NPR Reporter at the NO Conv. Ctr - 2,000 people w/no food, no water

[Roland99]

Listening to NPR on the way home, their reporter stated 2,000 people at the Conv. Ctr. The only food/water they've had is what some people were able to "loot" from stores along the river walk. They are about a mile from the Superdome where there is some food and where people are being evacuated but there are flooded streets between them.

The NPR reporter said there were two bodies on the side of the building, one in a wheelchair and that two more elderly died today. There is human waste everywhere. There are women with babies there. They've seen buses go by, cops go by, Nat'l Guard have stopped by but provided no food/water.


Also, this from MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9160710/

TONY ZUMBADO: I've gotta tell you, I thought I'd seen it all, but just when you think you've seen it all, you go into another situation and you see something horrific. I've never seen anything in my life like this. ... I can't put it into words the amount of destruction that is in this city and how these people are coping. They are just left behind. There is nothing offered to them. No water, no ice, no C-rations, nothing, for the last four days.

They were told to go to the convention center. They did, they've been behaving. It's unbelievable how organized they are, how supportive they are of each other. They have not started any mêlées, any riots ... they just want food and support. And what I saw there I've never seen in this country.

We need to really look at this situation at the convention center. It's getting very very crazy in there and very dangerous. Somebody needs to come down with a lot of food and a lot of water. There's no hostility there ... they need support. These people are very desperate. I saw two gentlemen die in front of me because of dehydration. I saw a baby near death.

[Roland99]

1. No airdrops because of "lack of security" is total BULLSHIT!!

[Zookeeper]

2. I heard Zumbado's report around Noon today...

and I was moved by his emphasis on the fact that MOST of the people at the Superdome are being very orderly. You certainly would never guess that watching CNN or Fox....showing the same clips of looters over and over. They seem to be going out of their way to give right-wing, white Americans a reason to dismiss the tragedy (you know, the problem is really "THOSE people," not another glaring example of BushCo's incompetence).

CNN keeps repeating a shot of a couple of naked, white Barbie dolls hanging from Mardi Gras beads, with African-Americans in the background. What the heck?!? If the camera turned 15 degrees there would likely be a hungry kid sitting on the curb, but that would be more likely to evoke sympathy. They have to maintain a certain level of fear-mongering.

[Roland99]

3. Just heard that there was food/water on the way to the Conv. Ctr

Because of the pressure applied by people like us!