W and governors on CNN

[RiverOtter]

I don't remember Rudy once complaining about not having the Feds do the work during 9/11. And that was during a foreign attack. Instead the NYPD and the FDNY went on the scene and did their jobs at the cost of many of their lives.

All I've heard Nagin and Blanco do is whine about what the Feds are not doing. And where are the NOLA cops? Some are there trying to do their jobs...but not many. Some bugged out. And some are looting.

60% + of Rudy's police force didn't walk off the job.

 

[Travel2Much]

The police has always been completely corrupt. I read somewhere that upwards of 50% bugged out in some districts.

From nola.com today:

--Tourist Debbie Durso of Washington, Mich., said she asked a police officer for assistance and his response was, "'Go to hell ? it's every man for himself.'"--

Nagin is a completely ineffectual dunderhead Never had control, so it is not surprising there is none.

Even on a good day, every part of city government is completely incompetent. Postal employees are even completely unable to deliver the mail.

FEMA had to know this though.

 

[JB]

Everyone has already started pointing fingers. There are no winners here...everyone will have lost. I go back to the NOLA mayor taking so long to order the mandatory evac. Didn't Bush call and plead with them to call it?? Where's Rudy when you need him?

The hard truth is this: New Orleans has, for years, for DECADES, known what a storm like this would do to the city. They have received millions from the fed to prepare for it. Does anyone honestly think that money went toward shoring up levees or drawing up contingency plans? Hell no.

As much as I love the city, it is a corrupt, lazy place from a local government standpoint. Instead of preparing for the inevitible, they spend their time taking kickbacks and busting public urinators during Mardi Gras.

Ray Nagin, for all his good intentions, simply is not experienced enough, or intellectually equipped to deal with this situation.

Could the fed have done more from a proactive standpoint? Probably. But the main fault lies with local, and to a lesser extent, state government.

For chrissakes, the NOPD can't even communicate with each other because all the batteries in their radios are dead. If that is not an example of piss-poor planning, I don't know what is.

Rant complete.

 

[Miss Kitty]

The hard truth is this: New Orleans has, for years, for DECADES, known what a storm like this would do to the city. They have received millions from the fed to prepare for it. Does anyone honestly think that money went toward shoring up levees or drawing up contingency plans? Hell no.

As much as I love the city, it is a corrupt, lazy place from a local government standpoint. Instead of preparing for the inevitible, they spend their time taking kickbacks and busting public urinators during Mardi Gras.

Ray Nagin, for all his good intentions, simply is not experienced enough, or intellectually equipped to deal with this situation.

Could the fed have done more from a proactive standpoint? Probably. But the main fault lies with local, and to a lesser extent, state government.

For chrissakes, the NOPD can't even communicate with each other because all the batteries in their radios are dead. If that is not an example of piss-poor planning, I don't know what is.

Rant complete.

Rant heard...the truth hurts, but it can also set you free. Thanks for your post.

 

[Travel2Much]

The hard truth is this: New Orleans has, for years, for DECADES, known what a storm like this would do to the city. They have received millions from the fed to prepare for it. Does anyone honestly think that money went toward shoring up levees or drawing up contingency plans? Hell no....
.

Not entirely true. NOLA has been begging for support to strengthen the levees. The contraflow plan which saved thousands of lives only started in Ivan and was the result of a lot of work. Much has been done to educate people about the risks. I used to ride out storms. Because of the effort, I got out this time. The prep for this storm was very good. It is what they did afterwards that boggles the mind. The damage from the hurricane was something we could live with. Even the levee break. That might be shocking to out of towners but NOLA people know about water.

It is the damage from their corrupt, incompetent "decisions" (I doubt whether they have the mental capacity to make a decision, thus the quotes) from Monday morning on that is difficult to accept.

But, FEMA has been working with NOLA for years on this. Were they so concerned about front-end stuff they forgot about what to do after the storm?

But you are right that generally it is a completely incompetent backwater.

 

[BeachDreamer]

This situation really cannot be compared to 911. 911 did not cause mass rioting, an angry mob, or looting/beating/rape. 911 did not involve starvation or dehydration for thousands and thousands of people trapped alive and waiting for rescue. Most of 911 involved recovering and banding together after the fact. This is an entirely different situation.

A lot of it could have been prevented. But pointing fingers now will only cause further breakdown.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I too have been thinking about the differences in the way the two mayors have led their cities through a disaster. Where is the mayor of NO anyway? I have only heard him via telephone. Haven't seen him walking the city streets or trying to help his citizens. Maybe I have just missed it.

I heard his voice on television, reporting from the 13th floor of some building in NOLA.

 

[Miss Kitty]

I heard his voice on television, reporting from the 13th floor of some building in NOLA.

I heard him recently...sounds completely out of control (I understand he is stressed), cussing and pleading for help. Bless him and his city. Does anyone think these new troops will be able to restore some civility to NOLA? I am praying for their safety when I hear there are gangs of young men in the backs of trucks with guns.

 

[DBOldford]

I would agree that it is important to get these victims aid and restore the security of this area ASAP, and that pointing fingers is not a constructive endeavor at this time. But where is the accountability here, in general? I can understand a breakdown of NO local services, given the circumstances, better than an absence of aid from other states that were not effected or from the Federal government. FEMA...where are you in a non-election year, besides hosting doomsday conference seminars and giving speeches on news channels? One of the biggest problems in our society and political structure today is the accusation that those who demand accountability or disagree with public policy are unpatriotic or are "finger pointing" or playing politics. Well, politics is where both freedoms and local protections begin and end. It is far more than dueling pundits on cable television, for those who want information and accountability for their tax dollars. The name of the game lately, however, is shut-up-and-put-up. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans may be a huge wake-up call for our country.

Yesterday, I was waiting on the San Francisco waterfront outside the Ferry Building for my ferry home. A vicious fight broke out between a restaurant worker and a bicyclist. The public managed to subdue the fighters, but security arrived too late to arrest the guys, because the security chief was inside showing his force how to spot shoplifters who might cadge a banana or a loaf of bread from a Ferry Building food retailer. The aggressor blithely pedaled away on his bike. What would happen if a real terror attack occurred at the Ferry Building or on one of the ferries, where all passengers have their bags searched before boarding? I am thinking that we are far more vulnerable domestically for lack of vital funding, resources, and local security forces (including National Guard) than is advisable in this day and time or than the average citizen is aware of. If it's true that "they are watching," then are we? Wake up, America. There is a message in every crisis and this one may go far behind levies and building codes.

 

[beachmouse]

Everyone has already started pointing fingers. There are no winners here...everyone will have lost. I go back to the NOLA mayor taking so long to order the mandatory evac. Didn't Bush call and plead with them to call it?? Where's Rudy when you need him?

It was Max Mayfield and the National Hurricane Center that was pleading with Naglin to call for mandatory evacuations now.

Not sure how Rudy would do with this situation, but it might be a good idea to lend out Jeb! for a little while. He showed so much more decisiveness and leadership last year during the storms than anyone I've seen this year.