Katrina - 1 Year Later

[Zap_Branigan]

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:

FEMA doesn’t save lives. The local fire department saves lives. The Coast Guard saves lives.

Many police in that area quit their jobs and disappeared. Are you saying that the fire department was sitting at the station taking calls as usual?
[/quote]

Where do you get that? They were saving lives. They are first responders that is what they do.

FEMA provides training, funding and management.

Their mission on their web page states in more depth:
FEMA Mission

DISASTER. It strikes anytime, anywhere. It takes many forms – a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, a flood, a fire or a hazardous spill, an act of nature or an act of terrorism. It builds over days or weeks, or hits suddenly, without warning. Every year, millions of Americans face disaster, and its terrifying consequences.

On March 1, 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program.

That means when you state:

The lives were lost because te city was not evacuated in time. They were not lost because some FEMA bureaucrat did not go and rescue them off the roof of a building.

It isn’t entirely true. What happened to the managment part if people are trapped on roofs?

I don’t follow. How was FEMA to have prevented this? By ordering the mandatory evacuation of NO? There is nothing FEMA could have done to prevent this from happening.

The lives were lost because the emergency was larger than the response capabilities of the emergency personnel.

I think there was more to it than that. Lives were also lost because of LATE reaction. It wasn’t just because they were unprepared. Being unprepared yet being THERE would have saved more face than being late to respond AND unprepared.

Who should have been there? Coast Guard? They were there. Local responders? They were there. FEMA bureaucrat in a suit? He is useless in that situation. National Guard? The governer is responsible for mobilizing them.

[quote]

The lives were lost because there was no coordination between the various emergency departments in the area. The could not talk to each other. The radios were often different frequencies, phones did not work, etc.

We don’t disagree there. It was a cluster-fuck that no one seemed to have predicted in any way.

FEMA has had more than its share of mistakes. I will not defend their fuck ups but I do not like to see the blame shifted unfairy either.

Blame shifted unfairly? Where was the “unfair blame” placed? Was it because I didn’t write the words, “Nagin should die for this” as if FEMA and the federal government weren’t to blame as well?[/quote]

As I said FEMA has plenty of fuck ups in the clean up but the problems in the first few days, when most of the lives were lost, were due to mistakes in the local and state government and people that didn’t take responsiblity for their own lives and sat around waiting for the government to tell them what to do.

[RHINO928]

[quote]rainjack wrote:
RHINO928 wrote:
He just likes painting all black people as racist when in fact he’s as racist as anyone he’s criticized. Stevie Wonder can see it.

You are an embarrassment.

Void of any real argument you start calling me a racist.

Just for the record, though - It was Kanye that played the race card. Were you this hatefilled about him as well? Somehow I doubt that.

Come back when you can find a fucking clue. [/quote]
I’ve responded with plenty of facts to sustain an argument with you. You on the other hand simply paint Nagin as a racist and avoid the facts about the levee’s, MRGO and FEMA and our Government in general.

What about some real issues; Like how people with flood insurance are not getting compensated fairly? You do realize flood insurance is subsidy program through smaller insurance companies in conjunction with the Fed, don’t you?

So people who have paid for yet are not getting insurance money are not getting fucked by the Fed.

You do know FEMA creates the flood maps and determines who and how much insurance any given area needs?

The only embarrassment is how gullible you are (along with the other sheeple) saying Nagin should be in jail.

And who said I hate Bush? I don’t however his mistakes are obvious and you simply can admit it as it’s against the neocon creed.

As for clues,

I’ve got a whole entire year and two days of clues on the Mississippi/Katrina/New Orleans subject. I just have not bought into the media spin you have because I’ve been in the trenches since the Thursday after the levees broke.

As for Kanye, I saw the footage of this for the first time the other day. He said: “Bush doesn’t care about black people” during a televised fund raiser.

Maybe, he’s correct, maybe not.
I’ll take it a step further for you. After seeing what happened here first hand and listening to the typical redneck responses like in this thread a year later, I have to wonder if American’s care about anyone other than themselves and their own views…

But since Kanye came down here and got his ass in the water and did some things to help people, I have to think his response was driven by emotion. Much like Nagin and the things he has said, Kanye’s comment came from how he saw things. Is he right? I’m not sure and in reality either are you. Bush could hate blacks for all I know OR he could have a deep respect for them. Again, you and I really do not know.

I can tell you this for sure, Bush, Nagin, Chertoff, Blanco, Brown and others said and did some things a lot dumber than Kanye and with much more at stake…

[Professor_X]

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:

Where do you get that? They were saving lives. They are first responders that is what they do.[/quote]

They are also locals who were losing their own property and families. There was much more going on. That was the point being made.

[quote]
I don’t follow. How was FEMA to have prevented this? By ordering the mandatory evacuation of NO? There is nothing FEMA could have done to prevent this from happening.[/quote]

They could have shown up sooner. They could have been better prepared. You are acting as if NO wasn’t informed to evacuate by the local government. Until Saturday, that hurricane was headed towards Florida. That didn’t leave much time for this massive evacuation. The federal government wasn’t there and didn’t arrive for DAYS. When the hurricane changed course, FEMA should have been ready. How is it anyone would be in the dark of the casualities when a Cat 3 hurricane changes course towards NO?

[quote]
Who should have been there? Coast Guard? They were there. Local responders? They were there. FEMA bureaucrat in a suit? He is useless in that situation. National Guard? The governer is responsible for mobilizing them.[/quote]

Above, the mission statement is posted. Where was the management of FEMA in organizing this effort? Why pretend as if that is not their function?

[quote]
As I said FEMA has plenty of fuck ups in the clean up but the problems in the first few days, when most of the lives were lost, were due to mistakes in the local and state government and people that didn’t take responsiblity for their own lives and sat around waiting for the government to tell them what to do. [/quote]

FEMA isn’t just there for clean up. Why pretend?

[rainjack]

[quote]RHINO928 wrote:
I can tell you this for sure, Bush, Nagin, Chertoff, Blanco, Brown and others said and did some things a lot dumber than Kanye and with much more at stake…
[/quote]

I will agree with you on this.

Last I knew, though, the COE set the 99 year flood plain levels which is what the insurance companies use to set insurance rates, or decide when homeowners need to purchase federal flood insurance.

I have never said Bush was beyond reproach. The problem is that there are way too many people out there wanting him to take the blame - even to say that he was responsible for the hurricane.

You and I will probably never agree on Nagin and Blanco. I’m just glad those SOB’s are in your state and not mine.

[Duke]

A documentary has just finished screening on Aussie tv a few minutes ago.
Interesting and very sad.

My lack of knowledge on the issue is vast but I thought the comment by Prof X of a “cluster-fuck” was a phrase I’ve not heard before, yet extraordinarily appropriate and profoundly descriptive, it seems.

[100meters]

I don’t like Nagin(Bush supporter), but he did get 80% of his town evacuated. Isn’t that a substantial feat considering average evacuation rates of other cities(say Miami?)

I could be totally wrong, but 80 percent seems pretty high, relative to the rates in previous disasters.

[RHINO928]

[quote]rainjack wrote:
RHINO928 wrote:
I can tell you this for sure, Bush, Nagin, Chertoff, Blanco, Brown and others said and did some things a lot dumber than Kanye and with much more at stake…

I will agree with you on this.

Last I knew, though, the COE set the 99 year flood plain levels which is what the insurance companies use to set insurance rates, or decide when homeowners need to purchase federal flood insurance.

I have never said Bush was beyond reproach. The problem is that there are way too many people out there wanting him to take the blame - even to say that he was responsible for the hurricane.

You and I will probably never agree on Nagin and Blanco. I’m just glad those SOB’s are in your state and not mine. [/quote]

I’m not one to blame the hurricane on Bush and I also believe Nagin did a lot better job than people will admit or what the media portrays. We probably agree more on Blanco than you think. She was an idiot before and after Katrina. The only reason she is in office is because that the Republican party has their head up their collective asses in this state, and also people here were to racial to vote for someone from India dissent. I mean really, look no further than the Edwards vs Duke race for Governor. The only person they could put against Edwars was Duke? Should have been an easy victory for the Republicans.

While this state is not ALL bad, I’m relocating my family very soon. I moved here from Texas in my mid-20’s and it was a great place to live for a young guy sowing his oats. Now at almost 41 and with two young children it’s obvious that we need to move to provide a better enviroment and opportunity for our kids.

I apologize for becoming inflammatory on this subject, however my in-law side of the family was greatly effected and have gotten totally screwed by their insurance companies. It’s sad to see good hard working people catagorized with the average social hand out idiot that the media props up on TV. This event has made me see the media manipuilate beyond what I already thought they did. In adition, I would not want to see this type of government failure happen to any other American city faced with a serious crisis.

IMO, this event has shown the failure of governemnt on ALL levels, yet the media for the most part wants to put it on Blanco and Nagin exclusively and that is just not right. Like I’v said, this could had been for the most part avoided if the ACOE and Fed did their part to build the levees we need and to not build the MRGO.

Anyway, it will be a long recovery and I am actively working to get my family out of here. I am trying to get out of state (Texas - Oklahoma) but perhaps may move to another area of LA. but I am not staying here in New Orleans, that’s for sure!

[Professor_X]

[quote]100meters wrote:
I don’t like Nagin(Bush supporter), but he did get 80% of his town evacuated. Isn’t that a substantial feat considering average evacuation rates of other cities(say Miami?)

I could be totally wrong, but 80 percent seems pretty high, relative to the rates in previous disasters. [/quote]

Not to mention the fact, as has been stated several times, the hurricane wasn’t even originally headed towards NO. The Florida panhandle had been evacuated first. Then they were recalled. This is why there was so much damage to some military based around Louisiana. The wrong areas had been evacuated.

I am actually amazed at how short some people’s memories seem to be. To get that many people out in such a short period of time when most are choosing TO STAY is not an easy task.

[rainjack]

[quote]Professor X wrote:
100meters wrote:
I don’t like Nagin(Bush supporter), but he did get 80% of his town evacuated. Isn’t that a substantial feat considering average evacuation rates of other cities(say Miami?)

I could be totally wrong, but 80 percent seems pretty high, relative to the rates in previous disasters.

Not to mention the fact, as has been stated several times, the hurricane wasn’t even originally headed towards NO. The Florida panhandle had been evacuated first. Then they were recalled. This is why there was so much damage to some military based around Louisiana. The wrong areas had been evacuated.

I am actually amazed at how short some people’s memories seem to be. To get that many people out in such a short period of time when most are choosing TO STAY is not an easy task. [/quote]

The hurricane might have changed course, but NO had a good 3 days to prepare.

IF 80% is good enough for you guys, then why blame FEMA, or Bush? If it’s good enough for Nagin - then there should not be shit said about how horrible Bush is for remaining silent for 3 days.

If nothing else the Katrina goatscrew has highlighted the huge division between to distinct camps: The camp that believes it is up to the communities themselves to do what needs to be done, and the camp that thinks the FED is responsoble.

I am one of the former. IT is a local responsibility to take care of the community - and that includes evacuation and emergency preparedness.

I think 80% is abysmal.

[rainjack]

[quote]RHINO928 wrote:
IMO, this event has shown the failure of governemnt on ALL levels, yet the media for the most part wants to put it on Blanco and Nagin exclusively and that is just not right. Like I’v said, this could had been for the most part avoided if the ACOE and Fed did their part to build the levees we need and to not build the MRGO.
[/quote]

I will agree that this was a colossal goat screw from top to bottom.

I see the news differently than you do evidently, as it seems from the get-go the major news outlets were blaming Bush and FEMA.

Not that they were innocent by any means. I think FEMA’s reaction was indicitive of how bloated and weighted down bureaucracies have become - and we have Bush to thank for that.

I can’t imagine the frustration that must accompany dealing with insurance companies that were all too happy to take your premium payments, but balk at living up to their end of the bargain.

[Professor_X]

[quote]rainjack wrote:

The hurricane might have changed course, but NO had a good 3 days to prepare. [/quote]

Bullshit. I know because I am near the area. I won’t give any more information than what has already been said, the military was evacuated in Florida, not Louisiana. Florida personell were recalled when it changed course and Lousiana was activated. There was much damage in that area because there wasn’t enough time to prepare. Someone is feeding you bad info. I find it funny that you all consider the media to be horrible when it comes to the current administration but fall for it every time when it seems to cover topics that Republicans seem to search for negative info on.

[quote]
IF 80% is good enough for you guys, then why blame FEMA, or Bush? If it’s good enough for Nagin - then there should not be shit said about how horrible Bush is for remaining silent for 3 days. [/quote]

More bullshit. I think everyone takes blame here and that Nagin is no more at fault than FEMA. I also am upset at the fact that it tooks DAYS (over a week) for the president of the United States to even focus on the issue and offer any words on the subject. You simply want to make excuses for the administration and put blame in only one place. What has been explained is that blame is deserved by all equally. Your politics show what controls your mind…and it isn’t logic or truth.

[rainjack]

[quote]Professor X wrote:
rainjack wrote:

The hurricane might have changed course, but NO had a good 3 days to prepare.

Bullshit. I know because I am near the area. I won’t give any more information than what has already been said, the military was evacuated in Florida, not Louisiana. Florida personell were recalled when it changed course and Lousiana was activated. There was much damage in that area because there wasn’t enough time to prepare. Someone is feeding you bad info. I find it funny that you all consider the media to be horrible when it comes to the current administration but fall for it every time when it seems to cover topics that Republicans seem to search for negative info on.

IF 80% is good enough for you guys, then why blame FEMA, or Bush? If it’s good enough for Nagin - then there should not be shit said about how horrible Bush is for remaining silent for 3 days.

More bullshit. I think everyone takes blame here and that Nagin is no more at fault than FEMA. I also am upset at the fact that it tooks DAYS (over a week) for the president of the United States to even focus on the issue and offer any words on the subject. You simply want to make excuses for the administration and put blame in only one place. What has been explained is that blame is deserved by all equally. Your politics show what controls your mind…and it isn’t logic or truth.

[/quote]

Tell me what in the flying fuck Bush could have done? You make it sound as if he should have been there piloting a chopper, or something.

What strikes me as odd is that when the hurricane was barreling down on Houston a couple of weeks later, Bush showed up and everyone said he was in the way.

It is your politics that have you blaming the president.

It is common sense that says Nagin should have got the fucking school busses out and had them used to evacuate.

The 20% that were left behind were left before the Fed was even called in. You seem all too eager to ignore the fact that the Feds cannot step in until they are asked to step in. Wanna blame the slow immediate response of the Fed? Look no further than Blanco, or whatever the hell the governor’s name is. It was her call - she didn’t make it for several days after the fact.

Your fall back is that I am defending Bush. Your fall back is a poor one. I have never said Bush is guiltless here. I have never politicized this issue beyond calling attention to the obvious divide between those that blame the fed - like you, and those that think it is a local issue - like me.

Since it was a fuck up from top to bottom - we may never know who was really at fault. You focus on what the President didn’t do, and I focus on what Nagin didn’t do.

Who is right? There’s not much you can say to alter my thinking, and I doubt I’m changing your mind anytime soon.

Is this the kind of debate you miss? Cause I gotta say I definitely miss this.

[Professor_X]

[quote]rainjack wrote:
Tell me what in the flying fuck Bush could have done? You make it sound as if he should have been there piloting a chopper, or something. [/quote]

He is the President. When massive numbers of people are dying, I expect him to play the politician that he is and make a statement on the subject at least pretending he cares about what is happening. No other president would be cut any slack on the issue. I can guarantee you that Bush the 1st would have made that statement on tv days sooner.

[quote]
What strikes me as odd is that when the hurricane was barreling down on Houston a couple of weeks later, Bush showed up and everyone said he was in the way. [/quote]

Yes, the hurricane that did so little damage that everyone who evacuated (the number in the thousands cleared days before it arrived) felt they could have stayed through it. Gee, you mean he was in the way when there was little damage and minor clean up? Go figure.

[quote]
It is your politics that have you blaming the president. [/quote]

It is my common sense and my bullshit detector that does this, not my politics.

[quote]
It is common sense that says Nagin should have got the fucking school busses out and had them used to evacuate. [/quote]

Driven by whom?

[quote]
The 20% that were left behind were left before the Fed was even called in. You seem all too eager to ignore the fact that the Feds cannot step in until they are asked to step in. Wanna blame the slow immediate response of the Fed? Look no further than Blanco, or whatever the hell the governor’s name is. It was her call - she didn’t make it for several days after the fact. [/quote]

Bullshit. This was one event I watched every second of. The call for help was put in while the hurricane was still spinning on Sunday, not several days later. Be more critical of your media the same way you are anytime Iraq isn’t shown to be a paradise of communal happiness.

[quote]
Your fall back is that I am defending Bush. Your fall back is a poor one. I have never said Bush is guiltless here. I have never politicized this issue beyond calling attention to the obvious divide between those that blame the fed - like you, and those that think it is a local issue - like me. [/quote]

When FEMA has the goal of aiding in emergency situations and MANAGING them, it is FEMA’s fault when people are still trapped in attics days later and screaming for help that isn’t coming.

[quote]
Since it was a fuck up from top to bottom - we may never know who was really at fault. You focus on what the President didn’t do, and I focus on what Nagin didn’t do.

Who is right? There’s not much you can say to alter my thinking, and I doubt I’m changing your mind anytime soon.

Is this the kind of debate you miss? Cause I gotta say I definitely miss this. [/quote]

The right person is the one that focuses on the fault of everyone involved instead of trying to play the blame game and choose who gets 60% of the blame over the remaining 40%.

[RHINO928]

Katrina was a tricky bitch. And we did’ny have 3 days to evacuate. Using your 3 day scenario, NOLA and the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast would have had to start evacuation on Thursday. Katrina had barely reached the Fla. Keys by Thursday and the track had it going back into the Fla. Coast.

The evacuation process includes A LOT more than just NOLA. The five lower counties of Mississippi use the NOLA I-10 cooridor as well as all of the lower Parishes of La. So it something that takes about 3-4 days under a best case scenario. Evacuating is a major PIA and it’s not cheap either. This is a region with a lot of poor people so evacuating just to evacuate is a hardship in itself. I also beleive that most of the people that stayed would have done so even if the evacuation had been called in time. And while I will openly agree, that not evacuating from here with a Cat3 or higher predicted within 75 miles of NOLA is dumb, it still does not execuse the fact that the levees were built incorrectly and that the MRGO should have never been built in the first place. Those two issues caused the problem, the lack of evacuation only compounded the problem.

And that’s where I see you (the taxpayer) getting fucked. Federal money was used to build inadequate levees and a channel that the locals protested to a great degree before it was built. Now you will also help foot the bill for their fuck ups that not only destoyed property but claimed lives also.

I’m sure seeing this from a National News media perspective leaves much of the important issues out. I can tell you that local media here has shed light that never seams to make it to National news… I wonder why?

[rainjack]

[quote]Professor X wrote:
rainjack wrote:
Tell me what in the flying fuck Bush could have done? You make it sound as if he should have been there piloting a chopper, or something.

He is the President. When massive numbers of people are dying, I expect him to play the politician that he is and make a statement on the subject at least pretending he cares about what is happening. No other president would be cut any slack on the issue. I can guarantee you that Bush the 1st would have made that statement on tv days sooner.

What strikes me as odd is that when the hurricane was barreling down on Houston a couple of weeks later, Bush showed up and everyone said he was in the way.

Yes, the hurricane that did so little damage that everyone who evacuated (the number in the thousands cleared days before it arrived) felt they could have stayed through it. Gee, you mean he was in the way when there was little damage and minor clean up? Go figure.

It is your politics that have you blaming the president.

It is my common sense and my bullshit detector that does this, not my politics.

It is common sense that says Nagin should have got the fucking school busses out and had them used to evacuate.

Driven by whom?

The 20% that were left behind were left before the Fed was even called in. You seem all too eager to ignore the fact that the Feds cannot step in until they are asked to step in. Wanna blame the slow immediate response of the Fed? Look no further than Blanco, or whatever the hell the governor’s name is. It was her call - she didn’t make it for several days after the fact.

Bullshit. This was one event I watched every second of. The call for help was put in while the hurricane was still spinning on Sunday, not several days later. Be more critical of your media the same way you are anytime Iraq isn’t shown to be a paradise of communal happiness.

Your fall back is that I am defending Bush. Your fall back is a poor one. I have never said Bush is guiltless here. I have never politicized this issue beyond calling attention to the obvious divide between those that blame the fed - like you, and those that think it is a local issue - like me.

When FEMA has the goal of aiding in emergency situations and MANAGING them, it is FEMA’s fault when people are still trapped in attics days later and screaming for help that isn’t coming.

Since it was a fuck up from top to bottom - we may never know who was really at fault. You focus on what the President didn’t do, and I focus on what Nagin didn’t do.

Who is right? There’s not much you can say to alter my thinking, and I doubt I’m changing your mind anytime soon.

Is this the kind of debate you miss? Cause I gotta say I definitely miss this.

The right person is the one that focuses on the fault of everyone involved instead of trying to play the blame game and choose who gets 60% of the blame over the remaining 40%.[/quote]

You must have been watching it on Al Jazeera TV if you think for a second that the gov was calling anyone but her press secretary while the hurricane was still blowing.

I was wathcing CNN and Fos - they both had teams in the French Quarter two days before the hurricane struck talking about the possibility of a direct hit on NO. You’d think Nagin might have tried to err on the side of caution and d all he could. He didn’t. Neither did the governor.

FEMA dropped the ball. But you have them pegged as being responsible for things that are not in their scope. They had a complete ignorant dill hole running the show. He was pointing fingers just as fast and furious as was Nagin and the Governor.

As for Bush - he showed up 3 days before the Houston hurricane hit. There was no way in hell to divine the actual intensity of the hurricane. It was evidently a serious enough threat to evacuate most all of Houston, though.

You are one of the head cheerleaders for the “no matter what Bush does it’s the wrong thing” Brigade. And it shows in this last post.

Funny thing, Houston was able to evacuate - something that NO just couldn’t seem to grasp.

[RHINO928]

[quote]rainjack wrote:

Funny thing, Houston was able to evacuate - something that NO just couldn’t seem to grasp.

[/quote]

And it was debacle with people sitting on the same 10 feet of interstate for 17 hours. Had a storm actually been on a path to the city and hit the mess would have been equally as bad as NOLA.

As I said in my previous post, evacuating NOLA includes a region, not just New Orleans.

[rainjack]

[quote]RHINO928 wrote:
I’m sure seeing this from a National News media perspective leaves much of the important issues out. I can tell you that local media here has shed light that never seams to make it to National news… I wonder why? [/quote]

Good point. But it doesn’t help too much when you have a Mayor that can’t get out of his own way when it comes to being in front of a camera.

The National Media should indeed be ashamed of themselves for reporting…check that…lying about events that never even happened immediately following the hurricane.

I have said it many times, and I will say it again. I believe that it disasters like this are a local issue first, then a state issue, then a federal issue.

NOLA knew the situation it was in. It was not news to the city leaders that the levee system was only rated at a CAT 3. The city is 12 feet below sea level, and you have a big assed hurricane barreling down on you.

The proof is in the pudding that NOLA had piss poor emergency response planning, which I guess is my biggest gripe.

I live in Tornado Alley. We could get hit with a F5 twister with no warning. That is why towns even as small as mine have disaster plans in place. We don’t have the luxury of knowing 24-48 hours in advance when one might hit. You just stay prepared to get the hell out of Dodge, or crawl in a hole. And we don’t need FEMA to tell us that.

[BigRagoo]

[quote]rainjack wrote:
Funny thing, Houston was able to evacuate - something that NO just couldn’t seem to grasp.

[/quote]

While true, you have to remember that Houston was much more motivated to do so after seeing what happened to NO. Complacency was to blame for the slow process of the NO evacutation, since it hasn’t seen a major hurricane disaster since the sixties. Rita cleared Houston out becasue it was just over a month later. No one wanted to risk what happened to NO. Plus Houston’s roadways are better suited to a major evacuation. There were a lot of stubborn people that stayed in and around NO who regretted their decision later.

[BigRagoo]

[quote]RHINO928 wrote:
rainjack wrote:

Funny thing, Houston was able to evacuate - something that NO just couldn’t seem to grasp.

And it was debacle with people sitting on the same 10 feet of interstate for 17 hours. Had a storm actually been on a path to the city and hit the mess would have been equally as bad as NOLA.

As I said in my previous post, evacuating NOLA includes a region, not just New Orleans.

[/quote]

That’s true. That was a deciding factor to my freinds that stayed in Houston to weather it out.

[Professor_X]

[quote]rainjack wrote:
You must have been watching it on Al Jazeera TV if you think for a second that the gov was calling anyone but her press secretary while the hurricane was still blowing.

I was wathcing CNN and Fos - they both had teams in the French Quarter two days before the hurricane struck talking about the possibility of a direct hit on NO. You’d think Nagin might have tried to err on the side of caution and d all he could. He didn’t. Neither did the governor.

FEMA dropped the ball. But you have them pegged as being responsible for things that are not in their scope. They had a complete ignorant dill hole running the show. He was pointing fingers just as fast and furious as was Nagin and the Governor.

As for Bush - he showed up 3 days before the Houston hurricane hit. There was no way in hell to divine the actual intensity of the hurricane. It was evidently a serious enough threat to evacuate most all of Houston, though.

You are one of the head cheerleaders for the “no matter what Bush does it’s the wrong thing” Brigade. And it shows in this last post.

Funny thing, Houston was able to evacuate - something that NO just couldn’t seem to grasp.

[/quote]

Why do you keep bringing up Houston as if you can’t understand that AFTER KATRINA, THE ENTIRE SOUTH WAS PARANOID!? No shit Houiston evacuated. My parents were stuck on I10 for over 14 hours just to get out of the city. We have never evacuated for any other hurricane that has hit the city growing up but they left for that one. Do you honestly think that many people would have fled if Katrina hadn’t occurred? If you think so, then you don’t know Houston very well.