100, 000 people can not leave because of no money or transportation

[earthmama]

"Making matters worse, at least 100,000 people in the city lack the transportation to get out of town. Nagin said the Superdome might be used as a shelter of last resort for people who have no cars, with city bus pick-up points around New Orleans.

"I know they're saying `Get out of town,' but I don't have any way to get out," said Hattie Johns, 74. "If you don't have no money, you can't go."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050828/ap_on_re_us/hurricane_katrina


Some plan needs to be put in place so people that are poor or have no car/lack of money could get out. It is not fair that these people do not have a choice.

[BayouBengal07]

1. I think I heard

They might open up the Superdome for refuge. Hopefully, at least.

[bread_and_roses]

3. how many does Superdome hold? (n/t)

[VADem11]

25. Several thousnads

For the super bowl it held 79,000 and I think it could hold more.

[earthmama]

4. I heard that too

It says that in the article I found on Yahoo. I hope it safe for them. BUT I really think these people should get out of town and the city/state/gov should be helping them get out.

Maybe our national guard could help with this and get these people out, but I guess they have better things to do :sarcasm:

[lostnfound]

59. Pardon my ignorance, but what is the advantage of the Superdome?

Is it higher ground? Hurricane-proof?

[tgnyc]

70. The Superdome is concrete. That should hold against the wind.

On the other hand, those who don't make it there face this:

Fox News read an announcement over the air one hour ago. I'm not sure of the source -- perhaps the National Weather Service. But it was very bleak. It went something like:

Half of the homes with modern construction will be destroyed.

All houses with wood construction will be destroyed.

Many commercial buildings will be destroyed.

Tall bulidings will sway, some to the point of collapse.

Winds will carry debris that means certain death for anyone struck.

Water contamination will lead to human suffering "on a scale unimaginable in modern times."

[lostnfound]

73. Thanks. Wow that is so disturbing.

Time to pray.

[converted_democrat]

2. That is so sad..............n/t

[wake.up.america]

5. Madre Mia! This is serious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Skittles]

6. WE PAY TAXES FOR THESE KINDS OF DESPERATE SCENARIOS

THEY BETTER HELP THESE FOLK

[barbaraann]

36. The tax money to prepare for this was given to consultants.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4480507

[liberalitch]

7. La. voted red..... tax cuts for the rich that weaken the infrastructure...

endangering the poor

[Roland99]

11. Orleans Parish went 78% for Kerry, though.

[liberalitch]

64. It is unfortunate that the rest of their state's ignorance cost them....

I like the mayor

[Spangle]

8. Why not School Buses to Gyms in higher grounds????

I KNOW there has got to be some places on higher ground that is willing to ALLOW their school buses to go down there and pick people up!

Yes, there should have been a system in places to deal with this. IF there isn't, then NO government should be held LEGALY accountable for the deaths that their LACK of planning caused.

[yankeedem]

9. I was thinking of that also

Heck, use the New Orleans city buses to get people out. They aren't going to be running anyway.

[ohio_liberal]

15. Yeah I was just thinking about that

All the school buses and city buses should haul people out of there.

[smirkymonkey]

46. Or Underground Bunkers in Hurricane Prone Areas For Those

who cannot get out.

[earthmama]

10. This is where the Air force and national guard would come in handy

don't you think??

[rodeodance]

12. FEMA got permission for early release of $ (declaration of disaster-

before the disaster)---anyway, they are a factor in this mix also.

[KyndCulture]

17. And who is in charge at FEMA? CHENEY IS.

Do we trust him?

I damn sure don't... sorry for the tinfoil moment but wouldn't a large loss of american lives just get them outta their little self dug hole at the moment.

[KyndCulture]

16. oh yeah but then they are busy half a world away aren't they?

This needs to be an eye opener... it IS the major disaster we've all known could happen in any of our states with our national guard so diminished.

[HadItUpToHere]

28. air force?

what would the air force do?

bomb the hurricane?

[earthmama]

30. Use their planes to pick people up

[HadItUpToHere]

31. fighter planes/bombers don't hold many people

doesn't the army have most of the large transport planes?

[earthmama]

33. what about cargo plans?

don't they have them?

I admit ... I am not knowledgeable on what planes the army ( air force) have but I am sure they have big plans that can pick up people and take them out of harms way or something like that

[caligirl]

65. Would still have to have the bus system and open roads

leading to the airport. Roads are already full and not enough buses for that huge number of people.

they need to open high rises to these people, forget $$ and who owns them this is a matter of life and death for a lot of have nots.

[earthmama]

71. well ....

the national guard can maybe help bring the people to the airport ... ??

[HereSince1628]

13. So, will you pledge? This is setting up to be a catastrophe

of historic proportions. The needs are going to be tremendous!

[earthmama]

19. I will donate money...

I want to fia a local shelter or some local place that needs aid

[HereSince1628]

21. Good. There may be need for that all across the region

If NO get flooded for real, no one will be going home soon. And the refugees will need everything.

[Ladyhawk]

43. Yeah, I was just thinking about that. :( n/t

[rodeodance]

14. and for many--they have no money for hotels--even if they somehow

get transportation out of the city.

[earthmama]

18. Then there should be shelters outside the city for the poor

[catmandu57]

20. I was wondering how the poor were going to fare

This is what the national guard is for to evacuate and assist in disasters,k not serve as targets in a foreign land. They should be loading every available vehicle, trucks, busses, planes, trains, whatever they have to get people to safety.
From what I'm reading they have a little more than 24 hours to get people somewhere else, how in the hell are they going to get people out of the superdome after the storm comes through and NO is an inland sea?
Those poor people.

[Ian David]

22. The idea is that if enough poor people stand in the path of the hurricane

it may slow the storm down enough to save the tobacco fields.

[Mairead]

27. These days you need to put a 'sarcasm' flag on when you say

something like that. Otherwise, it sounds only too real.

[Ian David]

38. What, you think I was kidding? Poor people weigh at least 150lbs each

Each poor person drains 30 joules of energy from the hurricane.

If you put 600 Trillion poor people in front of the hurricane, it will reduce its wind speed by nearly 5 MPH.

Bush decided a million or two poor people would be a good start.

:sarcasm:

Yeah, I was kidding.

[Inland]

62. And it incentivizes people to not be poor, too!

While eliminating them. Brilliant!

[beetbox]

23. All of these tragedies are then portrayed as 'natural disasters'

when it is only the poor that die, be it Hurricane Mitch in Central America or this one or many others.

"It is not fair that these people do not have a choice."
Exactly. And then people say "it's the choices people make."

Nominated

[Ian David]

39. Two words: Global Warming

As global temperatures increase, the severity of storms increases.

So, keep driving those SUVs. The "Red States" will bake and flood first.

:sarcasm:

[mzteris]

24. Too bad there's not enough

National Guard units to help with the evacuation.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

26. Five day forcast map:

They are showing it to maintain at least tropical storm status all the way into central Kentucky!

On edit... They seem to have slowed the movement. The graphic will change with the updates.

[earthmama]

29. Yikes .. But I am ok in NC ....

and I am so worried about the people in the path. I am gonna light a candle for those in harms way and wish the best.

[B Calm]

32. My sister in law sister can't leave New Orleans either, she has to work.

She's a nurse at the children's hospital..

[earthmama]

35. I wish her the best of luck

[B Calm]

37. About all we can do is pray for her. She's on the second floor

of the hospital.. Thanks

[B Calm]

45. Anybody know where the children hospital is in New Orleans?

[flygal]

50. I've been there - it's downtown

She's in my thoughts - what a hero staying behind. We lived in Slidell three years ago and my neighborhood is deserted. So sad.

[B Calm]

57. We're worried about her and we'll probably not get any

word from her after the power goes out. We are hoping someone will be watching over all those poor kids in the hospital..

[jillan]

60. OMG - what about all of the people that are in hospitals?

Wheelchairs? Seniors?:cry: :cry: :cry:

[caligirl]

66. All medical staff practice emergency contingency plans annually.

[caligirl]

67. I'm sure you couldn't tear her away from her

job right now. they will follow there emergency plans and hopefully all will go well.

[earthmama]

74. Any news on your Sister in law and the children?

[DoYouEverWonder]

34. Has the Governor of LA bothered to call in the National Guard yet?

There is no excuse for them not to be sending in every bus they can get their hands on to get these people out of there.

I suppose Dimson is too busy peddling his bike to bother calling the Governor to offer assistance?

[theHandpuppet]

40. Mary Landrieu said that 3,000 LA Nat'l Guard troops...

... that would normally be available to assist in this crisis were sent to Iraq. You can't blame the Governor for that -- that's Dubya's doing.

[caligirl]

68. Montana couldn't get theirs back to fight fires in the NW.

[Ian David]

41. They'll be back from Iraq in 6 years. Except 6 already killed in action.

Over 400 Louisiana Guard Soldiers Re-enlist (In Iraq)
By U.S. Army Spc. Erin Robicheaux
256th Brigade Combat Team Public

CAMP TIGERLAND, Iraq, July 27, 2005 — On July 20, in a chapel in Baghdad, voices rang out together, not in a song of praise, but in commitment. More than 400 National Guard soldiers of the 256th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division raised their right hands and swore to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.”

More significant than the number of soldiers who simultaneously extended their service to the military is that these National Guard soldiers did so in a combat zone.

<snip>

Since the beginning of the deployment, 925 soldiers promised service to their states and nation, with 761 hailing from Louisiana, 120 from New York, and 43 from various other states and territories attached to the 256th Brigade Combat Team, such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Washington and Puerto Rico.

<snip>

He said the largest concern among the soldiers was whether or not the unit would deploy again. According to the plan set forth by the National Guard Bureau, the units should not come back to Iraq any sooner than six years from now.

More:
http://www.la.ngb.army.mil/Web%20Stories/Over%20400%20Louisiana%20Guard%20Soldiers%20Re-enlist%20-%20DefendAmerica%20News%20Article.htm


See also:

January 09. 2005 2:21PM

Slain Louisiana soldiers died on a mission to suppress Iraqi insurgent rocket attacks

By DOUG SIMPSON
Associated Press Writer


NEW ORLEANS - The six Louisiana soldiers who died in Iraq last week were killed by a "massive explosion" probably set off by insurgents using a remote electronic detonator, their commander said Sunday.

<snip>

It's a very important mission and this unit was doing it very well," Basilica said.

Killed in the blast were Spc. Bradley Bergeron, Sgt. Christopher Babin, 27,and Pfc. Armand Frickey, 21, all of Houma; and Spc. Warren Murphy of Marrero, Spc. Huey Fassbender III of LaPlace and Sgt. 1st Class Kurt Comeaux of Raceland. A soldier from New York was also killed.

Basilica's comments provided the first details of the killings since Thursday's explosion. Basilica spoke from Iraq, in a teleconference with reporters at Louisiana National Guard headquarters in New Orleans.
The seven soldiers' mission was part of the continuing effort to prevent the rebels from launching rocket attacks. The brigade uses radar to pinpoint the spot where each such launch takes place; soldiers then track the pattern and history of where launches originate, Basilica said.

More:
http://www.pigstye.net/iraq/article.php/20050110043408615

[tjdee]

44. Mary Landrieu said there are about 3,000 National Guard folk in Iraq.

So oh well!

I'm sure there are some around, but the fact that they are hampered by the Iraq situation makes me want to scream.

[kath]

72. Landrieu voted for the Blank Check Resolution, didn't she?

[Ladyhawk]

42. Contingency plans should have been made long ago.

Apparently, this scenario was anticipated. Why no evacuation plans????

[barbaraann]

49. Here's why.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4482567

[B Calm]

47. How many hospitals are there in New Orleans?

Need to know where the children's hospital is, anybody know?

[justabob]

48. Here's a map

Map

Mouse over the red dots and it will tell you what hospital it is.

[B Calm]

51. Thanks, I found it right below Lake Pontchartrain on the Mississippi

[Eastside Blue]

52. Airlines??

I heard this morning that flights were already being cancelled. I realize that the weather will be deteriorating late this afternoon, but why stop the flights so early? Along with all the residents that can't evacuate, I'm sure there are a lot of tourists that are stuck as well.

[lovuian]

53. Try to get to the nearest shelter that maybe your best bet

Call your local churches maybe they can get a bus and get you to a shelter!!!

Bush on his watch has the possibility to see some major disasters and he has done dismally!!!

[classics]

54. Anyone poor enough to not have a new car

is worthless in the new Bush Amerika anyway. They will consider it 'washing away' excess population.

I expect a lot of phoney hand wringing, but nothing will actually be done that will solve the problem.

[Nikia]

55. It is inexcusable that there isn't a bigger evacuation effort

Bush is spending an outrageous amount of money per day in Iraq allegedly protecting American lives and interests. Here are around 100,000 lives in NO that need to be protected and could be protected now. The U.S. military should be evacuating those people by whatever means possible, no matter how much it costs. Unlike the war in Iraq, this is a war worth fighting. If thousands of people die because those who had the power to act don't, I hold those people with power fully responsible for their murders. This really makes me sad.

[crowcalling]

56. Yes, I've thought the same thing...

How is it that we can fight a war in IRAQ spending billions but we cannot get these people out of NO?

Why???

[annagull]

58. They should be bussing the poor and homeless to the trainyards

and gettting them out instead of taking them to the superdome--which sounds like the worst idea I have ever heard of--10's of thousands of people riding out what could be the worst hurricane we have ever had in the middle of downtown NO in a stadium w/out electricity, probable flooding, this sounds like a tragedy waiting to happen.

[Robeysays]

61. well we've officially reached 2nd or 3rd world Nation status.

when a government can not protect it's population from disasters, that is when i think of a 2nd or 3rd world nation.

[Inland]

63. Natural disasters, infectious diseases, infant mortality, civil violence

we ring up third world on a whole buncha measures.

[Deja Q]

69. Our government is responsible, actually.

They design the systems.

This is not a corporate/privatization issue.

It's sloppy/careless/being-out-of-touch issue.