I followed reports from all sources re- Katrina closely at the time, and have gone back through my records, and I find no mention at all of Bobby Jindal. On the other hand, Dem. State Senator Nick Gautreaux apparently played a key role not just in "siding" with the Sheriff but in actually organizing the volunteer flotilla. If you know a way to get this to T.D.S., pls feel free! (Don't know if the links below still work; they were good at the time; if not, try caches and The Internet Archive . . . .)
FEMA blocks 500 boats
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/3/171718/0826Just to give you a sense of just how badly FEMA has f*cked up.
by pelican
Sat Sep 3rd, 2005 at 14:17:18 PDT
This was posted by a Clarkie over at the Securing America:
Just to give you a sense of just how badly FEMA has f*cked up.
Posted by Clark Warner on September 3, 2005 - 2:23pm.
This is beyond my comprehension and after spending two frustrating days trying to just get someone to let us help we've FINALLY been told we can conduct "renegade" boat rescues via the just concluded press conference that Gov. Blanco just held.
Why is this JUST NOW being allowed? Well let's start from the very beginning.
On Wednesday morning a group of approximately 1,000 citizens pulling 500 boats left the Acadiana Mall in Lafayette in the early morning and headed to New Orleans with a police escort from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department. The flotillia of trucks pulling boats stretched over FIVE miles. This citizen rescue group was organized by La. State Senator, Nick Gautreaux from Vermilion Parish. The group was comprised of experienced boaters, licensed fishermen and hunters, people who have spent their entire adult life and teenage years on the waterways of Louisiana.
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Flotilla of rescue boats turned back
http://www.thedeadpelican.com/lawyer.htmsnip
A group of approximately 1,000 citizens pulling 500 boats left the Acadiana Mall in Lafayette this morning (Weds.) and headed to New Orleans with a police escort from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department. The "flotillia" of trucks pulling boats stretched over five miles. This citizen rescue group was organized by La. State Senator, Gautreaux from Vermilion Parish. The group was comprised of experienced boaters, licensed fishermen and hunters, people who have spent their entire adult life and teenage years on the waterways of Louisiana.
The State Police waved the flotillia of trucks/boats through the barricades in LaPlace and we sped into New Orleans via I-10 until past the airport and near the Clearview exit. At that time we were stopped by agents of the La. Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries. A young DWF agent strolled through the boats and told approximately half of the citizens that their boats were "too large" because the water had "dropped during the night" and that they should turn around and go home.
We were pulling a large (24ft) shallow draft aluminum boat that can safely carry 12 passengers and had ramp access which would allow the elderly and infirm to have easier access to the boat. We politely informed the DWF agent that the local and national media had consistently reported that the water level had "risen" during the night which contradicted his statement to us that the water "was dropping" and no boat over 16ft. in length would be allowed to participate in rescue operations.
more....
DU post regarding this article: Sept2:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4588797