Katrina survivors
A friend in the travel industry tells me that the government will be leasing three Carnival cruise ships for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Haven't seen any public announcements on it yet.
The best overall source of hurricane information that I have found is Americablog (http://www.americablog.org/).
Unfortunately, the troubling story about a group of Katrina victims being prevented by FEMA from leaving Marrero, LA, and not being supplied with food or water has turned out to be true. Out of an original 360+ people, deaths have now taken them down to 60 survivors, who are weakening fast. The group has sent out an IM to give their location and ask for help.
The president of Jefferson Parish in New Orleans broke down and cried on NBC's "Meet the Press." (For the video, see http://www.crooksandliars.com.) He said that Wal-Mart had tried to deliver three trucks of water a week ago, but FEMA turned them back. A Coast Guard vessel with 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel had docked, but FEMA wouldn't allow them to give people the fuel. On Saturday, FEMA cut all the emergency communication lines. Sheriff Harry Lee reconnected the line and posted armed guards.
I don't know yet if this is true, but there's an Internet rumour that Jefferson Parish has now seceded from the Union.
FEMA's head, Michael Brown, got the political appointment of managing the nation's emergency resources after he had been fired for destroying the International Arabian Horse Association (which had to declare bankruptcy and start up again under a different name). This gives a whole new meaning to the term, "Horseman of the Apocalypse"!
Undoubtedly, to the extent that survivors can die in place and be quietly disposed of, it will simplify resettlement efforts and prevent lawsuits. Can anybody think of a "G" word that might apply to this situation?
[Edited to incorporate new information.]
The best overall source of hurricane information that I have found is Americablog (http://www.americablog.org/).
Unfortunately, the troubling story about a group of Katrina victims being prevented by FEMA from leaving Marrero, LA, and not being supplied with food or water has turned out to be true. Out of an original 360+ people, deaths have now taken them down to 60 survivors, who are weakening fast. The group has sent out an IM to give their location and ask for help.
The president of Jefferson Parish in New Orleans broke down and cried on NBC's "Meet the Press." (For the video, see http://www.crooksandliars.com.) He said that Wal-Mart had tried to deliver three trucks of water a week ago, but FEMA turned them back. A Coast Guard vessel with 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel had docked, but FEMA wouldn't allow them to give people the fuel. On Saturday, FEMA cut all the emergency communication lines. Sheriff Harry Lee reconnected the line and posted armed guards.
I don't know yet if this is true, but there's an Internet rumour that Jefferson Parish has now seceded from the Union.
FEMA's head, Michael Brown, got the political appointment of managing the nation's emergency resources after he had been fired for destroying the International Arabian Horse Association (which had to declare bankruptcy and start up again under a different name). This gives a whole new meaning to the term, "Horseman of the Apocalypse"!
Undoubtedly, to the extent that survivors can die in place and be quietly disposed of, it will simplify resettlement efforts and prevent lawsuits. Can anybody think of a "G" word that might apply to this situation?
[Edited to incorporate new information.]