Airlines to Fly Up to 25,000 Refugees Out of New Orleans!

[im10ashus]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/02/national/nationalspecial/02cnd-air.html

The nation's airlines have been mobilized to fly up to 25,000 refugees out of New Orleans beginning today, under an emergency plan put into effect for the first time by the Department of Homeland Security.

Under the department's national response plan, 15 airlines, including 10 major commercial carriers, will transport up to 25,000 refugees from Louis Armstrong Airport outside New Orleans to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, airlines taking part in the plan said this morning.

The airlines are volunteering their aircraft and crew for the program, which is scheduled to begin at noon and run until this evening. The airlifts also will take place tomorrow and Sunday, the airlines said.

The Transportation Security Administration will secure the airport, according to a memo sent to the airlines. But airlines are being told to "bring everyone and everything you need," the memo said. They were told the status of jet fuel at the airport is "unclear" while power is intermittent.

[brooklynite]

1. About time...

Greyhound should be doing the same with every bus it can muster.

[NYC Liberal]

2. Indeed...but why weren't they getting these people out BEFORE?

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. And so should all the major hotels

Every mega-chain should have to give at least a couple of rooms in each of their properties.

[aztc]

16. Three Buses nearby

These contacts are for media inquiries only

* Ryan Fletcher: 202-641-0277
* Central Tour: Todd Dusenberry: 202-352-0548
* Northern Tour: Morrigan Phillips: 202-258-1822
* Southern Tour: Katya Kruglak: 703-304-5075
* Email: [e-mail]

[tanyev]

3. Well, what took so frickin long.

I'll believe it when I see it.

How long will this be held up by the need to give every refugee a thorough security check before boarding the plane?

[im10ashus]

10. I too will believe it when I see it.

Those poor people down there have lived through hell these past few days and our own government has done little to nothing to ease their suffering. THIS is where they start fucking taking responsibility for their actions, or non-actions, as it were. They fucked us by taking us into Iraq and now they are responding to a national crisis like girl scouts in a forest fire.

[myrna minx]

4. Good lord, its about time.

Geez, do you think this could have occurred to someone, ANYONE in charge, um say LAST WEEKEND?

[OhioChick]

6. I don't like to believe

anything until I see it, anymore.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Finally!

-----------------------------------------------------
Save New Orleans, then save this country!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[markus]

8. They want to get them as far away as possible

so they can't return, because they have no intention of spending $100 billion on rebuilding the city.

[dogday]

9. Federal Government Out Of Money?

The airlines are donating their services without charge, participants said. It is the first time that the Department of Homeland Security has activated the plan, which is being supervised by Michael Jackson, a former Transportation Department official who is the assistant secretary for homeland security.

Everyone donating their services and equipment. Bush and Clinton asking for funds. Where is the money from the federal government? Oh that's right, tax cuts and Iraq. Maybe this would be a good time to rescind the tax cuts. Tax cut money would certainly help NO....

[faithfulcitizen]

14. "Maybe this would be a good time to rescind the tax cuts."-AMEN!

[riverwalker]

11. about frickin' time n/t

[tyedyeto]

12. They didn't do this before when no one would fly to NO

My guess is that their arms were twisted into doing this, if it is true.

[im10ashus]

13. Or the airlines came up with the plan.

I can't imagine anyone in the current administration being clever enough to come up with an actual plan.

[mod mom]

15. As the CBC said they are NOT REFUGEES but American Citizens! nt

[Imagevision]

17. when will this happen???next week!!! Bush, get off the medication or

get back on it!!!

http://downingstreetmemo.com/