THE FAILURES OF LOUISIANA OFFICIALS

THE FAILURES OF LOUISIANA OFFICIALS

The problem I was having while writing this, was not finding the faults, but where to begin. Before you start reading too much, I would like to mention that I still stand behind my earlier statement that the citizens should have taken on some personal responsibility and walked or rode bikes out of the city. This is mostly intended for those who believe that gov’t should coddle them from cradle to grave.

The governor of Louisiana and the mayor of New Orleans have failed the citizens in ways not thought possible. The level of irresponsibility began when Pres. Bush had to call the Gov. and the mayor and tell them to issue a mandatory evacuation. How stupid are these people? They didn't know a Cat 5 storm was bearing down on them? Do they not watch the weather channel? I question their ability to live without a caretaker.

Many people want to blame Bush for the problems in New Orleans. They ask, “Where is the National Guard?” These people should be asking the Governor, “You are commander-in-chief of the state National Guard, why didn’t you have them ready?” They could also ask the Governor, “You have agreements with other states, why didn’t you ask them to send in their troops?” If the governor had organized National Guard troops, the federal gov’t would not need to be involved. There was no need for Pres. Bush to have organized them. What is happening now in New Orleans (airlifts, rescues, controlling looting) could have been done if the governor would have done her job.

Then you have Mayor Ray Nagin. This guy has completely unraveled. He is about as far away from being Rudy Giuliani-ish as you can get. He is running around screaming that the sky is falling. He and the city council of N.O. have also failed the city. Instead of spending money to keep the city safe by making necessary repairs/improvements in the levees, they were spending tax money on gambling institutions, investments with their friends, and a private jet.

Mr. Nagin could have helped many of his citizens by following the Louisiana disaster plan.

Louisiana disaster plan, pg 13, para 5 , dated 01/00

'The primary means of hurricane evacuation will be personal vehicles. School and municipal buses, government-owned vehicles and vehicles provided by volunteer agencies may be used to provide transportation for individuals who lack transportation and require assistance in evacuating'...

Had Mr. Nagin followed this disaster plan, many of the citizens of N.O. could have been saved. I doubt Mr. Nagin even attempted to use any gov’t owned vehicles. Judging from the number of buses in the picture below, he was not aware of a disaster plan.

As you can see, the many buses there could have saved many lives.

Many news outlets are failing to report that FEMA was near New Orleans when the hurricane made landfall. FEMA pulled out of New Orleans when the primates began looting and rioting. Had the Gov. used her given power, the National Guard would have been in there to control the looting. With the looting controlled, there would have been a very good chance FEMA would have stayed in New Orleans.

The failures of these gov’t officials accumulate daily.

Governor Kathleen Blanco (D) is a Failure.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin (D) is a Failure.

****UPDATE #1*****
Links that show the incompetence of the Louisana officials

State of Louisiana Emergency Operations Plan Supplement 1A

New Orleans Hurricane Preparedness

More fun facts from someone who spent a lot of time researching the Louisiana failures

Three Louisiana State officials indicted for obstructing federal audit