Mayor orders mandatory evacuation of New Orleans

[Patek23]

Racism is stil a major problem in modern society yet it has been pushed to the side EVERYONE at some point has believed a stereotype or had some sort of racial bias towards someone regardless of wether you black, white, brown , asian or native. I don't see why it's so hard to at least judge someone by their character or actions than by the color of their skin. The smartest men I've ever met was a black dude, and the dumbest person I've ever met is white. Also a good stereotype which is found in mainly high schools (who wasn't portrayed truly by some stereotype in high school, come on you walk down a hall and you can see 20 of the same person) Is that (well at least when I was there) was that the foreign language classes were packed with the black kids, while all the skater/punk/prep white kids were out skipping.

[Tower]

A friend at work sat down --- BIG Jamacian and cracked a joke. "Watched the news this morning, and all I saw are my peep's looting.

It's happening and what can you do about it? Insurance will cover it.

[badnarik]

it seems a bit ironic that they are waiting for a rescue from the very thing that holds them down. the federal government is their daddy. the city of new orleans is 100% culpable.

[Patek23]

New Orleans is in a very tough situation, should they rebuild an entire city elsewhere or fix everything back up, face the high risk of diseases and hope a similar situation never happens again?

[LockedOut]

Originally posted by Flaming Homer@Sep 2 2005, 01:44 AM
New Orleans is in a very tough situation, should they rebuild an entire city elsewhere or fix everything back up, face the high risk of diseases and hope a similar situation never happens again?

Tough call. Spend the huge amounts of money on rebuilding a city where a lot of people may not want to return to or use the money to help people relocate and rebuild elsewhere. Others have mentioned it is a major port so economically it's a tough call.

[Resolute 14]

On the pictures of looting vs finding - it is worth noting that the images and captions come from two different news agencies. While there is probably still a bit of racism in the descriptions, it could simply be a case of a different agency's writers using different words.

On rebuilding New Orleans - It will be rebuilt. It's value as both a major seaport and tourist spot will save the city. I would think that it's population will shrink significantly though, as if it takes 3-6 months just to clear the water, then who knows how long to clean up the diseases, etc, then to rebuild, a lot of people are looking at 1-3 years minimum before they could go home. A great many people will have to rebuild their lives elsewhere before that.

[Resolute 14]

Major fire burning south of the French Quarter. CNN is showing video of a 2000' smoke plume. No fire crews have even been able to respond.

[habernac]

Fats has been rescued:

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/2005/09/01/1197979-ap.html

And the fire was an explosion at a chemical facility.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/20...197252-ap.html

[Cowperson]

An apt quote from over the water:

In the Netherlands, much of which lies below sea level as in New Orleans, there was some consternation that the Louisiana city was so poorly prepared, AP reported.

The nation installed massive hydraulic sea walls known as the Delta Works after devastating floods in 1953.

"I don't want to sound overly critical, but it's hard to imagine that [the damage caused by Katrina] could happen in a Western country," Ted Sluijter, press spokesman for Neeltje Jans, the public park where the Delta Works are exhibited, was reported as saying by AP.

"It seemed like plans for protection and evacuation weren't really in place, and once it happened, the coordination" was poor.

You can blame successive Presidents and politicians, Republicans and Democrats, for it.

I wonder if San Franciscans, as an example, are wondering how prepared their city is for "The Big One" that everyone knows is coming sooner or later, another example of a location that has plenty of time to prepare.

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/02/...orld/index.html

Cowperson

[Bobblehead]

New Orleans already had a heap of issues before this happened. 2 weeks ago a study was released asking why the murder rate there was 10 times greater than the American average. As an experiment, they had a bunch of off duty/out of uniform police go into a neighbourhood and over the space of an afternoon they fired 700 blanks. There was not a single call to report gunfire. New Orleans was already having crime issues, this disaster just gave the conditions needed to allow things to spiral out of control.

[Cowperson]

Kind of an amazing quote:

Tourist Debbie Durso of Washington, Mich., said she asked a police officer for assistance and his response was, "'Go to hell — it's every man for himself."'

Also:

To make matters worse, the chief of the Louisiana State Police said he heard of numerous instances of New Orleans police officers — many of whom were from flooded areas — turning in their badges.

"They indicated that they had lost everything and didn't feel that it was worth them going back to take fire from looters and losing their lives," Col. Henry Whitehorn said.

Contained in a fairly detailed update here:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168269,00.html

Cowperson

[nfotiu]

Originally posted by Cowperson@Sep 1 2005, 11:08 PM
And NFoitu, you'll be interested to know a detachment of the Arkansas National Guard has entered New Orleans with shoot to kill orders for looters, something that should have happened a long time ago.

Cowperson

"These are some of the 40,000 extra troops that I have demanded," Blanco said. "They have M-16s, and they're locked and loaded ... I have one message for these hoodlums: These troops know how to shoot and kill, and they are more than willing to do so if necessary, and I expect they will." (See video on the military response -- 2:40)

She told CNN Friday that "anybody needs to get food and water wherever they can find it," she said. "I'm not talking about people who are trying to get survival items. I'm talking about people who are threatening other people."

Doesn't really sound like they want to shoot the looters. I think they've given up protecting the stuff in stores, which is good. The violence seems to be much more the problem.

[Cheese]

As far as preparation for major disasters goes...the Dutch can puff up their chests all they want...until their magnificent hydraulic wall is tested under the same conditions they should keep their mouths shut.
Mother Nature has a tendency to humble the best thought out engineering feats.

As far as San Fran goes....the building code in that city...and most others along that fault line has been pretty stringent for a LONG time. Regardless there is still old infrastructure that simply will not stand up to a big shake. The Engineers can design well up to certain standards...say like a 8.0 Earthquake...but what happens if the big one is a 9 on the Richter? In my reviews of present day Structural installations in and about the coast I would think that they will be able to withstand a lot...but it will still be a catastrophe as roads, weirs, older buildings and homes will all come crumbling down. If anything...those people should look at NO as a warning....lose everything or move to a safe place.....now!

[Cowperson]

Nice rant from the Mayor of New Orleans:

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/katri...agin/index.html

Cowperson

[socalwingfan]

Originally posted by Cowperson@Sep 2 2005, 03:10 PM
Nice rant from the Mayor of New Orleans:

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/katri...agin/index.html

Cowperson

Supposedly the mayor will be meeting with Bush later today at the NO airport. I hope he doesn't back off and goes off on GW. That "made for TV" briefing they just had on CNN made me sick - what a circle jerk that was!!!

[JohnnyO]

What a gong show!!

Why is it in Indonesia/Malaysia in December people were trying to help each other and do whatever possible to save each other. Lifting bricks , searching in rubble, helping young kids and the weak.

And in New Orleans, they are waiting for help and a handout from uncle sam, all while fighting amongst them selves, looting, shooting people who are trying to help.

Both regions had poverty, but the attitudes are completely opposite.

[jonesy]

Originally posted by Cowperson@Sep 2 2005, 02:29 PM
An apt quote from over the water:

In the Netherlands, much of which lies below sea level as in New Orleans, there was some consternation that the Louisiana city was so poorly prepared, AP reported.

The nation installed massive hydraulic sea walls known as the Delta Works after devastating floods in 1953.

"I don't want to sound overly critical, but it's hard to imagine that [the damage caused by Katrina] could happen in a Western country," Ted Sluijter, press spokesman for Neeltje Jans, the public park where the Delta Works are exhibited, was reported as saying by AP.

"It seemed like plans for protection and evacuation weren't really in place, and once it happened, the coordination" was poor.


http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/02/...orld/index.html

Cowperson

Yes, the fabulous Dutch. What a maroon. Notice how they fortified their land AFTER a huge disaster. AFTER devastation.

That is how it works with massive projects, sorry. Reaction is the norm for projects of that magnitude. Polititians won't risk fighting for an infrastructure project like that until they have to. And guess what? The ones that make such projects their election platform, won't get elected. (until AFTER a disaster)

The Dutch can puff up, but i don't think they have much of a cause to.

[Cowperson]

Canada responds:

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryheral...05-04d9eb06a790

Cowperson

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally posted by JohnnyO@Sep 2 2005, 09:30 AM
Both regions had poverty, but the attitudes are completely opposite.

Oh there was definitely looting and chaos after the tsunami. It just didn't get as much coverage.

As for it being worse, it was suggested to me that it's because guns are SOOOOO easy to come by down there.

Find two unarmed men in a dire predicament and they are likely to work together to get the job done. Find an armed man and an unarmed man in a dire predicament and likely one is working and the other holding the gun.

[KevanGuy]

Originally posted by jonesy@Sep 2 2005, 10:31 AM
Yes, the fabulous Dutch. What a maroon. Notice how they fortified their land AFTER a huge disaster. AFTER devastation.

There are only two things I hate; those who are intolerant of other people's cultures... and the Dutch.