Locked In?
September 2nd, 2005 at 10:17 pm by Preston Taylor HolmesA few random hurricane thoughts as I flip back and forth between the U.S. Open and Fox News.
First of all, Mayor Ray Nagin, shut your big, fat, fucking mouth. You’ve been bitching for two days about how President Bush and Governor Blanco need to “get off their asses” and do something. This is your mess, dumbass. You and your local government and your precious Governor had NO PLAN for the worst-case-scenario you now find yourself in, and lashing out at the Feds is not going to change the fact that you’ve shown no ability to plan and no leadership. You are the polar opposite of Giuliani after 9/11. Pathetic.
You might have considered using these buses:
to get your less fortunate out of town before all hell broke loose. You might also have your citizens stop shooting at the people trying to come and help. That would be swell.
Here are a couple of things to remember if any group of nitwits, God forbid, elect to you any public office after your disastrous reign is through, courtesy of Six Hertz:
Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance.
Really, you all fucking knew about it. You all fucking knew a big damn hurricane was coming. In California, we all talk about The Big One. And for the first time today, I saw those three words used in reference to the hypothetical scenario in which a big damn hurricane would come and breach your levees. At least you have the luxury of radar and an entire season named after the natural disaster.
you see where this one is going, Mayor Ray? here’s another for you to chew on…
A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.
Except if you refer back to what i initially said about shitting on the federal government, this does constitute an emergency. And they’re supplementing your weak-assed response capabilities– no, with $10.6 billion, they’re replacing your weak-assed response capabilities– as best as the hulking behemoth that is federal government can.
There was Fox report that the Mayor had tourists – out of towners – picked up by a bus convoy at the Hyatt (or Hilton, I can’t remember which), protected by armed guards and driven out of the city – right past the desperate throngs waiting outside the Superdome. Seems like the Mayor doesn’t care much for his city’s underpriveleged either. He’ll probably get a pass on that too, since he has the right skin color and a D after his name.
I don’t know if this is true or not, but Fox was also reporting that the people who were told to go to the Convention Center in New Orleans are actually locked in the building. The physically able should be permitted to leave at will and walk out of the city. The Fox reports were that people were not being allowed to leave the city. Anyone who has the capacity could have started walking out of the city on Tuesday and would have been out of harm’s way by now. I don’t know which shit-eating bureaucrat gave those orders, but whoever it is needs to be thrown from the roof of the Superdome into the water.
Also, read the story of the Renegade Bus over at Malkin’s place. It’s one of the few good news stories I’ve read this week.
Jabbar Gibson, 20, said police in New Orleans told him and others to take the school bus and try to get out of the flooded city.
Gibson drove the bus from the flooded Crescent City, picking up stranded people, some of them infants, along the way. Some of those on board had been in the Superdome, among those who were supposed to be evacuated to Houston on more than 400 buses Wednesday and today. They couldn’t wait.
The group of mostly teenagers and young adults pooled what little money they had to buy diapers for the babies and fuel for the bus.
After arriving at the Astrodome at about 10:30 p.m., however, they initially were refused entry by Reliant officials who said the aging landmark was reserved for the 23,000 people being evacuated from the Louisiana Superdome.
“Now, we don’t have nowhere to go,” Gibson said. “We heard the Astrodome was open for people from New Orleans. We ain’t ate right, we ain’t slept right. They don’t want to give us no help. They don’t want to let us in.”
Milling about the Reliant entrance, Sheila Nathan, 38, told her teary-eyed toddler that she was too tired to hold him.
“I’m trying to make it a fairy tale so they won’t panic,” said Nathan, who had four grandchildren in tow. “I have to be strong for them.”
Give Jabbar Gibson a medal. If/when they rebuild the city, he should be the Mayor instead of Ray Nagin. The kid showed leadership and demonstrated the ability to take action in a crisis. Thank you Jabbar!
September 2nd, 2005 at 11:46 pm
Since thoughtful attempts at dicussing facts on this site is reponded to by foul language and personal attacks I will comment no more.
Specifically, Preston as to this post on no resposibility by the State of Louisana. I will direct you to this link, a PDF file of the OFFICIAL request to our president for assistance and advance planning on this disaster. The state of Louisiana begged for help on Sunday August 28
http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf
If you or anyone wants copy of this request to the The President of the United States; Office of Homeland Security I can provide a copy. The true is often very painful.
September 3rd, 2005 at 12:12 am
ETnGuy, perhaps you don’t understand. The Mayor of New Orleans shouldn’t only have been prepared once the hurricane started barrelling down to his city. Nay, instead, once he took office. It is not the job of the federal government to do the job of the state or the city. Just because the government of Louisiana knows how to fill out a form letter doesn’t mean that it absolves themselves of the responsibility to protect the people that directly elected them.
September 3rd, 2005 at 12:28 am
I will certainly admit that the federal response has not been what it should, but, are you saying that the sole responsiblity of LOCAL GOVERNMENT is to hollar at the feds to hurry-do-something-it’s commmmiiiinnnggg!?
The local response has been pathetic. Do they think their sole roll is to dole out the welfare checks?
September 3rd, 2005 at 1:18 am
ETnGuy:
How you can you possibly call a request for aid on AUGUST *28* “advance planning”?
Surely you jest. Even if the feds gave TRILLIONS to Louisiana and New Orleans immediately, it would take months or years to improve the levees, which were the primary reason the city flooded to the extent that it did.
What occured in New Orleans was predicted years and years ago. Government officials knew, and they either did not want to address the problem or somehow could not.
September 3rd, 2005 at 8:02 am
The first order of business should have been to EVACUATE THE GODDAMNED CITY. Even now, this should be the first issue to address. They obviously had the means to do so and ample warning. Once that hurricane hit, those people are on an island. No electricity for fuel pumps. No cellular towers. No telephones. No refrigeration. No sanitation. No medicine.
Unlike a normal city where most government has an infrastructure to communicate with to coordinate relief efforts – this one has none. The local police have deserted. The local government has effectively disbanded and now the federal government has to step in and fly blind.
For every person who decided “When God wants to take me, he’s going to take me” who stayed in there home and is now standing on their roof – they fucked up. For every person who voted for Ray Nagin under the idea that he might have some ability to lead – they fucked up. Same for Blanco.
I don’t go rock climbing because I know that if I bite off more than I can handle – I cannot count on my government to save me. Or at least not right away.
September 3rd, 2005 at 8:04 am
The true can be very painful.
September 3rd, 2005 at 8:37 am
Well, to the left, the answer has always been government. Government is not going to come help you – PERIOD. When a city is built in a bowl well below sea level, it is local government’s responsibility to plan for the worst. Sitting on your hands with levees that can only withstand a cat 3 hurricane is not preparation. Mayor Ray should have had a plan to evacuate those who had the will but not the ability. Obviously he didn’t. And sadly, most of those who have spent their lives dependent on government found out too late that the worst plan you can have is to depend on government.
September 3rd, 2005 at 11:33 am
Feisty problem-solves.
It is far easier to mobilize local people and resources for a local problem rather than people in faraway lands.
Why not instruct people who have no other means of transportation to stand out at their nearest bus stop, and the normal city buses will take you to the shelter nearest to your area? i.e. Pick up everyone on that route, and when the route is done or the bus is full, drive to the shelter, drop them off, and re-start where you left off. Use the walkie-talkies on the bus to coordinate with local officials on who goes where. Of course you may have to run more buses than normal. Keep doing that as long as possible; then, as a reward, use a fleet of helicopters or use the buses if there’s enough time to fly the bus drivers and their families to safety at a nicer-than-average hotel…and give them a hefty bonus, too.
September 3rd, 2005 at 12:32 pm
Feisty girl, you’ve got a good head on those shoulders!
And by the way, according to Blanco herself, Bush had to call and BEG them to evacuate. See http://www.area417.com/area_417/2005/09/case_in_pointwh.html
September 4th, 2005 at 9:56 am
I can’t believe this
And we know that Nagin had all these buses to use.
September 6th, 2005 at 4:29 am
I have to agree with ETnGuy. Sorry I got in on this discussion too late. So many web-sites and so little time.
This is specifically to Mr. Holmes in response to his rant. I’m not sure what personal vendetta you have against the mayor of New Orleans; but, your comments were not based on fact. Not even close. You make reference to the left relying on government; but, the right has ALWAYS been the one to shove the rest of the country up BIG government’s ass. Need examples? Read a history book. You got a couple of nice quotes from Mr. Benson’s sophomore English class; but, it appears you slept right through Soc and Government.
Regarding whose responsibility it was to plan and/or prepare for such a disaster, it is not for you or your opinion to decide except in your fantasy world. We have elections in this country and our duly elected representatives in the federal government took on the responsibility of handling disasters like this in the 1930’s. Eventually, FEMA was established in 1979 by Jimmy Carter in an effort to reduce the red-tape encountered by the many federal agencies created by the right to handle disaster preparedness, relief and reconstruction. All such agencies were brought together under one umbrella by presidential mandate. In 2003, George W. Bush made FEMA part of Homeland Security which reduced it from a cabinet level agency to a mere division of such an agency. Michael Brown himself has been quoted as saying too much emphasis was placed on terrorism and not enough on natural disasters. Mr. Brown’s exact title was “Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response”.
It appears to me that the mayor of New Orleans fulfilled his obligations to the federal plan and FEMA dropped the ball. I’m sure there are many things the mayor of New Orleans would do differently in hind-sight. I’m certain that if he had not depended so much on the other responsible parties to fulfill their obligations, we would be cheering his actions and praising him as a hero. I’m also certain that there are a lot of unanswered questions which need to be addressed, including many on the city level.
Cheers to George W. Bush for his quick action in rectifying the mistakes of FEMA director Michael Brown. I am not a George W. Bush fan; but, I am glad he took control of this situation and delegated the correct man to see that the federal government’s obligations were fulfilled.
I hope you enjoy your sophomore year in Mr. Benson’s class and maybe when you finish high school, you will be ready and able to intelligently partake in discussions of a political nature. You will also be able to vote so you can tell your duly elected representative that you no longer want the federal government to be responsible for emergency preparedness of natural disasters. You can save paper by writing it in the same letter where you demand an end to gay marriage.
Oh, yeah! I forgot. It’s your website and you can say what you want without having to back any of it up. Mom and dad must be proud.
September 6th, 2005 at 5:00 am
wow, I’ve been up for 20-something hours, and that will make as much sense as when I get a full night of sleep.
you can plan crap all day long, but in every single plan, I don’t think “then the President makes people get on busses” is in there. there’s a reason why governors are held responsible for the States. it’s why Mayors are held responsible for cities.
but, I guess whatever high school you go to, they teach you to blame Dave Thomas when the Wendy’s drive-through messes up your order.
September 9th, 2005 at 4:15 am
Who, exactly, IS to blame when the drive-through messes up your order? What are the responsibilities of the company’s CEO and founder? It’s obvious that you are not a business major. Besides, Dave Thomas is dead.