Cops Set to Forcibly Clear Out New Orleans

[Lone_Star_Dem]

By DON BABWIN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 43 minutes ago

NEW ORLEANS - Authorities said their sweep of this deluged city for the last voluntary evacuees was nearly complete, with officers ready to carry out the mayor's order to forcibly remove the thousands who remain in their homes.

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Between 5,000 and 10,000 residents are believed left in the city, where toxic floodwaters have started to slowly recede but the task of collecting rotting corpses and clearing debris will likely take months.

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"It's getting to the point where they're delirious," Rule said. "A couple of them don't know who they were. They think the water will go down in a few days."

Police Chief Eddie Compass said officers would use the "minimum amount of force" necessary to persuade those who remain to evacuate. Although no one was forcibly removed Thursday, some residents said they left under extreme pressure.

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[alkaline9]

1. will they also throw out the guy in the dry part of the city...

...who's having ice flown in daily to chill his afternoon martinis?

[Nihil]

5. Better idea ...

That guy's place sounds like the ideal holding zone where the people
being evicted can be gathered together before being bussed out to
wherever. That way, the poor, the starving, the thirsty, the scared
can all have a few days to recover before their journey.

I'm sure a supportive, patriotic pillar of the community like him will
just love to share his good fortune with those who were unlucky enough
to live lower down the hill.

[bemildred]

2. I wonder if it's going to turn into a war? nt

[TX-RAT]

3. Could very well.

Many of the remaining people have stayed by choice, maybe they think they have plenty of food and water, and they don't want to be a burden on the relief effort. I also think many just don't want to be identified, due to city, state, and federal warrants for their arrest. I wonder how many of those left are illegal aliens trying to stay out of sight.

[bemildred]

4. You have to think they are there for a reason,

or they would have taken the hint and left by now,
and you have to think some of them have arms,
and you have to think some of them intend to fight.

[SujiwanKenobee]

6. In a disaster, should everyone share the pain or smugly pat themselves on

the back for being prepared or having the wherewithal to stay put? Where does community begin and end? I know I'd have a hard time swimming and quaffing martinis or having servants tend to my whims when outside my environs a situation like NO is in had taken place. I'd at least be really, really visible doing my part to help out the greater community if I was in a situation like "Dwyer".

Regarding staying put when your own situation is liveable--no one knows whether the the whole unhealthy water/sewage situation is going to spark a major epidemic. People staying on could become victims or carriers spreading god knows what among their own gated communities...