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Thursday, September 01, 2005

Katrina notes

"Holy Crap" is right

Stephen Green links to some horrific satellite images of New Orleans.

Entitled among stranded

A Spanish MP is among the stranded at the New Orleans Convention Center:
Lourdes Munoz Santamaria, her husband and his 10-year-old son were on vacation in New Orleans and were unable to get a flight out of the city before Hurricane Katrina struck.

They ended up at the New Orleans Convention Center, where Munoz has used a pay phone to make several calls to a journalist friend in Madrid to describe the conditions.

The journalist, Montserrat Boix of Spain's state television TVE, said Munoz told her the situation at the center was steadily deteriorating and that authorities were unaware of the magnitude of the problem.
The authorities are unaware of the magnitude of the problem? Lady, you aren't aware of the magnitude of the problem. This is a city that was once home to 1.5 million people. There's 100,000 or so still stranded, spread to the far corners of this sprawling metropolis. And, believe it or not Princess, many are in far worse sorts than you are. Some are still stuck in attics and on roofs, wandering the streets aimlessly, or trapped in high-rises with no food, water, or means of communication. Drop to your knees and thank your lucky stars you managed to not only survive uninjured, but also found dry land and decent shelter.

Where do you expect the authorities to start such a massive relief effort? Mrs. Munoz's answer would be "with me, of course."

Personally, I've been rather impressed with the reaction thus far - there's only so much food, water, manpower, and transportation you can get to such a devastated area in the first few days. All evidence suggests that the authorities are doing all they can.

The Finest

I saw this too, and had the same thought. Leave the guy alone. He's not being withholding out of spite, he just doesn't have anything to help. In case you don't realize, Shep, it's his city too. He's in the same sad boat as everyone on that bridge. And yet, he still pulls-on that uniform to try to help in any way he can, even as the police are becoming targets all over the city. He deserves your adulation, not spite.

How to Help

Instapundit has a huge list of places to help. I've already given more to the American Red Cross than I could really afford to - please do the same.

Comments:


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050901/ts_alt_afp/usweatherscene_050901192401

You're very likely to be right about the MP wanting special attention, but let's not act like there isn't a problem with the authorities.

National Guardsman without weapons?

posted by Blogger Genaro @ 2:55 PM
From what you posted, it looked to me like an honest assessment of the situation. From the article, the quotes talked about "the people..." I didn't see any "woe is me and who cares about anyone else" sentiment that you implied. And just what is the situation? This is from NPR:
__________________________

John Burnett: There are 2,000 people living outside the convention center. There is no food. There is absolutely no water. There is no medical treatment. There are no police. There are two dead bodies on the ground and in a wheel chair around the convention center, both elderly people. We understand two more died earlier.

We understand that a 10 year old girl was raped in the convention center in the last two nights. People are absolutely desperate there.

I have never seen anything like this.

....Host: Is there someone in charge?

John Burnett: No. There is no one. There is no one in charge of this effort. They seem to be throwing it back between national guard, city police and state police. The plan seems to be changing by the hour. These people were told to go to the Superdome, then to the convention center, then they were told buses would pick them up, but nothing is happening...
_________________________

I don't know why you're picking on her.

posted by Blogger Seitz @ 4:47 PM