http:/ /www.redcross.org/faq/ 0,1096,0_682_4524,00. html#4524

[Beam Me Up]

Red Cross

* Acess to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

* The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.

http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html#4524

Edit to fix link.

[Swamp Rat]

1. kick and recommended! n/t

http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html#4524

[longship]

2. The bastards.

n/t

[steve2470]

3. kick nt

[SheepyMcSheepster]

4. kick

[Catchawave]

5. So are they or aren't they ON THE SCENE....?

They should pull their commericials if they are not.

[Beam Me Up]

7. They are not 'on the scene' in New Orleans.

They are not allowed to enter and the survivors are not allowed to leave.

[mermaid]

28. WHAAAAAAAAAT????

survivors not allowed to leave?? WTF are they supposed to do, stay there till they die? Not like Bush gives a crap about them, after all, they're only BLACK People!!

Jeebus Christ...we have our own Gitmo...our very own American Concentration Camp, built by Katrina. And Bush does nothing....ASSHOLE!!!

[Horse with no Name]

They are taking care of evacuees

in cities across Texas and elsewhere.
They are on the scene.

[Roland99]

6. Viva la Revolution!!

It's time to MARCH ON D.C.!!

[Beam Me Up]

9. Looks that way to me. This IS NOT INCOMPETENCE THIS IS POLICY.

[niceypoo]

39. Third world incompetence

Shown again and again..........

[iamjoy]

8. That Doesn't Even Make Sense

Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.


I'm trying to understand this, because HSD seems to believe it.

A hurricane victim in the outskirts of NOLA hears on their television set that Red Cross is braving the toxic flood waters of the city center to provide food to storm victims. So, the victim drives their car as far as possible, and then walks the remaining several miles into the city for the free food the Red Cross is distributing. Then, they don't want to leave because the services the Red Cross provides are just so excellent, it is worth the stench of death the permeates the city, and worth 95 degree heat plus 90% humidity. The victim doesn't want to go to a clean, air conditioned shelter in another state. They want to stay in NOLA.

:wtf:

[Beam Me Up]

11. Yep.

[SammyWinstonJack]

12. Sounds like bushit to me!

:shrug:

[jean]

14. that comment implies people are just free to come and go as they

please.

We saw Geraldo and Shepard Smith report that the NG has shut down the exit from the city.

The victims of Katrina, who are really victims of the bush administration, are being held hostage.

A bush crime family variation on genocide is being perpetrated against those people.

[iamjoy]

18. What Is The Official Reason

for not letting them leave the city? I think at this point I would be inclined to say to hell with waiting, I'll walk to Baton Rouge or somewhere else.

[mom cat]

47. They are too weak to walk that far.

[Beam Me Up]

22. "bush crime family variation on genocide" RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR EYES

Come on, people!

The people of New Orleans are being MURDERED BY THE POLICES OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. This is not some 'fuck up'. This is POLICY!

[mermaid]

30. It Would Appear So...

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[mom cat]

46. Now that he has had his photo op, I bet they will be leaving...those who

are still alive.

[Roland99]

10. It would encourage others to come into the city?

WTF?!? Why would anyone go INTO the city knowing it's underwater and has no food/water? If they're OUT of the city then they have access to food/water!


Something smells worse than what the Superdome must smell like!

[Eric J in MN]

13. Daily Kos article by Steve Rose

http://dailykos.com/story/2005/9/2/2125/04978

Red Cross NEVER allowed into New Orleans.
by SteveRose
Fri Sep 2nd, 2005 at 18:02:05 PDT
My first diary! This whole week has been so depressing. My Red Cross donation was one bright spot. At least I had done something to help.

Then, after reading dKos and the other blogs all week and seeing over and over again comments that that FEMA and the NG were no where to be seen from the people on the ground in NO, I was wondering where the Red Cross was in all this. They were never mentioned. It was like they didn't exist. And, after yesterday's drama at the convention center, the Brown and Chertoff lies, the Red Cross was still MIA. Then, earlier today, I saw a note that the Red Cross was not allowed to enter NO. Hmm, that's doesn't make sense. This simmered for a couple hours.

So I called the Red Cross and asked them if its true....

updated to more blatant title.

SteveRose's diary :: ::
And, to my surprise, the nice lady answering the phone said it was true and they told/asked/ordered not to enter NO. She then went right into her spiel about all the other work the Red Cross was doing across the region. I said that's nice, but I still didn't understand why they weren't in NO. To my amazement, she patiently explained it to me. I even called back to verify what she said. This time she asked if I was media, I said no, just a concerned and confused contributor.

So here goes: Homeland Security (her term, not mine) told the Red Cross DO NOT enter New Orleans and says this still now. And why, you may ask? Not Security. Not worker safety. Not lack of access. It was because people would be drawn to the Red Cross food and they wouldn't want to go to be evacuated. So I asked: "The people starving and dying at the convention center yesterday couldn't get Red Cross food and water because they would be drawn to the food at the convention center, where they were, and not want to be evacuated from the convention center where no evacuations were going on or planned and all the while they are dying". (Actually, it was a couple questions.) She went back into her spiel about all of the other good work they were doing. When I asked again, she said yes, that was true. She seem relieved to admit it.

In closing, I asked if she asked this question before since she was very familiar with the answer she gave. She said yes. And I promised another donation. Which they will get after this post.

So, the question for Bushies, why was the Red Cross banned from NO when they knew people were starving? Could it be they were saving the convention center rescue until Bush's visit today? It certainly seems like it. Doesn't it?

Red Cross National Affairs number (202-303-5551)

[Beam Me Up]

17. I want to say that is UN FUCKING BELIEVABLE but I know better than that.

That is the problem: IT IS TOTALLY FUCKING BELIEVABLE.

This is how SICK SICK SICK these people are.

Please, everyone, GET THIS INFORMATION OUT ON YOUR EMAIL LISTS NOW!!!

[AuntiBush]

21. Really, Really, Really!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sick. Vile. Evil!

[Roland99]

34. "people would be drawn to the Red Cross food"..BS and here's why!

I just got off the phone with a friend who's working in the Galleria building right now. He says from the 17th St. Canal to the Superdome, the city is UNDERWATER (except the FQ and the CBD).

People will NOT go back into the city to get some scraps of food/water. They have access to better OUTSIDE of the city.

Also, there's only one way into the city (I-10 from the west.)

The "twin span" is GONE and the southbound Causeway is damaged. It looks like "spaghetti" according to my friend. That leaves I-10 and it would be rather easy to blockade traffic that wasn't part of the Red Cross.


Something is afoot.


Don't be surprised to hear of building collapses or a city-wide conflagration once the Superdome/Conv. Ctr. are emptied.

[Im with Rosey]

60. Building Collapse

What makes you think they will wait til its empty?

[Roland99]

62. Fewer witnesses

[Im with Rosey]

63. Good point

Maybe it will just have to be mysteriously imploded...Nothing will surprise me anymore. I think they know they have really F'ed up and now they are trying desperately to fix and they are making mistakes.

[Roland99]

83. As I was saying: Fires burn along river;

As I was saying:

Fires burn along river; thousands wait to leave
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/03/katrina.impact/index.html

[mom cat]

48. Check the Red Cross link for info about the ban...

http://www.gov.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html

[mom cat]

49. This is the key part of what they put on their website:

According to the official Red Cross site, the Red Cross is being prevented from bringing disaster relief to New Orleans.

Hurricane Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?

* Access to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

* The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.

[femrap]

88. Something else is strange.....

Corporations aren't helping.....or maybe I have missed their efforts, but I think not. For example, tonight on the evening news, Anderson Cooper asked why the Communications Companies weren't donating phones so people could locate their family and friends.

Corporations usually always love these disasters so they can donate their products and look good. Why hasn't Walmart donated all the merchandise they have in the stores of New Orleans? It's covered by insurance. Why is that, do you suppose?

No Red Cross, no Corporate donations, no assistance from other countries, no help from other states...WHY? Cuz W. said so.

I am beginnning to think that this neocon administration consists of a bunch of 'Sadistic Thugs' who really get a kick out of watching people who are unlike themselves (women, children, non-caucasians) suffer. I think they enjoy seeing these people in despair...and knowing they CONTROL ALL OF THE POWER THAT CAN MAKE THEIR LIVES MISERABLE....it's like the 'return of the Marque de Sade' or something.

It is beyond incompetence...this administration is intentionally cruel....sadistic.

I have always thought that these neocons have wanted to declare Martial Law nationwide...and maybe they were hoping urban unrest would ensue if they kept ignoring the folks of New Orleans.

I don't know....but what I do know is that Rove's mind is behind this....and that man is one sadistic sicko.

Any other explanations come to mind?

[IndyOp]

15. While FEMA continues to lie - saying that

Red Cross won't set up in NOLA because of the lawlessness --
<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4598643&mesg_id=4598643>

:puke:

[blondeatlast]

65. Anyone familiar with the operations of the RC worldwide knows that is

utter bullshit.

They are allowed into combat zones under the Geneva Conventions--and THEY GO.

Things must get truly horrifying indeed (they eventually pulled out of Fallujah after several months) before they make the fateful decision to LEAVE.

If they aren't going in--it isn't the Red Cross's decision, count on that much.

This is all Bush and Brown, and nothing but Bush and Brown. These desperate peole have become totally helpless pawns in a sick political game.

May God give comfort to their weary souls.

[proud patriot]

16. this is the link Mike Malloy was talking about

holy shit ...What an outrage

[AuntiBush]

19. This needs to be blasted all over the Internet!

It's a print-out to be shown to every-one I bang into starting tomorrow!

[uncertainty1999]

20. I just donated to the Red Cross...

I hope it goes to help those desperate NO residents -- perhaps it'll find its way to them in TX or elsewhere.....

[Trevelyan]

26. TPM Cafe.com has an ad from ACORN saying donate to them so

the money doesn't end up in Bush's pocket.

Someone on AOL messageboard wrote that Bush said to send cash and he wrote WTF they can't eat cash, the stores are closed, they need food and water and they can't buy it.

This is like Fallujah, they did not want The Red Cross, or the Red Crescent or the media or anyone witnessing the genocide.

[blondeatlast]

67. DINGSINGDING! They know the Red Cross won't hold back and

has the worldwide credibility to let the world know it's a genocide.

[caligirl]

23. repug logic, guns first food last. George your screwed now.

[Beam Me Up]

24. KICK

[spuddonna]

25. Hey everyone...send an email here to CNN! NEWS TIP>>>

link: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11.html?1

TELL THEM! I'll try to find one of these for other news stations, too...

PS - Please let me know if the link doesn't work...thnx

[Beam Me Up]

33. DONE!

[Mutley]

56. Done.

CNN sure has been getting a lot of emails from me this week...

[morffin]

64. Sent

Thanks for the link....I also asked CNN if they could send Novak into the Superdome.

[femrap]

89. Sent....nt

[mermaid]

27. WTF?!!?

So what about the people who need help??

Jesus....

[Trevelyan]

35. kick Thank you for the link to CNN my email:

Why isn't the Red Cross being allowed into New Orleans? Why is the National Guard preventing them? This is genocide!! Just like Fallujah when the military would not allow The Red Cross, The Red Crescent or the media to enter until they had finished their door to door mass murder of anyone who did not die in the illegal bombing including napalm and cluster bombs.

REPORT ON THIS GENOCIDE AND ASK ON THE PUBLIC AIRWAVES, WHY IS THE RED CROSS PREVENTED FROM ENTERING NEW ORLEANS TO HELP THE DYING PEOPLE?? BY OUR NATIONAL GUARD!! GENOCIDE!!!! REPORT THE TRUTH!!!

[jurassicpork]

29. That makes no sense.

The Red Cross routinely goes into disaster areas to help people whether or not they're trying to evacuate. And who's helping those who are too tired, sick or injured to move?

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com/

[chomskysright]

31. I just plastered/ glued this to the door of the Asheville Citizen-Times

[Beam Me Up]

32. THANK YOU!

This is what we need. We need to get this UNDER THE NOSES OF THE MEDIA.

[Mutley]

58. I also sent it to the Baltimore Sun.

Along with the link to the RC excuse for not being there, and the newsmeat site showing that the Chairman of the RC has donated $135,445 to the Republican party since 1991 (nearly $10,000/year :wow: How many people in NO didn't even make that much money in one year?).

[incapsulated]

36. Once you start giving those niggers free food...

They'll never leave the city.

Make sense now?

I want criminal indictments for homicide right now.

[tandem5]

37. I think the fact that people are locked in keeps them from evacuating nt

[tgnyc]

38. What the mothafuckin' fuck is THIS SHIT?!!!!!!

[stickdog]

40. That is fricken' UNREAL!

Even after everything else, that's a tough pill to swallow.

Our

leaders

are

now

confirmed

MURDERERS.

[mackdaddy]

41. Not refugees, Concentration Camp Prisoners.

"You can check out, but you can never leave"

They restrict the Red Cross access to Abu Grebe and Guantanamo too.

All of those conspiracy theories are starting to get more and more scary.

The supplies rolling in at the same time Georgie lands in the area on the split screen was as scripted as when the Iranian hostages landed and Regan was sworn in back when being on that split screen.

The incompetence and coincidences rises to the point of intentional manipulation.

[Roland99]

42. Chairman of the Red Cross - Bonnie Hunter - Political Donations

http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/Bonnie_McElveen-Hunter.php

[mom cat]

44. What a repuke fat cat...

[PinkyisBlue]

66. Republican donations

Geez!! $100,000 donation in 2000, $25,000 donation in 2004, plus more. That is serious money. It seems strange that the head of an organization that provides relief to disaster victims should be so loyal/beholden to the RNC, unless...........

[Hubert Flottz]

70. Probably donated money she collected, during the 9/11 days, to.

Bushco and the RNC. There is nothing too low down for SOME of these people to do! I knew the United Way and the Salvation Army were corrupt and I suspected that the Red Cross was too. I remember there was a big mess over the money that people donated to the 9/11 victims being "Mishandled"...I knew one of the National Top Dogs at United way, got busted for stealing money people had donated, several years ago.

Once upon a time, there was one hell of a flood here in this state and hundreds of people in the state were left suffering from the disaster, in some way or other. People from every state in the union, donated everything from money, to used clothing. The Salvation Army Dumped 4 semi trailer loads of clothes in the trash. I saw with my own eyes a warehouse that covered about five acres, packed full of donated items, including fire trucks, taxi cabs, cars, new clothing for men women and children, brand new children's toys and on and on and on! Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of donated items.

The sad part of this story is, it was more than eight months after the disaster, that I saw all these things, still stored in the warehouse. Things people had donated in good faith, to people in GREAT NEED, much like the people in NO. We asked the man in charge of the Salvation Army here in town, why all these things were not given to the flood victims and he told us, that all these items were stored here to be distributed to the Salvation Army stores across the nation, to be sold for cash.

By the time the dollar you donate to those poor people, is passed from the donor to the victim, that the dollar was intended to help, the victim might get a dime. The rest goes to pay the hundreds of $40,000 to $100,000 a year administrators and other assorted blood suckers.

[mom cat]

43. Also check out these threads on this issue:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4601376

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4601376

[IdaBriggs]

45. Red Cross will *NOT* Send Volunteers Into Harm's Way -- PERIOD.

Until the National Guard gets things under control, they are not going to send their volunteers into harm's way otherwise we become VICTIMS instead of rescuers.

We're just not used to it taking this long for it to be "safe" in America.

(Yes, I'm deploying next week.)

ON EDIT: I am simply a low level volunteer, and do not speak on behalf of the American Red Cross in any way, shape or form. We are also not allowed to be "political" while representing the Red Cross, since we help EVERYONE regardless of race, sex, age, politics, etc.

[riverwalker]

52. if it was not in "harms way"

then it would not be a disaster, would it?

[IdaBriggs]

54. Incorrect. Disasters happen -- and we pick up the pieces AFTERWARDS.

Bullets we do *NOT* deal with. They will *NOT* deploy us to an area that is out of control. That is one of the reasons we have a National Guard -- they are supposed to keep things "under control" so we can take care of the business of keeping people alive. We do food/water, shelter, and first aid. That might not sound like a lot, but our ERVs can feed 50,000 people, and we've "been there" for every major disaster in the United States. Want to join up? We're in active recruitment mode right now! :)

[Mutley]

57. That would be a reasonable explanation except one thing...

That is not the official reason given on their website. What's that about?

Red Cross

* Acess to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

* The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.

http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html#4...

[Eloriel]

74. Ida -- two things -- please read

first, things being "out of control" isn't even the reason the FEMA has given the Red Cross for not allowing it into NO:

Daily Kos article by Steve Rose
(discussion with Red Cross re going into NO)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4598834&mesg_id=4599049
Link: http://dailykos.com/story/2005/9/2/2125/04978

Homeland Security won't let Red Cross deliver food #
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1749261&mesg_id=1749261
Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05246/565143.stm


Second, things are NOT out of control. There is some lawlessness and some looting in the city, but that seems to have been grossly exaggerated. I have sat here with TV on all day, every day since a day or two BEFORE the hurricane, and SINCE the dawning realization of this ungodly delay in getting aid to the people held against their will in the superdome and convention center, reporters on the cable stations have gone out of their way to point out how ORDERLY, docile, compliant the people in these two facilities have been. I've never seen anything like it.

Further, there's a report from the person who should know that there was NEVER any firing on any helicopters, as reported (and then echoed and echoed and echoed in the media):

QUOTE: Laura Brown, a Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman in Washington, said she had no such report.

"We're controlling every single aircraft in that airspace and none of them reported being fired on," she said, adding that the FAA was in contact with the military as well as civilian aircraft.

Evacuation Disrupted by Gunshot Report
Superdome Evacuation Disrupted by Report of Gunshot Fired at Military Helicopter; No Injuries Reported
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1087205

Lots of us are coming to the conclusion that all of this is intentional, and then you have to ask why. Some people think the delay in getting aid in and people out was just to stage a photo op for George Bush but that doesn't make sense in light of ALL the facts we've been able to assemble. Here's my theory (and the fact that 7000 Northern Command active duty TROOPS are being sent in today supports some of my theory):

ATTN DU RESEARCHERS -- LIHOP/MIHOP evidence stacking up
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4588088&mesg_id=4588088

[IdaBriggs]

77. Orientation Training in Detroit on Thursday:

"We will NOT send you someplace unsafe. Unfortunately, right now the situation is so fluid, we CANNOT guarantee your safety. But we will not send you somewhere where guns are being fired."

I can only share what I've been told -- and frankly, I'm not even supposed to be saying that because I'm not a spokesman.

Did I mention this is a clusterfuck? I know why, too, but I am *NOT* allowed to say or else I will *NOT* be deployed, so I must unfortunately bow out of this conversation at this time.

:(

[mom cat]

79. Good luck in your eventual deployment. You have some hard work

ahead...Let us know what you can whenever you can..:grouphug:

[mom cat]

81. Thanks for your eloquent clarification....Thanks for helping stop the

rumor mill.

[mom cat]

82. Thanks for helping stop the rumor mill.

[YellerdawgFlorida]

50. Three letters

WTF?????????????
Has the whole country gone haywire?

[riverwalker]

51. Red Cross needs to explain

why they had no presence in New Orleans, none. Not passing out water or food, nothing. They were not there. We lost an entire city, and the Red Cross WAS NOT THERE. This is a private organization, with a huge payroll, and needs to be held accountable. If all disaster relief has to be filtered and approved by Homeland Security, then it affects all of us. Disaster relief is just that, DISASTER relief, at the scene of the disaster. That cup of hot soup they hand out in Houston is welcome, but that is not the only reason why I donate money. I am totally disgusted and disappointed right now by the American Red Cross. The International Red Cross is a different organization, and seems to know what disaster relief is supposed to be.

[RebelOne]

53. OK, tell me why there was just a commerical

on TV from the Red Cross asking for donations and saying that they were there on the scene in NO?

[riverwalker]

55. I am just astounded

If the National Guard just provides security and does not hand out supplies, and if the Red Cross does not go into "harms way", then who the hell is supposed to help people dying of thirst?
Is it any wonder this is a major screw up? I don't want to bash the Red Cross, really I don't. I am a nurse and am familiar with their good works, but people have died who should not have died. Michael Chetoff, Michael Brown and now Bonnie Hunter, all need to explain to the American people how this happened, five days without water for god sakes, with millions of dollars pouring in.

Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chairman of the American Red Cross

American Red Cross National Headquarters
2025 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: [phone]

[nicknameless]

59. This is conscious, deliberate, premeditated genocide.

.

[dansolo]

61. Is this a dry run for wide scale marshal law?

There has been talk about declarations of marshal law after a future terrorist act. It's almost like they are more concerned with implementing marshal law than by providing aid.

[Eloriel]

75. I think it's a dry run -- or actual if they can do it -- for martial law

ATTN DU RESEARCHERS -- LIHOP/MIHOP evidence stacking up
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4588088&mesg_id=4588088

[blondeatlast]

68. RED CROSS WAS READY, WILLING, AND ABLE ON 8/29

WASHINGTON, Monday, August 29, 2005 — The American Red Cross is launching the largest mobilization of resources in its history for a single natural disaster. Hurricane Katrina, a deadly Category 4 storm, is barreling ashore this morning along the Gulf Coast and has the potential to leave widespread devastation in its wake.

"Hurricane Katrina is wreaking havoc for southeast Florida and the Gulf coast states," said Joe Becker, Senior Vice President of Preparedness and Response for the American Red Cross. "The Red Cross will meet the challenge by doing what we do best—coming together to respond with tireless compassion to take care of our neighbors."

The Red Cross is mobilizing on all fronts to bring relief to storm victims. More than two hundred Red Cross shelters are housing thousands of residents who fled Katrina’s wrath. All available resources from across the country, including thousands of staff and volunteers are being moved to safe areas, so additional relief efforts can begin immediately after the storm passes. More than 200 emergency response vehicles (ERVs) and countless other Red Cross resources are en route or on the scene to provide hot meals, snacks, bottled water and distribute other much-needed relief supplies. In coordination with the Southern Baptists, preparations have been made to provide more than 500,000 hot meals to storm-weary residents each day.

"We are prepared at every level for what will likely be a catastrophic disaster," said Lois Grady-Wesbecher, Manager of the Disaster Operations Center at American Red Cross national headquarters. "When Mother Nature is at her worst, the American Red Cross is at its best."

http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_4473,00.html

These people aren't amateurs. They know what is needed in situations such as this and you can be damn certain they had it ready.

Michael Brown; this is on your hands.

[Penndems]

69. This would explain why I haven't heard back from the Red Cross

I called yesterday morning and left a message offering to volunteer on the Gulf Coast and in New Orleans. Why, in the name of God, would the powers that be deliberately without food, shelter and medical assistance from these folks?

This is genocide, as far as I'm concerned.

[MeatLoafZero]

71. Bullet Point 5

The Red Cross does not conduct search and rescue operations. We are an organization of civilian volunteers and cannot get relief aid into any location until the local authorities say it is safe and provide us with security and access.

People have been shooting at rescue helicopters and attacking ambulances. Why would they respect the Red Cross?

IMHO, the National Guard is just preventing more people from becoming victims.

[stickdog]

72. So you are blithely excusing genocide because you ASSUME

that starving and thirsty people are going to injure their rescuers?

Please remember that God is watching.

[MeatLoafZero]

90. I'm not assuming anything.

People have attacked rescuers.

I looked up "genocide": The systematic and planned extermination of an entire national, racial, political, or ethnic group.

Now you go look up "hyperbole."

[Beam Me Up]

76. Shooting at helicopters. Yes, this has been reported BUT HAS IT BEEN

CONFIRMED??

Sometime yesterday I saw a thread where an FAA (or some other alphabet agency, cant recall for sure) official said that no pilots had reported any such thing to them. Gun shots were heard, but they could have been signaling for attention to be rescued.

[MeatLoafZero]

91. You're right, BMU.

It has not been confirmed. But attacks on ambulances and police officers have been, so I'll stick with my original point, if not all of my original examples. *L*

[Eloriel]

73. More FEMA links

Daily Kos article by Steve Rose
(discussion with Red Cross re going into NO)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4598834&mesg_id=4599049
Link: http://dailykos.com/story/2005/9/2/2125/04978

Homeland Security won't let Red Cross deliver food #
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1749261&mesg_id=1749261
Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05246/565143.stm


Some disturbing information on FEMA and Mike Brown
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4603522
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Brown_%28FEMA%29
also: Wexler speech txpt: http://www.wexler.house.gov/news.php?ID=116


Did FEMA really do all this? (many links)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4602266

FEMA, a brief review of its powers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2056985

FEMA Director was forced to resign from his last job for incompetence!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4577657
and: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2054821
Link: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/2/34622/68348

FEMA Head: Lawlessness Not Anticipated
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1746505&mesg_id=1746505
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090200686.html

FEMA Director Michael D. Brown's earlier scandal
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=104&topic_id=4567425&mesg_id=4567425 (several links)
Rep. Wexler called for Bush to fire FEMA's Mike Brown in January
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2053425
Link: http://66.218.69.11/search/cache?p=www.house.gov%2Fwexler%2Fpressreleases%2F012405.htm&ei=UTF-8&fl=0&u=www.house.gov/wexler/pressreleases/012405.htm&d=DC8DC804F4&icp=1&.intl=us
and: http://66.218.69.11/search/cache?p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.house.gov%2Fwexler%2Fpressreleases%2F042705.htm&ei=UTF-8&fl=0&u=www.house.gov/wexler/pressreleases/042705.htm&d=B3041C9560&icp=1&.intl=us


So, what was Chertoff thinking and why wasn't he prepared
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2053440
Link: http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/witnesslist.cfm?id=1580

Whooaa... Ted Koppel on Nightline tearing FEMA guy a new one...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4569331

How much spinning of the truth in this story from the Houston Chronicle?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2052868
Link: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/nation/3329522

Blaming the Victim
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x152442

FEMA to resuers: Pay for your own damn gas
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4565417&mesg_id=4565417
Link: http://dailykos.com/story/2005/9/1/211114/2959

Former FEMA Director Criticizes Current Management
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4565117
Link: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_09/007020.php

Idiot FEMA director told Paula Zahn that the Feds "didn't know"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4564549

MSNBC comments on federal response for NOLA flooding.
Local official blames FEMA for ‘national disgrace’
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4564044
Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9161462/

Mike Brown needs to be clapped in irons & thrown in jail when this is over
He just said flat-out that no one knew of the stranded victims at the Convention Center until today.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4563342

FEMA Directing Donations To Rev. Pat Robertson
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1745189&mesg_id=1745189
Link: http://www.sploid.com/news/2005/09/01/fema-directing-donations-to-rev-pat-robertson-123509.php

FEMA director on CNN making excuses now
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4563248#4563262

FEMA Michael D. Brown
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4560238
Link: http://www.fema.gov/about/bios/brown.shtm


And some other dots to connect:
ATTN DU RESEARCHERS -- LIHOP/MIHOP evidence stacking up
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4588088&mesg_id=4588088

[Mr Rabble]

78. OMG.

[Renew Deal]

80. They are trying to starve them out of the city.

I heard someone say that they were not dropping food because they wanted people to leave.

[truth2power]

84. After reading this thread

I called the Red Cross in DC this am, at the # given in Eric J's post above. I talked to an individual who related the story as posted here. This was about 11am today.

I called 2 of my local TV news stations. One knew nothing about this. I gave the number and asked that they put this on their news.

The other said they knew about this but now have "heard", around 6 am, that it isn't so. I told them they better recheck, as what they "heard" isn't true.

Someone's putting out disinformation, methinks, to try to cover this up. And, yes, I wouldn't be surprised if buildings start to mysteriously "implode" in the next few days. Gas leaks, ya' know...

A convenient result would be that you can't then get an accurate body count. Probably other benefits to Bush (cursed be his name) that I can't think of right now.

[cthrumatrix]

85. too many people are becoming aware -- RC is just more AID turned away

[truth2power]

86. I hope you're right about people becoming aware...

Somewhere there's a post about it all being documented. I can't remember where...I'm just a mess. I have called my news stations, my so-called representatives (Repugs). My daughter calls me in tears about what she's seen on her cable news. I have nowhere to turn to be heard, no one in govt who represents me. I can't even talk civilly to anyone anymore. I feel helpless and hopeless, so I can imagine how those poor people in NO feel.

Here's the email my daughter sent me. The time stamp is 2:30 AM. Fri. morning. She was up half the night.

"Oh my god mom....I'm in tears tonight just watching MSNBC. The pictures are horrible.
An elderly woman in a wheelchair at the convention center in New Orleans is covered up with a blanket pushed up against a wall DEAD. Another picture of a dead person wrapped in a sheet being dragged by a rope, I'm assuming to a pile. Another woman is screaming for help as she is holding her toddler child trying to wake him up as he is dying in her arms. The temperature in the hospital is at 110 degrees and a man leaning over another man who is laying in the street and the one man is hollering "You've got to live". On channel 12 news they did a story on gas prices and in Felicity gas is $2.59. You know as well as I do those people in Felicity are poor and can't afford those prices. One gas station in Bethel closed down after 40 yrs in business as he is out of gas and can't afford to stay open. We might as well just put a sheet over the devasation because by the time our government gets to them they will all be dead. They are going on day 5 with no food or water. How long do they think they can hold out. I just can't take it anymore.. they showed a man who had just swam for 8 hrs with his three dogs to safety and he's sitting in an alley in tears and he crying for help for his dogs. MY GOD WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. People are taking refugee on rooftops and in abandon bldgs at night just to get away from the violence that is starting to erupt. There is a couple from overseas trapped in a hotel in New Orleans, she is crying saying she is going to die here and will never be able to see her family again. Another family is in a time share with their dog, 4 bottles of water and half a bag of dog food. They are going to DIE. A news media person asks a cop driving by in a car "where is the help" and all the cop can do is roll up his window and speed off. AND THE GOVERNMENT IS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. Life as we know it is going to change. Now the headline is WILL NEW ORLEANS MAKE IT TIL MORNING.

THEY ARE DYING AND FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES.
OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES."

God Damn George Bush to hell for his sins against God!! :mad:

[stickdog]

87. kick