Katrina: But It's In The News

Seems I have been hearing a lot of talk about Bush's funding for the Army Corp Of Engineers - cuts, I believe is the word. Not specifically, but you do realize how budget cuts often work in Washington? They don't usually reduce the budget from the previous year, what they do is reduce the additional spending for the coming year. You'll see some use the word trim, which is a more honest word. But the last time anyone in Washington cut a budget probably had to do with their kids allowance after they dinged the Porsche while backing it out of the garage.

So, did you know this?  - WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Before Hurricane Katrina breached a levee on the New Orleans Industrial Canal the Army Corps of Engineers had launched a $748 million construction project at that very location. But the project had nothing to do with flood control.

or this? - Even if fully funded the day Bush took office, New Orleans would have flooded. If you answered no, than maybe you'll want to read the rest.

Comments

[ellewoods]

This was emailed to me:

This is like a photo diary of one guy's experiences in the Quarter during the hurricane. Amazing pictures. You may have to register with your email address. There's no charge. It's quite a long show, but worth the effort.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=11f8dl9z.4nk5zpvf&Uy=vhxvcl&Ux=1

[Ron]

Maybe just maybe this other hurricane off the coast of Florida will turn around like some of them expect,and come and finish off new orleans while most everones gone and the crazy bastards will not build back there.

[Ron]

Oh by the way 40% of the people in new orleans is on welware anyway and they keep saying on tv that these people needs jobs hell they haven't worked before, why now.

[!]

HEY, I know how to take a picture and put a script on it too. Wow.
This is ridiculious.
If this had been the reason the levee broke it would have been all over the news by now and everyone with a brain knows that. When its reported then I will beleive it was the cause for the break.(s) BOY THAT BARGE SURE MADE IT ROUNDS. It went all over the city. HUH ? lol

-------------------------------------------------

gee, I wonder what idiot moored that grain barge
in a highly populated residential area? Well, lookee there, I believe I see the levee break.

http://www.rightnation.us/forums/index.php?s=c15640a5853c314daaf15a5c896989e8&act=Attach&type=post&id=795

Posted by: Kathleen | Sep 9, 2005 1:19:15 PM

[Sky aka NP]

I thought this was an interesting article. Don't have the link.

New Orleans Didn't Just Go Nuts It's Been Nuts...

[by Mac Johnson] 9/7/05

Where to even begin in being one more idiot talking about Hurricane Katrina? I hate the subject. It should be a news item and a humanitarian cause --a huge recovery and reconstruction effort joined in by all. It should not a political issue fit for "commentary."
But the Hurricane tore at more than just the weaknesses in New Orleans' inadequate levees. The shortcomings of the levee system were known to all who ever lived on the Gulf Coast, and in the end, all the levees really did was encourage expanded development in a huge geologic bowl sitting between a large lake, North America's mightiest river, and the immense green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The whole booby-trap was simply yet another triumph of government subsidized and directed development. And its failure was long anticipated.
What was not anticipated was the way the Hurricane tore at our human divisions.
First out of the gate were the Holy Men of the Cult of Global Warming, who couldn't wait for the first dead to wash up before they declared the Hurricane irrefutable proof of Global Warming and a direct responsibility of George W. Bush.
Next up were the racial ambulance chasers, always looking for another grievous injury to add to their political caseload. Looking at the Sea of Black faces abandoned without transportation, food, water or protection, they somehow managed to look past the City's Black Mayor, Black Police Chief, Black City Council members and all the other Black office holders that run the 67% Black city, and found that the whole thing was: white folks' fault. Yet another example of racism at its worst.
This opened up a torrent of Bush-bashing, since he was the closest Republican that had any responsibility for the City. The Democratic Governor of Louisiana -- though white -- was merely a victim of the whole thing it seems, just like the Mayor of New Orleans. Nobody has any power in this world other than George Bush. Nobody has any responsibility. George Bush is now the navel of the world for his enemies. If a butterfly flaps its wings in Central Park, it's George Bush's fault. And the butterfly is racist. And it was blown there by Global Warming.
And at some point during the disaster, the most disturbing of all the infighting began. The thugs of New Orleans turned on their neighbors like a Mongol horde. Looting erupted, as did arson and robberies, shootings and beatings. Rape became an organized crime as gangs preyed on the defenseless stranded girls of New Orleans. Pharmacies were looted and hospitals were surrounded and invaded in a manic hunt for drugs. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin couldn't stop such junkie armies from destroying much of what was left of the City's medical infrastructure, but he could excuse them, explaining that it was all just people "looking for something to take the edge off their jones, if you will." Actually, no, I won't. (The mayor added a few minutes later in the same interview: "You know, I'm not one of those drug addicts. I am thinking very clearly." And nobody said different, Mayor.)
Barbarians with an edgy jones shot a cop in the head, shot a national guardsman, halted life-saving evacuations by firing on helicopters and humvees. Police had to mow down a gang of six shooting at contractors who came to repair the levee breaches. A group of white civilians that came into the city in private boats to save as many refugees as they could -- giving lie to the racism howls of the media -- gave up and turned back because people began shooting at them, trying to take their boats.
Soldiers who should be concentrating on rescue operations are carrying full battle gear through the streets of an American City, opening doors with rifles at the ready. Overnight, it seems, The Big Easy had become Thunderdome, and Mad Max was nowhere to be found. In the middle of the worst American natural disaster in over a century, gang warfare, anti-authority psychosis and individual malevolence finished off the hope of tens of thousands that had survived the flood. It did more to demoralize the nation than the storm had done.
What happened?
The storm may have triggered the violence, but it did not cause it. What we saw in New Orleans was what happens in America's most murderous city when the criminals realize that all the cops have left.
It wasn't desperation, or insanity, or protest. It was New Orleans, without police.
Many people believe that Washington, D.C., is the "murder capital of America." And indeed it often is, but that is only because such rankings are limited to "major cities" -those with a population of 500,000 or more, and New Orleans has (or had) a population of 485,000. Were it not for this actuarial accident, Washington, D.C.. wouldn't even have a shot at the murder title. The per capita murder rate in New Orleans is 16% higher than in "Murder Capital" Washington, D.C.; and nearly 10 times the national average. To have a murder rate equal to that of New York City, New Orleans would need to reduce its murders by 86%. No, that's not a typo.
At a time when crime is plummeting in most of America, it has been steadily increasing in New Orleans. And one cause is simple: The New Orleans City Government has run its law enforcement apparatus into the ground. On a per capita basis, New Orleans has less than half as many cops as Washington, D.C.: just 3.1 police officers per 1,000 citizens. Turnover has become a huge issue, as young cops leave at the first opportunity. A report conducted for the city two years ago said that New Orleans was "bleeding police officers."
The strain shows. Fewer than one in four murder cases in New Orleans results in a conviction. 42% of violent offenders have their charges dropped by prosecutors because the cases are "not suitable for court." Many in New Orleans will not now testify against the thugs that they know -- more likely than not -- are going to be released Scot-free. People don't even bother calling the police in New Orleans anymore. In 2004, academic Researchers conducted an experiment in which they had police fire 700 blank rounds into the air, in a single afternoon, in one neighborhood. No one -- not one person -- called to report the gunfire. It was background noise.
The report on police levels mentioned above stated that New Orleans needs 2,000 cops just to maintain order in normal times. When Katrina struck, the city had only 1,700. No more than 1,500 are on duty now, after dislocation, desertions, resignations, and two suicides.
There is no wonder the place went chaotic. There should be no mystery. It is barely under control on a good day.
Why are the cops leaving? They are utterly demoralized. They face low pay to fight a losing war against crime in a city that will not commit resources to the battle. "We have to use our own shotguns," one patrolman was quoted in the New York Times. "This isn't theirs; this is my personal gun."
They are demoralized because they have to bear the reputation of working in what is widely acknowledged as the most corrupt police department in the country. More than fifty NOPD officers were sent to prison in the 1990's, two of them to death row.
They are demoralized because they have to live in New Orleans, due to a strict residency requirement for police. And unless you are wealthy enough to live in the perpetual party of the Vieux Carre, New Orleans is not a nice place to live -- especially for those with children. 84% of officers with children reported sending them to private or parochial schools, at their own expense. That's quite an endorsement of Mayor Nagin's schools.
So they leave, and are not replaced. It is not just "white flight" either, for those that want to see the world through racial lenses. Most of those leaving are black officers.
All this is not to say that New Orleans has had no plan to reduce its high crime statistics. For a while, one police district tried lying about the statistics. It meant letting some violent thugs go (and with an edge on their joneses, I'm told), but it was cheaper than fighting real crime; and it kept the tourists coming.
Asked if such lying meant that perhaps the NOPD should have its stats audited by an outside agency, Police Chief Eddie Compass stated, "I don't need an outside agency coming in. I think we have proven that we are capable of taking care of our own house."
This is the same Chief that now screams on camera for outside agencies to just take over. As soon as order is restored, you can bet the New Orleans City Government will rediscover its need for independence -- and privacy.
The overnight crisis we saw in New Orleans this week has been a long time coming. It was just the bursting of a purulent boil that has been festering for years.
Undoubtedly, that is Bush's fault as well. Perhaps his Global Warming has been putting an edge on criminal's joneses, unbeknownst to the City Government.

[Ron]

God exposed the truth in new orleans and now everyone will see.As for as im concerned i hope they never get the water out.They where a lot more places that got hit then new orleans yet the madia forgets.

[Ron]

You want the rest of them houston?

[farmgirl]

Kathleen you made it very clear that you didn't type that post..please do not give up on the blog.

Ok, group..pull together and help us all to assimilate the past few days and cope with the next days..

I value you all.

My life is faith based. But many people are "values based" or "ethics based" and they are all good people..So don't bash them.

A good person is a good person..period..no matter what his religion or ideals or lack of religion. Lets all embrace them.

And saying that..I do think that unbridled religious culture in a public school can be less then desirable.

Child of another faith attended the xxxxxxx Church private school It was reputed to be very strong academic school The desk lid fell on her son's hand in class..the teacher had all the children surround him and put hands on him and pray for his pain to go away. He said, mommie, I lied, I told them the pain went away , they were scaring me, but my hand really did hurt a lot. She would rather they sent him home for exrays.

He is an adult today and still remembers this incident clearly.

He would prefer his children attend a school where they prayed, studied comparative religions, and were taught how to read and write and think.

I think we need to have God in our public and private lives..but leave "religion" in our private homes and churches of our
choice.

Can't resist another of my true stories. when you guys get weary of my ramblings just say so on blog...

My husbands family were Kiowa and Oklahomans..big extended family met every Holiday event and Foot ball games that were blacked out in Dallas were considered one of them.

they had big living room dining room section and would set up 3 long dining tables to accomodate the growing families.

Sister in law breed poodles..(this is major point to story, she refers to them as her babies)

Brother in law had become born again non denomination preacher with a van that was emblazoned "The Happy XxX's" substituting x's for the family name ..his regular job was a dispatch clerk.

All sitting at the family table with feast in front of us..and the sister in law looked across the table at me amid all kinds of conversational chatter and said: "Farmgirl, I know I will be so busy when the rapture comes that I won't have time, but will you go to Garland and let my babies out?"

I looked at her, and said,"I have been told by a lot of people in a lot of ways that I am going to Hell but this is the FIRST time I have been asked to stay behind and take care of the dogs."

Dead quiet along the table..

Dead quiet..

then conversation started up again..we finished dinner, my husband told everyone we had to get back to Dallas for his company problems and we exited back to Dallas.

I thought, oh, S....! now I have done it.

We walked in the phone was ringing..he took all calls ..he was laughing ..he said, his other six brothers and sisters were all calling to tell him that his mother said she nearly peed her pants trying not to laugh..that everyone was dying to laugh and that they fully supported his citified new wife in this retort.

So even in families there are differences in practice of faith or the beliefs..so how could you mandate thought and action in a school system?

[farmgirl]

Ustt..yes I had wondered about the graves..and refrained from remarking on them.
Yes, I brought up the blood and body fluid issue and the TB issue early on.

Yes you so right...prevention is the key word and I haven't seen any efforts to practice that in this evacuation effort.

The shelters ...one wrong cough..and there will be an epidemic.

If terroists wanted to hit now all they would need is one person with resistant full blown TB to walk thru our shelters and cough a lot.

maybe its better to let our people go in ignorance of the dangers. All this won't keep me from volunteering but it does give me pause.

I simply do not know, does anyone out there?

We cannot isolate ourselves..we have to help and work with the evacuees. There is no place to hide from any of the old world sicknesses that are threatening to develop. The words cholera and plague are so strange to hear in modern day context.

But also there is no cure for many of the ones that could pop up as a result of the storm and the after effects.

Boils? Pestiulance? (I know I know get spell check) amoebic dysentery?

Are we prepared to address open oozing boils?

ugh..nasty farmgirl clean up my mouth.

[farmgirl]

darn..everytime I start a harrangue everybody leaves me here alone.

[Kathleen]

http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/storms/katrina/24428006.jpg

There you go, !, I found another one for you. I would have posted it sooner for you, but I had a family medical emergency today.

This one is the government's aerial shot of ONE of the breached levees and a loose grain barge--it appears to be the same area as the previous photo, but a much larger photo, without the scripting.

I posted the links to them simply because they are proof to--and if I may quote you--"anyone with a brain"--that it is indeed a POSSIBILITY that the grain barge you see resting against houses at the site of this breach, caused THAT particular breach.

BTW, I sincerely do hope that all is back to normal for you after YOUR devastating flood. The kindness and generosity shown by strangers in one's time of need is overwhelming and heartwarming, isn't it?

[less0305]

"i thought i was the only one who heard the story abt the grain barges or that i had dreamed it

Posted by: barbara | Sep 9, 2005 12:09:18 PM"

I heard the actor/comedien Steve Harvey being interviewed about his visit with evacuees. He said that an elderly gentleman told him he saw a grain barge hit the levee and within three or four minutes his house was completely flooded. The interviewer tried to ask Steve Harvey a few more questions about it, but Steve said, "I don't know. I'm only telling you what one gentleman told me he witnessed."

I heard this in my car on my radio, but I have satellite radio, so it might have been on FOX, MSNBC, or CNN because that's the stations I listen to. I don't know which one at the time - I jump around so frequently.

But I actually heard Steve Harvey tell this.

[Ron]

The fucking hurricane cause the levee to break any dumbass knows they were built for a cat 3 and that was long ego and all the wear on them since then and this hurricane was a cat 5 when it hit la. WHORAWWWWWWWWWWW

[Ron]

Oh ask a lawyer that lived there by the levee break and they were a lot that did.They have to sue the ins companies cause they are trying to get out of paying up.The lawyers are saying the wind caused it and we will see who wins.WHORAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

[farmgirl]

Dan I so mad I could simply spit.

I have already sent off firm emails to my senator and rep.

We have one of the evacuees here..her story:

Came with 3 teens from Gulfport; found a rental house; already enrolled in school; Husband remained in Gulfport area and when he got back in, their home is gone, but his mother's and sister's can be repaired..He is staying there to do the repairs and protect what is left of his mother's property.

He told her he was lonely and missing his family but that he cannot get gas to make the trip to Texas...there is no gas there yet or at least not enough.

She told him that in couple of weeks she will find a way to get there and bring some gas for her trip with her (which I shudder to hear, gas is an explosive and you don't need cars rolling with a load of it in the trunk)..

Then she said that she has done ok up til yesterday..FEMA issued her a check after days of filling in paper work. She went to pick it up at the location they have set up. the worker told her, Oh we mailed that to your home.

She said..up til then she had held together..But she lost it.

She said, there is NO HOME..how can you be so stupid? The only reason i am here begging is because there is no home and you mailed the check there? How can you be so stupid?

Then they cut her a check after many more hours..She thought finally can get utilities turned on and make the deposit on the rental..

She went to a bank here and they told her she couldn't get all the money in one day or today..( this is Hibernia. the bank that has failed to credit social security checks to local accounts here unrelated to the hurricane victims)
She took the check to another bank and they cashed it for her.

She only had til 5 pm to pay her deposits to have utilities turned on and be able to get out of shelter for the weekend or live without lights or water for two more days.

I am taking names..these stories are not fiction..they are just simply too bizarre for anyone to make up.

i am starting a campaign..I want local control for any next disasters..administered thru our county government..I want FEMA to answer to ourlocal government..let our people calculated and account for our people who are lost and lost homes and need help.

If my county gets wiped out, the adjacent county government can admisister.

they can get the money for trainign and implementing disaster plans for the future.

FEMA and Washington control has not worked ..it needs to be disbanded and revamped on local county or at least state level.

They mailed the check to her home..

Can you understand why she went hysterical? I certainly can.

[Ron]

me to

[Ron]

Farmgirl did the lady get her deposits in time.I hope she did.

[Isanah]

This was emailed to me:

This is like a photo diary of one guy's experiences in the Quarter during the hurricane. Amazing pictures. You may have to register with your email address. There's no charge. It's quite a long show, but worth the effort.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=11f8dl9z.4nk5zpvf&Uy=vhxvcl&Ux=1

Posted by: ellewoods | Sep 9, 2005 2:08:22 PM

Thanks for the link! Great depiction of the N.O. evolving disaster.

[Ron]

Please people don,t believe everything you see on tv.All this hugging and welcomeing to your homes.True some have had jobs but over 30% of the refugees from new orleans are on welfare and doesnt want a job,hasnt had a job and no car.Thats the ones that were left and couldn't get out as they say.most could have.About that jesse Jackson comment They had no place to go,balona i rather be on a overpass in Baton Rouge were there was water and food than in new orleans.Please be very careful.I have a friend that lived at the levee break well manacured homes where drs and lawyers live.he told me of a 7 yr old girl had her throat cut in the superdome.hes told me of looting and and killings.a lot of these people that didn't get out are among all of you now.please no comment on spelling , you get what im saying.Please just be real careful.There is hardly anything said about other parts that have been destroyed by the hurricane up until here at last,thats because there is not much more they can say about new orleans.But the ones that are not leaving,well good let them stay.As far as rebuilding I would like to see all tax paying people protest about that.It will only happen again.But its your money.Please be careful.

[Ron]

I'm sorry i said over 30% of the refugees were on welfare. its over 30% of new orleans thats on it, so that leaves about 90% of the ones that were left.The ones you heard complaining about no food are water.ive seen a lot of them have bar-bq pits cooking.please no comment on the figures,its a lot ok.please just be careful.I used to leave my truck unlocked with the keys in it,but not since this and i live 350 miles in north louisiana.