Uncovered story: Mississippi River as transport for food/water

[Roland99]

Why is the media not asking about using the Mississippi River to float barges/rafts/etc. of food/water down to New Orleans?

That could have been done on Tuesday! Surely the river is navigable from upstream.

[babylonsister]

1. Another option not considered by

our revered Homeland Security? Geez... God forbid we have an actual emergency. :sarcasm:

[Spinzonner]

2. How do you get it to the people that need it

Sounds like just another step that is potentially as difficult and dangerous as brining it in some other way.

Are people going to wade out to the barge.

What if they rush the barge even if they can get to it.

[Roland99]

3. Teams could have been setup at the river wharfs

The Convention Center is right on the river. Those people could have been supplied food/water in 24-48 hrs.

Hell, they could have been loaded onto rafts/barges and hauled upstream.

[The White Tree]

4. That's a great point.

I was thinking of something similar. I was thinking of the massive boat operation to rescue soldiers from Dunkirk (I think it was Dunkirk and I think it was about 300,000 soldiers) during World War II. The English government asked anyone with a boat to go accross the English Channel, pick up a few soldiers and bring them to safety.

I was wondering whether something like that could be done here. Footage that I saw seemed to show people hold up at the convention center and Harrahs casino and the River Walk area very close to the water.

I am guessing it is because logistically no one can figure out how to organize an operation of that magnitude or else there are not enough people who can get there with operable boats. Also, I think, no one wants to assume the responsability/liabilty of dealing with the in rush of unregulated volunteers that this might create.

I hope that this has been looked at, or is being looked at. I'd be curious to know the answer to the question.

[Roland99]

6. We have buffoons running FEMA and other agencies.

[NoFederales]

5. Excellent strategy; it ain't rocket science.

NoFederales

[Roland99]

7. No need to use a wharf! Just pull up to here!!

[Roland99]

8. AND GUESS WHAT THEY JUST ANNOUNCED?!?!?

The Mississippi River is NOW OPEN, with restrictions, from mile 0 all the way up to at least mile 35 (I think she said 35...maybe more?)

So, * shows up, National Guard and buses pours into N.O. and magically the river is opened at the SAME TIME!!

:puke:

[LevelB]

9. If they could drive charter buses to the SuperDome

they could have driven 18 wheelers also.

A lot of this is not rocket science, or even thinking outside the box.

B.

[MissMarple]

10. Roland99, you are just brimming with little gems, today.

:)

Too bad it's about how we could have prevented so many folks from dying.

Do you have any info on the kids at Xavier University. 400 may still be trapped there.

[Roland99]

11. Here ya go:

Status Of SBS Sisters (NUNS) At Xavier University Convent
http://www.wwltv.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7074&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

Recent documents assure us that they as well as remaining students and faculty have been evacuated to either NLU or Grambling.

They are safe.

I work there, so I am keeping a close eye on what is happening there.

[MissMarple]

12. Thank you, so much.

I'll put this on my thread I just started. I have been so concerned all day and yesterday.

[Roland99]

14. You're welcome and I'm glad it looks like they're all ok.

[Pepperbelly]

13. The barge infrastructure in NO is destroyed.

I heard a guy on my local NPR. Tugs/barges are scarce because there are so many in NO awaiting off-loading.

[Roland99]

15. They couldn't float some down from Memphis? Or use rafts?

The military had nothing they could have run down?

[Pepperbelly]

16. That's what the guy was saying ...

He was looking at it as a river man and barges are actually pretty complicated things. Even loading barges with something other than bulk product (coal, rice, corn ... stuff you use a shovel on) because most of the river ports are not set up for that kind of loading/unloading. Trains seem to me to be a better alternative.

[Roland99]

17. Thanks for the info