New Orleans' Mayor Accurately Blasts Federal Response to NO

[Galvan]

In what has/is/will be the largest disaster in US History.

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin blasted the Federal Response of the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

In a 13 minute radio interview... Mayor Nagin told basically the entire US Government to "get off your asses" and help the victims inside New Orleans.

Listen to Mayor Nagin's Interview here courtesy of WWL-AM.COM (News Radio New Orleans.)

While i voted Republican in 2004... and I supported President Bush; Im VERY dissapointed in the federal response to this disaster.

It seems to me, that the people in the City of New Orleans have taken a backseat to Iraqis, People in NYC (Following 9/11) and the South Asian Tsumani victims. These People are dying, in houses with water up to the roof lines... The SuperDome is a filthy mess, and the New Orleans Convention Center is loaded with 15,000 - 20,000 people.

Listen to this radio interview, It is powerful, spin free, and is in my honest opinion more signifigant then Rudi Guilliani's 9/11 address to NYC.

Post your Thoughts Here.

[Jamesb58]

I do believe that the response to the disaster is as good as
it could be. What people don't remember is, it takes time
to get the ships that are one their way to arrive. And it takes
time in order to get supplies and such to the damaged areas.

It's not easy to get supplies and food and such to people who
are basically in the middle of a lake. I do know that the Red
Cross and the Salvation Army Disaster Units were on the scenes
very quickly, but it's easy for them, cause they don't have to
travel hundreds of miles.

I understand that Mayor Nagin was fustrated and pretty ticked, but
that isn't going to get the supplies there any faster. The response
to this disaster can no where be compared to the response to 9/11.
There is a big difference. In New York, only a small area was
attacked and there wasn't anything to block the efforts.

In New Orleans, 80% of the city is flooded, and it's harder for
Rescue units to get into the city. So it takes time! I do believe
that the response is pretty good!

[kahmooza]

It just seems like another incident of this administration trying to ignore something in hopes it goes away. Ignoring global warming is what sent us this storm in the first place and if you think its the worst we will have look at the weather trends the last couple years.

I can't help but get the feeling they know something we don't. I don't blame anyone for voting republican I just feel bad for their voters. You have been majorly decieved on many things and there will be more to come.

The mayor of NO is right on. If this were "precious" Houston they wouldve been there that night (like 9/11). The scariest part is Bush doesn't have to worry about re-election or all the huge mistakes he's made so far. He can just let them fester and then go back to his ranch in three years and dump it on the next guy, much like his father did.

[Jamesb58]

It just seems like another incident of this administration trying to ignore something in hopes it goes away......If this were "precious" Houston they wouldve been there that night (like 9/11). The scariest part is Bush doesn't have to worry about re-election or all the huge mistakes he's made so far.

So are you saying that Bush is just ignoring the Disaster?? One thing is,
this disaster couldn't happen in Houston. Yes a Cat 4 or 5 Hurricane
can and will hit Houston, but hmmm, Houston isn't below sea level and
isn't sinking as New Orleans is. So, Houston would be dry and oh,
easier for Relief and Help to arrive. Same thing with Galvaston,
Florida, Alabama, every other city in the Hurricane Zones. It is
much easier for relief to get to those cities, but New Orleans, man,
when the City is under water how fast do you think the relief can
get down there?

Bush is doing everything he can. I hate how people have turned this
into a Race Issue and blaming Bush for everything. Disasters Happen,
and you can't control them.

[kahmooza]

Sure disasters happen, but theres a difference between preparing and ignoring. The government knows ocean temperatures are skyrocketing and these phenomonoms are going to escalate, but they insist we don't need to make any changes. In fact, he EASES pollution restrictions!

This is SO similar to 9/11. After the fact we start hearing about all the memos and warnings and so forth. Now I'm reading articles about how they were warning New Orleans a couple months ago. Hmmm, did they know this was coming too? Good chance. Would they tell us if there will be worse ones before the year is over? Of course not.

I am not willing to get into the race issue of this but certainly can't blame others for doing so.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9188642/site/newsweek/

[Jamesb58]

You can't put the blame on Pres. Bush for the apparent "lack" of
help and for not getting the word out about the Hurricane Season.

Back in 2001, the mayor of New Orleans had the chance to fix the
levee and the strengthen it, but he didn't do it! But now he blames
Bush for not doing it! It wasn't Bush that caused this, it's the
Mayor, cause he could have made sure that the Levee would have
never broke!

I still don't see how this can be compared to 9/11. This is a totally
different thing. Natural Disasters are much different from Terrorist
Attacks!

You know what, people have been warning New Orleans for YEARS!
For years, people were saying that this was going to happen and
that the city isn't safe, but the city officials didn't do a thing about it!
They all carry that excuse that, it will never happen, and when it
does, they have to put blame on everyone else, but themselves!

Bush isn't to blame! The City officials of New Orleans is to blame!
They had the power to make sure their city was safe, but they didn't
do it! I've been to New Orleans and I've seen those levees and even
I could have told them that they're going to break, and this was back in
1998!

[Aero737]

Well here is what concerns me the most.

Ever since 9/11 Bush has been feeding us all this stuff about homeland secuirity and how America is ready to handle a terrorist strike. Well here we are. 4 years later. This is a similar situation to a terrorist strike. What if terrorists blew up the levee system?

Now after feeding the americans praise of our homeland security system this happens. And it takes 5 freakin days to get the national gaurd in to the city?

Bush was telling us all along about how america was never going to get cought off gaurd again. Well, it happened. 5 days is unacceptable. They didn't leave Manhatten a smoldering wreck where people ran around shooting up hospitals with AK47's now did they? There was a police and secuity force never seen before present.

Now, why couldn't Bush get troops in there? He never tried to rush them. All around the country there are troops ready to mobalize at moments notice. After the first reports and pleas of help from New Orleans that their police couldnt handle the situation, they should have been dropping troops in from blackhawks.

Yes, FEMA and Bush were caught up in red tape, but that red tape should have been bypassed in a time of such disaster.

I mean, an entire Metrolpolitan city was just washed away. Don't sit there and tell me that it took you 5 days to get troops in there. If somethine happened in Iraq, you would have troops from America over there in 24 hours.

F U Bush.

[kahmooza]

^ HERE HERE!

Then he has the atrocity to say it was "as if the entire Gulf Coast were obliterated by the worst kind of weapon you can imagine.". Can't he ever just do his job without thinking about weapons and war?

Here's the link

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/03/bush.radio.katrina.ap/index.html

[sfgam05]

I agree with what aero said, 5 days is unacceptable. People were dieing and bush was too retarded to send help. Bush is all talk but no action. He made all these promises but I doubt he has kept any of them. Thats what people get for voting republican

[w00dland]

Unfortunatly the President didn't even order the National Gaurd until Monday or Tuesday I believe. First you need to call them up and they need to get to their bases (they have 48-72 hours to do so). You need to get organized and ready then you need to GET THERE. Believe it or not we don't have transporters like they do in star trek here. Once they get to NO they needed to get through flood waters to get to the convention center and the superdome anyway. Unfortunatly this all takes TIME.

The people in NO were ordered out of the city before the storm struck for good reason, maybe they should have left.

For all the people who are fighting and complain at the National Gaurd and the rescue workers for not being there soon enough deserve to be the last people rescued in my opinion.

[kahmooza]

^Exactly where do you go when you're completely poor to begin with: No car, no bus money, no "summer home" up north, no food to take with...etc

Yes apprantly 51% of the country feel troops overseas for false/no reasons is more important than having the resources available for the homefront for things like this.

[JGSixFlags]

A reply to aeros statment. Woodland summed it up but one more comment. Back when i was in natural disasters that destroyed my home and left my entire city with out food and water, the goverment did nothing about it. They didnt care, at least bush is doing somthing!

What good is complaing about the response time! It wont change a thing, time is time what has happened has happened and wont be changed. Now is not the time to try and change them, Now is the time to help.

If you feel bush has done nothing. Why dont you compare your response to this disaster to his! All i heard from you post was complaints, now did that post help the people in new orleans? NO IT DIDNT!

They need us to help, not to complain!

[Jamesb58]

For all the people who are fighting and complain at the National Gaurd and the rescue workers for not being there soon enough deserve to be the last people rescued in my opinion.

I agree!!!! You know what? I'm sorry to say this, but I have been
starting to feel less sorry for those who are being rescued. It was their
choice to stay and now the US has to rescue them, cause of their
stupid mistake.

They should have left when they had the chance. They had plenty
of time to get out of there! They just need to be happy that they're
still alive and will be rescued soon. Relief would have been there
sooner if they didn't shoot at people.

[mschulz5]

Do you realize that most of those people who stayed in New Orleans had no way to get out? Not everyone has automobiles.

Also, they knew this storm was coming, so why not station troops just outside of Louisiana/Alabama/Mississippi so they could be there right after the storm hit?

[JGSixFlags]

There were busses taking people out before the storm! They had the chance and they didnt take it!
Why didnt they station the troops out side of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi? Cause hurricanes dont lose their strength as soon as they make landfall, putting them out side the states would of jeprodized them. You dont station troops in the way of a hurricane! Thats IDIOTIC!

[mschulz5]

Actually, there wasn't. If there were buses, then why were they telling everyone to go into the Superdome or the Convention Center? They were encouraging those that couldn't get out of the city to go to those places, and then when the storm was over, they still had to stay in there! The buses came 3 full days after the storm hit, and that was just way too long. People died inside of the Superdome! It was supposed to be a safehouse, but instead, it was pure pandemonium.

Can you blame someone for panicking when they are starving and thirsting to death?

[Jamesb58]

Something else that all of you fail to understand is, New Orleans
did do very well with the Hurricane. It was the poor management
of the Levee system that caused all of this to happen. If the
levees were maintained and restrengthened, this wouldn't have
happened, at least not this time.

[JGSixFlags]

Actually, there wasn't. If there were buses, then why were they telling everyone to go into the Superdome or the Convention Center? They were encouraging those that couldn't get out of the city to go to those places, and then when the storm was over, they still had to stay in there! The buses came 3 full days after the storm hit, and that was just way too long. People died inside of the Superdome! It was supposed to be a safehouse, but instead, it was pure pandemonium.

Can you blame someone for panicking when they are starving and thirsting to death?

Now wasnt it the MAYOR who told them to go to those places? There were busses taking people out before the storm cause i talked to someone who was on one of them!

I have been in their situation before, I have lived through massive earthquakes, and I lived through a deadly volcanic erruption! My family didnt panick we waited for help to come. We got it! It wasnt from the goverment either! At least your goverment is doing somthing! My help came from the Salvation Army and Red Cross! So SHUT UP! and stop complaning about the poor response time and HELP the PEOPLE there by donating to the Salvation Army and Red Cross!

I said it last time and i will say it again. Compare you actions to that of the goverment! Now what one of those are currently helping the PEOPLE? You complaning that the goverment? Or is the action that is beening taken by the goverment at this point, which is helping them? Which one is helping them more?

[Aero737]

They had plenty
of time to get out of there!

No they didn't. For someone with no car, and no transportation they didn't have time to get out. What are they supposed to do? Walk out? They would have made it 10 miles and gotten slammed by the hurricane out in the open.

There was NO way in hell that city was going to be evacuated in such short time. No way. The city just doesn't have enough routes out. You saw traffic, from the time that the NHC was predicting a New Orleans landfall to the time it struck every road out was gridlocked.

Now tell me. You have little money, no car, and no way to get out of town. What the hell are you going to do? Greyhound was sold out. Amtrack was sold out. Airlines wern't flying to/from New Orleans before the storm. It is almost impossible to evacuate a town of that size in such a remote location in 2-3 days.

[Jamesb58]

They would have made it 10 miles and gotten slammed by the hurricane out in the open.

10 Miles away from the city is far better than being in the City!! See,
this shows you the poor planning of the Mayor not the President. If
I was the Mayor of New Orleans, I would have had school busses and
public transportation, take those who could not get out on their own,
to safe zones outside of levees! Instead the Mayor puts them directly
in the middle of the city.

There was NO way in hell that city was going to be evacuated in such short time. No way.....It is almost impossible to evacuate a town of that size in such a remote location in 2-3 days.

If cities in Florida can get evacuated quickly, then why can't New Orleans?
Every city in Hurricane Zones needs to have a proper Evacuation plan
on how to get 100% of the people out. Once again, poor planning by
the Mayor.

[Galvan]

F U Bush.

Not needed in this discussion

I understand that Mayor Nagin was fustrated and pretty ticked, but
that isn't going to get the supplies there any faster. The response
to this disaster can no where be compared to the response to 9/11.
There is a big difference. In New York, only a small area was
attacked and there wasn't anything to block the efforts

All the more reason for there to be an even faster response because the area is over 3 states and not 6 Blocks.


The response to Katrina was poor at best... No ifs ands or buts about it.

[Aero737]

10 miles out of the city and in no shelter. So they are out in the open to bare the brunt of the hurricane (100+mph winds) in the OPEN? Are you crazy? Why not just give everyone a loaded gun and let them shoot themselves. New Orleans isnt sorrounded by suburbia so there would be nowhere for 100,000 + people to go.

And new Orleans is an isolated city. There is the i10 Causway, the state rout 90 bridge and the lake panchatrain bridge to the East and North. To the west you have state route 90 which hugs the coast (aka no a good evacuation route) Interstarte 55 and 10. All the routs were packed for the 3 days before the storm.

New orleans isnt like many florida towns where they can go North, South and either East or West. The area is swampy (hard to build roads), has many lakes, and furthermore a lot of people can't drive.

And I HIGHLY doubt they would be able to evacuate Miami in 72 hours. I think its impossible to compleatly evacuate any city in under 1 week.

[Aero737]

F U Bush.

Not needed in this discussion

I can voice my opinion how I wish. I'm sick of this president. He's a wormy man. He doesn't keep promises.

Point is, he said we're ready to respond if America was ever attacked. What if this was a dirty bomb in New Orleans. Would it take 5 days to get people out of there? Would those people be sitting in a radiation filled town for 5 days?

I sure hope not, but after this, I bet they would.

[Jamesb58]

Aero, 80% of New Orleans got out very quickly. So I think that 100%
could have gotten out. Plus remember, many of the 20% believed that
since they handled Camille, they could handle Katrina. All those who
were in the Superdome and in the Convention Center, could have been
bussed out, BEFORE the storm hit.

I've been to New Orleans before and ya, there isn't much around it, but
Not all of New Orleans and the area was in the levees. These people
could have been easily bussed outside the levees!! They could have
been bussed over by the Airport, which didn't receive any flooding.

If I was the Mayor, I would have had a plan where busses were at
different staging areas. You make an announcement saying, any of
you who need help in evacuating, please go to the nearest
staging area, board the busses and you will be taken to a Safe Zone.

Also remember, the President can only do so much! He can't totally
control how long it takes for trucks to get there. Hmm, people can't
drive at the speed of sound! Still the Mayor is more at fault. Come on
the guy was housed in a Hyatt Hotel. Oh, I bet conditions for him were
worse! geez.

There could have been better plans to have protected these people
from the Hurricane!!! I am apart of an organization that responded
immediatly and was ready to roll before the storm even happened,
but they couldn't make it downtown, because of the dangerous
conditions. There was help at the beginning, just no way of getting
to the people!

[LC3]

People:

I understand that everyone is concerned and angry over this situation (I am angry myself) but flaring tempers and arguing about this isn't helping the issue at hand. The only thing that all of us can do right now is help the victims out right now by donating blood or money to the American Red Cross and pray for those that are alive and for those that have perished.