Buses were used to pick up people at 12 locations - Prior to storm

[DoYouEverWonder]

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Around 112,000 Orleanians do not own cars, according to census data. Nagin urged those people to seek rides with friends, family, neighbors and church members. Those who could not find rides were urged to get to the Superdome as quickly as possible.

Regional Transit Authority buses were scheduled to ferry people to the dome from 12 locations around the city beginning at noon today.

Meantime, to make sure word of the mandatory evacuation gets out, Nagin said that police and fire crews would be driving through neighborhoods Sunday with bullhorns, directing people to leave.

The evacuation order contained exemptions for certain people, including city, state and federal officials, inmates of the parish prison, those in hospitals, tourists staying in hotels and members of the media.

An emergency order Nagin announced Sunday in declaring the mandatory evacuation gives authorities the right to commandeer private buildings and vehicles — including boats — as they see fit.

The mayor did not say which buildings might be seized for public use. For the time being, the Superdome will be used as a “shelter of last resort” for those unable to evacuate the city. If the dome fills to capacity, other buildings could be appropriated, Nagin said.

Nagin said the dome’s availability to residents doesn’t mean that going there is a good idea.


http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_08_28.html


Now the freerpers can go stick their bs where the sun don't shine regarding buses. Unfortunately, the no bus story is part of the urban legend and the damage has been done. I hope they are happy that they continue to slander a good man, while their fearless leader gets away with murder.

[watrwefitinfor]

1. Recommended

First time I was first. And for a VERY worthy post.
This needs to get out there yesterday.

Wat

[jamesinca]

2. Thanks for posting that one

It is a needed piece of the puzzle. If this is presented enough and to the suddely backboned media they may present it to Scotty McClellen. And he would only be able to lie about Tom Delays remarks, or go to his favorite thing of; this is not the time to point fingers etc....

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Next time a freeper asks 'why didn't they use school buses'

Tell them becaue they used Regional Transit buses instead. At least those buses have AC and the drivers work on Sundays.

[Judi Lynn]

4. So glad to see this. Thanks DoYouEverWonder.

There's nothing like the truth to bury right-wing lies. I'm hoping the media will consider going wild and circulating this truthful information, for a change.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. Great find

You're doing a great job of smacking down the RW talking points. :thumbsup:

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Send this to someone who can report it on the MSM.

[Theres-a]

7. This should have a segment on Countdown.

[yodermon]

8. Good, but not enough

to counter the full scale RW spin.

The RW spin is that these buses (AND school buses) should have been used to drive people OUT of NOLA altogehter. I.e., evacuate, not just a free trip to the dome.

This argument fails upon any amount of scrutiny, namely:

1) Not NEAR enough buses (school, transit, or otherwise) to get all the people out in time.

2) If using school buses, there are no facilities on board, and imagine being stuck in evacuation traffic for x hours with a busload of ppl w/ no bathrooms.... there was a report on DU yesterday that a school bus WAS used to evacuate a nursing home(?) and 3 ppl died en route.

3) Getting non-evacuees to the superdome was PART OF THE EMERGENCY PLAN, and APPROVED BY FEMA (I need a link to the approved-by-FEMA part, anyone?)

4) IF all available buses were filled to capacity to ferry people out of NOLA, then they wouldn't have been available to get people to the superdome! MORE people would have been stranded in their homes.

The superdome DID turn out to be a horrible, inexcusible, clusterfuck of a shelter (thanks to FEMA's criminal negligence, and outright BLOCKAGE of aid :mad: ), but at least it ended up saving people from certain death.

[cynatnite]

9. I don't think they had the manpower either

Everyone was trying to get out for the most part.

[Tatiana]

10. Not having enough buses doesn't cover it.

My great-aunt got out of NO on a city bus. She's now staying with my mom and sister in Chicago. She said not enough people utilized the buses; there were maybe 20-25 people on the one she used to get to Baton Rouge. She also said the bus she rode on was equipped to handle disabled people because her neighbor (who is in a wheelchair) rode the bus as well.

It was necessary to have people strategically placed on the ground to help those who were disabled/infirm and choppers or aircraft to airlift them out of there. Only FEMA could have accomplished something of that scope.

[Just Me]

11. The BushCo regime is responsible for the tragedy in NO.

This type of extremely destructive natural disaster demands immediate federal assistance and response. There is simply no excuse for the failure of the BushCo regime to immediately assist and respond. NONE.

I indict the BushCo regime of a conspiracy to commit manslaughter.

[Catherine Vincent]

12. Yet this pic is what is shown to the masses:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/special/05/katrina/3344347

Those flooded buses are supposed to evacuate over 100,000 people out of New Orleans. That would have been impossible.

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. They did use school buses

at least some of them.

The problem with school buses is that they have no AC and no BATHROOMS. The estimated travel time between NO and Baton Rouge during an evacuation is 8 hours. It's a one way trip, no way to go back for more.

Nagin had to stop using the school buses when 3 people died on one from dehydration. He then asked FEMA to send touring buses, the ones with AC and bathrooms. Of course, FEMA didn't or couldn't or maybe he didn't call the right person and then they had to have a contract....

[trogdor]

14. A Blue Bird school bus holds 44 adult pax.

Guess that there are 200 of these buses in that particular lot. 44 * 200 = 8800. It would have required a dozen round trips to evacuate everyone. Moving 100,000 out of town at once would have required over 2,200 of these buses.

/was always good at math

[markus]

15. Please see my post on this here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4706384&mesg_id=4711857