 22

gldstwmn · #**316** 09-01-2005, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I know - I'm thinking perhaps people are just freaking out?

That part of it. There was a fire in the Dome and there is no food or water left for those people. Not to mention, it's been days now since any of them have showered or gotten a good night's sleep.

strandinthewind · #**317** 09-01-2005, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

I don't know. I've been listening to the scanner this morning and can't really decipher what's up.

Many on the people left there are uneducated and violent - possibly gang members. I think there is a chance they see the helicopters/ambulances as a source of drugs - maybe they are dumb enough to think if they shoot the pilot, they can take over the chopper. Scary stuff indeed.

gldstwmn · #**318** 09-01-2005, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

The Dome had food and water up until last night - I saw them on tv handing out water at the dome.

How old was that footage?

strandinthewind · #**319** 09-01-2005, 10:33 AM

From a friend - I am unsure if this is credible - but some of it is confirmed:

> Subject: News from New Orleans
>
> > > A former Wilmington physician writes from New Orleans
> > >
> > > Aug. 31, 2005
> > >
> > > This is a dispatch from New Orleans from Dr. Greg Henderson, a
> >pathologist
> > > who recently moved from Wilmington:
> > >
> > > Thanks to all of you who have sent your notes of concern and your
> >prayers.
> > > I
> > > am writing this note on Tuesday at 2 p.m.. I wanted to update all of you
> > > as
> > > to the situation here. I don't know how much information you are getting
> > > but
> > > I am certain it is more than we are getting. Be advised that almost
> > > everything I am telling you is from direct observation or rumor from
> > > reasonable sources. They are allowing limited internet access, so I hope
> > > to
> > > send this dispatch today.
> > >
> > > Personally, my family and I are fine. My family is safe in Jackson,
> >Miss.,
> > > and I am now a temporary resident of the Ritz Carleton Hotel in New
> > > Orleans.
> > > I figured if it was my time to go, I wanted to go in a place with a good
> > > wine list. In addition, this hotel is in a very old building on Canal
> > > Street
> > > that could and did sustain little damage. Many of the other hotels
> > > sustained
> > > significant loss of windows, and we expect that many of the guests may
> >be
> > > evacuated here.
> > >
> > > Things were obviously bad yesterday, but they are much worse today.
> > > Overnight the water arrived. Now Canal Street (true to its origins) is
> > > indeed a canal. The first floor of all downtown buildings is underwater.
>
> >I
> > > have heard that Charity Hospital and Tulane are limited in their ability
> > > to
> > > care for patients because of water. Ochsner is the only hospital that
> > > remains fully functional. However, I spoke with them today and they too
> > > are
> > > on generator and losing food and water fast.
> > >
> > > The city now has no clean water, no sewerage system, no electricity, and
> > > no
> > > real communications. Bodies are still being recovered floating in the
> > > floods. We are worried about a cholera epidemic. Even the police are
> > > without
> > > effective communications. We have a group of armed police here with us
> >at
> > > the hotel that is admirably trying to exert some local law enforcement.
> > > This
> > > is tough because looting is now rampant. Most of it is not malicious
> > > looting. These are poor and desperate people with no housing and no
> > > medical
> > > care and no food or water trying to take care of themselves and their
> > > families. Unfortunately, the people are armed and dangerous. We hear
> > > gunshots frequently. Most of Canal street is occupied by armed looters
> >who
> > > have a low threshold for discharging their weapons. We hear gunshots
> > > frequently. The looters are using makeshift boats made of pieces of
> > > Styrofoam to access. We are still waiting for a significant national
> >guard
> > > presence.
> > >
> > > The health care situation here has dramatically worsened overnight. Many
> > > people in the hotel are elderly and small children. Many other guests
> >have
> > > unusual diseases. ... There are (Infectious Disease) physicians in at
> >this
> > > hotel attending an HIV confection. We have commandeered the world famous
> > > French Quarter Bar to turn into an makeshift clinic. There is a team of
> > > about seven doctors and PAs and pharmacists. We anticipate that this
> >will
> > > be
> > > the major medical facility in the central business district and French
> > > Quarter.
> > >
> > > Our biggest adventure today was raiding the Walgreens on Canal under
> > > police
> > > escort. The pharmacy was dark and full of water. We basically scooped
> >the
> > > entire drug sets into garbage bags and removed them. All under police
> > > escort. The looters had to be held back at gunpoint. After a dose of
> > > prophylactic Cipro I hope to be fine.
> > >
> > > In all we are faring well. We have set up a hospital in the French
> > > Quarter bar in the hotel, and will start admitting patients today. Many
> > > will
> > > be from the hotel, but many will not. We are anticipating dealing with
> > > multiple medical problems, medications and acute injuries. Infection
> > > and
> > > perhaps even cholera are anticipated major problems. Food and water
> > > shortages are imminent.
> > >
> > > The biggest question to all of us is where is the National Guard. We
> >hear
> > > jet fighters and helicopters, but no real armed presence, and hence the
> > > rampant looting. There is no Red Cross and no Salvation Army.
> > >
> > > In a sort of cliché way, this is an edifying experience. One is rapidly
> > > focused away from the transient and material to the bare necessities of
> > > life. It has been challenging to me to learn how to be a primary care
> > > physician. We are under martial law so return to our homes is
> >impossible.
> > > I
> > > don't know how long it will be and this is my greatest fear. Despite it
> > > all,
> > > this is a soul-edifying experience. The greatest pain is to think about
> > > the
> > > loss. And how long the rebuild will take. And the horror of so many dead
> > > people .
> > >
> > > PLEASE SEND THIS DISPATCH TO ALL YOU THING MAY BE INTERESTED IN A
> >DISPATCH
> > > from the front. I will send more according to your interest. Hopefully
> > > their
> > > collective prayers will be answered. By the way, suture packs, sterile
> > > gloves and stethoscopes will be needed as the Ritz turns into a MASH
> > >
> > > Greg Henderson

Dreammms · #**320** 09-01-2005, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

My biggest beef is the number of buses (475) is painfully inadequate.

that is bad.

i also think there needs to be more security and miltary there before a big riot starts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I am also pissed with the media showing only black people in NOLA when there are lots of white people around -- it suggests that only the black people are looting.

i only have seen two white people being filmed.

gldstwmn · #**321** 09-01-2005, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reebokandlace

They will be punished!

I think they've already been punished enough.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reebokandlace

The people who are on camera looting, will be identified at a later time and arrested. Not right now of course, law enforcement has other things to deal with. The people who looted during the LA Riots, many of them got caught when police/FBI watched the tapes later on. This is very extensive/widespread though.
I can not imagine that two uniformed cops will not be identified and held acountable.

I was talking with my attorney yesterday and he is hearing that the courts are basically under water. I guess maybe two years down the road, maybe they could look into it. But most of these people are now refugees and probably will not be even living in this area. Not to mention the cost that will be associated in undertaking such a task.

strandinthewind · #**322** 09-01-2005, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

How old was that footage?

Last night. Also, more supplies are getting there - though not fast enough. But, they are evacuating it - hopefully that will resolve that issue.

gldstwmn · #**323** 09-01-2005, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Last night. Also, more supplies are getting there - though not fast enough. But, they are evacuating it - hopefully that will resolve that issue.

Why are they sending supplies to a place they are evacuating?
BTW, I just saw footage of people outside the NOLA Convention Center screaming "Help Us!" "Where's the help?"

strandinthewind · #**324** 09-01-2005, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Why are they sending supplies to a place they are evacuating?

They are have been arriving there because the evacuation is expected to take a few days and people need them in the interim. Also, they realize that it is not just the 20,000 or so in the Dome, but about 40,000+ more in the city itself. Thousands from other places in the city are flocking to the bus points at the dome because they realize it is an evacuation point. Thus, more supplies are coming in - though they will need more and faster.

strandinthewind · #**325** 09-01-2005, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Why are they sending supplies to a place they are evacuating?
BTW, I just saw footage of people outside the NOLA Convention Center screaming "Help Us!" "Where's the help?"

Hopefully on its way.

I think you think this is an easy task. Most of FEMA has been farting around with resuing able bodied but stubborn people. I mean if they did not have to do that, they could have many more resources to put toward the evacuation.

I think no one saw the evacuation of the entire city coming. They were mostly correct because the levees held during the storm

In the end, I think everyone is doing the best they can to organize the evacuees in a central location (downtown ) and then evacuating them.

The latest word is they are arranging for a train - the depot is a half of a mile from the Dome.

GypsySorcerer · #**326** 09-01-2005, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

BTW, I just saw footage of people outside the NOLA Convention Center screaming "Help Us!" "Where's the help?"

Also, many victims in Mississippi have been been waiting for supplies, and they have received nothing. FEMA said it might take three or more days to reach them.

How are they supposed to wait that long?

gldstwmn · #**327** 09-01-2005, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

Also, many victims in Mississippi have been been waiting for supplies, and they have received nothing. FEMA said it might take three or more days to reach them.

How are they supposed to wait that long?

Did you see Anderson Cooper interviewing the FEMA guy last night? I'll see if I can post some excerpts of the transcript.

strandinthewind · #**328** 09-01-2005, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

Also, many victims in Mississippi have been been waiting for supplies, and they have received nothing. FEMA said it might take three or more days to reach them.

How are they supposed to wait that long?

I know it looks awful, but it is not like they can just get on the highway and drop off cases of water at each exit. There are no highways and bridges are out. Moreover, we are talking about hundreds if not thousands of square miles of largely unpassable terrain here. Finally, Biloxi has tons of supplies and they are disbursing them as fast as they can, which apparently is not fast enough.

I guess my beef is you all are making it sound like, at least to me, nothing is happening and that is not the case. Many people have gotten relief and this massive operation is up and running.