New Orleans International
Airport
I knew someone who was at the airport
during this time.
There were doctors and nurses willing to help, but were turned away
.
No one wanted to authorize them.
The Authorization had to come from
the Department of Homeland Security .
My friend was flown to Texas
against her will,
and had to pay her own way for a flight back.
She wanted to stay in New Orleans,
and only went to the airport for medical
assistance.
The worst part about not having local police was
that ANYONE with ANY kind of badge wrote thier own ticket.
Fireman, police from outside New Orleans, military, National guard
etc....
These people came in and confiscated vehicles, generators, and just
about anything they wanted.
Several car dealerships had cars taken from them, mainly by people
with badges.
FEMA actually took control of the power grid for Laplace (a city
just outside New Orleans)
I dont know what for.
New Orleans and Kenner still did not have power for weeks
after.
Residents of Laplace were never told about this to my
understaning.
the storm did not thit them that hard, and they were left in the
dark.
Literally.
Listening to a police scanner, I heard that local
law enforcement,
and other first responders could not do anything without
permission from FEMA.
in their words, they were treated like "step
children".
New Orleans
Superdome
Mayor Nagin told people to get out, he first said
that the Superdome would not be used,
but then used it as a last resort.
This was the first time New Orleans ever hade a mandatory
evacuation.
Most people did evacuate, there were well over 1 million people in
New Orleans.
NO mayor could have gotten everyone out.
Many people did not have the resources to drive 100 miles to
the closest OPEN hotel room.
Then have money to stay for WEEKS at a time.
In my opinion, Mayor Nagin did everything he could.
The prolem wasnt the day of the hurricane.
The REAL problem was days later, when no one arrived to
help.
There will ALWAYS be ones who want to
stay.
No one knows for sure where a hurricane will make
landfall until 24 hours before it hits.
every year at least one hurricane comes near New
Orleans.
What is so sad, is the the media was able to get
in to take pictures,
but FEMA and other assitance did not, not for a week.
large
image of photo above right
satellite
imaging from google earth New Orleans superdome
Many died at the superdome.
The reports go back and forth depending who you talk to, and which
news you read,
but i know, many people died that week.
dont believe me?
go to ogrish.com and search Katrina
victims.
heres some
samples
I know someone who saw 3 dead.
more
more
more
more
more more
others were sent to the underpass near I-10 in
metairie.
here, there was easy access to get foor and water in, it still did
not come for days.
Several months after, New Orleans is not much better.
Many people are not coming back.
They are taking the insurance money and selling their homes as
is.
There are car graveyards. The cars can not be re-sold by law.
unfortunately, some parts are useable, but will be crushed
with the car
Boats were tossed about ending up on peoples
homes, or in their yards.
Roads were not accessible for weeks becuase of trees down.
Other debris and even homes were often in the middle of the
road.
click for large
FEMA and
the levee systems
Kathryn Cramer
More about
the levee systems and Hurricane Katrina
FEMA,
the government, levee's reponse and failures at all levels
Prejudices
and issues of race, class and color
HURRICANE
KATRINA storm images and weather maps
