Hell on Earth - New Orleans after Katrina 



CNN.com is reporting serious problems at the Superdome, with respect to looting, crowd control, and sanitation:
 
Troops and police have been working to evacuate tens of thousands of people, who are growing weaker and more desperate each hour. 
 
Thousands of people have been sleeping on streets, interstate access ramps, bridges or any dry spot they can find. 
 
Outside the New Orleans Convention Center, a huge crowd waited on the sidewalks for aid that could be a long time coming. The building was used as a secondary shelter when the Louisiana Superdome was overwhelmed. (Watch report on the desperate conditions at the convention center -- 2:54 ) 
 
CNN's Chris Lawrence reported that conditions inside the building were appalling -- a number of bodies were visible, including a baby. 
 
"We are out here like pure animals. We don't have any help," Rev. Issac Clark told the Associated Press. 
 
Spellman said that there were also bodies outside the building and that no one had come to collect them


Given the large number of people at the Superdome, why can't some National Guard or Army unit helicopter in and take control?

One of my hobby sites is Saabcentral.com, and this morning "Rob from Atlanta" reports on e-mails he's getting from government officials with access to inside data:

Our office has contacts with certain governmental officials in Louisiana. These people are normally reliable, but I have no way of determining if the information is correct. THIS INFORMATION MAY PROVE TO BE WRONG OR OVERSTATED. We have received several emails in the past hour with similar information to the effect of the following:

Quote:

1. Superdome is on fire

2. approximately 200 armed looters have taken control of superdome - armed military on way to take back control

2. 6 18 wheel refrigerator trucks of dead bodies at the superdome alone

3. looters are shooting at military and civilians trying to help.

4. the news media is stirring the pot, going into areas and rallying people up complaining the government doesn't care about them and then leaving them with no water, food, or taking anyone out and providing no help

5. they have declared total marshal [sic] law (shoot to kill)


This is without a doubt the worst natural disaster ever experienced by the United States. And early reports on the effectiveness of the federal response are not encouraging.  

Posted: Thu - September 1, 2005 at 11:37 AM        

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