The Media 'sensationalizing' Katrina... - Page 2

Flyboy · #11 09-11-2005, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SANguru

you know what's even more funny.. this might be apples to oranges but let's look at 9/11... Did Rudy J. cry to FEMA??? People stepped up to help each other, Port Authority stepped up, FDNY helped out, NYPD helped out, and Rudy worked closely WITH the community to help the rescue effort. We didn't hear much about looting etc. What a huge difference in culture and execution in the local leadership... The dumbass mayor in New Orleans on the other hand is a completely useless tool.. no planning, blaming FEMA even the governor is a useless uneducated sounding tool... If anybody IS to blame.. it's them for not putting a plan together.

New Orleans was an annihilation of an entire city’s infrastructure opposed to New York’s destruction of a mega office complex. It’s probably a lot harder to mobilize your agencies when you have total destruction. Also, I’ve never heard reports that police officials acted to force the victims of 9/11 to remain in the disaster zone the way Katrina’s evacuee’s were forced to stay there. After 9/11, there were reports of individuals trying to loot from the vaults and steal other items at the twin tower site; not to mention the sleaze who posed as legitimate fund raisers for the families of the 9/11 victims, only to pocket the money for themselves.

A lot of people and agencies share in the blame for what happened in Louisiana including anyone in the area who knowingly took their chances with a category 5 hurricane and had the ability to evacuate. My brother lives in the area and nobody had to tell him twice to leave; he used his common sense and got the heck out until Katrina blew over.

I sometimes see news reports about the helicopters, search teams, dogs etc., that search for hikers here in CA that go hiking/camping alone, don’t tell anyone their itinerary, or do some other idiotic thing that puts themselves in danger in the first place. These campers are no different than the people in the hurricane hit areas who were able but refused to evacuate. Everyone should be disgusted at the aftermath of this disaster, when those who were supposed to help didn’t. The evacuee’s pay their taxes like everyone else and they deserved a better response.

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Wagner · #12 09-11-2005, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Heres another reason they could not leave.
Posted on Sat, Sep. 10, 2005

Witnesses confirm e-mail account of police barricading escape route

By Gardiner Harris

New York Times

Police agencies south of New Orleans were so fearful of the crowds attempting to leave the city after Hurricane Katrina that they sealed a crucial bridge over the Mississippi River and turned back hundreds of desperate evacuees, according to two paramedics who were in the crowd.

They don't tell you what bridge was sealed (it was the Crecent City Connection) in that article which makes it very hard to check on the accuracy of that bridge even being available considering so many bridges in NO were out of commission. Police may have been more concerned that the structural integrity was not up to par.

Also I found another story stating that 100 people were allowed accross that Crecent City Connection bridge, again...the media can jade a view anyway they want.

bridge blocked

bridge open

And the true story

^ Pick which one you want to believe

Quicksilver · #13 09-11-2005, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WagnerX5

They don't tell you what bridge was sealed (it was the Crecent City Connection) in that article which makes it very hard to check on the accuracy of that bridge even being available considering so many bridges in NO were out of commission. Police may have been more concerned that the structural integrity was not up to par.

Also I found another story stating that 100 people were allowed accross that Crecent City Connection bridge, again...the media can jade a view anyway they want.

bridge blocked

bridge open

And the true story

^ Pick which one you want to believe

Guess we are all guilty of slanting things so that others will se it our way.

Flyboy · #14 09-11-2005, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Guess we are all guilty of slanting things so that others will se it our way.

I predict a lawsuit or two after this is all over.

Wagner · #15 09-11-2005, 04:58 PM

That would be great, sue the government that just gave you 60 billion dollars.....wonderful.

Although, having a leg to stand on will be hard given the city was under a MANDATORY evacuation prior to the storm.

Chris F. · #16 09-11-2005, 06:40 PM

The sensationalism continues....Tim Russert this morning was on with the mayor....and Tim kept asking "How do you feel about the presidents response?" "Who do you feel is wrong?" "Who should we blame for this".... good grief guys, enough pointing of the fingers and lets get the rebuilding under way.

The good news is that my company, like a lot of you (hopefully), is matching Katrina donations 100%

Flyboy · #17 09-11-2005, 09:12 PM

I wonder how many of the dead victims appreciate that $60B, especially if they died after being turned away on the bridge or was one of the bed-ridden 30 patients who was left to die in the nursing home. Mandatory evac for all that are able, but if you're not able, I wonder if you have a leg to stand on.

Wagner · #18 09-11-2005, 10:05 PM

Flyboy...point taken but if one of my family member was in a nursing home in NO during the week before Katrina, I would have made arrangements for them.

Again, falls on ones own reponsibility in these situations.

BMWood5 · #19 09-12-2005, 04:18 AM

Ahhhh responsibility. Such a tricky word. Leadership is another. There are definitely some sensationalizing in the media going on. Its not like we ask for it. NO WAIT, WE DO ASK FOR IT.

As far as responsibility is concerned, I believe that the only individuals not responsible are the children. Everyone else has some responsibility in their fates. Having said that,

I believe that there are a significant number of cases where the physical toll taken on themselves (and the CNN case simply defies logic. Hell her brother a mile down the road left) doesnt warrant much sympathy except for the children involved. However, most of the $$ to be spent will be in the rebuilding phase and EVERYONE deserves to get that since even if they left, they would have lost everything they left behind. There will be no rebuilding untill they clean up. So as far as the rescue efforts are concerned, there is actually little cost associated with that (maybe a 100 million). Those unable to get out (nursing homes, children, even animals) should have been the responsibility of the USG period. And they failed. The unfortunate result so far is that our leaders (all the way down to parents) have failed to show leadership and take responsibility for this.

It is true that this was a devestating hurricane and the toll was to be too high regardless, but there are definately some legal responsibilities that were not carried out and for that, they should pay. But the people that deserve that will probably not see a dime.

The biggest issue I have is the total lack of a coherent plan prior to "attack". If there was, then there would have been better security at the "shelter" sites, better coordination of relief supplies, and less loss of life directly related to the "6 days" after. The arrogance from our officials is simply overwhelming at this point. Unless something changes, you can damn sure expect this type of response the next time a catastrophic event occurs and Homeland Security kicks in.

ylwjacket · #20 09-12-2005, 10:14 AM

Does our government utilize the business model 'just in time delivery' or does it have stockpiles of emergency relief supplies stored ion decentralized places in different parts of the country? Seems like a silly question, but I really don't know. I guess you can't store things forever, but it seems like there should be some stockpiles of materials, and that those stockpiles could be better pre-positioned.

I think the most glaring error was lack of command and control in the immediate aftermath. The Mayor was looking up the chain, the governor is an idiot, and the Feds had their thumb up their butts waiting for the call from La. Miss and Ala called, and they got help. Someone has got to take charge, and whoever that is, failed.

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