Let's start a timeline of AID REFUSALS and PREVENTIONS

[nonconformist]

Has anyone already started one?

Let's start cataloging all this bullshit, with links to news stories about it. ANY aid that has been declined or ignored, any efforts that have been thwarted by the government, EACH AND EVERY INSTANCE from the moment that Katrina was forecasted to hit so strongly until now.

There are so many instances, some even hearsay or rumors, that it's important to get this information organized now as it's happening along with the story source.

LET'S GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!!!

[babsbunny]

1. They said "No Thanks" to Chicago now!

I am boiling! Yes, a timeline!!!!

[nonconformist]

2. Feds REJECT Aid From Chicago

http://www.suntimes.com/output/hurricane/cst-nws-daley03.html

Daley 'shocked' as feds reject aid

A visibly angry Mayor Daley said the city had offered emergency, medical and technical help to the federal government as early as Sunday to assist people in the areas stricken by Hurricane Katrina, but as of Friday, the only things the feds said they wanted was a single tank truck.

That truck, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency requested to support an Illinois-based medical team, was en route Friday.

"We are ready to provide more help than they have requested. We are just waiting for their call," said Daley, adding that he was "shocked" that no one seemed to want the help. <snip>

[texpatriot2004]

3. Great Idea. Let's put this timeline together. I think it started when

Mayor Nagin and the Gov. of LA started issuing the evacuation orders. One post on DU said they sent letters to the Fed. Gov. starting on the 28th (what day was that, Sunday, right?) asking for the resources that they would need and received no response, or the Feds started a philosophical debate about it being the responsibility of the state. I also heard that churches sent buses to NO to help evacuate BEFORE the storm hit but they were turned away. There was that report that Canada was prepared to send supplies on Tuesday, or maybe it was Wednesday. Venezuela offered help about the same time.

[nonconformist]

5. dupe, sorry.

edit

[texpatriot2004]

35. kick n/t

[nonconformist]

4. Foreign Aid - what is up with this?

What has been accepted or declined (or ignored)?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4210264.stm


World mobilises to aid US victims

The US was considering dozens of offers of international assistance
More than 44 foreign governments and international organisations have offered aid to help with the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/09/02/us_sends_mixed_signals_on_accepting_aid_from_abroad/

US sends mixed signals on accepting aid from abroad

By Farah Stockman, Globe Staff | September 2, 2005

WASHINGTON -- The offers of foreign aid keep pouring in: helicopters from Canada, cash from Japan, tents and military aircraft from France -- even oil from Venezuela, a political foe. At least 25 countries have offered humanitarian assistance to the United States to recover from Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst natural disasters in US history.

But despite the increasingly desperate situation on the ground, the Bush administration has sent mixed signals about whether it will take these global well-wishers up on their offers.

President Bush indicated yesterday morning that the United States had not requested foreign help and didn't need it.

''I'm not expecting much from foreign nations because we haven't asked for it," Bush told ABC's ''Good Morning America." ''I do suspect a lot of sympathy, and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country is going to rise up and take care of it. You know, we love help, but we're going to take care of our own business, as well."

Hours later, however, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had spoken with the White House and decided that ''we will accept all offers of foreign assistance. Anything that can be of help to alleviate the difficult situation, the tragic situation of the people of the area affected by Hurricane Katrina will be accepted."

[nonconformist]

6. Red Cross prevented from entering New Orleans by HS

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05246/565143.stm

Homeland Security won't let Red Cross deliver food

Saturday, September 03, 2005
By Ann Rodgers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

As the National Guard delivered food to the New Orleans convention center yesterday, American Red Cross officials said that federal emergency management authorities would not allow them to do the same.

Other relief agencies say the area is so damaged and dangerous that they doubted they could conduct mass feeding there now.

"The Homeland Security Department has requested and continues to request that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans," said Renita Hosler, spokeswoman for the Red Cross.

[nonconformist]

19. More on Homeland Security preventing Red Cross help

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/3/02454/07418

[blonndee]

7. Kick kick kick..we need to keep this at the top. nt

[nonconformist]

8. Fearing riots, Guard rejects food airdrops

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?article=31346§ion=104

ARLINGTON, Va. — Authorities are avoiding airdropping provisions into New Orleans — the traditional way of supplying disaster victims — out of fear of sparking riots, a state official said.

While the military has used helicopters to drop provisions to some stranded in New Orleans, authorities have not launched the massive supply airdrops seen in Afghanistan at the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Several C-130 Hercules aircraft are stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, but authorities have not ordered them to drop supplies to flood victims, Arkansas Air National Guard officials said.

[nonconformist]

9. National Guard not ok'ed to assist until LATE THURSDAY

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/katrina_national_guard

WASHINGTON - Several states ready and willing to send National Guard troops to the rescue in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans didn't get the go-ahead until days after the storm struck — a delay nearly certain to be investigated by Congress.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson offered Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco help from his state's National Guard on Sunday, the day before Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. Blanco accepted, but paperwork needed to get the troops en route didn't come from Washington until late Thursday.

California troops just began arriving in Louisiana on Friday, three days after flood waters devastated New Orleans and chaos broke out.

In fact, when New Orleans' levees gave way to deadly flooding on Tuesday, Louisiana's National Guard had received help from troops in only three other states: Ohio, which had nine people in Louisiana then; Oklahoma, 89; and Texas, 625, figures provided by the National Guard show.

[mnhtnbb]

10. Good list on dailyKos

Here's a link to a similar list.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/3/131934/7503

I also remember seeing something about an offer of National Guard from New Mexico on Sunday, but can't find the link.

There was also an early story about a group of law enforcement and medics coming from VA who turned back because they couldn't get FEMA authorization. This was early--like Tuesday or Wednesday.

[nonconformist]

12. Great, thanks... this will help too. nt

[mnhtnbb]

17. Link on law enforcement from VA turned away.

Here's the link. From DU, of course.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4585831

[mnhtnbb]

20. Press release on NM National Guard

This is the press release on sending the NM National Guard, but I saw somewhere else--today I think--that FEMA wouldn't allow them in.

http://www.governor.state.nm.us/press.php?id=120

[nonconformist]

11. There was a story about boats helping but made to leave

Anyone got that?

[Lydia Guerra]

37. 500 boats turned away:

Here's the link:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-caneboats0205sep02,0,5932477.story?col

[nonconformist]

13. Private for-profit hospitals evac'ed long before public hospitals

Need stories and links.

[nonconformist]

14. 40 elderly and mentally disabled citizens abandoned in Apt

http://www.nola.com/weblogs/nola /

Elderly/mentally disabled trapped at 1226 S. Carrollton Ave

Name: Lecta Bourgeois

Home: 337-264-1414

Email: [e-mail]

Subject: My Hurricane Story -- ELDERLY/MENTALLY DISABLED TRAPPED IN APT
ON CARROLLTON AVE

Story: THERE ARE ABOUT 40 ELDERLY & MENTALLY DISABLED CITIZENS TRAPPED IN AN APT COMPLEX AT 1226 S. CARROLLTON AVE . 90+ YEAR OLD FATHER OF A FRIEND HERE IN LAFAYETTE..NAME IS DELERY LANDRY HE IS IN APT 315..NO FOOD OR WATER & THEIR CAREGIVES LEFT THEM PRIOR TO STORM...THEY MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH INSIGHT TO MAKE THEMSELVES NOTICEABLE TO RESCUERS...MATER DESOTO APTS NEXT TO CHURCH ON 1226 S CARROLLTON AVE. 10 RESIDENTS PER FLOOR..4 STORY BUILDING..PLEASE HELP THEM QUICKLY...DAUGHTERS NAME IS SUSAN LANDRY CHIQUELIN FROM LAFAYETTE SHE HAS LOST CONTACT WITH HIM A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO....ELDERLY & MENTALLY DISABLED RESIDENTS....

[theHandpuppet]

15. Virginia Rescue Team Turned Away

http://www.phxnews.com/fullstory.php?article=24946
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090202363.html

[nonconformist]

16. Bush says on GMA food and water drops "won't work"

Need a link for this.

[nonconformist]

18. Northern Command Unit READY - BUT WAITED on Bush Orders

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/3/115611/4051
<snip>
The only caveat is, we have to wait until the President authorizes us to do so. The laws of the United States say that the military can't just act in this fashion, we have to wait for the President to give us permission.
<snip>

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

52. VIDEO

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4637696

[nonconformist]

21. FEMA claims not to know about convention center until Thursday

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/katrina.response/

[nonconformist]

22. Blanco requested aid, including 5 mil for evac before storm, never got

http://www.gov.state.la.us/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf

Before the hurricane hit, Gov. Kathleen Blanco requested Washington provide disaster relief aid, including military personnel and $5 million for evacuation. No military personnel showed up until Sept. 2 and the $5 million was not received in time to aid with the evacuation. No reason given.

[nonconformist]

23. Police and Doctors stopped at stateline

Need links.

[SillyGoose]

48. Here you go...Doctors Hamstrung in Relief Efforts

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050904/D8CDLUJO0.html

[Raksha]

24. That's an excellent idea.

I've already started a thread like that on another forum, starting with the Red Cross being kept out of New Orleans.

[Emit]

25. Can I add this link?

Posted late last night (couldn't sleep) when I was trying to figure out WTF FEMA was doing. It has some related "stand down orders":

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4602266&mesg_id=4602266

Edited to add a synopsis (Thanks Eloriel for simplifying this for me!)

includes these (some text at link):
Emergency Aid Authorized For Hurricane Katrina Emergency Response In Louisiana
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18447
Release Date: August 27, 2005


Homeland Security Prepping For Dangerous Hurricane Katrina
Residents in path of storm "Must take action now"
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18461
Release Date: August 28, 2005


First Responders Urged Not To Respond To Hurricane Impact Areas Unless Dispatched By State, Local Authorities
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18470
Release Date: August 29, 2005


Assistance Continues To Areas Impacted By Hurricane Katrina
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18471
Release Date: August 29, 2005


Cash Sought To Help Hurricane Victims, Volunteers Should Not Self-Dispatch
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473
Release Date: August 29, 2005


President Declares Major Disaster For Louisiana
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18478
Release Date: August 29, 2005


Evacuees Cautioned Not To Re-Enter Damage Areas Prematurely
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18488
Release Date: August 30, 2005


http://www.fema.gov/news/newsarchive.fema?year=2005&month=8
Nevada Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
Texas Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
Arkansas Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
Oklahoma Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
New Mexico Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
North Carolina Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
Washington Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
Massachusetts Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30

Life Safety Tops FEMA Priorities, Supplies Pour In
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18497
Release Date: August 31, 2005


and a couple more

Extremely important info. Thanks so much!

[nonconformist]

27. Yes!! I need all the help I can get with this nt

[nonconformist]

26. Kick and Nominate if you'd like to help with this

So we can keep this thread alive long enough to catalogue everything.

[mnhtnbb]

28. Done

[nonconformist]

29. FEMA stops a rescue convoy of 500 boats

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/357
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4610871

[mnhtnbb]

47. Original posting on boats

This is the original posting. There are some minor differences.
This version indicates LA Dept. of Wildlife made the stop--and the other version says "FEMA controlled LA Dept of Wildlife"

Regardless--it's evidence of a turf war in rescue efforts and boats that could have been used for rescue rejected.

http://www.thedeadpelican.com/lawyer.htm

[mnhtnbb]

30. Volunteers being turned away at Astrodome

http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou050901_jt_volunteers.1749ea92.html

[mnhtnbb]

31. Russian aid was also rejected

There was a story--which I can't find--of aid from Russia being rejected. Again, it was early. A link comes up to a CBS blog when I google it--but I don't find the story.

[mnhtnbb]

32. I found it!

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/02/katrina/main812561.shtml

4:00 p.m. (Sept 1)


MOSCOW (AP) The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency has rejected a Russian offer to send rescue teams and other aid in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a Russian emergency official said Thursday.

Russia offered to send two transport planes with rescue teams, helicopters and other equipment to help deal with Katrina's aftermath.

[mnhtnbb]

33. Canadian aid was also rejected

Canada also was prepared to send aid--very early--and was also rejected.

http://www.alternet.org/bloggers/evan/24905/

[mnhtnbb]

34. Military resources in place not ordered into action

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/090205A.shtml

[Nobody]

36. August 1, 2005

http://abc26.trb.com/news/natguard08012005,0,4504131.story?coll=wgno-news-1

Here are the first three paragraphs:

August 1, 2005, 9:07 PM CDT

JACKSON BARRACKS -- When members of the Louisiana National Guard left for Iraq in October, they took a lot equipment with them. Dozens of high water vehicles, humvees, refuelers and generators are now abroad, and in the event of a major natural disaster that, could be a problem.

"The National Guard needs that equipment back home to support the homeland security mission," said Lt. Colonel Pete Schneider with the LA National Guard.

Col. Schneider says the state has enough equipment to get by, and if Louisiana were to get hit by a major hurricane, the neighboring states of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida have all agreed to help support in recovery efforts," Col. Schneider said.

____

(my emphasis by the way)

This is WAY THE F**K BACK IN THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST!

[Pooka Fey]

38. kick

[Lydia Guerra]

39. Kick

[nonconformist]

40. Figured I'd add this as well

Homeland Security was created to give the federal government FULL RESPONSIBILITY in the event of a natural disaster.

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/theme_home2.jsp

Department of Homeland Security

Preparing America

In the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency, the Department of Homeland Security will assume primary responsibility on March 1st for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared for any situation. This will entail providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort.

[BQueen]

41. Eloriel has been gathering "WTFs?" in this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4588088#4601885

[nonconformist]

42. Excellent. nt

[mnhtnbb]

59. see below

Eloriel original post has been edited.

[mnhtnbb]

43. Sen. Landreau summarizes more screw-ups

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4614894&mesg_id=4614894

[mnhtnbb]

44. Castro offers MD's--for the second time

Still no response from the U.S.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBIUB545DE.html

[mnhtnbb]

60. still nothing

Still no response from the US to Castro's offer of MD's.

Bush to survivors: "let them eat cake."

These physicians went to Southeast Asia after the tsunami and have been to help in other disasters, too.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/09/05/katrina.cuba/index.html

[nonconformist]

45. They shut down airlifts of supplies because Bush was viewing NO

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4622069

[mnhtnbb]

46. Navy ship in Gulf just waiting for orders

This ship rode out Katrina in the Gulf and was available with amphibious vehicles, hospital beds, and sailors who could come ashore to help. Waiting for orders that have yet to arrive.

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/nation/12554907.htm

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

49. FEMA cut lines of communication in Jefferson Parish. Here is the

video of Brossard http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Meet-the-Press-Broussard.wmv

[MellowOne]

50. Nevermind

I should have scrolled to the bottom before posting.

[mnhtnbb]

51. Hundreds of MD's not able to get in to NO

This article also appeared in the Raleigh, News & Observer this a.m.
There is a state of the art, mobile hospital, which has been unable to get into NO.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/wcnc-090505-al-med_one.29cb178b.html

http://www.newsobserver.com/print/monday/front/story/2786870p-9226377c.html

[mnhtnbb]

63. Further info

An interview cites more bureaucratic bungling

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4658762

[mnhtnbb]

53. Laura Bush visit shuts down aid operations

This is a quote from a first person account from dailyKos of a volunteer:


It actually couldn't have been a worse experience; a team of us were working to put up a website with directions to every Red Cross shelter in the region when we were evicted from the computer room by the Secret Service. There's only one room in the Cajundome with telephones and internet access for refugees, and Laura Bush shut it down for eight hours (along with the food service rooms to the side and the women's showers). You may have seen it on CNN; apparently seven refugees were allowed back so Laura could help them in front of the cameras.

for the whole post:

http://hal-law.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/4/124532/7736

[mnhtnbb]

54. Medical Team from GA hits roadblocks in relief effort

This is from the NY Times Monday, Sept. 5 It's like a fucking Keystone Kops story.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05medical.html

[mnhtnbb]

55. Litany of screwups

the president of Jefferson Parish, south of New Orleans.

From a NYTimes article Monday, Sept. 5th

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05blame.html

snip:

Far from deferring to state or local officials, FEMA asserted its authority and made things worse, Mr. Broussard complained on "Meet the Press."

When Wal-Mart sent three trailer trucks loaded with water, FEMA officials turned them away, he said. Agency workers prevented the Coast Guard from delivering 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel, and on Saturday they cut the parish's emergency communications line, leading the sheriff to restore it and post armed guards to protect it from FEMA, Mr. Broussard said.

snip:

Ms. Bottcher, the governor's press secretary.

Ms. Bottcher was one of several officials yesterday who said she believed FEMA had interfered with the delivery of aid, including offers from the mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, and the governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson.

Adam Sharp, a spokesman for Senator Mary L. Landrieu, Democrat of Louisiana, said the problem was not who was in command. FEMA repeatedly held up assistance that could have been critical, he said.

"FEMA has just been very slow to make these decisions," Mr. Sharp said.

In a clear slap at Mr. Chertoff and the FEMA director, Michael D. Brown, Governor Blanco announced Saturday that she had hired James Lee Witt, the director of FEMA during the Clinton administration, to advise her on the recovery.

Nearly every emergency worker told agonizing stories of communications failures, some of them most likely fatal to victims. Police officers called Senator Landrieu's Washington office because they could not reach commanders on the ground in New Orleans, Mr. Sharp said.

Dr. Ross Judice, chief medical officer for a large ambulance company, recounted how on Tuesday, unable to find out when helicopters would land to pick up critically ill patients at the Superdome, he walked outside and discovered that two helicopters, donated by an oil services company, had been waiting in the parking lot.

[mnhtnbb]

56. Firefighters from Houston denied access to NO

A group of firefighter from Houston, some with special expertise in oil rig repairs, and plenty of post-hurricane clean-up experience were stopped by FEMA from entering NO and not allowed to go anywhere else, either.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/5/105538/7048

[texpatriot2004]

57. Here's another one.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1753934

[mnhtnbb]

58. Eloriel's links have been redone

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4630068&mesg_id=4630068

[mnhtnbb]

61. Wisconsin buses returning empty

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4655361

[mnhtnbb]

62. EU cites snags in relief efforts

Planes and equipment not being allowed in/or don't know what to do with things when they arrive.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4658774

[Cooley Hurd]

64. Scotty Mac's press conference on 9/1/05:

...an FYI:

from http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050901-2.html#n

MR. McCLELLAN: -- I would expect we would take people up on offers of assistance when it's necessary.

Q So that is a request? You are requesting international aid?

MR. McCLELLAN: No. I mean, I think that a lot of nations have offered assistance. I don't know of any particular request that I have to update you on at this point. And the point I think I'm making is that we're not ruling things out, so whenever you're looking at any area to help with the response and recovery efforts, you always want to consider all your options that are available.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

65. Kick!