FEMA blocked 500 boats from joining rescue efforts
-------- Original Message --------
--- Cathy Gilbert wrote:
I just got word that a camp in Live Oaks, Fla. designated for evacuees to go to is closed and the Red Cross has a padlock on the door. I'm hearing that ad hoc citizen rescue teams are being turned away by FEMA. Both Cuba and Venezuela have offered doctors (1100 from Cuba, and) and additional help, all rejected. Ham radio channels are apparently being jammed from somewhere in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico (where the US Navy happens to be..) and below is a story of how a rescue caravan of 500 boats led by police escort was turned away last Wednesday!
And of course all the lead up factors that made the disaster possible.
Is there deliberate non-help going on? Is there an agenda to flush "undesirables" (i.e., people) so something else can happen? a land grab or a restructuring to favor some corporate sweet pie?
What will the rebuilding of the area look like...
From: Michael Canney
Subject: Katrina News - FEMA blocked 500 boats from joining rescue efforts
Look for these FEMA officials to get promotions and raises for a "job well done"...
FEMA BLOCKED 500 BOATS FROM JOINING IN RESCUE EFFORT
CLARK WARNER, DAILY KOS - On Wednesday morning a group of approximately 1,000 citizens pulling 500 boats left the Acadiana Mall in Lafayette in the early morning and headed to New Orleans with a police escort from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department. The flotilla of trucks pulling boats stretched over five miles. This citizen rescue group was organized by La. State Senator, Nick Gautreaux from Vermilion Parish. The group was comprised of experienced boaters, licensed fishermen and hunters, people who have spent their entire adult life and teenage years on the waterways of Louisiana.
The State Police waved the flotilla of trucks/boats through the barricades in LaPlace and we sped into New Orleans via I-10 until past the airport and near the Clearview exit. At that time we were stopped by agents of the FEMA controlled La. Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries.
A young DWF agent strolled through the boats and told approximately half of the citizens that their boats were too large because the water had dropped during the night and that they should turn around and go home.
They were pulling a large (24ft) shallow draft aluminum boat that can safely carry 12 passengers and had ramp access which would allow the elderly and infirm to have easier access to the boat. They then politely informed the DWF agent that the local and national media had consistently reported that the water level had risen during the night which contradicted his statement to them that the water was dropping and no boat over 16 ft. in length would be allowed to participate in rescue operations.
They then specifically asked the DWF agent that they (and other citizens in the flotilla) be allowed to go to the hospitals and help evacuate the sick and the doctors and nurses stranded there. They offered to bring these people back to Lafayette, in our own vehicles, in order to ensure that they received proper and prompt medical care.
The DWF agent did not want to hear this and ordered them home -- all five hundred boats. They complied with the DWF agent's orders, turned around and headed back to Lafayette along with half of the flotilla. However, two friends were pulling a smaller 15 ft alumaweld with a 25 hp. The DWF agents let them through to proceed to the rescue operation launch site.
They were allowed to drive to the launch site where the FEMA controlled La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries were launching their rescue operations (via boat). They reported to me that there were over 200 DWF agents just standing around and doing nothing. They were kept there for approximately 3 hours. During that time they observed a large number of DWF agents doing absolutely nothing. Why? Because FEMA would not let them help! After three hours had passed they were told that they were not needed and should go home. They complied with the DWF's orders and turned around and went home to Lafayette. .
On Tuesday afternoon, August 30, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee asked for all citizens with boats to come to the aid of Jefferson Parish. A short time later Dwight Landreneau, the head of the La. Depart. of Wildlife and Fisheries, got on television and remarked that his agency had things under control and citizen help was not needed. .
http://pelican.dailykos.com/
Cathy Gilbert Miami, FL
305 573 2909
--- End forwarded message ---
Informant: Debi Clark
--- Cathy Gilbert wrote:
I just got word that a camp in Live Oaks, Fla. designated for evacuees to go to is closed and the Red Cross has a padlock on the door. I'm hearing that ad hoc citizen rescue teams are being turned away by FEMA. Both Cuba and Venezuela have offered doctors (1100 from Cuba, and) and additional help, all rejected. Ham radio channels are apparently being jammed from somewhere in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico (where the US Navy happens to be..) and below is a story of how a rescue caravan of 500 boats led by police escort was turned away last Wednesday!
And of course all the lead up factors that made the disaster possible.
Is there deliberate non-help going on? Is there an agenda to flush "undesirables" (i.e., people) so something else can happen? a land grab or a restructuring to favor some corporate sweet pie?
What will the rebuilding of the area look like...
From: Michael Canney
Subject: Katrina News - FEMA blocked 500 boats from joining rescue efforts
Look for these FEMA officials to get promotions and raises for a "job well done"...
FEMA BLOCKED 500 BOATS FROM JOINING IN RESCUE EFFORT
CLARK WARNER, DAILY KOS - On Wednesday morning a group of approximately 1,000 citizens pulling 500 boats left the Acadiana Mall in Lafayette in the early morning and headed to New Orleans with a police escort from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department. The flotilla of trucks pulling boats stretched over five miles. This citizen rescue group was organized by La. State Senator, Nick Gautreaux from Vermilion Parish. The group was comprised of experienced boaters, licensed fishermen and hunters, people who have spent their entire adult life and teenage years on the waterways of Louisiana.
The State Police waved the flotilla of trucks/boats through the barricades in LaPlace and we sped into New Orleans via I-10 until past the airport and near the Clearview exit. At that time we were stopped by agents of the FEMA controlled La. Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries.
A young DWF agent strolled through the boats and told approximately half of the citizens that their boats were too large because the water had dropped during the night and that they should turn around and go home.
They were pulling a large (24ft) shallow draft aluminum boat that can safely carry 12 passengers and had ramp access which would allow the elderly and infirm to have easier access to the boat. They then politely informed the DWF agent that the local and national media had consistently reported that the water level had risen during the night which contradicted his statement to them that the water was dropping and no boat over 16 ft. in length would be allowed to participate in rescue operations.
They then specifically asked the DWF agent that they (and other citizens in the flotilla) be allowed to go to the hospitals and help evacuate the sick and the doctors and nurses stranded there. They offered to bring these people back to Lafayette, in our own vehicles, in order to ensure that they received proper and prompt medical care.
The DWF agent did not want to hear this and ordered them home -- all five hundred boats. They complied with the DWF agent's orders, turned around and headed back to Lafayette along with half of the flotilla. However, two friends were pulling a smaller 15 ft alumaweld with a 25 hp. The DWF agents let them through to proceed to the rescue operation launch site.
They were allowed to drive to the launch site where the FEMA controlled La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries were launching their rescue operations (via boat). They reported to me that there were over 200 DWF agents just standing around and doing nothing. They were kept there for approximately 3 hours. During that time they observed a large number of DWF agents doing absolutely nothing. Why? Because FEMA would not let them help! After three hours had passed they were told that they were not needed and should go home. They complied with the DWF's orders and turned around and went home to Lafayette. .
On Tuesday afternoon, August 30, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee asked for all citizens with boats to come to the aid of Jefferson Parish. A short time later Dwight Landreneau, the head of the La. Depart. of Wildlife and Fisheries, got on television and remarked that his agency had things under control and citizen help was not needed. .
http://pelican.dailykos.com/
Cathy Gilbert Miami, FL
305 573 2909
--- End forwarded message ---
Informant: Debi Clark
Starmail - 5. Sep, 14:55
