Police in Suburbs Blocked Evacuees. Confirmed by Police Dept.
cor
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [NYTr] Paramedics' Katrina Story Makes It into NY Times
Date: 13 Sep 2005 15:26:47 -0500
From: ny...@olm.blythe-systems
Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit
sent by Ed Pearl
"Arthur Lawson, chief of the Gretna, La., Police Department, confirmed
that his officers, along with those from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's
Office and the Crescent City Connection Police, sealed the bridge.
'There was no place for them to come on our side,' Mr. Lawson said."
The NY Times - September 10, 2005
Police in Suburbs Blocked Evacuees, Witnesses Report
By GARDINER HARRIS
Police agencies to the south of New Orleans were so fearful of the
crowds trying to leave the city after Hurricane Katrina that they sealed a
crucial bridge over the Mississippi River and turned back hundreds of
desperate evacuees, two paramedics who were in the crowd said.
The paramedics and two other witnesses said officers sometimes shot
over the heads of fleeing people, who, instead of complying immediately
with orders to leave the bridge, pleaded to be let through, the paramedics
and two other witnesses said. The witnesses said they had been told by
the New Orleans police to cross that same bridge because buses were
waiting for them there.
Instead, a suburban police officer angrily ordered about 200 people to
abandon an encampment between the highways near the bridge. The
officer then confiscated their food and water, the four witnesses said. The
incidents took place in the first days after the storm last week, they said.
"The police kept saying, 'We don't want another Superdome,' and 'This
isn't New Orleans,' " said Larry Bradshaw, a San Francisco paramedic
who was among those fleeing.
Arthur Lawson, chief of the Gretna, La., Police Department, confirmed
that his officers, along with those from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's
Office and the Crescent City Connection Police, sealed the bridge.
"There was no place for them to come on our side," Mr. Lawson said.
He said that he had been asked by reporters about officers threatening
victims with guns or shooting over their heads, but he said that he had
not yet asked his officers about that.
"As soon as things calm down, we will do an inquiry and find out what
happened," he said.
The lawlessness that erupted in New Orleans soon after the hurricane
terrified officials throughout Louisiana, and even a week later, law
enforcement officers rarely entered the city without heavy weaponry.
While police officers saved countless lives and provided security to medical
providers, many victims have complained bitterly about the behavior of
some of the police officers in New Orleans in the days following Hurricane
Katrina.
Officials in Lafayette, La., reported seeing scores of cruisers from the New
Orleans police department in their city in the week after the hurricane.
Some evacuees who fled to the Superdome and the convention center say
that many police officers refused to patrol those structures after dark.
"It's unbelievable what the police officers did; they just left us," said
Harold Veasey, a 66-year-old New Orleans resident who spent two horrific
days at the convention center. And in the week after the hurricane, there
were persistent rumors in and around New Orleans that police officers in
suburban areas refused to help the storm victims.
Mr. Bradshaw and his partner, Lorrie Beth Slonsky, wrote an account
about their experiences that has been widely circulated by e-mail and was
first printed in The Socialist Worker.
Cathey Golden, a 51-year-old from Boston, and her 13-year-old son, Ramon
Golden, yesterday confirmed the account.
The four met at the Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter. Mr. Bradshaw and
Ms. Slonsky had attended a convention for emergency medicine specialists.
Ms. Golden and her two children, including 23-year-old Rashida Golden, were
there to visit family.
The hotel allowed its guests and nearly 250 residents from the nearby
neighborhood to stay until Thursday, Sept 1. With its food exhausted, the
hotel's manager finally instructed people to leave. Hotel staff handed out
maps to show the way to the city's convention center, to which thousands of
other evacuees had fled.
A group of nearly 200 guests gathered to make their way to the center
together, the four said. But on the way, they heard that the convention
center had become a dangerous, unsanitary pit from which no one was being
evacuated. So they stopped in front of a New Orleans police command post
near the Harrah's casino on Canal Street.
A New Orleans police commander whom none of the four could identify told
the crowd that they could not stay there and later told them that buses were
being brought to the Crescent City Connection, a nearby bridge to Jefferson
Parish, to carry them to safety.
The crowd cheered and began to move. Suspicious, Mr. Bradshaw said that
he asked the commander if he was sure that buses would be there for them.
"We'd had so much misinformation by that point," Mr. Bradshaw said.
"He looked all of us in the eye and said, 'I swear to you, there are buses
waiting across the bridge,' " Mr. Bradshaw said.
But on the bridge there were four police cruisers parked across some lanes.
Between six and eight officers stood with shotguns in their hands, the
witnesses said. As the crowd approached, the officers shot over the heads of
the crowd, most of whom retreated immediately, Mr. Bradshaw, Ms. Slonsky
and Ms. Golden and her son said.
Mr. Bradshaw said the officers were allowing cars to cross the bridge, some
of them loaded with passengers. Only pedestrians were being stopped, he
said. Chief Lawson said he believed that only emergency vehicles were
allowed through.
Mr. Bradshaw said he approached the officers and begged to be allowed
through, saying a commander in New Orleans had told them buses were
waiting for them on the other side.
"He said that there are no buses and that there is no foot traffic allowed
across the bridge," Mr. Bradshaw said.
The remaining evacuees first sought refuge under a nearby highway overpass
and then trudged back to New Orleans.
*
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good...@netzero.com
reach down out of the dark storm clouds to wreak havoc on humanity. Hurricanes
are tracked, named, have warning flags dedicated to them, and
all coastal cities have long-standing plans for dealing with them. Nearly
everyone in the world knew Katrina was going to hit Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Alabama, and yet so many have died in New Orleans. Why?
Hurricane Katrina struck the tip of southern Florida as a category 1 hurricane
and made a beeline for the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. For three days
Katrina churned her way across the Gulf, growing in size and strength until it
was a monster storm. With sustained winds of over 175 mph, Katrina bore down on
the city of New Orleans. Literally, at the last possible moment, Katrina was
pushed, ever-so-slightly, by dry air from the Midwest, off to the East and
dropped from a category 5 to a high category 4 with sustained winds of 150 mph.
Katrina was still a killer storm by anyone's description. For three long days,
the governor of Louisiana and the mayor of New Orleans watched Katrina bear down
on their state and city respectively but took very little action to protect
their citizens other than to state the obvious: "Leave town." No assistance was
offered to the poor or elderly.
Aerial views of New Orleans have shown pictures of hundreds of buses, left
parked and unused. Why didn't the mayor of New Orleans activate those buses to
move the people out of the city those who wanted to leave but
had no way out? Why was this golden opportunity to save lives left parked, only
to be lost to the floodwaters? This from the Louisiana disaster plan, pg. 13,
paragraph 5, dated 01/00: "The primary means of hurricane evacuation will be
personal vehicles. School and municipal buses, government-owned vehicles and
vehicles provided by volunteer agencies may be used to provide transportation
for individuals who lack transportation and require assistance in
evacuating'..." Why was the city's own disaster plan for using those buses to
evacuate people not implemented? Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin had three days
to evacuate the poor and elderly from New Orleans but they did not. Why?
While the governors of both Mississippi and Alabama put in a formal request for
federal assistance before Katrina even made landfall, the governor of Louisiana
refused to relinquish any of her power for the good of the people. Now she and
her party point the finger of blame at the White House.
The Department of Homeland Security can only work with the state and local
officials in organizing relief efforts such as food, water, and shelter. There
is no military arm of the Department of Homeland Security or the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the military is what was needed and
everyone knew that.
Instead of asking why the Democratic leaders of Louisiana failed the people,
these sites post disgusting pictures of floating bodies with the message:
"George Bush did nothing." The truth is, the Democratic governor wouldn't
allow Bush to do anything. That floating body belongs to Governor Blanco. She is
the one who "did nothing."
Roving bands of violent criminals quickly took control of the streets. While
Mayor Nagin did declare martial law, it was a toothless declaration. The New
Orleans police department was instantly overwhelmed. Many policemen
just threw up their hands and walked off the job. Some joined the looters and
were videotaped by MSNBC "looting" in the local Walmart. The handful that was
left on the job did their best but the best they could do was try to stay alive
in a now lawless and dying city.
Because there was no one in charge, the initial rescue operations were feeble at
best and there was chaos. The scope and magnitude of the disaster, which covers
an area the size of Great Britain, still had not been realized by Louisiana's
Democratic elected Governor Blanco who steadfastly refused to declare martial
law and officially request that the federal government "send in the troops."
On Friday, September 2, the president of the United States was forced to
"negotiate" with Governor Blanco for the lives of the suffering and dying people
of New Orleans. She feared that allowing the federal government to
take control would make her administration appear as though it had failed. How
she would be judged was more important to her than the lives of those people who
were dying in the squalor.
How many died as Blanco maneuvered to protect her reputation?
The Posse Comitatus Act prevents, by federal law, the president of the United
States from sending federal troops into any state without the direct request of
the elected governor of that state. A frustrated President
Bush could only stand by and watch as the horror unfolded until he received the
request for help. Despite the finger-pointing at President Bush, there was
little that he could do until he was formally asked for assistance. No matter
how loudly the liberals scream, they know full well that the president was
helpless to do much of anything.
As the death toll rose and the animalistic behavior of some of those who chose
to remain within the city became public knowledge, it was obvious that
authorities needed to regain control. As the scenes from New Orleans, now
a national disgrace, were being beamed around the world, a shameless Democrat
Governor Blanco only cared about her own political image.
There is reason to believe that President Bush, running out of patience with
Blanco by Saturday morning, used the only option that remained to him. It is
being reported that Bush went around Blanco and utilized the Insurrection Act to
federalize the National Guard and send in active military troops to take over
the rescue and put down the lawlessness that had taken over New Orleans. The
forces that Bush had poised to move into the city, swung into action. It was no
accident that the major, organized rescues began when the sun came up on
Saturday morning. At 6:30 AM, when the sky over New Orleans was suddenly filled
with military helicopters and military convoys poured into the streets, they
were there because of President Bush, not Governor Blanco.
The largest military evacuation the world has ever seen moved with the precision
and efficiency that is only seen within the military. With men like Lt. General
Russel Honore, 1st Army Commander and Army Brigadier General
Mark Graham in charge, law and order was quickly restored, and an endless line
of helicopters and boats began removing the stranded people and taking them out
of the hell-hole called New Orleans. Those forces were ready
to act because the President of the United States had positioned them to be
ready.
Everyone demands answers and everyone wants to put the blame for this
catastrophe on someone. The most convenient person to blame is President Bush.
In truth, he is the least responsible on the local level. While the
liberals feel this is the perfect time to make political hay because so many
African-Americans are involved, the first line of defense for those people, the
Democrat Mayor of New Orleans, and Democrat Governor of Louisiana,
are the leaders that failed them. The people of New Orleans were abandoned by an
arrogant democrat governor and a hapless democrat mayor as both struggled to
save their own political careers. But, because they are both
Democrats, the leftists want these ineffective leaders seen as helpless victims
of a thoughtless and racist Bush who ignored their repeated pleas for help.
Mayor Ray Nagin has been reduced to babbling about how the CIA is out to kill
him because he "spoke his mind," and Governor Blanco has become the invisible
woman hoping that no one will notice that her gross incompetence and arrogance
cost lives. But the left marches on, blaming President Bush because it knows it
can. Most Americans are not aware of the laws preventing the federal government
from "taking over" a city or a state.
The Democrats have closed ranks around their incompetent members and blame the
president who was forced to "deal" with an inept governor. Governor Blanco's
thanks is to point the finger of blame back at the president
when she knows the fault is her own.
The Democratic Party could not possibly sink much lower than it has this past
week. The mayor, the governor, and all those liberal shrieking leftist
politicians should jump into the sewer water that now flows in the streets of
New Orleans. That's where they belong, with the rest of the floating waste. The
Democratic or "Progressive" Party should be buried with the dead. Cause of
death:
Gross incompetence, asphyxiation from lies, and the failure to accept
responsibility for the deaths of thousands of American citizens because power
meant more to them than lives.
Reply With Quote
SheBlewHimDidYouBlowHim
firing squad for
all of the deaths resulting from his inaction during hurricane katrina.
save america, kill a republicslime today
Don Homuth
>Hurricanes do not sneak up on people. Unlike tornadoes, hurricanes don't just
>reach down out of the dark storm clouds to wreak havoc on humanity. Hurricanes
>are tracked, named, have warning flags dedicated to them, and
>all coastal cities have long-standing plans for dealing with them. Nearly
>everyone in the world knew Katrina was going to hit Louisiana, Mississippi, and
>Alabama, and yet so many have died in New Orleans. Why?...
Because a hurricane is a Major Disaster, and people die in major
disasters. That's how you know they are major disasters.
Because even with the best-laid Plans, the overall perversity of human
beings is that they won't want to Obey the Plan. Happens all the
time.
Because even with the Best of intentions, sometimes natural disasters
overwhelm preparations.
Because even when they don't, natural disasters screw up
communications and transportation, making it all but impossible to
coordinate responses.
Because there are situations when even a Good Plan with the Best of
follow-through simply won't be enough to handle fast-moving events.
Whothehell ever believed that a Plan could handle Anything or
Everything that a (a) Loving God or (b) Nature might choose to throw
at us?
gatt
"SheBlewHimDidYouBlowHim" <kil...@killgod.com> wrote in message
news:1W5We.11940$_84....@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...
gatt
"Don Homuth" <dhom...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:jh5ji1p5ftglbbl51...@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 02:00:46 GMT, good...@netzero.com wrote:
>
>>Hurricanes do not sneak up on people. Unlike tornadoes, hurricanes don't
>>just
>>reach down out of the dark storm clouds to wreak havoc on humanity.
>>Hurricanes
>>are tracked, named, have warning flags dedicated to them, and
>>all coastal cities have long-standing plans for dealing with them. Nearly
>>everyone in the world knew Katrina was going to hit Louisiana,
>> >>Mississippi, and Alabama, and yet so many have died in New Orleans.
>> >>Why?...
>
> Because a hurricane is a Major Disaster, and people die in major
> disasters. That's how you know they are major disasters.
Heh. Well said.
There's plenty of room to blame local, state and federal governments, but I
think people need to look at the radical difference between the -projected-
loss of life and the -actual- loss of life and understand that in any city
that gets sacked by a Cat-4 and then floods, people are going to die.
-c
cor
Specially when the plan is followed half way and the federal officials
are busy buying expensive shoes.
Don Homuth
>
>
>Don Homuth wrote:
>>
>> Whothehell ever believed that a Plan could handle Anything or
>> Everything that a (a) Loving God or (b) Nature might choose to throw
>> at us?
>
>Specially when the plan is followed half way
Based on what is now known, the issue is Timeliness.
> and the federal officials
>are busy buying expensive shoes.
What other sort of shoes should they be expected to buy?
Baxter
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"Don Homuth" <dhom...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:gtlji195c4v3o34rp...@4ax.com...
$7,000.00 pair of shoes is a bit excessive. Does remind one of Marie
Antoinette.
Lobby Dosser
>
> "Don Homuth" <dhom...@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:gtlji195c4v3o34rp...@4ax.com...
>> On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 11:39:57 -0800, cor <c...@exchangenet.net> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >
>> >Don Homuth wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Whothehell ever believed that a Plan could handle Anything or
>> >> Everything that a (a) Loving God or (b) Nature might choose to
>> >> throw at us?
>> >
>> >Specially when the plan is followed half way
>>
>> Based on what is now known, the issue is Timeliness.
>>
>> > and the federal officials
>> >are busy buying expensive shoes.
>>
>> What other sort of shoes should they be expected to buy?
>
> $7,000.00 pair of shoes is a bit excessive. Does remind one of Marie
> Antoinette.
>
I thought it was $2,000. Also reminds one more of Imelda Marcos.
Don Homuth
<lbax02.s...@baxcode.com> wrote:
>--
>"Don Homuth" <dhom...@comcast.net> wrote in message
>news:gtlji195c4v3o34rp...@4ax.com...
>> On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 11:39:57 -0800, cor <c...@exchangenet.net> wrote:
>>
>> > and the federal officials
>> >are busy buying expensive shoes.
>>
>> What other sort of shoes should they be expected to buy?
>
>$7,000.00 pair of shoes is a bit excessive. Does remind one of Marie
>Antoinette.
It's her money. I don't care how she spends it.
Why do you?
Baxter
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"Don Homuth" <dhom...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:7pmki19gqhnjsjuq5...@4ax.com...
Well, we presume it was her money. Not necessarily a good assumption with
government credit cards carrying a $250,000 limit (in her case, possibly
more).
Anyway, let them eat cake.
Don Homuth
<lbax02.s...@baxcode.com> wrote:
>"Don Homuth" <dhom...@comcast.net> wrote in message
>news:7pmki19gqhnjsjuq5...@4ax.com...
>> On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 15:55:06 -0700, "Baxter"
>> <lbax02.s...@baxcode.com> wrote:
>>
>> >--
>> >"Don Homuth" <dhom...@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> >news:gtlji195c4v3o34rp...@4ax.com...
>> >> On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 11:39:57 -0800, cor <c...@exchangenet.net> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > and the federal officials
>> >> >are busy buying expensive shoes.
>> >>
>> >> What other sort of shoes should they be expected to buy?
>> >
>> >$7,000.00 pair of shoes is a bit excessive. Does remind one of Marie
>> >Antoinette.
>>
>> It's her money. I don't care how she spends it.
>>
>> Why do you?
>
>Well, we presume it was her money.
A reasonable presumption, seems as how.
> Not necessarily a good assumption with
>government credit cards carrying a $250,000 limit (in her case, possibly
>more).
Do you have Evidence she bought shoes with a gubmint credit card?
>Anyway, let them eat cake.
Or buy shoes.
Baxter
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"Don Homuth" <dhom...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:p5rli1hdeipfao3ku...@4ax.com...
Things of vanity in the middle of a disaster.
Don Homuth
<lbax02.s...@baxcode.com> wrote:
>"Don Homuth" <dhom...@comcast.net> wrote in message
>news:p5rli1hdeipfao3ku...@4ax.com...
>> On Fri, 16 Sep 2005 07:48:53 -0700, "Baxter"
>> <lbax02.s...@baxcode.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> >Anyway, let them eat cake.
>>
>> Or buy shoes.
>
>Things of vanity in the middle of a disaster.
If you're where shoes are for sale, no problem buying shoes.
See -- you want to make Something Symbolic out of it.
Don't. It's not Nearly so interesting as what's actually going on.